The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-02-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] New Cyprus President to be Sworn-in Wednesday

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: ÍÅÔ - ÁNA-ÌPA

Dimitris Christofias, winner of the presidential elections in Cyprus with 53.36%, followed by Yiannakis Kasoulides with 46.64% will be sworn-in on Wednesday. It is the first time that the Cyprus Communist party wins the presidential elections with its own candidate. In his first message, Christofias committee himself to cooperate with the other parties for the islands re-unification, referring in parallel to the difficulties he will encounter. Meanwhile, the Greek leadership congratulated Mr Christofias on his victory. In parallel, Mr Christofias win will lead to the election of a new secretary in AKEL and a new Parliament President, who will most probably be DIKO President Marios Karoyian. AKEL supporters took to the streets Sunday, cheering their party's victory, while Mr Christofias visited the headquarters of DIKO, EDEK and EDI parties that had supported him.

Greek-Cypriot Press on Christofias' Election

Christofias election dominated all Greek-Cypriot newspaper headlines, with Haravgi reporting that the anchylosis and establishment of the past have collapsed. It is the first time that Greek-Cypriots, Turkish-Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins celebrate an electoral win for the presidency.

Politis newspaper reports that modesty has won, while Alitheia newspaper reads that DISI President Nikos Anastasiadis called for unity and responsibility.

Fileleftheros newspaper speaks of a new era in Cyprus and a comfortable win of the centre-left wing, while Tharros newspaper refers to the new presidents hard task.

Turkish-Cypriot Press on Christofias' Election

Dimitris Christofias win is covered in front pages of Turkish-Cypriot newspaper. Halkin Sesi newspaper reports that the first Communist has been elected in the south, Kibris newspaper speaks of Christofias era in the south, while Volkan newspaper speaks of a Marxist-Leninist President, adding that at his last rally, Mr Christofias stated that he has no doubts on Cyprus Greek nature.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Related News:

Christofias Wins Elections

[02] Trade Unions Reactions

25 Feb 2008 16:47:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8

Government spokesman, Thodoros Roussopoulos said that the Inner Cabinet will soon approve draftbill on social security reforms. In parallel, reactions of trade unions continue. After her meeting with GENOP-DEH today, Employment Minister, Fani Pali Petralia said that social security reforms will not have a negative impact on today and future DEH employees, stressing that protection of employees interests completely coincides with the philosophy of social security reforms from which no-one is exempted.. I have committed myself to the president and members of GENOP DEH administration board that nothing will change. On his part, GENOP-DEH president, Nikos Fotopoulos voiced his radical argument with socials security proposals and called the government to review its stand and exempt GENOP DEH healthy fund. GENOP DEH is staging panhellenic work stoppage tomorrow Tuesday and calls employees to gather at Hankokondili DEH headquarters to protest against memorandum to be signed by the companys administration tomorrow. GSEE executive committee is having a meeting since noon today to decide on strike mobilizations while ADEDY has already announced a 24-hour strike.

Athens Trade Union, in its announcement, expresses its support to the just struggle of Attika Metro drivers, who are fighting to protect their labor rights. The announcement says: "Although they work under adverse working conditions, in underground tunnels- artificially lit and aired and close to mobile telephony antennas and electromagnetic fields, the companys Administration and the State have not recognized their adverse working conditions to include them in the hard and unhealthy professions group. The Administration Board of Daily Newspapers Union Peloponnese-Epirus-Islands has proposed 48-hour strike mobilizations in protest against socials ecurity reforms and rally outside the Maximos Mansion.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[03] Dmitry Medvedev in Serbia

25 Feb 2008 18:48:00

Sources: NET 105.8

Dmitry Medvedev, the Kremlin-backed frontrunner for Russian President, offered Monday Moscows backing to Serbia in its fight against Kosovos independence and a deal on the construction of a natural gas pipeline to pump Russian gas to western Europe through Serbia. Upon exiting his meeting with Serbian President Boris Tadic, Medvedev said that Moscow will seek to smooth out its ties with the nations that recognised Kosovos unilateral independence. In the meantime, the EU and NATO missions will not be removed from the northern part of Kosovo despite the high tensions in the area.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] Violent Clashes in Cameroon

Sources: REUTERS

At least four people were killed in Cameroons economic capital Douala on Monday when protesters angry over the high cost of living barricaded streets in the port city, looted shops and clashed with riot police. The violence in the teeming city, a stronghold of opposition to President Paul Biyas 25-year rule, erupted after taxi drivers launched a strike to protest against petrol and fuel price hikes, which have pushed up prices of basic products. "Two persons were pulled out of their car and beaten to death at Bonaberi neighbourhood. One man was burned to death when the Douala Five Council was set ablaze and another young man suffocated after inhaling too much tear gas," a senior police officer in Douala told Reuters. Witnesses said riot police were firing into the air and firing tear gas to try to disperse groups of protesters and looters around Douala, one of Africas major west coast ports which also ships cocoa from the worlds fourth biggest producer. Protests have been growing in the oil-producing central African country after Biya announced last month that his government would "re-examine" the constitution after what he said were popular calls for him to stay on past 2011.

[05] Says OASP

25 Feb 2008 17:24:00

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8

Prompted by claims speaking of imminent strong earthquake hits in Greece, the nations Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP) underlined that there is no scientific evidence pointing to that direction. OASP head Kostas Makropoulos called on citizens and local authorities to turn a deaf ear to such groundless estimations, which can be nothing but harmful.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] G. Alogoskoufis-ADEDY Meeting

25 Feb 2008 15:11:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA

George Alogoskoufis meeting with ADEDY in the presence of Economics undersecretary, Nikos Legas and general secretary for Economics, Yiannis Sidiropoulos concluded without substantial results. Economy Minister said that the economy should not be de-stabilized. During the meeting ADEDY submitted its requests in view of announcement of 2008 income policy and dialogue on civil servants new salary.In his statements after the meeting, ADEDY president, Spiros Spiropoulos said that 2008 income policy to be announced next month can not have nominal divergence from inflation rate and civil servants salary must be readapted with lowest salary starting from 1.300 euros. In its announcement, ADEDY executive committee says: Economics Minister responses indicate the governments persistence on austerity and privatization policies which reduce workers rights. This stand provides strike mobilizations with a new upsurge of energy which in combination with crucial issue of social security reforms will be expressed in a strike mobilization to be staged soon. ADEDY is already having talks with GSSE-taken that collective contract in private sector has not been signed yet- to finalize date of strike.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[07] Peking 2008 Olympic Games Nearing

25 Feb 2008 14:31:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ÁNA, Culture Ministry Press Office

In a press interview in Peking today, Culture Minister, Mihalis Liapis expressed satisfaction at the Chinese people response to Hellenic Cultural Year events in China. He also referred to preparations for open musical event, based on Greeces musical traditional, during the Olympic Games when Peking will the focus of world interest and performance of Aristofanis historical play Ornithes on Wednesday at the National Centre for Performing Arts. Within the context of the Hellenic Cultural Year, an exhibition-concerning the Acropolis New Museum, widely accepted as one of the worlds most significant museums- opens to the public on Tuesday. This exhibition housed at Pekings Greek House will give visitors the opportunity through rich audio-visual material to watch the chronicle and concept for the construction of the museum, which is of a spectacular architectural design. Also on Tuesday, Mr. Liapis and his Chinese counterpart will sign a cooperation memorandum to combat antiquities smuggling. Finally, he assured that landscape in Ancient Olympia will have been restored for the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony, underlining that the ceremony will take place in an environment appropriate to the history and significance of the institution.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[08] Bloody Attack in Pakistan

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ÁNA, Reuters, French, German

A suicide bomber attacked a Pakistani military vehicle in the city of Rawalpindi on Monday, killing the armys top medical officer, Lieutenant-General Mushtaq Ahmed Baig and two of his staff and five passers-by, officials said. This is the first bomb attack a week after Pakistan held largely peaceful parliamentary elections.The Pakistani militarys headquarters is in Rawalpindi and several major attacks on the military and security agencies have taken place in the city since the middle of last year. Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and more than 20 of her supporters were killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack as she left a rally in Rawalpindi on Dec. 27.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[09] ADEDY-Alogoskoufis Meeting

By Athina Saloustrou

The ADEDY (Supreme Administration of Greek Civil Servants Trade Unions) Presidium has asked from Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis at their meeting the radical reformation of the civil servants scale of remuneration with the incorporation of subsidies to the basic salary, which should be at least 1,300 euros in the first step. Regarding the 2008 revenue policy that as per the ADEDY president it will be announced next month, ADEDY has made it clear that it will not accept any nominal pay rises below inflation. Mr Papaspyrou spoke of a just and meritocratic pay system. Mr Alogoskoufis stressed that the gradual incorporation to the basic salary either of the performance drive or the 176-euro special subsidy will commence this year. In parallel, the revenue policy will have to go hand by hand with the economys stabilization. Moreover, negotiations on the new scale of remuneration is an essential condition for any discussion to take place on the Civil Servants Social Security.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[10] Clashes Continue in N. Iraq

Turkish warplanes bombed PKK Kurdish guerillas positions in Hakurk mountainous region, according to local security sources. Bombing began last night and continued through the night in the mountainous region 20km from the Turkish borders, which is PKK guerillas stronghold. Firat News agency said that Turkish jetfighters took off from Diyiabakir base last night. Iraqi Kurds sources spoke of intensification of clashes between Turkish forces and PKK guerillas in Hakurk.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[11] Karamanlis-Sioufas Meeting

Sources: ÁNA

Parliament President, Dimitris Sioufas met with Prime-minister, Kostas Karamanlis at the Maximos mansion this morning to discuss parliamentary work and plans for the coming period. Mr. Sioufas said that they also discussed about his visit to Konstantinopolis to attend Parliament Presidium Assembly of Black Sea economic cooperation member states. Greece is presiding over the Assembly this term, said Mr. Sioufas. Second issue on the agenda of talks was Fridays meeting of the Euromediterranean Interparliamentary Assembly Presidium, again chaired by Greece in view of the assembly to be held in Athens at the end of March. The Presidium will meet with the Prime-minister on Friday while the European Parliament President, Hans-Gert P&#246;ttering as well as Egypt and Tunisia Parliament Presidents, Ahmed Fathy Sorour and Fouad Mebazaa respectively.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[12] Cohen Brothers Sweep Oscars

By Christina Liapi

Joel and Ethan Coen were the big winners at the Academy Awards presentation Sunday night, when their film "No Country for Old Men" won a total of four Oscars, and all of them big ones: best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay and best supporting actor.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[13] Coen Brothers Win 4 Oscars

Sources: REUTERS

Bleak drama "No Country For Old Men" won four Oscars on Sunday, more than any other film, including best movie, director and adapted screenplay for brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. The movie, based on Cormac McCarthys novel about a drug deal gone wrong in south Texas, speaks to the moral decline of society and was among a group of dark, somber films that competed for the worlds top movie awards.

The films fourth award, for best supporting actor, went to Spains Javier Bardem for playing a killer of few words. In other top awards, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honoured a wide range of movies, actors and actresses from several countries, highlighting a recent trend toward globalization in cinema.

Briton Daniel Day-Lewis won for best actor as a sadistic oil prospector in the early 20th century whose rise to wealth and power comes at a deep cost to his soul. He was heavily favoured for an Oscar after winning a series of other industry awards for the role. Another British performer, Tilda Swinton, took supporting actress honours as a shifty lawyer in the thriller "Michael Clayton" and Frances Marion Cotillard was named best actress for portraying singer Edith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose."

Related Links:

The Winning List

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