The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-10-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] In Luxemburg EU Decides Tomorrow

By Anna Kourti

Reaching an agreement over the negotiating framework with Turkey is to be decided on Sunday evening at the emergency meeting among the Foreign Ministers of the EU in Luxemburg. The commencement of Turkeys accession talks is scheduled for Monday provided that Austria abandons its reservations over Turkeys full membership. An International Summit, which is co-organised by the communist parties of Greece and Turkey, is to resume its proceedings on Saturday in Istanbul. Communist parties and anti-imperialistic bodies from many countries are also expected to attend the Summit. On Sunday, Turkeys Communist Party and the National Movement Party will hold demonstrations against the EU. "It will all come down to Sunday night," stated Greek FM Petros Molyviatis following his meeting with the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias.

Translated by Areti Christou

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Awaiting Developments

[02] Severe Weather Conditions Bad Weather Sets In

By Anna Kourti

The Hellenic Meteorological Services bulletin on severe weather conditions put the government on high alert. Bad weather is to affect most areas of Greece in the following hours. The Civil Protection Authority urges the citizens to be extremely careful. In the hours to come, severe weather conditions are to hit the largest part of the countrys mainland, as well as the islands of northern and eastern Aegean Sea. A powerful storm is expected in Athens in the evening. The weather is to improve as of Sunday. Heavy showers and storms have been affecting the western and northern parts of Greece, as well as Peloponnisos, since Friday night. Torrents of problems have been reported in many regions in the Prefecture of Ilia. The areas of Pyrgos, Amaliada, Ancient Olympia and Krestena have been flooded following heavy downpours, while severe damages have been caused to crops. The same phenomena have hit western Greece since the early of hours of Saturday. In Chalkidiki, 50 houses in the areas of Poligiros, Ouranoupolis and Ierissos have been flooded due to the heavy showers that were reported on Friday night. The Prefecture of Thessaloniki also suffered a torrential downpour. The Fire Service sent 18 rescue teams that pumped floodwaters out of 28 houses in Michaniona, Agia Triada and Kerasia, while further four pumping operations took place at the heart of the city.

Translated by Areti Christou

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Bad Weather Conditions Ahead

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Å.Ì.Õ

[03] According to a Poll Conducted by Dimel PASOK in the Lead

By Anna Kourti

PASOK has assumed a 0.9% lead over the ruling party of ND, showed an opinion poll conducted by DIMEL firm upon the Greek newspaper O Kosmos tou Ependyti request. In voting intention, the Main Opposition party is also ahead by 41.2% as opposed to 40.3% ND received. KKE gathered 6% of those questioned, SYN received 3.2%, LAOS 2.5% and the rest of the parties received 7% of the participants in the poll. However, the ruling party is ahead in the question regarding which party would win the elections, with ND receiving 46% compared to 28% for PASOK. 50.9% of those questioned are of the opinion that the government will do worse as opposed to 36.3% that think the opposite. Respectively, 31.1% of the participants believe that PASOKs image will worsen compared to 36% that appear optimistic. The nationwide opinion poll in a sample of 2,000 people was conducted between 15 and 23 September.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] 8 Dead, 12 Missing Shipwreck in Amazon River

By Anna Kourti

Sources: REUTERS

Eight people were killed and further 12 are missing when passenger vessel sank shortly after it collided with a barge in the Amazon River, Brazil. The accident occurred on Thursday evening, around 200km south of Manaus. Eyewitnesses reported that the passenger vessel hit the barge. As per the local Mass Media, the 42 people on board were rescued, with five being treated in the hospital in a critical condition. A spokesman for the rescue team said that there are still hoping to recover survivors. Despite the strong currents at the accident scene, many of the passengers and the crewmembers managed to stay alive. Patrol boats, divers and helicopters are still in search for survivors and bodies.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] In The Philippines Deadly Rebel Attack

By Anna Kourti

An attack mounted by communist rebels in the southern Philippines claimed the lives of four policemen and wounded further five. Senior Inspector Celso Curitana reported that rebels attacked the policemen late on Friday evening on the outskirts of the city of Surigao, 750km south of Manila. The policemen, who were on their way to their base following a raid into illegal mines in the region, were ambushed by rebels who opened fire at their vehicle. Troops were despatched to the area to hunt them down. The communist rebels have been operating in the Philippines since the late 60s.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Successfully Soyuz Rocket Blastoff

By Anna Kourti

Sources: REUTERS

A Russian-built Soyuz rocket was successfully launched in the early hours of Saturday from the Baikonour space centre in Kazakhstans barren steppe. The rocket, which is carrying two Russian astronauts and the worlds third space tourist American entrepreneur Gregory Olsen, is expected to dock at the International Space Centre (ISS) in two days time. The blastoff took place at 06:54 (Greek local time). The American entrepreneur, who paid 20 million dollars to participate in the expedition, will remain in space for a week and will return back to Earth on October 11 along with the US-Russian crew of the ISS. The Russian space fleet has taken on ferrying astronauts and supplies to the International Space Centre since the Columbia disaster in February 2003 that forced NASA to ground its fleet.

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