The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] For Most European Countries Cold-Spelled New Year's

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET

Many European countries are entering a cold-spelled New Years, since heavy snowfall and low temperatures have created arctic scenery. Many persons, in their majority homeless, have lost their lives in France, Poland and Great Britain, while snow has caused problems in transport, as well as road accidents. In Switzerland, mercury plunged recording -35 degrees Celsius, a low temperature record for this winter. In Poland, 23 persons lost their lives from the extreme cold, while continuous snowfall has creating great problems. Two persons lost their lives in France, where temperature reached -26 degrees Celsius. In the Netherlands, in Amsterdam, low visibility forced the authorities of Schiphol Airport to close specific runways. Meanwhile, following the traffic chaos caused by snow in eastern Yorkshire, meteorologists forecasted a worsening of weather in southern Great Britain and Scotland.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] Mother and Two Daughters Dead Fatal Road Accident

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET, ANA

On Saturday at noon, three women lost their lives in the 75th km of the Athens-Lamia National Road, near Ypatos. The accident took place when the 4x4 they were aboard swerved and entered the other lane, crashing into an Evrytania KTEL bus en route to Athens. Another private vehicle crashed into the other two, which was also en route to Athens. The driver of the KTEL bus and the driver of the second vehicle were injured, while the passengers were unharmed and continued their journey on another bus. The victims were Areti Keribari and her underage daughters, aged 14 and 16, who were heading to their house in Karpenisi.

The driver of the 4x4 tried to overtake the other vehicle from the right. However, when one of the vehicles crashed on the backside of the other, the woman lost control resulting into the car falling onto the protective bars. The 4x4 took off and fell on the front of the KTEL bus, which was returning from Evrytania. The second vehicle swerved and entered the other lane and ended up at the side of the road. For approximately 3 hours after the accident, traffic was performed by one lane, in order to remove oil and parts of the three vehicles.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Best Wishes!

Sources: NET, ANA

Hope and expectation are imprinted on the smiling faces of children who are singing carols as of this morning. Wishes are exchanged and everyone is preparing for the celebration of 2006. The Panepirotic Confederation of Greece, the Vrakoforoi Group of Crete and the KAPI of Artemidos sang carols to the Prime Minister and his wife. The music and dance groups of children and youth, the Brotherhood of Olymbites, Karpathos, "I Dimitra," sang carols to President of PASOK George Papandreou. The Vrakoforoi Group of Crete and the Panhellenic Federation of Pontus Associations sang to KKE General Secretary. SYN Parliamentary spokesperson Fotis Kouvelis and the partys Central Political Committee Secretary Nikos Chountis heard carols sang by the children of the African Womens Union.

Carols Sang to All

A festive environment took place in Parliament where traditional groups with choirs and orchestras sang carols to Speaker of Parliament Anna Benaki-Psarouda.

Mrs Benaki-Psarouda, after wishing to all health, personal and kindred happiness, offered as a New Years charm from the Collection of the Peloponnesian Folklore Institution.

On her part, Aleka Papariga stated: "We promise that in 2006 we will become more aggressive, more skilled, more sufficient for the peoples rights and particularly the problems of the youth and women, who are targets of an intensive and two-sided manipulation."

During his visit to a central Athens bookstore with his grandchildren for the purchase of gifts, the Honorary ND President voiced the need of continuing the reforms policy in all areas. Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated that 2006 will be a difficult for the Greek economy, however, noting that we are headed in the right direction.

Children of the Faliro Boy and Girl Scouts sang carols and gave a calendar to Minister for the Interior Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Deputy Minister Apostolos Andreoulakos, who offered gifts to the children.

Cretan Vrakoforoi sang carols to alternate Culture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia and offered her a pomegranate from Crete for good luck in the New Year.

Boy and Girl Scouts sang carols to Minister of Education Marietta Giannakou and Deputy Minister Spyros Taliadouros. The children gave Mrs Giannakou a scarf and Mr Taliadouros a book on the Scouts.

Students of the Etoloakarnanoi Association, studying in Patras, sang carols to Archbishop Christodoulos and performed traditional dances. The students gave Mr Christodoulos a wooden walking stick.

The Gipsies of Attica sang carols to the offices of New Democracy on Riggilis Street.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] As per an Opinion Poll by Kapa Research ND On the Lead by 1.2%

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET, To Vima newspaper

As per an opinion poll by Kapa Research for To Vima newspaper, ND is on the lead by 1.2%, as opposed to PASOK in the intention to vote. 32.4% of the persons questioned, stated that if elections were to take place tomorrow, they would vote for the governing party, as opposed to 31.2% who stated that they would vote for PASOK. KKE with 6.8%, LAOS 5.3% and SYN 3.7% followed. Spoiled and blank votes totalled 6.2%, while the undecided and the ones who refused to answer came up to 15.6%. Kostas Karamanlis is still considered as more suitable for Prime Minister with 47.6%, while George Papandreou received 32.7%.

43.1% of the persons questioned believed that the governing party will win the next elections, as opposed to 16% who said PASOK.

On the question of which party is responsible for the large deficits and the bad state of the economy, 43.4% said the PASOK Governments, 9.7% the current Government and 45.6% both parties.

On the question of which is the most important goal in order for 2006 to be a good year for Greece, 80.7% answered the decrease of unemployment, 42.9% combating expensiveness and 23.8% decrease of deficits.

The above is followed by these answers:

Combat of corruption 23.7% Increase of businesses competitiveness 20.4% Increase of Greeks productivity 20.2% Decrease of bureaucracy 19.8% Implementation of stricter measures for consumers protection 12.7% Increase of tourism 9.6% Decrease of the Public Sector 8.9%

In closing, 45.3% voiced their optimism over 2006 and that the new year will be better in comparison to 2005, as opposed to 13.3% who said that it will be worse and 40.2% who said nothing will change.

The Opinion Poll's Details:

Conducted by Kapa Research SA for To Vima newspaper. Fieldwork: December 16-22 to a sample of 2,022 men and women over 18 years of age. The collection of the figures was made by telephone interviews, while 74 researchers and 4 supervisors participated in the opinion poll.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[05] Abducted in Yemen Five German Hostages Freed

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: ANA, BBC

The family of former Deputy Foreign Minister Juergen Chrobog, who had been abducted by armed men in eastern Yemen last Wednesday, was freed after three days in captivity. The demand of the captors was the release of five members of its tribe imprisoned on criminal charges. As per Government sources, the hostages were handed over to two Government negotiators and will be taken to Aden on a military helicopter. The information was confirmed by the German Foreign Ministry, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs Walter Steinmeier estimated that the abduction was a random arrest and not a terrorism act. During the previous two months, in two different cases, two Swiss and two Austrian tourists were abducted and following released in Yemen.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Yemen captors free German family

ABC News: Five German Hostages Released in Yemen

[06] "I Will Continue my Work"

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET, BBC

On Friday night, the unheard of group Mujahadeen Brigades released the three Britons who were held captive for three days. After the release, 24-year-old Kate Burton and her parents, Hugh and Helen, departed the town of Gaza on a British diplomatic vehicle. However, shortly before, Kate reassured that she is to continue her humanitarian work in the area, as she works for the Human Rights Organisation Al Mezan. The family was kidnapped, at the time when Kate was touring her parents in the town of Gaza.

The Demands

The unheard of group, the Mujahadeen Brigades, announced its demands by videotape, which was sent to a Gaza TV station.

Beginning with a referral to Great Britains intervention in the area from 1918 and its consequences to the Palestinians, the masked man asked for the lift of entrance ban to a part of the Gaza Strip, among others.

Moreover, he called on the British Government to apply pressure to the Israelis for their demands, otherwise the abductions will continue.

On her part, the 24-year-old volunteer stated that the kidnappers treated them well.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

Telegraph: Hostage Britons driven to freedom

BBC: Kidnapped Britons freed in Gaza

Related News:

British Hostages Released

[07] Festive Working Hours Changes in Routes

By Betty Savourdou

The Means of Public Transport are entering the forthcoming year with changes in routes, since, as of today, New Years Eve, buses and trolley buses will gradually withdraw from traffic from 22:00. The last route of metro trains will take place from Syntagma Square and of the electric railway from Kifissia at 23:00. Moreover, all bus and trolley bus routes will operate as normal. The streets in the centre of Athens will be placed under traffic regulations for New Years festivities. In particular, Athinas Street will remain closed, from Lykourgos Street to Sofokleous Street, until January 2. Moreover, specific the National Railway Company (OSE) routes will not be performed today and tomorrow. For more information, passengers are requested to call 1110. With regard to the markets, butchers will close at 16:00, stores at 17:00 and super markets at 20:00. It is reminded that on Monday, bakeries and stores will remain closed.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Public Transport on New Year's Eve

Related Links:

Athens Urban Transport Organisation

National Railway Company

[08] Due to Landslides Village in Ioannina Evacuated

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET, ANA

Landslides, which have literally swallowed three houses and caused cracks in many others, have caused great concern and problems to the residents of the village of Charokopi in Ioannina Prefecture. The recent heavy rainfalls have contributed to the erosion of the ground, as well as the instability of the latter. The residents evacuated their houses in time, since a few days before they had heard suspicious noises. The authorities were immediately acted and other neighbouring houses were evacuated for precautionary reasons, while geologists of the Ministry for Public Works are investigating the area. Moreover, Spercheios overflowed by yesterdays rainfalls, resulting in disruptions in train routes, while damage to farming land and the road networks was recorded due to the Acherontas Rivers waters. The heavy rainfalls of the previous days have caused landslides in many provincial road networks in central and northern Greece.

Improvement of Weather

However, as of today, the weather will gradually improve, since extreme weather conditions will start subsiding from western Greece, while on Saturday good weather is expected. Actually, on Friday, the sailing of ships from Piraeus Port to the western Cyclades and Crete was allowed. At the same time, the getaway of holidaymakers is taking place smoothly. The Traffic Police has been on full alert as of yesterday, and warned drivers of the slipperiness of roads.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Mild Weather for New Year's

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