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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government Backs Pavlides

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105.8-ANA/MPA

The Government offered its backing to former Aegean Minister Aristotelis Pavlides. Quoting Justice Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis, Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said that whoever resorts to Justice has a moral advantage. Sending a message to the Conservative cadres, who have suggested Pavlides run independent, the Government spokesman argued that those who speak of ethics are wrong, since the first to refer the case to Justice was Pavlides. PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) lashed out, with Sifounakis dismissing Pavlides and Manoussis as partners, who had a financial dispute that went public some 18 months later.

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] Admission Grades Come out on Tuesday

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105.8

The suspense of thousands of students waiting to be admitted to Universities and Technological Educational Institutes (TEI) will come to an end on Tuesday morning with the release of the admission grades. The Greek national broadcaster will broadcast the grades live. The admission grades will also be available on ERT's official website, http:// exams.ert.gr (in Greek only).

[03] Call for Recognition Sparks Reactions

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105.8-ANA/MPA

Russias two Houses unanimously decided to urge President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the independence of the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Russian lawmakers call means that the Russian attack on Georgia has not yet ended, commented Georgias Foreign Ministry, with Mikheil Saakashvili speaking of an attempt to have Europes border altered by force. In the meantime, the Russian President said he is willing to break off Russias relations with NATO, should the Alliance fail to cooperate.

The unanimously decision of Russias two Houses has triggered off Georgias strong reactions. The Russian lawmakers call means that the Russian attack on Georgia has not yet finished, commented Georgias Foreign Ministry, with a top minister claiming that such a move on the part of Russia would amount to a drive to give legal status to the outcome of ethnic cleansing. In Berlin, the government spokesman said that Germany expects Russia will not sign the resolution.

In Rome, the Italian Foreign Minister urged Russia to show restraint when it comes to the recognition of the rebel provinces.

France, on its part, insisted that the Russian troops should withdraw from the road axis linking Poti to Senaki in Georgia, further calling on Russia to respect the ceasefire agreement it signed.

The White House said Monday that the US Vice President will visit Georgia ear;y next month. Dick Cheney will hold talks with the Georgian President and will visit Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Italy.

Related News:

Russia to Examine S. Ossetia-Abkhazia Recognition

[04] US

25 Αυγ 2008 17:36:00

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ΝΕΤ

In Denver of US the conference of the Democrats starts today during which Barack Obama is expected to be officially declared candidate for the presidency of the country, being the first Afro-American candidate. Just before the announcement of the candidacy of John Biden as vice president of Obama, John McCain launched a new attack releasing to pubic a new negative advertisement. However, the last gallop shows the new candidates gathering the same votes.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[05] Wildfire in Olympia

A wildfire has broken out near the village of Smila, in the SW Greek prefecture of Ilia. Burning one of the few forest lands that were not reduced to ashes by last years devastating wildfires, it does not threaten built-up areas. Strong ground forces along with four water bombers are operating in the area. Another blaze is raging in the areas of Gytheio and Sidirokastro, southern Greece. Strong forces have also been deployed to fight the blazes.

[06] Spain: The Aftermath of the Air Disaster

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA-MPA, AFP

Of the 154 people who perished in last weeks Spanair jet crash, 86 have been identified, said Spains Interior Minister. Some 67 remain to be identified. "We are working day and night, and well, but since the process started it has become more difficult than we expected due to the bad state of some of the DNA samples," said Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. The Justice Ministry assigned experts to take DNA samples in 62 extremely misidentified cases. "It becomes much more complicated," added the Interior Minister.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan

25 Αυγ 2008 12:38:00

Sources: AFP

A major fire-damaged oil pipeline carrying crude from Azerbaijan to Turkey was up and running again on Monday after repairs, industry sources told AFP. "Tests were completed over the weekend. The pipeline is back in service," said an Istanbul-based member of the British energy giant BP, which operates the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan line (BTC). An official of the Turkish petroleum company Botas, which runs the Turkish section of the line, confirmed the conduit was "operational" and the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan was ready to start shipping oil again. "The tanks at Ceyhan have been filled and petrol exports can recommence," said the official, who asked not to be named. The BTC, the worlds second-longest pipeline at 1,774 kilometres, was inaugurated in 2006 and carries Azeri oil from the Caspian Sea fields to Ceyhan. It can transport 1.2 million barrels of crude per day. It was shut on August 5 after a blast in a pump at a section in eastern Turkey sparked a fire. Kurdish rebels fighting against the Ankara government claimed responsibility for the blast, though Turkish officials said they found no indication of foul play. The conduit faced further risks when tensions in Georgias breakaway region of South Ossetia escalated into a full-blown military conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi this month

[08] Main Taliban Group Banned in Pakistan

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA-MPA, AFP

Pakistan banned the main Taliban militant umbrella group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, blaming it for an unprecedented wave of attacks that claimed nearly 1,200 lives, said Monday a government official.

A degree was issued freezing the groups bank accounts and assets in Pakistan, the state-run television reported.

Washington believes that Al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban militants have rallied their forces in the Pakistani territories inhabited by tribes and mount attacks on the allied troops in Afghanistan in collaboration with the TTP.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] Joint Inter-Border Operations

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ANA-MPA

The Greek and Albanian police held joint operations to combat inter-border crime especially on the borders among west-Macedonia, Epirus and south Albania. The operations were held within the framework of inter-state agreements between the two countries.

The operations were held on the above areas on 20, 21 and 22 August.

During the joint operations, the police checked 877 vehicles and over 2,000 people out of which 97 were deported to Albania as they were not carrying travel documents.

Translated by John Crystallidis

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