The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] For Those Affected by the Floods Compensations to Mytilini

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Greek PM Kostas Karamanlis, who is visiting the island of Mytilini, the headquarters of the Ministry for the Aegean and Island Policy, today, reassured all those who suffered flood damage in the Municipality of Kalloni that they will be compensated soon. Mr Karamanlis stressed that the Greek State will fulfil its obligations, while he announced that, by joint decision of the Ministers of Economy and Public Works, the flooded areas have been demarcated, a relevant agency has been appointed to restore the damages and the granting of interest-free loans and state aid has been approved for the purchase of housing. The PM was also briefed on the public works undertaken on the inland, while he observed the progress of the works at the first Regional Mytilini-Larsos Road and the ports marina from up close. In meeting held at the Aegean Ministry, the PM, along with Minister Aristotelis Pavlidis, representatives from the northern and southern Aegean and locals MPs, reviewed the progress of the governments work in the area of the Aegean Sea.

Regional Development

"The path towards a powerful country passes from a powerful regional Greece, which keeps developing and prospering," declared the PM after the meeting, stressing that the Government is proceeding with its plan, determination and vision, for the creation of new and improved prospects for islanders.

"Our aim is unwavering: faster and persistent development, more employment opportunities, better life in regional Greece," he noted, while he also referred to the governments actions to boost the islands, focusing on the absorption of the funds from the 3rd CSF.

"In April 2004, the absorption rate of Northern Aegeans Regional Operational Programme was 9%. Today, it is at 26%. The Southern Aegeans Regional Operational Programme absorption rate was 13% when we came in power. Today it exceeds 31%," mentioned the PM.

Referring to the governments policy for the Greek islands, he stressed that a special 3-year programme (2006-2008) for infrastructure works amounting to 120 million euros is being implemented in islands with a population under 3,100. In addition, a bill is being discussed in Parliament to extend the special taxation system effective currently on islands for another 10 years.

The PM also referred to the Aegean Ministrys budget for 2006, saying that despite the difficult economic situation, it provides for a 17.7% increase for funding of border island shipping routes.

He also added, "The major issue concerning the construction of a Power Production Unit has been resolved, following systematic efforts by the Development Ministry, the Ministry for the Aegean and Island Policy, the Greek Public Power Corporation (PPC) and the Local Self-Governments. The adequate and safe power supply to the island constitutes the main issue for development."

"After many years, politics are returning to regional Greece. The islands are at the focus of our policies. Our thoughts, our task and our planning for the future are always present," concluded Mr Karamanlis.

Earlier, he attributed responsibilities to the former PASOK governments for the decline and isolation of regional Greece, because of their perennial view of two separate countries," he said.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[02] International Day of the Disabled People Equal Rights in Life

By Despina Hristopoulou

International day of the disabled people today and events were held in Athens and Thessaloniki dedicated to these people, who are claiming equal rights in life. The National Confederation of Disabled People in collaboration with the National Federation of Parents and Guardians of Disabled People held a convention at an Athenian hotel in the presence of representatives from the Greek political scene. Demonstrations were held in Thessaloniki and Athens, while minor tensions were provoked on Vassilisis Sofias street. In the meantime, a new song was released today on social sensitivity performed by Giorgos Dalaras and Kostas Ganotis.

Equal Opportunities in Education

The Convention focused on the problems disabled people face on educational matters. ND Parliamentarian Eleftheria Bernidaki stressed, "The line between regularity and difference, in disability and non-disability, is almost transparent."

As for PASOK, Mrs Damanaki stressed, "Only 18,585 disabled children go to public schools today, which in other words means that only 9% of the disabled children in Greece have access to the public educational system."

KKE member Elpida Pantelaki stressed that in "the last 10 years, based on official data, the increase of accessibility in education for the disabled people does not exceed 1%."

"Societies ought to deal with this problem, as well as with all problems," underlined SYN Parliamentarian Thanasis Levendis.

National Confederation of Disabled People President Giannis Vradakastanis underlined that disabled children "enjoy insufficient education, lesser education in relation to the one provided to the other Greek children, without special education programmes, without accessibility to schools."

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Grandpa Will Be Towed Home

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: Reuters

Do you remember the scene from "Look Who's Talking" where a tow-truck tows a car with the baby inside somewhere in New York? The same thing happened in Canada, only a 85-year-old man was in the shoes of the baby. In Edmonton, Alberta, the man in question had illegally parked his car but remained in it, in case the police came and had to remove it. However, it was freezing outside with temperature reaching 10 degrees Celsius and the car windows had frozen; as a result the policeman did not see the grandpa in the car and apparently the grandpa did not see the police officer. Two hours later, a tow-truck was arriving on site to remove the ticketed car. Needless to say the two-truck driver failed as well to see the elderly man and took the car to a police compound. Luckily, soon enough the driver and a policeman noticed some movement in the car and opened the door to see the 85-year-old inside, who was "was disoriented but he was not unconscious." The elderly man was taken to hospital for observation. However, police were puzzled why the man did not drive his car away.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

Reuters: Police mistakenly impound driver with car

[04] For an 18-Month Boy Flight to Save a Life

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: NET

A major operation was launched on Friday night, when 18-month Christos Nikoleris was rushed by plane from the Childrens Hospital in Penteli, Athens, where he was admitted with a high fever, to Brussels, where he had undergone a liver transplant operation on 24 April 2004. After the intervention of Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis, an Air Force C-130 took off from the military airport of Elefsina to Belgium, so that little Christos could undergo further tests. After his surgery last year, the 18-month boy manifested a high fever last week. The doctors diagnosed that the boy had an infection, but they could not pinpoint the causes, so they advised the parents that the boy had to be taken to Brussels, where the transplant had taken pace. The little boy arrived in Belgium early this morning and was immediately admitted to the ICU. Let us hope that his health will improve soon.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] Fearless Olympiacos

By Stathis Petropoulos

Winning 3-1 in Egaleo against the local team, Olympiacos showed they are fearless and kept their cool throughout the match. From an early start it was evident that the guests were in a good mood, especially after Panathinaikos' defeat in Peristeri, and proved their point with Toure's quick goal in the 14'. The guests dominated the entire first half, although Egaleo tried to make a difference. In the rerun, Toure hit again, this time faster than before. In the 49' he flawlessly executed a foul kick and doubled the goals for Olympiacos. However, the home team answered back in the 56', when Maric took advantage of the situation and scored, but that was not enough to grant Egaleo victory or even draw. In the 84', Papoutsis threw Djordjevic down in the area and was sent off for it, while Olympiacos' captain was awarded a penalty kick, thus forming the final score of 3-1.

Referee: Terovitsas (Etoloakarnania)

Yellow Cards: Zapropoulos Red Cards: Papoutsis

LINEUPS

EGALEO: Sidibe, Papoutsis, Psomas, Zapropoulos, Christou, Omo, Fotakis, Chloros (80' Saganas), Cezarek (58' Popov), Manousakis (38' Nikolopoulos), Maric

OLYMPIACOS: Nikopolidis, Pantos, Bulut, Anatolakis, Schurrer, Toure, Stoltidis, Djordjevic, Rivaldo (83' Kafes), Okkas (70' Babaginda), Danny (90' Maric)

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] No Goals in Kallithea

By Stathis Petropoulos

Kallithea may have been better throughout the match for round 12 against Apollo Kalamaria, but after missing out on a amazing opportunity to score, they could ask for nothing more than draw. The home team started taking control of the pace in the 20', but Koutsospyros failed to open the score. Kalamaria answered back one minute later, but goalkeeper Bartzokas saved the day and Muzawi attempt to score. However, the best moment of the match was when referee Pamboridis awarded Lazanas with a penalty kick, which was badly executed, and so the guests finished the match without having received or scored goals.

Referee: Pamboridis (Kilkis)

Yellow Cards: Koulakiotis, Pappas, Orfanos, Ioannou

LINEUPS

KALLITHEA: Bartzokas, Karatzas, Tsiolis, Koulakiotis, Venetis, Sila (76' Diamantis), Passas (72' Dragicevic), Yanchev, Petkovic, Koutsospyros, Lazanas

APOLLO KALAMARIA: Kovac, Karaliopoulos, Fytanidis, Papadopoulos, Ioannou, Murawski, Orfanos, Petkakis, Kleyton (90+ Spyropoulos), Muzawi, Pappas

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] Terror in Peristeri for Panathinaikos

By Vasilis Kalpinos

A single goal in the 4' of the extra time did the trick for Atromitos and forced Panathinaikos to a shameful victory in the match for round 12 of the A National football championship. Victory was more than fair for Atromitos, since Panathinaikos had nothing good to show for themselves throughout the match. Korakakis scored the golden goal for Giorgos Paraschos' team and the three-pointer gives Atromitos wings to fly, while Panathinaikos missed out on a pretty good opportunity to climb higher on the scoreboard. It looks like it is going to be a tough season for them.

Referee: Dabosis (Pieria)

Yellow Cards: Georgiou, Petkov, Korakakis Red Cards: Zacharopoulos (90', yellow-red card)

LINEUPS ATROMITOS: Michailidis, Georgiou, Mikes, Dagas, Katemis (70' Raguel), Koutsis (70' Dimos), Geladaris, Petkov (85' Sotirchos), Karadimos, Korakakis, Zacharopoulos

PANATHINAIKOS: Galinovic, Nilson, Kotsios, Morris, Darlas (75' Leontiou), Charalambidis, Andric, Conceicao, Wooter (53' Torguele), Papadopoulos, Mantzios (69' Gkekas)

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[08] Bird Flu Strikes Again Yet another H5N1 Victim

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: Reuters

Indonesia has had its eighth human death due to bird flu, as the countrys Health Ministry announced that the blood tests performed on a patient who died recently revealed that she was had been infected by the H5N1 virus. The tests were carried out by a Hong Kong laboratory and were made public by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The victim, Sri Wahyuni, who died on 29 November in Sulianto Saroso Hospital, had earlier returned positive results to initial local tests for the deadly H5N1 avian influenza strain. At least another five Indonesians were infected, but they survived. This latest incident brought the bird flu death toll in Asia to 69 since the disease first surfaced in 2003.

New Cases in Vietnam

In the meantime, new cases of avian flu were reported in two northern provinces of Vietnam, where a number of dead chickens and ducks were located.

Six outbreaks killed 317 ducks and 37 chickens in the port city of Haiphong and Thanh Hoa province on Thursday, prompting workers to slaughter more than 20,400 birds there, the ministrys Animal Health Department said in a report on Saturday.

As per the same source, in Quang Ninh province, 78 ducks and chickens were found dead of unknown reasons on Thursday and some 2,000 birds were culled immediately, while bird flu tests were under way.

Bird flu has killed or resulted in the slaughter of 1.94 million poultry since the virus returned in early October and has now spread to 17 of Vietnams 64 provinces, most in the north as winter arrives.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[09] Bank Robber Identified

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

The robber known to the police as the "bandit with the bandage" was the culprit and the victim in yesterdays bloody robbery at the Agricultural Bank, on Acharnon Street, Athens. The perpetrator, who was killed in the exchange of fire with the banks security guard, had performed four other robberies in the past and was given the nickname because he always had an adhesive bandage stuck to his face. As per the police investigation, since 2004, the 45-year-old had committed four armed robberies in banks of Athens and Piraeus, taking a total of 466,000 euros.

Preference for Agricultural Banks

On 22 January 2004, the man robbed the Agricultural Bank branch on 106 Lambraki St, Piraeus, taking 300,000 euros.

On 18 February 2004, he struck another Agricultural Bank branch, the one on 320 Acharnon St, where he also killed yesterday, taking 5,000 euros.

On 25 November 2004, he robbed the Agricultural Bank branch on 151 Papanastasiou Street, Piraeus, getting away with 130,000 euros.

Finally, on 28 July 2005, he robbed the Aspis Bank branch on 130 Lambraki St, Piraeus, taking 31,000 euros.

As was the case with the previous robberies, he arrived in Athens from Livadia in the morning on a KTEL bus.

He entered the bank armed and fired a shot in the air as a determent, while he then emptied two of the cash registers.

Upon exiting the bank, the security guard followed him and asked him to give himself up. However, the 45-year-old fired his gun twice and the guard was forced to shoot back, fatally wounding the perpetrator.

According to the police, bank robbers have become ruthless over the last few years, resorting to violence in order to achieve their target.

A total of 71 bank robberies took place all over Greece in the first six months of 2005, while 59 have been solved. In addition, 171 robberies were recorded in 2004, while a record number of 209 had taken place in 2003.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Robbery with One Dead in Athens

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