The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-04

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] "Crisis is Increased by Media" Clean-Up is Vital

Sources: NET

Clean-up in the Justice department, purgation and upgrading of the judicial system constitute a one-way street, stressed Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras. While speaking this morning at the general assembly of the Public Prosecutors Union, he also harshly criticised the Media for the so-called "teletrials." For the first time, we will get to the bottom of things stressed Parliament Speaker Anna Psarouda Benaki, also underlining that Justice is targeted by good and bad publicity. At the same time, Public Prosecutors Union president Sotiris Bagias said the crisis is existent, but rather increased by the Media. As for Supreme Court Chief Justice Romilos Kedikoglou, he stated that Justice is hammered for isolated incidents, stressing, "We are not accepting collective responsibility."

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Criticism Over Imia and Renewal

In his new book "For the sun to rise again, it has to set first", former PASOK Parliamentarian Giannis Kapsis criticises Kostas Simitis on the Imia issue and George Papandreou on renewal. Mr Kapsis accused the former prime minister of non-objectivity, stressing the political leadership cannot put the blame on military officials. On the issue of renewal, the former Parliamentarian spoke of an orgy of party nomenclature, underlining that renewal is a lot more than simply replacing older members with younger ones. He also criticised Mrs Damanaki and Messrs Manos, Andrianopoulos and Androulakis for joining PASOK, although they were coming from different political backgrounds. What is more, he accused PASOK members of forgetting their founder, Andreas Papandreou.

"We Were All Aware of Corruption"

In the prepublication of the book in Ta Nea newspaper, Mr Kapsis described the Imia issue as a "well set-up CIA trap" and commented, "When Mr Simitis said 'We will decide on engagement rules after we have concluded what has to be done,' he lost the game. When Chiller said, 'We are not giving a single stone from the grounds of this country,' she won the game. In Ankara, they are studying Andreas Papandreou. In Washington too. In Athens, we are doing our best to forget him."

Referring to corruption, he underlined there are many to be accused, but only a handful to accuse them. "We were all aware of corruption. We were all to be accused. Even as accessories, since we said nothing, since we cast our vote, whatever vote that may have been, even though we knew. And we knew it all!"

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article