The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-04-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Devout Followers at Epitafeios Procession The Burial of Christ

By Athina Saloustrou

The Holy Drama is reaching its end with the holy ceremony of the burial of Christ, Epitafeios. Good Friday is a day of recollection and fasting for the Orthodox Christians, which will attend the procession of the Epitafeios with devoutness, singing the hymns of the day and of Christs burial awaiting the hopeful message of the Resurrection. Thousands of followers attended this mornings sermon in churches allover Greece. The traditions of this day give their special tone to the Orthodox faith since women have been decorating the Epitafeios with spring flowers, while its procession is an important moment during the holy days of Easter. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew devotedly kneeled by the Epitafeios in the Patriarchal Church of Agios Georgios in Fanari, while Archbishop Christodoulos attended the reenactment of Christ being taken down from the crucifix at the Pendeli Monastery.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] Citizens Leaving Athens The Great Escape Continues

By Athina Saloustrou

The biggest exit of the past years from Athens and other city centres continued today with sunshine and great traffic in the National Road networks. The traffic of vehicles at the Athens-Corinth National Highway took place in a slow pace while the area that experienced great problems was Kakia Skala, where a 10km line was formed by cars due to multiple crashes. Gradually, the situation is getting back to normal, while at this time the traffic in both National Highways towards Corinth and Lamia is taking place without any problems. At noon, more than 450,000 cars passed from the Elefsina and Afidnes tolls. For the holidaymakers accommodation, the traffic of 1.5-ton trucks, at parts of the National Highways has been banned from 15:00 to 21:00. Ships sailed full and more than 170,000 passengers are expected to depart from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina until Easter Saturday. For today, Good Friday, 23 routes have been planned from Piraeus port and 20 from Rafina. Demand for airplane tickets is also great. Whoever has not reserved a ticket and wishes to travel, will be put on waiting lists, while extra routes have been planned by OSE and KTEL.

Decrease in Prices at Varvakeios Market

EMY forecasts an improvement in weather beginning from Good Sunday and sunshine during Easter Sunday. The demand in Varvakeios Market is steadfast, while the prices have decreased in comparison to the previous days. Super markets will be open until 20:00 and butcher shops until 21:00.

Athenians that have remained in the city and wish to travel via public transport should be aware that changes in the routes have taken place, since city busses and trolleys will follow the time schedule of Saturday.

Also, in the afternoon due to the procession of the Epitafeios traffic regulations will take place since many city centre roads will be closed off. From 17:00 the traffic will be gradually banned at the streets of Mitropoleos, Fillelinon, Vasileos Georgiou, Skoufa and Syndagma Square.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Easter Exodus Peaks

[03] Cooperation with EU Over Main Shareholder Reforms With Dialogue

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: NET- NET 105.8

On the occasion of the document of excusable opinion, which the European Committee sent to our country and was made public at noon, the Greek government is trying to find common ground with the European Committee, in order for the necessary reforms on the main shareholder bill to take place. The relevant European Commission Charles McCreevy states his arguments over the two bills that were drafted by the current and previous government. With a written statement, Minister of State Thodoros Rousopoulos stated that cooperation will take place with the community authorities so the current legislative context will be reformed. After the detailed description of the exchange of letters and the recording of the arguments of both sides, Commissioner Charles McCreevy, in the 28 page excusable opinion, asks for changes within three weeks to take place on the main shareholder bill.

"With Full Assurance of Transparency Regulations"

"The Greek Republic violated the duties of the rule for equal treatment of the contestants, and the treaty for the founding of the European Community, ruling out the participation, in the processes for public contracts, of natural and legal figures linked with the activities of the Mass Media, under the concept and the conditions set by bill 3310/2005 of article 14 paragraph 9 of the Greek Constitution."

Thodoros Rousopoulos, shortly after the publication of the letter sent by the relevant Commission Committee, in a written statement says "the government has already stated that it will cooperate with the relevant community authorities in order to find common ground, and for the necessary reforms to take place in the existing legal context, with the simultaneous full assurance of the transparency rules concerning the relations between public contracts and Mass Media business."

The Committee is reserved over taking the case to the European Community Court and to ask for a suspension of the bill, which it considers a legislative basis for the implementation of the previous bill, which PASOK drafted, and which, as it is stated in the letter, was also opposed to community law.

As the Committee evaluated in its letter, the difficulties that will be faced by an investor that will want to be based in Greece in order to practice an economic activity is also mentioned. According to sources of the Minister of Interior, Prokopis Pavlopoulos the Greek side will immediately answer to the Commission and will ask for the designation of a delegation targeted at the cooperation for changes that will take place on the bill.

From its side, PASOK spokesperson Nikos Athanasakis calls on the government to take all the necessary actions on the main shareholder bill, in order to not lose community funds, which will result from the wrong and dead end policy the government follows.

PASOK accuses the government that it handled an especially serious issue, such as the transparency and the counter of corruption, without seriousness, superficially and with party interests. "The ND government that today states its readiness to cooperate with the relevant community authorities for the founding of common ground, is the same government that created the problem and with its refusal to cooperate with community authorities for the reformation for a law compatible with the Constitution and the community law, that will overcome the problems of the previous bill," the announcement by PASOK concludes.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Changes to Main Shareholder

[04] Zarqawi States in a Taped Message "The Jihad Continues"

By Anna Kourti

Leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab Al Zarqawi calls on Muslims for more attacks against the American forces, according to a taped message that was possibly recorded in late March. In the message, which was broadcast by a Muslim website the speaker who claims he is Zarqawi states that the holy war vigorously continues two years after the U.S. invasion. The message states the following: "We promise God that the dog (Bush) will not enjoy peace of mind and that his army will not have a good life as long as our hearts are beating. We are coming,"

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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Series of Bomb Attacks

[05] Meeting with President Abbas Putin in Ramallah

By Athina Saloustrou

During his visit in Ramallah, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated his support to the Palestinian Authority concerning the application of reforms and the efforts for the restructure of the economy. "We support President Abbas efforts concerning the reforms in the security services and the fight against terrorism," stated Putin in a common Press interview with President Abbas. "Russia will continue to give aid to the Palestinian Authority so that it can enforce reforms and build a state," stated Putin and added "we are investigating many choices over Russias participation in the restructure of the Palestinian economy," The President also stated that Russia will give helicopters and technological support to the Palestinians for their security forces while he repeated the proposal he made on Wednesday during his visit in Cairo, for an international convention for peace in the Middle East to take place in Moscow. The Russian President also made reference to the Russian-Iranian cooperation and announced that his country will continue the nuclear cooperation with Iran, but only "for peaceful purposes."

"We are not opposed of Iran taking advantage of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. We evaluate that the Iranian people have the right to acquire modern technology in all areas and we will fulfill our duties to Tehran on this issue," stated Putin in the Press interview in Ramallah.

The Russian President underlined the dangers of the expansion of nuclear weapons and the need for the Iranian program to be put under international surveillance.

"The expansion of nuclear weapons is dangerous and especially in a country with an explosive condition such as the Middle East," Putin warned.

Yesterday, the Russian President tried to reassure his Israeli counterparts over the nuclear cooperation with Tehran, stating that he is opposed to the development of a nuclear weapon by Iran, and stated that the cooperation between Moscow and Tehran in this area is constricted to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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