The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-03-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] In Ancient Olympia

23 Mar 2008 12:03:00 (Last updated: 23 Mar 2008 19:09:30)

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105,8, ÁNA-ÌNA

The rehearsal for the Olympic flame ritual of the Beijing Games was held Sunday in Ancient Olympia before Greeces Culture Minister Michael Liapis. The official ceremony will take place on Monday before President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias, the Greek political leadership. A Chinese delegation, as well as members of the International Olympic Committee will be there to watch head priestess Maria Nafpliotou lighting the sacred flame. A weather bulletin warning of bad weather conditions in the area forced the Greek Olympic Committee to hold the ceremony an hour earlier, namely at 1100 hours. Michael Liapis himself is monitoring the latest preparations at the site of Ancient Olympia.

[02] On the FYROM Name Row

23 Mar 2008 19:02:00

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8

The dawning of the new week will witness developments and intense deliberations with a view to achieving a mutually acceptable solution to a long-standing dispute over FYROMs name ahead of the NATO Summit. Athens is entering the new round of talks under Matthew Nimetz in New York on Tuesday, while Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis is expected to hold a new meeting with her FYROM counterpart on the sidelines of the informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Slovenia. In the meantime, FYROM President Branko Crvenkovskis statement, whereby he favoured a "rational compromise," has caused sensation.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Unions Threaten to Hold New Strike Actions

23 Mar 2008 17:08:00

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8

Greeces union umbrellas for the private and public sectors, GSEE and ADEDY, have started collecting signatures to endorse a referendum petition with regard to the pension bill. The opposition parties are expected to file the petition on coming Wednesday, when the bill in question is scheduled to be put to vote. In the meantime, the employees of the Bank of Greece will go out on a strike on Monday, while lawyers of Piraeus and Thessaloniki will keep abstaining from their duties until 26 March. The Public Power Corroboration trade union, GENOP-PPC, said it will bring the case to the EU courts. It is noted that GENOP-PPC members will be referred Monday morning to the Prosecutor, accused of disrupting smooth power supply during the strike.

In the meantime, a survey conducted by Public Issue for Kathimerini paper has suggested that 57% of the respondents give a negative rating to the pension bill, while 77% of them approve the nationwide strike actions as a means of protest. With regard to administration, 41% of those surveyed think that a centre-right government will be in power in the years to come, as opposed to 35% who think that a centre-left one will assume power. Furthermore, 61% of the respondent claim that the Socialist party needs a change of guard, while 49% believe that the recent congress will not make any difference.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

The Pension Bill to Be Voted

[04] In New York

23 Mar 2008 17:35:00

Sources: AFP

French President Nicolas Sarkozys ex-wife is to marry her Moroccan-born lover at New Yorks glitzy Rainbow Room on Sunday, according to a program of the celebrations seen by AFP.

Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz and Richard Attias, a multi-millionaire events organizer, were to tie the knot at a black tie ceremony at 7 pm (2300 GMT) attended by 150 guests, many of whom flew in from Europe for the nuptials.

The 65th-floor Rainbow Room is one of the best-known establishments in New York. Part of the Art Deco Rockefeller Center dating from the 1930s, it features chandeliers, a revolving dance floor and views across Manhattan.

According to the program, the ceremony was to be followed by cocktails and dinner at the Manhattan venue described by New York Magazine as "one place true New Yorkers expect never to visit" and catering for "easy-to-impress tourists."

Details surrounding the wedding had been shrouded in secrecy. Rumors had suggested the couple would hold a Jewish ceremony at a New York synagogue on Sunday, but there was no mention of any religious ceremony on the program.

Guests of the couple kicked off three days of celebrations on Friday with a party at Attiass Connecticut home. On Saturday, they were treated to dinner at an upmarket 1920s steakhouse just off Broadway.

They were later due to take in the ABBA-themed Broadway show "Mamma Mia!"

[05] Mr. Alogoskoufis' Interview

23 Mar 2008 12:37:00

Sources: ÁNA-ÌNA, ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105,8

The inter-ministerial committee of denationalization is meeting during the following days in order to decide whether Deutsche Telekom will buy a 19.9% stake in the incumbent Greek telco OTE. Greek Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis said on his part that he is in favour of a co-management model for OTE while he stresses that this year the focus will lie in the development of infrastructure by private citizens as well as the competitions on ports, the possible buy of stake of El. Venizelos airport and the provision of regional airports to private citizens for exploitation for a limited duration of time.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[06] From January 1st, 2009

23 Mar 2008 10:41:00

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105,8

Public Transportation Ministry will issue a new single public transportation ticket for multiple usages. The price of the new ticket will be 1euro. ISAP (Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway S.A.) monthly card will cost 25 euros, METRO card 30 euros while the card for all public transportation means will cost 35 euros instead of 38. The new fare policy is expected to be put in effect in January 2009. The bus and trolley yearly card will cost 150 euros from 175 and ISAP card 250 euros from 300.OSA information center will receive complaints of passengers. The telephone center will provide information to passengers from Monday to Friday 6:30-11:30 in the evening while the center will be open in weekends from 7:00 in the morning to 10:30 at night.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[07] For Colon Cancer

23 Mar 2008 10:17:00

By

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105,8

Residents of 55-70 years old of Attika prefecture can take for free the new preventive test for colon cancer. This initiative was taken by Athens-Piraeus prefecture and the Medical School of Athens University with the support of the Hellenic Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology. All interested in taking the test can visit the branches of "Biomedical" centre in Athens and Piraeus without having to pay and by showing only their identity card. For more information you can call Athens-Piraeus prefecture as well as in the telephone line 210 6984482.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[08] Bloody Attack in Mosul

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, ÁNA-ÌNA

Local military source announced that 5 Iraqi soldiers were killed and 25 were injured in a suicide attack launched in an army building in of Mosul, Nineveh province (North Iraq). The bomber smashed the truck through barriers at the entrance to the base and triggered the explosion," Major Mohammed Ahmed told AFP. Among the wounded were 20 Iraqi soldiers, he said. US believe that Mosul has been turned into a field where Al Qaeda takes action.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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