The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-06-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Statements on Siemens Scandal this Week

23 Ιουν 2008 15:04:0

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA-ΜPA

Stormy developments in the Siemens case are expected this week as a large number of people involved in the scandal will face public prosecutor, Pangiotis Athanasiou. One of the alleged suspects in the Siemens case involved in the 3.3 million Deutsche Marks account made a supplementary statement today. The holders of the seven accounts from which the sum of 1 million Deutsche Marks had been transferred, who had been called to give their statements today, asked for postponement in order to be briefed on the content of the report. Former PASOK party deputy, Thodoros Tsoukatos was scheduled to face the public prosecutor tomorrow Tuesday, however, according to reports he is supposed to ask for a 48-hour deadline to submit his statement in a letter. Highly concerned is the main opposition party. George Papandreou repeated his request for the setting up of an inquiry committee and stated determined to clash with the government and practices that damnify Greece and Greek people. On its part, the government has left open possibility to set up inquiry committee in the event Justice confirms evidence against statesmen.

Statements Continue

According to reports, the seven people allegedly involved through the equal number of bank accounts in the transfer of the 1 million Deutsche Marks-chanelled to PASOK party fund according to Mr. Tsoukatos-are either relatives or friends of Mr. Tsoukatos driver. An eighth person, Mr. Tsoukatos close aide emerging as either exclusive holder or co-holder in the seven bank accounts- is scheduled to face public prosecutor on Wednesday. Also to make supplementary statements on the same day are former Siemens Hellas chairman, Mihalis Hristoforakos, advisor of former Transport Minister, Anastasios Mantelis, who is the alleged writer of instructions to which accounts the black money should be deposited as well as a former Siemens executive, who is to face the public prosecutor for the third time to give further clarifications. Former Economics director of PASOK fund, Spiros Avgerinos and treasurer Dimitra Papahristou are expected to make their statements this week.

Unrest in PASOK

In the meantime, unrest continues in the main opposition party with George Papandreou firmly insisting on his position "to shed light on everything and all persons" . In an interview with NET, PASOK spokesman, George Papakonstantinou assured that there were not contributions recorded in PASOK party books. Thodoros Tsoukatos is responsible and must give explanations, he stressed. In an interview with the newspaper "Ta Nea", Anna Diamantopoulou spoke of unacceptable behaviour and practices by isolated people indeed retired- who have been suspended from PASOK moral base and must be separated to safeguard the huge work of the party and the contribution of the honest members who are the overwhelming majority.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[02] FYROM Issue Picking up

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

Special UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, who is expected to visit Athens on Thursday and Skopje on Wednesday, is commencing a new round of talks on the FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) name issue. In parallel, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will raise the FYROM name issue with her Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis in their meeting Tuesday, on the sidelines of the meeting of Foreign ministers of donating countries to Palestine. Meanwhile, in an interview with the state news agency of FYROM, Nikola Gruevski stated that he will not change his position on the pending name issue. As per indications, FYROMs future prime minister insists on a referendum whatever solution is reached on the name issue.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[03] Ice on Mars

Sources: ΝΕΤ

Nasas Phoenix spacecraft has found compelling evidence of ice at its landing site on Mars polar region, scientists say. Chunks of a bright material found a few days ago in a trench dug by the landers arm have disappeared ,suggesting they have vaporised. These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days proved that its ice and not salt. During Phoenix three-month scientific mission, dirt and ice will be deposited in several small ovens to be heated. Measuring devices will test the resulting gases. The aim of the mission is to test whether the red planet has the gases necessary to make it inhabitable.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Mars probe makes 'ice discovery'

[04] Grade Lists will be Put up at Lyceums on Tuesday

23 Ιουν 2008 14:17:0

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA-ΜPA

According to Education Ministry announcement grade lists with names of candidates for admission to tertiary education and technical colleges will be put up at Lyceums after 11:00, on Tuesday.

Reduction of admissions to Athens and Thessaloniki universities and technical colleges, increase in admissions to regional tertiary education institutions and poor performance of candidates in the subjects of Mathematics and Biology will be the major factors to define the basis for admission which is expected to drop from 300-600 points depending on the school.

According to information average grade for admission to Polytechnic, Mathematics and Medical schools is expected to drop in the central institutions and have a marginal rise in regional institutions. On the other hand, average grade for admission to Law and Literature schools are not expected to differ from last year. Grade fluctuations are also expected in Economics Schools.

Some 30.000 candidates will not be admitted to tertiary education institutes while some 7.000 positions in low demand regional technical colleges will remain vacant. The number of distinguished candidates will not be over 6.500 compared to 7.900. Candidates are called to evaluate their grades in order to fill in the application with the schools of preference in the first half of July.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[05] Interrogation on Zahopoulos Case

Sources: NET

The two lawyers allegedly involved in blackmailing case of former Culture Ministry general secretary, Hristos Zahopoulos are giving their statements to special interrogator today. Both deny any involvement in the case. The two lawyers are being charged with blackmail attempt, participation in suicide attempt and violation of personal data law. One of the two lawyers has been deprived of his license to practice law.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[06] New Method to Draw Budgets

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105.8

The Economics Ministry has introduced a new method to draw state budgets which has entered on its final stage. The old system is replaced by the implementation of program budget targeted to achieve higher transparency and reduce splurge. The Organization for Cooperation and Development presented a special study this morning in the presence of Economics Minister, George Alogoskoufis. The draftbill providing for the drawing of three-year term budgets for Local Administration and Social Security Funds will be tabled to the Parliament within the summer. Addressing the conference, Mr. Alogoskoufis said that the Economics Ministry will have drawn the full timetable of reforms in the drawing of the state budget in 2009, adding as of 2010 and on the Ministers Council will determine the highest ceiling of expenditures for each Ministry and the Programs Budget will be in effect.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[07] Putting Head in Pail Full of Water

23 Ιουν 2008 11:29:0

By Vivian Papastefanou

FYROM journalist, Vlado Taneski suspected of having brutally killed at least three women was found dead in his prison cell today, police said " Vlado Taneski committed suicide". He put his head in a pail full of water. It is unclear how none of his cell mates or guards noticed while he was doing so. He ended like in a horror movie", police spokesman Ivo Kotevski said.

Vlado Taneski, 56, a long-time correspondent in the town of Kicevo, was arrested on Friday and accused of the gruesome kidnapping, abuse and sexual assault of three women. Taneski was also being questioned about a fourth woman who went missing. After the killer cut the victims into pieces, the body parts were dumped in various places in plastic bags, police said. Police began to suspect Taneski after he included in his news reports details on the murders that had not been revealed to the public. He worked with the oldest Macedonian daily Nova Makedonija and some other Skopje-based media.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[08] H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak in Pakistan

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: REUTERS

An outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus has been found in chickens on a farm in Pakistan and about 25 people had been quarantined, government officials stated today. They also reported that the bird flu did not pass to humans. The outbreak, at least the fifth in birds in Pakistan this year, was confirmed on Saturday at a poultry farm in Swabi town, about 60 km northwest of the capital Islamabad, the officials said. About 4,500 birds on the farm had been culled and the area disinfected, he said. Pakistan confirmed its first human death from the virus in a northwestern town in December.

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