The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-02-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Heavy Snowfalls and Low Temperatures

16 Feb 2008 16:56:00

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105.8-ÁNA/ÌPA

The cold weather across Greece will last for three days with snowfalls, which have begun from the north and are extending to the south, with northern winds picking up. Heavy snowfalls have been recorded in Ioannina, Volos, Lamia and on the certain parts of the Athens-Lamia national road. The state mechanism is on alert, with the main priority being for the road network to remain open. The National Meteorological Service forecasts polar temperatures, snowfalls, which will be very heavy at parts, frost in northern Greece and snow even in the centre of Athens on Sunday. The General Secretariat of Political Protection has called all to avoid circulating purposely and be briefed on the status of the road network. Those in emergency can call 112, as well as the Police and the Fire Brigade.

Anti-Skid Chains on the Highlands

The poor weather has been extending from the north to the south.

Snow fell in several prefectures of central and northern Greece in the morning, while cars using the country road network in the prefectures of Florina, Pella, Grevena, Kastoria, Karditsa, Viotia, Fokida, Fthiotida, Euboea and Corinth should carry anti-skid chains.

Drivers using the Halkida-Istiaia and Halkida-Karystos road network should be especially careful.

The Ioannina airport remained closed until 16:00 due to the snow, while the first flight from Athens to Ioannina and vice versa will take place with a three-hour delay.

Meanwhile, the state mechanisms prompt measures kept open the road to Magnisia in Pelasgia area.

Those wishing to head to the Vasilitsa Ski Centre in Grevena, 3/5 Pigadia and Seli Snow Centres in Naousa and Voras and Mt Parnasos Ski Centres should use anti-skid chains.

Finally, a military helicopter carried 800 kilos of foodstuffs to Gavdos this morning, while the Palaiochora port authorities transferred four locals to the remote island.

Snowfalls Expected in Attica

Presently it is snowing on Mt Penteli and several parts of the Athens-Lamia national road.

Checks have been carried out by officials in Kiourka and Martino to see that the state mechanism in on alert.

Special emphasis will be given to Malakasa and Martino.

The Traffic Police has banned lorries over 1.5 tons to use the Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Evzonoi, Egnatia Odos axis, the Ionnina-Trikala, Ioannina-Milia-Grevena road, the Corinth-Tripolis national road from Artemision tunnel to Marki intersection from 17:00 Saturday until 17:00 Sunday for precautionary reasons.

The road to Mt Parnitha from the funicular, as well as the road from Kleiston Monastery in Hasia is closed.

Meanwhile, five vehicles in Skala Oropos that had been immobilized on Saturday afternoon were freed.

The City of Athens foundation for the homeless will remain open the whole day, while those in need in the City of Piraeus can call 1561 and 210 41.74.996. In parallel, the guest house for the homeless at Koumoundourou Square will remain open for 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the City of Athens has appealed to all to help in locating homeless, as of today until the poor weather improves.

Additionally, telephone line 210-52.46.515 of the City of Athens will be available on a 24-hour basis.

Worst Weather Conditions on Sunday

As per meteorologists, the weather will deteriorate especially on Sunday.

The latest weather report reads that snowfalls will be heavier in Thessaly, central and eastern mainland, Euboea, northern Aegean and the Peloponnese as of the afternoon.

Occasional snowfalls are expected in Attica tonight and in northern Aegean, eastern Thessaly, central and eastern mainland, Euboea, the Peloponnese, the Cyclades and Crete on Sunday.

The temperate in central and northern Greece on Sunday will be below zero, while total frost is also expected.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[02] In Athens Metropolis

16 Feb 2008 10:58:00 (Last updated: 16 Feb 2008 16:04:19)

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105,8

Today was a big day for the Greek Church and Athens Archbishopric. The enthronement of the New Archbishop took place in Athens Cathedral Church in a bright religious ceremony. Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as representatives of Greece political leadership and Orthodox Patriarchate was present. 5 minutes before 11:00, Athens and Whole Greece Archbishop Hieronymos arrived at the cathedral where Athens Prefect Yiannis Sgouros welcomed him with honors. Mr. Hieronymos shook hands with the President of Parliament Mr. Dimitris Sioufas, PASOK president Mr. Giorgos Papandreou and Athens Mayor Mr. Nikita Kaklamanis. The Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was also present. When he entered the church the encyclical of the Holly Synod as well as the Presidential Decree per his election was read. According to the ceremonials of religion, the suffragan of the archbishopric throne, Metropolitan Bishop of Karystia Serafeim lead the enthronement while Mr. Hieronymos was addressed by Minister of Education Mr. Evripidis Stylianidis, the President of Parliament Mr. Dimitris Sioufas, Athens Mayor Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis and the senior archimandrite of the Archbishopric Church Mr. Th. Synodinos. After the enthronement ceremony Mr. Hieronymos will receive congratulations and wishes in the Archbishopric Mansion.

The Archbishop's Speech after the Ceremony

Archbishop Hieronymos after the enthronement ceremony addressed everyone to join together adopting mutual targets. It is of vital importance the Greek Church and the State to cooperate preserving discrete roles targeting at serving the people, Mr. Hieonymos said. It is the duty of the Greek Church to express speeches and not to dispute the institutions and adopt political stances but to express the societys agony and to develop spiritual antibodies to phenomena that degenerate the face of the society. It is our duty, he also said, the people of the Church to be martyrs, the Church to exist to unite people and this is achieved as he stressed with works and not talks. That is why he added the Church must not be silent when peoples problems are concerned.

The Church does not deserve to support an ideology or policy against another one because then it will not be a Church but a party, he said. Mr. Hieronymos expressed his gratitude to all priests who elected him and thanked all those who attended his enthronement ceremony. Last but not least, Athens and Whole Greece Archbishop referred to his personal worries which include the new generation, the responsibility for the course of modern Greek civilization and the solicitude for every human who is being languished, expressing at the same time his support to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] Elections in Cyprus

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105.8-ÁNA/ÌPA

Sundays presidential elections in Cyprus are the first to be held after the Annan plan referendum in April 2004 and Cyprus accession to the European Union on May 1 the same year.

Incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos, Communist challenger Demetris Christofias and right-winger Ioannis Kassoulides are each seeking to win over half a million Greek Cypriot voters. The presidential election looks set to go to a second round as polls show the three main candidates Tassos Papadopoulos, Communist challenger Dimitris Christofias and right-winger Ioannis Kassoulidis neck-and-neck.

No Forecast Possible

Analysts say the vote is too close to call, with a runoff expected on Feb 24.

The three main presidential candidates are the following:

Tassos Papadopoulos (74) - A British-trained lawyer and constitutional expert, Papadopoulos won presidential elections with 51.5 per cent of the vote just weeks before the spring 2004 UN peace plan deadline, defeating veteran predecessor Glafcos Clerides, who had been president since 1993. He took over negotiations on whether to accept the UN plan, and on the eve of the May 2004 EU entry date Papadopoulos urged Greek Cypriots to vote no in the referendum. He insisted the deal for Greek Cypriots returning to their former homes in the north was not good enough.

Dimitris Christofias (62) - Soviet-educated Christofias had served in various posts in AKEL, the islands communist party, which he now heads. He helped Papadopoulos win the elections in 2003 and AKEL was a senior partner in the incumbents administration. Relations took a negative turn in 2007 when Papadopoulos refused to back Christofias bid for presidency. Christofias accuses Papadopoulos of failing to be proactive in seeking the reunification of the island.

Ioannis Kassoulides (59) - A former foreign minister in Cyprus right-wing 1993-2003 administration who helped negotiate Cyprus admission to the European Union. Kassoulides is now a member of the European Parliament. He has promised a more hands-on approach to dealing with the Cyprus problem.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[04] In Afghanistan

16 Feb 2008 10:28:00

Sources: ANA, Reuters

Human loses are many from the harshest winter Afghanistan has ever faced. Death toll rises to 926. At least 90 people have been amputated due to frostbites while the special hospital unit of Herat city is involved only with the treatment of frostbites. This is the worst winter in the countrys recent history. The situation seems particularly difficult in remote and inaccessible areas where severe snowfalls make access impossible. There are fears that death toll may rise when roads open and access to remote places becomes possible. Major losses have been reported in the sector of poultry farming and agriculture where more than 316.000 animals have died from the beginning of winter. These sectors are considered crucial for the local economy which mostly relies on foreign aid. The United Nations World Food Programme last month appealed for extra food assistance for 2.55 million Afghans until the next harvest in June.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[05] They Shot Him in His House

16 Feb 2008 17:49:00

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA

Unidentified individuals attacked a 53-year-old businessman on Nea Penteli late at night as he was returning home.

The culprits used a gun to immobilize him as he was coming out of his car and then led him into his house, where they tied his wife, removing from the house a sum of money and other objects.

As they were leaving, they shot him three times, injuring him on the hands and his back. The victim was transferred to KAT Hospital, where he is out of danger.

The police are investigating the case.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[06] Melbourne, Australia

16 Feb 2008 15:57:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA-MPA

Alkinoos Ioannidis and Miltiadis Papastamous concern in the fully packed Melbourne Town Hall Friday evening was described a "musical feast" by the attendees. The two artists presented songs from Cyprus recorded in a CD entitled "From the West to the East", as well as songs by Hatzidakis, Kypourgos and others. This is Alkinoos Ioannidis second concert in Melbourne, while Papastamou sang for the first time in Australia.

The two artists work aimed at promoting the harmonious coexistence of music traditions with modern musical currents. The Cypriot Community of Melbourne staged the concert and invited the two musicians, who will give another concert at the Wine Festival next weekend.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[07] New Delhi, India

16 Feb 2008 11:53:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

in a district close to the capital, killing 14 people

Sources: ANA, MNA, Reuters, AFP

Hundreds of Maoist rebels in Indias eastern Orissa state attacked police stations in a district close to the capital, killing 14 people and looting weapons, police and officials said on Saturday.Maosti rebels claim that they fight for the rights of the poor and landless and regularly launch attacks in the eastern and central areas of India. Prime Minister Manmoham Singh has declared their decades-old insurgency as the gravest threat to Indias internal security. The simultaneous attacks on towns in Orissas Nayagarh district began late on Friday and lasted for several hours. About 500 rebels participated in the bloody attacks.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[08] In Vietnam

16 Feb 2008 11:40:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA, MNA, Reuters

Bird flu has killed a second man in Vietnam this week, infected a child and poultry in two provinces. Doctors confirmed a 7-year-old child from the northern province of Hai Duong had the H5N1 virus and was being treated at a paediatric hospital in Hanoi, the Vietnam News Agency said. The 27-year-old man died on Thursday night at a Hanoi hospital after he was taken there from the northern province of Ninh Binh on Tuesday with serious pneumonia, the official Vietnam News Agency reported. This is the third man who loses his life from the disease. In Hai Duong province a man died form bird flu on Tuesday.

[09] New Military Forces

16 Feb 2008 11:02:00

Sources: ANA, Reuters

US army troops in Iraq may rise to 140.000 until summer 2008 compared to 132.000 for 2007. The new military forces will target at coping rised violence in Iraq which has brought the country on the edge of a civil war. In US political life, the materialization of this plan is expected to be adopted by all sides as an argument, given that presidential elections will be held in US in November when Americans will be called to choose George Bushs successor.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[10] A 33 Years Old Severely Injured

16 Feb 2008 10:12:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ANA

A 33 years old worker was severely injured bearing severe brain injuries and contusion of the neck in Neorion of Syros dockyard. He was transferred by Hellenic National Center of Emergency Care (EKAV) helicopter to Red Cross Hospital. The accident occurred in the floating tank "EMOUPOLIS" in Syros Island.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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