The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-03-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] River Level Has Risen On Alert in Evros

Sources: ANA, NET

Authorities in Evros are on alert as the river level has risen once again due to the heavy rainfalls in Bulgaria, which resulted in mass water volumes pouring down to the Greek side. On Monday morning, the water level in Pythio reached 6.15 metres, exceeding by far the alarm limit set at 5.70m, while it reached 4.10m in Kypoi and 6.20m in Petalo. Blocks of land have already flooded, while Eastern Macedonia-Thrace regional and prefecture agencies estimated the water lever would further rise in the coming 48 hours, as dams in Bulgaria have overflowed and water is coming down. The Civil Protection Authority has already informed inhabitants not to get near the river, while army and fire service forces have been stationed at dangerous areas (Didymoticho, Dikaion, Mandra, Lavara and Feron) to help the transportation of inhabitants if necessary.

Increased Alertness

"We are in a state of increased alertness. The situation is very serious and we need to be very cautious," stressed Evros Deputy Prefect Michalis Kogioumtzis, adding, "The problem is likely to worsen over the next 24 hours as the water lever of river Ardas has reached 5.80m."

Meanwhile and due to the increased water level, the Civil Protection Authority opened up the levees in Kornofolia, Soufli, to channel the water elsewhere and avoid overflow. 350 hectares of farmland were flooded as a result.

What is more, large volumes of water are flooding the Tycheros-Provatonas-Thymaria plain because levees in the area gave way.

Fields in Pythio, Psathades and Didymoteicho remain flooded, while some 20,000 hectares in all riverside areas are filled with water.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] G. Alogoskoufis Departing for Brussels Eurogroup to Go Over Budget

By

Sources: NET, NET Radio 105.8

Greek Economy Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis is departing for Brussels at noon to attend a Eurogroup meeting, which will go over the Greek Budget, while Ecofin will convene tomorrow on the same subject. As per information, the Council of Economy Ministers will approve the Budget and adopt the Commissions favourable report on the stability programme, without excluding the possibility of giving Greece a one-year extension to further reduce deficit. Meanwhile, PASOK President George Papandreou said the fiscal inventory was a fraud, accusing the Prime Minister and the Governments economic staff of wasting money and harming Greeeces prestige. "Mr Papandreou tried to turn white into black to cover up his political dead-ends," answered back the Economy Minister, stressing the Economys main problem was the huge fiscal deficit, which the PASOK governments left behind.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Virus Detected in Two More Swans Two More H5N1 Cases in Greece

The London Reference Lab confirmed two more H5N1 cases in swans found dead in Thessaloniki and Kavala. These two new cases raise the number of confirmed infected migratory birds in Greece to 32. Meanwhile, Myanmar (Burma) confirmed its first bird flu cases at a poultry-breeding unit in Mandalay, according to a senior official of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Bangkok. "They have carried out some tests and they believe that they have identified H5N1," FAO official Laurence Gleeson underlined. Authorities in Myanmar announced they recovered 112 chickens dead on a farm near Mandalay and placed the area under quarantine, while many birds were culled.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] In Florina Protest Over Heating Benefit

Sources: NET, ANA

Inhabitants and competent bodies staged a protest demonstration in Florina on Monday morning. Their main demand was the heating oil benefit, as well as tax exemptions and compensations for damages caused by the adverse weather conditions. In Athens, Florina Parliamentarians, the Prefect and other officials delivered a protest resolution to the Prime Minister and demonstrated over the heating oil benefit in Parliament. As per the resolution, "greater heating oil consumption is required" in Florina due to the different temperature conditions in relation to Athens and other Greek cities, due to the higher pricing of products and services (because of the greater distance) and due to increased unemployment. For this reason, "the immediate submission of the heating oil benefit will be viewed as the beginning of a more positive handling of our problems."

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] On Felony Charges by an Appellate Council Order National Cadastre Members to Court

The Appellate Council ordered the referral to trial of two former administrative members of National Cadastre SA charged with breach of trust. The persons referred are Managing Director of Cadastre SA Nikos Galidakis and former member of the Board of Directors, Ioannis Reggas. The other 19 persons, who were initially indicted on the case, should not be referred, as per the ruling. The criminal proceedings were originally brought in October 2002, following an investigation conducted by First Instance Prosecutor Mr Gerakis, on the occasion of questions posed by ND MPs and accusations over mismanagement of funds granted by the Public Sector and the EU for the formation and operation of the National Cadastre in 1997-2001. Despite of the relevant Prosecutors acquitting proposal, the Appellate Council judged that the brief for the two accused is composed for breach of duty and embezzlement of Public funds. Criminal proceedings cannot be brought on the other defendants because of statutory limitation and the nature of the accusations (misdemeanours).

[06] Iran Opts for Double Standards

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA, DPA, AFP, BBC

Regardless of international reactions and its referral to the Security Council, Iran, through relevant Energy Minister Parviz Fattah, announced that it will start constructing a second nuclear plant for peaceful purposes within the coming six months. However, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki appeared more conciliatory, announcing that his country will not take drastic decisions concerning the issue of its nuclear programme. Moreover, he noted that his country is insisting that the issue be resolved in the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and continues supporting a diplomatic solution, rejecting presumptions that Tehran will withdraw from the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty.

J. Straw: "Military Action not Foreseen"

At the same time, British Foreign Minister Jack Straw announced that taking military action against Iran is inconceivable and not in the USs daily agenda.

"It is an issue which should be resolved with pressure but with peaceful and democratic means," he said.

However, the British Minister is expected to say that the investigation of the Iranian nuclear issue by the UN Security Council signals a new phase of diplomatic efforts and not their conclusion.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

ÂÂC: Straw speech to focus on Iranians

[07] 11 Dead and 25 Trapped Two New Accidents in Chinese Mines

By Athina Saloustrou

Eleven miners died in a mining accident on Sunday in southern China, while 25 were trapped in the tunnels after an explosion on Monday morning at another mine north of the country. Sunday's accident occurred in the afternoon at a small coalmine in Hunan. According to New China news agency, the causes of the accident are still unknown. Monday's explosion occurred in Mongolia at a time when 33 miners were working in the tunnels. Eight of them were recovered at once, while the remaining 25 are still trapped under the ruins. Despite the Chinese Government's efforts to improve safety conditions for miners, the Chinese mines are still the most dangerous in the world. The official death toll last year was 5,968 in 3,340 mining accidents, while unofficial data raise the death toll to 20,000.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[08] Tapping Phone Calls

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA, BBC

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has found himself in a rather awkward position after revelations he was tapping calls with Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, the Government's main legal advisor, as per a Scotland Yard announcement released on Sunday. He was also tapping calls with other senior officials, members of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, who are investigating the shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes by anti-terror police on 22 July, when he was considered suspect for participation in the London Tube bombings. A spokesperson for Lord Goldsmith confirmed the Attorney General was not aware the phone calls were been recorded and underlined he is "rather cross" and "somewhat disappointed" at the revelation.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Met chief in phone recording row

[09] Abbas on European Tour

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, who got off to his European tour, is expected in Vienna today, while he will be visiting Strasbourg and Brussels on Wednesday. On Friday, Mahmoud Abbas is expected to meet with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris. The focus of talks between the Palestinian President and European officials and leaders would be the consequences of Hamas' win in the Palestinian elections and the means to promote peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[10] By Consumer Organisations over Expensiveness Three-Day Boycott

Sources: NET, NET 105.8

The three-day boycott announced by the Consumer Organisations Association started on Monday for all products, in view of the World Day of Consumer Rights Day on 15 March. Consumer Organisations are protesting over expensiveness and calling on shoppers to purchase the absolutely necessary these three days.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[11] British Couple Murdered Heinous Crime in Chania

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA

A heinous crime involving a British couple was revealed on Sunday noon in Chania, Crete. British Roger Jonhson, 53, and his wife, Josephine Johnson, 52, were found dead inside their home, where they had just moved in on Friday. According to the results of the autopsy performed by coroner Manolis Michalodimitrakis, the man died of hemorrhage and asphyxiation caused by three stabs at the left side of his neck and strangling. He was also hit on the face. His wife was strangled with a rope.

The son of the couple, Ryan Johnson, 32, found his parents dead and said in his testimony that he was sleeping at the second storey of the house and woke up late on Sunday noon. He also said he was out on Saturday night at a local bar and came home really late.

The police officers who arrived first on the crime scene stressed there was a big mess on the ground floor, while the safe was open. However, there were no signs of breaking and entering.

The Police are thoroughly investigating the case in search of the perpetrator or perpetrators' motives.

The British couple had recently opened a tourist business in Almyrida, Chania, and according to eyewitnesses was a very kindhearted couple.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[12] In Colombia Uribe Reelected President

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA, AFP

The political coalition supporting current Colombian President Alvaro Uribe (La U and the Conservative Party) is the great winner of parliamentary elections in Colombia, according to the first results announced in the early morning hours and referring to 15.48% of the total of votes cast. Some 26.5 million voters were called on Sunday to bring the new Congress to power by electing 102 Senators out of 823 candidates and 165 Parliamentarians out of 1,968 candidates. Elections were held amidst violent incidents but luckily there were no victims. However, leftist rebels of the FARC group have launched various attacks over the last three weeks, killing 53 people. For this reason, President Alvaro Uribe urged the rebels of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces to join him in negotiations for setting the framework of a serious and immediate peace process that will help the country escape the dead-end of civil war.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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