The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-03

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Visit the Ministry for the Aegean Greek PM on Mytilini

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: NET - ERA

Today, Greek PM Kostas Karamanlis arrived on the island of Mytilini, which is also the headquarters of the Ministry for the Aegean and Island Policy, in the context of his visits to ministries. At the moment, the PM is meeting with Aegean Minister Aristotelis Pavlidis, representatives from the northern and southern Aegean and MPs of the island. This morning, Mr Karamanlis visited the Municipality of Kalloni, which was affected by the recent floods, while the local authorities voiced their satisfaction for the immediate assistance offered by the State. Funds amounting to 2,200,000 euros have already been granted to the area to restore the damages, while the Ministry of Public Works has concluded the listing of those affected, so that compensations can be paid. Immediately after, the PM visited the site of the public works for the 1st Regional Mytilini-Larsos Road and the towns marina.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[02] USA Supports Mutually Acceptable Name US Ambassador Visits Vergina

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: ANA - NET

US Ambassador to Greece Charles Ries, who visited the archaeological site of Vergina, not for political reasons, as he noted, but in order to pay homage to history, declared that history will not change. Ries was impressed by the archaeological findings, while, referring to the recognition of FYROM by its constitutional name, he left open the possibility of changing the decision if a mutually acceptable name is found. He also stressed, "The USA supports the UNs efforts for a mutually acceptable name that Greece and Macedonia will be using both in international and bilateral relations. [] If another name is agreed on, we will be using it." On his part, the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Nikos Tsiartsiotis, said that cultural Macedonia constitutes an unalterable reality that bears no relation to the things being disputed currently, while he voiced his joy that Mr Ries was given the opportunity to understand history a bit better through his visit to Vergina.

Reliving History

In his handwritten memo in the visitors book, the US Ambassador, who is well informed on the history relating to King Phillips era, mentioned the wonderful museum dedicated to one of the great kings of antiquity, while he thanked the Greek Culture Ministry for preserving the exhibits in mint condition, "I enjoyed the visit and will return again with my family," he noted. "As you are standing by the bones of those people, you relive the history of Phillip II and his assassination," mentioned Mr Ries.

"The Greeks of Macedonia form a part of Greeces culture," wrote Mr Tsiartsiotis.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] Financial and Institutional Demands Education Rally in Athens

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

A large-scale education rally is taking place at the moment in the centre of the Athens, with protestors demanding increases in the expenditure for Education, as well as financial and professional upgrading for academic personnel. Teachers unions and many students are participating in the rally, while they will then march from the University of Athens to Maximos Mansion.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] They Risk between 6 and 10 years in jail Five Turkish Journalists Indicted

By Athina Saloustrou

Five prominent Turkish journalists risk between six and 10 years in jail for criticising a court decision that briefly blocked a conference on the massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire earlier this year, Anatolia news agency reported on Friday. A landmark conference organised by intellectuals disputing Ankaras official line on the mass killings of Armenians during WWI was blocked in September when a court, petitioned by a group of nationalists, ordered the suspension of the event. An Istanbul prosecutor indicted the five journalists under articles that penalise insults to the judiciary and attempts to influence justice. The suspects include four journalists from the liberal daily Radikal, editor-in-chief Ismet Berkan and columnists Erol Katircioglu, Haluk Sahin and Murat Belge, as well as Hasan Cemal, a senior editorialist for the mass-selling Milliyet. The European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join, recently warned Ankara to respect freedom of expression after several intellectuals, including internationally-renowned novelist Orhan Pamuk, were charged for voicing their opinions. The conference, already postponed once in May, was finally held with a one-day delay after the organisers changed the venue to circumvent the court order.

[05] Ten US Marines Died Iraqi Attack on Motorcade

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA - NET - ERA

Yet another eleven US marines lost their lives during insurgent attacks in Falluja and Ramadi, Iraq, bringing the death toll of US service personnel in the area to 2,125. In Falluja, where the US army is launching a sweeping operation in view of the 15 December elections, ten marines were killed by a bomb against a motorcade, while another American marine was killed during an attack in west Baghdad. As per a US army spokesperson, the marine succumbed to the wounds he sustained in a rocket attack against his vehicle on 1 December in Ramadi. The town, which is situated 110km west of Baghdad, became an action arena for insurgents on Thursday, when they appeared armed in the streets in the middle of the day. The American side played down the matter, declaring that the rebels had never taken control of the town, while they admitted that a rocket attack against an observation post did not result in any victims.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Al Jazeera Broadcast Video Iraqi Rebels Threaten Hostages

Sources: Reuters

Iraqi insurgents holding four Western hostages threatened in a videotape to kill them unless Iraqi detainees are released by 8 December, Al Jazeera broadcast on Friday. The tape showed what the television station said were two Canadian hostages receiving food from their captors. An American and a Briton were shown speaking to camera in what the channel said was a call for detainees to be released. "They gave those concerned with the hostages until the 8th of this month before killing them if their demands are not met," the Arabic broadcaster said. "They set as conditions that all detainees in the prisons of the collaborator Iraqi government are released and that all detainees are released from the prisons of the occupation (forces)," it added.

Members of Peace and Humanitarian Organisation

The Iraqi group, calling itself "Swords of Truth", said this week it had taken four Western hostages, accusing them of spying for foreign forces in Iraq.

The four hostages were seized in Baghdad last week. Some prominent Muslim clerics in the Arab world have called for their release. They are members of the peace and humanitarian organisation Christian Peacemaker Teams, one of the few remaining aid groups operating in Iraq.

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Abductors threaten Iraq hostages

CNN: Kidnappers threaten to kill peace activists

[07] Two Palestinian Died Tension in the Gaza Strip

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: AFP

Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip on Friday night, in two separate incidents. As per hospital sources, a 20-year-old fisherman was killed in the first incident, when an Israeli navy vessel opened fire. However, the Israeli authorities offered a different version, arguing that the fishing boat had entered prohibited waters, ignored warning shots and orders to stop and then fired on the Israeli vessel which shot back. Israels navy has largely blockaded Gazas coast during much of a 5-year-old Palestinian uprising, forcing Palestinian boats to stay close to shore. The second casualty was 16-year-old Said Abu Libdeh, who allegedly tried to sneak into Israeli territory near Khan Yunes. The latest deaths brought to 4,891 the number of people killed since the start of the Palestinian intifada in September 2000, as per AFP.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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