The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] With the Bill for Primary Health Care Changes in Health Department

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

On Wednesday morning, Minister of Health Nikitas Kaklamanis held a meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis focused on the bill for Primary Health Care. As Mr Kaklamanis announced, the Prime Minister approved the draft bill and, and as he said, it is aimed at being voted for in the first semester of 2006. The Prime Ministers "Yes," said Mr Kaklamanis, is very important since the bill has a high economic cost and will bring forth changes in the institutional context. Moreover, the Prime Ministers speech, in relation to Health and social policy, in Parliament was discussed. Referring to the report on Dromokaetio, Mr Kaklamnis said that the case is at the Prosecutor and will not make any further comments. On journalists questions over his plans on the City of Athens, the Minister of Health said that the issue will be discussed in the future, after Mrs Dora Bakoyianni announces her intentions publicly.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Report on Dromokaetio

[02] Report on Dromokaetio

By Betty Savourdou

As per the report submitted on Tuesday to the Athens Prosecution by the mental institutions manager, human hand placed the chopped-up pieces in the soup destined for the patients of Dromokaetio. The report drawn up by the National School of Public Health clarifies there were chopped-up pieces of rodent in the soup, while the Public Prosecutors report is the one to shed light on the case. "There is no doubt this was a rodent with special abilities that even reached the level of self-chopping," stressed the hospitals manager, ironically speaking.

"Human Error"

In fact, the rodent's tail is vertically cut, most probably with a knife.

This is also the lab's view at the Aristoteleio University in Thessaloniki. The rat was boiled inside the soup. However, some pieces were chopped up with a knife, while other parts had simply melted because they were boiled.

According to the sworn administrative inquiry, during which 26 employees testified, there is no way a rodent, dead or alive, could have entered the pot during the preparation and transportation processes and then found chopped up.

Therefore, someone chopped up the rat and then threw the pieces in the soup.

On the contrary, employees stressed it was a human error and the rodent accident fell into the soup without being noticed by anyone.

Speaking on NET's main news bulletin, Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis stressed the present report does not revoke the original one.

Regarding the safeguard of health and hygiene for the patients of Dromokaetio, Mr Kaklamanis underlined the State is obliged to double protect the patients of mental institutions, due to the nature of their illness.

He also thanked employees in Dromokaetio, who are trying their best under difficult conditions.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Court Reappointed Rachiotis and Chrysikopoulos With the Same Attorneys

By Athina Saloustrou

The Five-Member Appellate Felony Court proceeded to the reappointment of the attorneys for Alexandros Giotopoulos, by right of office. President of the Court, Mr Dionysis Vertelis announced that Giannis Rachiotis and Kostas Chrysikopoulos are reappointed by right of office, for his representation. The Court called on the appointed attorneys to appear at the Five-Member Court, which adjourned its proceedings until tomorrow at 9am. It is unknown if Giotopoulos will appear at court and accept the appointment of his attorneys but also which stance the attorneys will keep. "I will not legalise a predetermined conviction with my presence. I withdraw from the procedure and revoke the order of my attorneys representing me in this fa&#231;ade," said Giotopoulos. However, he explained that he will not resign from judicial means and will continue to fight until the scam collapsed.

Koufodinas: "My Presence Exhibits Solidarity"

Following the start of todays procedure, Dimitris Koufodinas stated that his presence constitutes "solidarity to the present and absent co-defendants" and described the court as a "special court-martial" as it has made the decision for the defendants to stand trial as ordinary violators of legality. Moreover, he stated that the court is a simple step for the defence of history, values and visions of the revolutionary Left.

Christodoulos Xiros also made a statement, saying to the judges that the fact that he is fighting a battle to prove his innocence does not mean that he is legalising "a special court of political opponents." He also made reference that as a political opponent of the regime, and as a fighter for the Left, he has the right to defend all the practices of the movement, even if they are not his choices and concluded that he does not condemn the actions of his armed comrades.

On his part, former ND MP Lefteris Papadimitriou, on the occasion of his assassination attempt in 1992 from 17N, stated, "personal terrorism, especially in the form of manslaughter never brought forth positive results. The social and political scenery is not transformed with murders, bloodshed and 45mm guns, the quality of life does not become better nor are institutions and our democratic system secured."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] "Traps" in Provincial Network for Drivers Northern Greece Freezes Over

By Athina Saloustrou

The temperature remained steady below zero in many areas, where large parts of the provincial road network have turned into traps for drivers, while temperatures were negative in Macedonia and Thrace at 8am. Regardless of the sunshine, there is chilly cold mainly in the mountainous areas of central-western Macedonia, where snow, which fell last week, froze from the low temperature. The traffic of vehicles is being made with snow chains in the provincial roads of Florina and Kastoria, through Vigla and Vitsi, Aetos-Nymphaio Florina, as well as the road network of ski resorts in central Macedonia. Traffic Police advised drivers to avoid transport during nighttime, even in roads ploughed from snow, as there is the danger of road accidents due to the frost forming in many parts of the pavement. The lowest temperatures recorded were in the town of Florina, -9&#186;C, Kozani and Kastoria -5&#186;C and Serres and Thessaloniki -2&#186;C.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[05] Between the Government and Involved Bodies Dialogue over the Mass Media

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET

Today is the debut of the dialogue between the Government and involved bodies on the authorisation and concentration of Mass Media. "The regime of idleness and lawlessness in the Mass Media cannot continue," noted Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos and added that the current situation enforces the intervention of the State in order to secure accordance to the law and the smooth functioning of the Mass Media. The meeting with political parties will be made after the proposals of the bodies are consolidated, aiming at the completion of the dialogue before the end of February. The discussion will be broadcast live at dialogos.gov.gr, which will also post submitted opinions and the official documents of the dialogue.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related Links:

http://www.dialogos.gov.gr

[06] Doubting Bin Laden's Leadership

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

On Wednesday, on his way to Pakistan, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld referred to the lengthy absence of Osama Bin Laden, who has not sent a televised message since December 2004. Rumsfeld described the fact that there have been no news by the leader of Al Qaeda as important, and noted that if he is alive he probably is not in a position to lead his organisation. Along the same lines were US Ambassador in Pakistan Ryan Cockers statements, even if Abu Musab al-Zarqawi with a televised message stated that Ladens war against the West has just began. Rumsfeld is visiting Pakistan in order to exhibit the USs support to the country and monitor US humanitarian organisations stationed there after the earthquake in October. A day before, US Vice President Dick Cheney had visited the country.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] Reportedly Called Bush A "Terrorist" First "Hit" by Morales

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: Reuters

A few hours after the elections in Bolivia, Evo Morales, who received the majority for the Presidential seat, provoked with statements made to television network Al Jazeera, as he reportedly called US President George W. Bush a "terrorist." "The only terrorist in this world that I know of is Bush," is the controversial statement attributed to Morales, however, a spokesperson of the government doubted the saying as he did not remember the Bolivian President having said something like that and attributed the description to a mistranslation. It is noted that the interview was given in Spanish, translated into Arabic and following into English for news agency Reuters. Morales, a former coca farmer, is a fierce critic of US policy and has called himself a nightmare of the US, while he has voiced his support to Fidel Castro.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Bolivia Enters New Era

[08] Enormous Fine Imposed to US Unions 1 Million Dollar Strike

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: CNN, BBC, Reuters, ANA

In New York, a court judged the strike of employees in Public Means of Transport as illegal and imposed an enormous fine to involved unions, nearing 1 million dollars for each day of strike. The collective actions of 34,000 employees in the subway and buses, demanding better wages and pensions, caused chaos in the American city, since more than 7 million residents use Public Means of Transport daily. Many had to walk or bicycle to work in the cold, among whom Mayor Bloomberg, who described the strike as a cowardly attempt of unions to improve their negotiating ability and warned that it costs the city 400 million dollars daily.

Hassle and Chaos

The employees decided to stage the first strike in transport since 1980 after the dead-end to negotiations over their contracts with the motto "We move NY. Respect Us."

As per New York legislature, employees in the Public Sector are not allowed to stage strikes, while the fine was imposed in an effort to avoid continuing strikes.

The Mayor asked of the residents to work from home or car pool. The traffic chaos was indicative of the fact that entrance to Manhattan was banned for many cars that transported less than four passengers.

Long queues were formed at taxi and Public Means of Transport stations, such as long-distance buses, trains and ships, whose employees are not striking, while some companies hired buses to transport their personnel.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

CNN: New Yorkers walk as transit strike ruled illegal

BBC: NY strike union fined $1m a day

ABC News: Court Fines NYC Transit Union $1M a Day

New York Times: Citywide Strike Halts New York Subways and Buses

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