The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-04-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Awaiting Christ's Resurrection Holy Drama Escalates

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

Eastern Orthodoxs experienced Good Friday, the most mournful day of the year, with great devoutness. The Holy Drama reached its peak with the Epitaph Precession late on Friday. The Epitaph Service drives sentiments up and the congregants are awaiting the hopeful message of salvation promised by Christs Resurrection. Mournful psalms were echoing in churches in all corners of Greece, with the congregants commemorating the Burial of Christ. Good Friday is a day of recollection and fasting for the Orthodox Christians. On Good Friday morning, thousands of followers attended the Vespers of the Descent from the Cross and paid tribute to the Epitaph. Shortly after noon, Archbishop Christodoulos attended the re-enactment of Christ being taken down from the crucifix at the Pendeli Monastery. In Jerusalem, Christians swarmed the streets of the old city to attend the Lamentations of Good Friday. Holding wooden crosses, dozens of Orthodox Christians followed the path of passion all the way up to Calvary.

Wishes for Love and Peace

President of Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias attended the Epitaph Procession at the Ioannina Cathedral.

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and SYN President Alekos Alavanos are on the Aegean island of Tinos, where they attended the Epitaph Procession at the islands port.

PASOK leader George Papandreou attended the Epitaph Procession on the Aegean island of Paros.

Patriarch Theofilos of Jerusalem wished for the Greek people and the whole mankind to live in peace and love. Theofilos also voiced his certainty that the Easter celebrations, including that of the Holy Light, will take place in tranquility and calmness, away from incidents and protests.

In the meantime, the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood is getting ready for tomorrows ceremony at the Holy Sepulchre. A Greek delegation led by Deputy FM Theodoros Kassimis will attend the ceremony. The Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood will hand over the Holy Light to Mr Kassimis, who will transfer It to Athens by plane and then across Greece.

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] Moderate Prices in Varvakios Market Satisfaction from Market Inspections

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

Market inspections will go on unhindered, assured Good Friday Deputy Development Minister Ioannis Papathanasiou, who visited the Varvakios Market, where Development Ministry crews were conducting inspections, aiming to safeguard the quality of the products and handle any profiteering phenomena. The Deputy Development Minister underlined that those speaking of an upward spiralling of prices in Varvakios Market were proved wrong, since the price of local lamps and goats do not exceed 10.5 euros per kg. Giannis Vlemmas, head of the Greek Central Food Control Agency (EFET), also appeared satisfied and underscored, "We are satisfied with the prices and the quality of the products in Varvakios Market."

In the meantime, butcher shops and stores will remain open up until 7pm, while supermarkets and department stores will close at 9pm.

On Holy Saturday, stores will stay open from 9am to 4pm, while supermarkets will close at 6pm.

Translated by Areti Christou

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[03] Iran Asks for IAEA's Cooperation

By Anna Kourti

Sources: AFP, ANA

Iran plans to continue its full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Irans ambassador to the UNs nuclear watchdog Ali Asghar Soltanieh was quoted as saying. "We are ready to eliminate all outstanding doubts about our nuclear dossier," he added. However, Russia categorically opposes the use of military force against Tehran to deflate the crisis triggered off by Irans nuclear programme, underlined Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Kislyak.

Translated by Areti Christou

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[04] Bomb Went off in Izmir Bomb Blast in Turkey

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA

A powerful explosion rocked a neighbourhood in Izmir, Turkey, when a bomb that had been planted in a trash bin went off Friday morning, shortly before a military vehicle passed past. As per Anatolia news agency, there are no reports of either damages or injuries. Local authorities reported that the explosive device was made of a material often used by Kurdish separatists and that it was set off from a distance. The explosion smashed the windows of nearby buildings, while several parked cars were damaged. Eyewitnesses said that a military vehicle passed past just a few seconds the explosion occurred.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] 7.7 On the Richter Scale Major Earthquake in SE Russia

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

On Thursday night a 7.7 on the Richter scale earthquake shook Kamchatka peninsula, in Russia, causing the slight wounding of tens of people. The quake occurred at 12:25, while its epicentre was located at a depth of 40km underground. The Emergencies Ministry reported the partial destruction of two school buildings, damage to houses and an airport, while the strong quake cut power and heating in four villages. As per the US Geological Survey another 13 aftershocks have occurred so far, ranging between 4.5 and 6.1, while this is the strongest earthquake since 1900. Its epicentre was located on the eastern side of the peninsula, approximately 70km east of Tilichiki, while the region affected by the earthquakes is inhabited by approximately 12,000 persons.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] Two Casaulties-12 Injured Endless Violence in Iraq

By Anna Kourti

Sources: REUTERS, ANA

Two people were killed and some 12 were injured Friday morning in successive attacks that rocked Iraq. In the meantime, a senior Tory MP requested British troops withdraw from the country, while Cambodia dismissed the US call urging it to dispatch troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. Gunmen in Hales, 80km north of Baghdad, killed a police officer and wounded a civilian, cited Iraqi security sources. A Shiite baker was shot dead while heading to his store in south Baghdad, cited another Iraqi security source. Three police officers were struck dead when a makeshift explosive device detonated in western Baghdad. A police squad rushed to the site and eight policemen sustained injuries when a second device went off. In the meantime, two bodies, yet to be identified, were recovered also in Baghdad, and some 20 people were arrested Friday morning in a raid mounted by the Iraqi forces in Baquba, north of Baghdad.

US-led Forces Committed Serious Mistakes

Senior Conservative MP Michael Ancram contradicted his partys line and called for British troops to withdraw from Iraq, because the country is in a state of civil war. "It is time now for us to get out of Iraq with dignity and honour while we still can," he wrote in his article that appeared in Daily Mail.

The US-led forces in Iraq have committed serious mistakes, he added, mostly after the "idiotic" disbandment of the Iraqi security forces, aiming to free them from Saddam Husseins ardent supporters. Ancram conceded he had voted for the invasion in Iraq in 2003 fearing the threat of weapons of mass destruction, but added: "On this I was wrong. So were many others [] We have no place in Iraq in a civil war. We cannot and must not take sides between Sunnis and Shias."

Translated by Areti Christou

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