The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-03-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Autopsy Will Take Place on Sunday Range of Reactions

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

The autopsy on the body of former President of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic will take place on Sunday and attended by a Serb doctor. Milosevic was found dead in his cell, where he was held the previous years and just a few months before the end of the trial at the International Court of Justice (ICJH) at The Hague. The ICJ had rejected the demand by Milosevics family for the autopsy to be made in Moscow and decided on the Netherlands Forensic Institute in The Hague. From the first instance, Milosevics family, which lives in Moscow as there is pending warrant against it, had directly accused the UN Tribunal for the death of the last Yugoslav leader, while speaking of indifference in relation to this health. It is reminded that Milosevic had asked to be transferred to the Russian capital for hospitalisation as he faced serious health problems, which many times caused the stoppage of the trial. On its part, the ICJ had refuted to claim responsibility over Milosevics death, noting that the tribunal takes every care for its accused and especially for Milosevic.

The tribunal had asked for a full autopsy, as well as toxicology exams, in order to determine the exact cause of death and to confirm that it came from natural causes as there rumours were circulating over a probable suicide or murder.

Moreover, the autopsy will determine the exact time of death. In an announcement, the ICJ explained that there are no indications that the detainee put an end to his life. Milosevics body was taken from the prisons to the Netherlands Forensic Institute on Saturday night.

The Day After

The Serb peoples emotions are mixed against this new reality. His supporters lit candles outside the offices of the Socialist Party of Serbia, in Belgrade, and flooded the entrance with flowers, while a large portrait was placed on the buildings fa&#231;ade, were many gathered in remembrance and honour of their leader.

Serb ultra-nationalist parties described Milosevic as "a betrayed hero" by the people, claiming that he should be buried in the cemetery for national heroes.

General Secretary of the Socialist Party Zoran Anjelkovic repeated the claim that the UN Tribunal killed Milosevic and said: "The tribunal did not desire the truth, thus they did everything to end the procedure in the way that it did."

On his part, Prime Minister of Serbia Vojislav Kostunica refrained from commenting and only voiced his condolences to Milosevics family. At the same time, his opponents used harsh words to comment on the death of Milosevic.

"The death of the butcher of the Balkans, who caused the greatest dramas and tragedies of modern history to Bosnians, Albanians and Croats, is a relief for the families of his hundreds of thousands of victims," said Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha adding that God gave his verdict before the Justice.

In the meantime, Prosecutor of the ICJ Carla Del Ponte, who is expected to talk on Milosevics death on Sunday noon, repeated the plea for Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic to appear before the Justice.

EU High Commissioner for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana voiced the wish for Serbia to turn the page, as well as US, which described Milosevic as "the main participant in the violent partition of Yugoslavia."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Milosevic's Life

Milosevic Passed Away

[02] Problems by the Bad Weather Ban on Sailing

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET

Ships remained docked at the ports of Piraeus and Rafina after a sailing ban was issued due to the gale-force winds at seas. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) predicted a further worsening of the weather and in an emergency bulletin spoke of dangerous weather conditions. On Saturday night, problems were caused by the sudden rainfall in Attica, as well as problems in the traffic of vehicles. The Fire Service received phone calls for the pumping of water from basements and stores. The State is on alert for countering the side effects of the bad weather. In an announcement, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection advised people to be careful and to take the extreme weather conditions in account, as well as measures of self-protection.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] G. Papandreou: "Census is a Fraud"

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET

On Sunday, during his speech at the Demokritos National Centre for Scientific Research in an event for the World Day for Consumer Rights, President of PASOK George Papandreou lashed out against the Governments economic policy. Mr Papandreou described the census as "a fraud" and attributed responsibility to Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and the economic leadership of the Government over the course of the economy. "The Greek family was targeted with the census," noted the President of PASOK, adding that Eurostat had stated that the Greek economy did not have to be monitored. In closing, Mr Papandreou referred to the expensiveness issue, over which PASOK will start an informative campaign throughout the country.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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