The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-04-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] New Terror Finds Examined

The evidence collected from the hideout located in Kareas district last Saturday are being examined by the anti-terror squad. The evidence, including several fingerprints, is plenty, while police is sorting out the DNA samples taken from the houses searched so far.

The 180 kilos of the explosive material found in the hideout of the guerrilla group Revolutionary Struggle were taken to police's offices in Elliniko district.

The garage was leased in November 2007 to the name "Dimosthenis Mandalozis," a name used by arrestee Konstantinos Gournas.

The explosive material is similar to the one used in two hits of the guerrilla group.

Source: NET, NET 105.8 News item: 35611

[02] Ash Cloud's Impact on Greece

Flights from Athens to central and northern Europe are being cancelled. About 121 flights are to be cancelled. Travellers have packed the Patras port. The Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) is considering having more train services to Belgrade, Bucharest, Sofia and Skopje to facilitate commuters.

Travellers Packed at the Patras Port

Traffic in sea service en route from Patras to Italy has been packed due to the air lockdown caused by the volcanic ash.

Several passengers who have been stranded at the Athens International Airport asked to be transferred to Patras to move to Italy by boat.

Several other planning to visit Greece by plane, resorted to Italian ports and are expected to arrive in Patras.

In the meantime, passengers planning to travel by air had better contact their air companies.

Meteorologists have forecast that the ash cloud will remain and that it could reach northern Greece.

The Greek Health Ministry, citing the World Health Organisation, said that the ash cloud does not pose serious threat to human health and that Greeks have noting to worry about for now.

Greek Authorities on Standby

The volcanic ash cloud nears Greece.

Airports in Bulgaria and Albania have already closed and the authorities in Greece are on standby in case the ash cloud reaches the Greek airspace.

Apart from the major inconvenience that has hit air travels, environment is also expected to suffer a great deal by the volcanic ash.

Should the volcanic activity go on, both water and land could be contaminated not only in Iceland by in central and northern European, Geology professor E. Lekkas said.

Source: NET, NET 105.8 News item: 35592

[03] Quake Victims Cremated in China

More than 1,140 people were killed and 417 were reported missing in the wake of the earthquake that hit western Tibet. Buddhist monks were rushing Saturday to cremate hundreds of China quake victims over sanitation fears, as tradition has it bodies be chopped to small pieces and left to be eaten by scavenging birds.

However, the numerous bodies left no margins for the above practice, since there are no many scavenging birds, and according to the local religious traditions, the bodies would disintegrate and their souls would not rest in peace.

In the meantime, rescue workers are still searching for survivors, but hopes are slim.

Source: NET News item: 35547

[04] Thai Opposition Leaders Will Surrender

Political unrest continues in Thailand, with the government being in conflict with the opposition movement called the "red shirts." Police unsuccessfully tried on Friday to arrest opposition officials holding them accountable for the loss of 23 people in the most violent unrest that hit the country in the last 18 years.

One of the opposition leaders said Saturday they intended to surrender on 15 May and then ask for their release. He then added that they would keep protesting in order to prove that they did not mean to escape.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the army chief to restore order following police's failure to arrest the opposition leaders.

Source: ANA/MPA, AFP News item: 35540

[05] Concerns Raised over Eroglu's Win

The election of Dervis Eroglu, the hard-line leader of Turkish Cyprus' right-wing National Unity Party or UBP, was branded as a negative development by the Cypriot government spokesman, given the fact that Eroglu's view of Cyprus is based on a single sovereignty derived from two equal, sovereign peoples. He ought to enter talks in a constructive mood and crystal clear will for a solution already determined by the ongoing process, commented the Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman. The EU said that the new leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community has to continue the talks.

Erdogan Favours Talks

Turkish Prime Minster Erdogan expressed his country's commitment to the talks between the two sides, further noting that Ankara wishes to see the Cyprus row solved by the end of 2010.

Speaking on a TV show, the Turkish Premier said that Ankara would keep backing talks between the two sides and that the new leader of the Turkish-Cypriots had to continue the talks sharing his predecessor's determination.

Erdogan hailed the Greek Prime Minister's stance on the setting up of a Greece-Turkey council which is to hold a sitting during his imminent visit to Athens in May.

Election Results Spread Dismay in Cyprus

Incumbent Turkish-Cypriot leader feared that the election of nationalist Dervis Eroglu would put a stop to the constructive talks for the reunification of Cyprus.

"Turkey wants negotiations to continue in a constructive manner. However, this is impossible with Mr Eroglu. Everybody knows that," said Talat in his interview with Spanish paper ABC.

"Of course, they will meet. But what are they going to do. Will the drink coffee or negotiate? Because Mr Eroglu has no vision," commented Talat.

Christofia's Letter

Cypriot President Dementris Christofias will send a letter to the UN Secretary-General, the leaders of the five permanent members of the Security Council, the leaders of the EU nations and the European Commission President on the new state of affairs in Cyprus.

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou stressed that letter would underlined that talks should go on based on what has been agreed so far, and elaborate on the positions of the Greek-Cypriot side, including the UN conclusions and resolutions.

He also noted that Eroglu's view of a two-state solution would raise obstacles.

Source: NET, ANA/MPA

News item: 35605

[06] Videoconference on Volcanic Ash Air Chaos

EU transport ministers are set to hold emergency talks by video conference on Monday to assess the crushing blow the Icelandic volcano's ash cloud has dealt to the air travel. The unrest has caused major inconvenience to as many as 6.8 million passengers, while air companies are reporting 200 million dollar loss every day. Siim Kallas, the EU transport commissioner, said he hoped 50 per cent of European airspace would be risk-free on Monday, adding that "we cannot wait until the ash flows just disappear."

Pressure to Reassess Safety Measures

With about 63,000 flights having been cancelled in the past four days, things as to when air traffic is to be restored are rather sketchy.

Several European airlines are pushing for the reassessment of the preventive measures, branding them as exaggerated.

Dutch airline KLM said that much of the European airspace is safe, as the test flights suggested.

The airliners used in the test flights sustained no damage in their engines.

The European airspace is safe except for a region between Iceland and Russia, commented the KLM chief.

At the video conference, the EU transport ministers are expected to discuss a proposal so that the stranded travellers in the USA and in Asia can fly to Spain and then reach their destination either be plane, or by boat or bus.

In the meantime, it was agreed that London-bound flights can land in Spain, whose airspace remains open.

More than 20 nations have either closed their airspaces or have imposed restrictions.

Flight Cancelled at the Athens International Airport

As many as 121 flights from and to the Athens International Airport are to be cancelled. Passengers are advised to contact their air companies before reaching the airport. News item: 35581

[07] Spreads Hit New Record High-Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday

10-year bond spreads hit Monday a new record high, rising to 468 basis points. Later on they fell, however, they remained above 400 basis units, ranging between 430 and 440. The talks with the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission on the technical details of the support mechanism for the Greek economy were rescheduled for 21 April, since the volcanic ash that has hovered over the European airspace did not allow EU officials to travel to Athens. On Monday, the Greek Premier and the Finance Minister discussed the latest details, as well as Greece's stance in the talks. The Eurogroup chief underlined that the International Monetary Fund will not shape its own programme and conditions for Greece in case the latter asks for aid.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA

News item: 35602

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