The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-05-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Kostas Karamanlis Says

18 May 2008 15:40:00 (Last updated: 18 May 2008 17:30:37)

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8

Addressing the ministry general secretaries and regional authorities, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis underlined that, although not likeable as they attack long-established perceptions and interests, reforms should go on. In the meantime, the lawsuit MARFIN head Andreas Vgenopoulos filed against PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) President George Papandreou. "PASOK is not intimidated. The Government and all those interested should know that nothing will stop us. My duty and PASOKs duty is to serve state interests and not be dragged by interests," said the main opposition leader. "Vgenopoulos keeps following a dangerous path for the nations political life," commented SYN leader Alexis Tsipras, while LAOS President George Papandreou argued that one cannot do politics with lawsuits. The wrangling between the government and the opposition parties over the deal struck with Deutsche Telekom continued on Sunday.

Fresh Wrangling

Finance minister announced that the agreement between OTE and Deutsche Telekom is expected to be released to public within the next week.

Mr. Alogoskoufis in his interview in "Eleftheros Typos" newspaper branded the agreement very profitable. On reference to Mr. Papandreou suggestion for the set up of an enquiry committee and Mr. Pangalos accusation for criminal responsibilities by the government, he said that all these are "hollow threats". "Whoever has something to say he may say it using specific arguments," he stated.

"The agreement exists, it is the governments will and as a member of the government I have the obligation to support it," environmental minister Mr. Souflias said in his interview in "Eleftheros Typos".

"The governments decision to sell out OTE will be marked in history with shame," SYRIZA head Alekos Alavnos stated on the issue.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Political Storm on OTE

Speed Up of the Governmental Work

[02] PASOK Intra-party Elections

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8

PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) is holding an intra-party vote to elect the partys regional officials. Escorted by his wife Anda, PASOK President George Papandreou cast his ballot in Nea Erythrea district, while he discussed with PASOK members their positions on PASOKs structure. Sundays vote wraps up the intra-party circle for the election of new PASOK bodies, as was decided at the partys recent congress. On his part, Papandreou called for unity, meritocracy and collective action within the party.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Death Toll Rose to 32,477

18 May 2008 10:52:00 (Last updated: 18 May 2008 12:49:15)

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, ANA-MPA

A strong aftershock measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale rattled again the quake-ravaged areas of SW China, making the rescue workers already painstaking task even harder. Six days after the 7.9-magnitude earthquake, at least 63 people have been pulled to safety, while the quake toll is rising and rising day after day. Chinese authorities have put the quake toll to 32,477. Thousands of people fled their homes amid fears a lake could burst its banks, while the homeless are threatened by disease outbreaks.

More than 20 aftershocks measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale have been recorded since Monday, amid painstaking efforts to rescue more than 10,000 people who have been trapped in the rubble.

A person trapped in hospital rubble for 139 hours was pulled to safety on Sunday. At least 63 people were rescued on Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency said, despite estimates that the chances of survival are wearing thin.

However, not everyones stories had a happy ending. A man who was rescued 129 hours after the earthquake died Sunday of heart attack, the state media said.

The state-run television reported that the rescue crews sent in the area are on alert, since the strong aftershocks could bring about more victims, even among the rescue workers.

Xinhua news agency reported that the nuclear plants in the quake-hit area were safe.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

China: Beichuan in Alert

[04] The Education Minister's Interview

18 May 2008 12:26:00 (Last updated: 18 May 2008 18:06:17)

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8

The implementation of the controversial law on higher education is likely to bring about crucial developments in the coming week, while Education Minister Evrypides Stylianides heralded changes in the admission to universities. In his interview with Sunday paper Proto Thema, Stylianides touched on non-state universities, stressing that those opposing send their children to private universities abroad. The Education Minister also heralded a four-year high school, with the last year preparing candidates for their exams-free admission to universities. Stylianides clarified that admission to private universities will be determined by national-level exams. On Monday, the Education Minister will meet with the Prime Minister at Maximos Mansion.

"The revision of Article 16 should carry out in a consensual manner," said Socialist deputy Anna Diamantopoulou in her interview with Eleftherotypia. She also championed universal suffrage in the rectors elections and blasted violent reactions.

Referring to Article 16 through his interview with Eleftheros Typos, head of SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) parliamentary group Alekos Alavanos noted that ND-PASOK consent has broken and urged the main opposition party to abandon its alliance with ND.

In the meantime, the national-level exams for admission to tertiary education commence on Tuesday.

"Safeguarding Credibility of National-Level Exams"

Education Minister put emphasis on measures needed to safeguard the credibility of the national-level exams for admission to higher education.

Referring to the national-level exams, he said they sped up all measures required to safeguard the objectivity and credibility of the exams system. The Ministry, continued Stylianides, extended the incompatibility prerequisite for those taking part in the committees, occasionally replacing the member of the Central Committee of the national level exams. Shifting his attention to the changes in the examination system, he underlined that the Education Ministry cannot ignore the European trend, whereby access to tertiary education should be facilitated and selection processes rest with the universities.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Dead and Missing Reached 133,000

18 May 2008 13:21:00 (Last updated: 18 May 2008 14:18:50)

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, ÍÅÔ, ANA-MPA

A week after devastating cyclone Nargis spread havoc in Myanmar, dead and missing have exceeded 133,000. The foreign officials who were allowed access to the hardest-hit areas eye-witnessed the scale of disaster in the Irrawaddy delta. In the meantime, the military rulers keep denying a large-scale foreign aid. Experts on natural disasters have estimated that the death toll from the cyclone that swept through Myanmar on 2 May could rise dramatically. Myanmars junta, on the other hand, has claimed that the situation has been brought under control. Torrential tropical storms at the Irrawaddy delta are worsening the situation and hampering the dispatch of humanitarian aid.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Myanmar: Opposition Party Rejects the Referendum

[06] Buya Friend!

Sources: ANA, MNA

According to an Australian professor if you feel lonely because your friends are not close to you anymore, there is no need to be desperate: You can buy one!

Professor Robert Cummins form Melbourne Deakin University believes that friendship should be seen as a human need.

"We do not have a problem acknowledging that people need to pay when they need something in some cases. Why should not this be the case with friendship?"

And someone should not think that this is a cruel procedure because friendship has to do warm and sincere feelings. Dc. Cummins will argue with you and will present you a case from England.

The son of an 80 years old pensioner is asking for somebody to hang around with his father when he goes to the pub for a drink. He is offering $15 per hour and he wants to find an appropriate friend for his father.

The professor stresses that a friendship programme must be established in Australia which will be funded by the government and will not depend on volunteer organizations.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[07] For Pontian Greeks

18 May 2008 14:30:00

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA-MPA

Today is a commemoration day for Pontian Greeks. Deum and a memorial service were held on Sunday morning in Thessaloniki to commemorate the genocide committed by the Turks against Pontian Greeks. Wreaths were then laid at the monument dedicated to the genocide victims. Macedonia-Thrace Minister Margaritis Tzimas, Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis, Mayro Vassilis Papageorgopoulos and MPs attended the Te Deum.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] Emergency Landing

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ÍÅÔ

An air bus of a foreign company en route from Italy to Egypt performed an emergency landing at the Athens International Airport shortly before 10.30pm. The pilot detected a crack on the cockpits window.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] Arrests for Thessaloniki's Incidents

By

Sources: ANA, MNA

As announced by the police department of Thessaloniki today, 12 people were arrested during small incidents before and after the football finals for the Cup between Aris FC And Olympiacos in Kaftatzogleio Stadium yesterday.

More specifically, 4 young men were arrested because they attacked and injured a 28 year old who was transferred to the hospital because as they claimed he along with other funs threw stones against them.

Before the game, another 7 people were arrested because they tried to enter the stadium with fake tickets while a 27 years old fun was arrested because he attacked a police officer in order to avoid the police control.

After the end of the game, another fun was arrested in the court because he tried to break the police cordon heading towards the funs of the rival team.

[10] Football Tournament in Panepistimiou St.

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌNA

Memories from old Athens were revived today in Panepistimiou St. where children and young people played football in the streets which are usually flooded with cars and fumes every day.

Participation in the football tournament organized by "Youth and Athletics Organization" of Athens prefecture, was big.

More than 4.000 children aged from 10 to 14 years old which are members of athletic unions or like football responded to the call of Athens Prefecture Youth and Athletics Organization, and came to the center of Athens to play football for 3 hours.

In Sina and Pesmetzoglou Streets fake football carpets and 20 mini football courts were set up and the tournament started.

The games continued until noon when veteran football players competed. "We bring the game of our hearts to the heart of the city and give everyone another chance for athletics. "We are playing football and we are enjoying the pleasure of athletics and the magic of football," was the mayors message.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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