The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-05-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] European Social Forum Concluded Anti-War Message

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA, ΝΕΤ

The anti-war demonstration rally staged by the 4th European Social Forum came to an end, with left-wing politicians, peace and environmental groups from Greece and all over the world attending it. The massive march in the heart of Athens was viewed as quite striking by the Steering Committee of the 4th European Social Forum, claiming that as many as 80,000 demonstrators took part. In the meantime, small-scale clashes marked the anti-war rally throughout the march. "Unity is our power, no more wars," underlined SYN President Alekos Alavanos. "Greek Police met the double goal, namely to make sure that Greece is a hospitable country and to avert incidents by activists. The damage caused was not that important, while the march ran smoothly," argued Public Order Minister Byron Polidoras.

Small-Scale Clashes

A group of youths triggered off clashes outside the British embassy, the War Museum, the Foreign Ministry and the Parliament. They then headed to Ermou Str, where they vandalised several shops. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the youths. Thirty people were arrested, while thirteen of them will be taken to a Prosecutor. During the clashes, a police officer was injured and some five civilians were hurried to hospitals.

Earlier, small-scale incidents were recorded shortly after 5pm near the US embassy, when a group of anarchists hurled Molotov cocktails. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the anarchists. Incidents also took place near the Athens Police headquarters on city-centre Alexandras Avenue, with hooded youths torching a police car at Loukareos Str. Again, the police forces fired tear gas to fight back the anarchists.

"Stop the War"

Representatives of the Steering Committee, thousands of foreigners, and member of Greek labour unions and non-government organisations headed the march. The Greek Social Forum members, along with some 1,000 immigrants who had gathered at Victoria Square, were also at the head of the rally. Furthermore, the march of anarchists that had kicked off earlier ended without clashes. The anarchist group had decided to mount a rally of their own, running parallel with that of the European Social Forum.

The march of the anarchists, numbering some 600 to 700 people, ended almost smoothly, with small-scale clashes between a small group of anarchists with police taking place. Riot police used tear gas, while a branch of the Agricultural Bank of Greece on Alexandras Avenue was damaged and a police car was torched. Following these clashes, two people were arrested.

In their joint statement, SYN of Greece and Freedom and Solidarity Party of Turkey opposed they use of Greek and Turkish soil and objected the use of nuclear weapons.

SYN and the Freedom and Solidarity Party argued that a possible escalation of the crisis in the Middle East requires bolder efforts on the part of the powers of peace in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.

Related News:

Anti-War Demonstration Rally

[02] To Mark Freud's 150th Birthday Austria Honours Freud

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Wikipedia, ANA

Doctor, physiologist, psychiatrist and founding father of the psychoanalytic school of psychology, Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1856September 23, 1939) is honoured by his homeland, Austria, on the occasion of his 150th birthday. A special exhibition titled "The Couch" is being mounted at his apartment at Berggasse 19, now the Sigmund Freud Museum. The exhibition, which kicked off on May 5 and will run through November, means to outline the history of that piece of furniture and its role in the history of psychoanalysis. Unlike the genuine couch of the highly distinguished psychoanalyst, which is at the Freud Museum in London, several historical couches, including one that was presented in Vienna in 1873 and another created by Otto Wagner, are on display. At the same time, several other events will be staged in Vienna, where the father of psychoanalysis lived most of his life.

A Few Words about Freud

Sigismund Schlomo Freud was born on May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, now called Pribor belonging to the Czech Republic. As early as the age of three, he and his family moved to Vienna, where he lived until 1938.

From an early age, Feud singled out for his intellect and was a brilliant student. He went on to attend the medical school of the Vienna University at 17, in 18731881. Upon his graduation, he started working as a practitioner in Viennas hospital.

His first paper on psychoanalysis came out in 1895 in collaboration with Josef Breuer. Freud destroyed the bulk of his personal notes at least twice, in 1885 and 1907.

In 1886, he married Martha Bernays and had six children. Of all his children, it was only Anna who followed in his footsteps and took up psychoanalysis.

Rather harsh with his colleagues, Freud led a quite serene life, freed of tensions. Apart from psychiatry, archaeology was listed among his few interests. There are reports referring to him as strikingly neat, suffering from obsessions.

Freud was a heavy smoker and never quit smoking even after having his jaw removed due to malignancy. Despite undergoing some 33 operations to treat the disease, he did not stop publishing his books and treating his patients.

After the Germans invaded Austria in 1938, Freud was forced by the Nazis to flee Vienna and move to London. At the same period, both his son and his daughter were interrogated by the Gestapo. The Nazis had already imposed a ban on Freuds books, while several of his books were burnt. Freud lived in London until he died on September 23, 1939. His house, there, serves now as the Freud Museum.

One of the most celebrated scholars of the 20th century, Freud studied and defined notions, including the unconscious, defence mechanisms and psychosexual development.

The theories and treatments he developed were viewed as highly innovative and prompted intense controversy when they were first introduced in the 19th century Vienna. Freuds contribution was not only evident in the fields of psychology and psychiatry, for he left his mark on several other scientific fields, including anthropology, sociology, philosophy, as well as art.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Fierce Criticism by PASOK President G. Papandreou Answered Back

Sources: NET, NET 105.8, ANA

During his tour in Cephallonia, President of PASOK made a full frontal attack against the NDs Government. George Papandreou attributed the Government with weakness to solve the problems of the citizens, abandoning regional areas and personally attacked the Prime Minister saying that he has created a climate of disappointment for the citizens. He called on the Government to position itself to the statements by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace relating to the candidacy of a Muslim woman in the Super-Prefecture of Drama-Kavala.

Speaking at Lixouri, Cephallonia, PASOK President George Papandreou criticised the Government and breaking all its pre-election commitments and abandoning regional areas.

"Mr Karamanlis has forgotten about regional areas, while the Government and himself do not know how to handle crises," said Mr Papandreou adding that the only programming and plan the Government has is the servicing of close party interests and the control of power.

The President of PASOK added that apart from the ND policy, which creates pessimism among the citizens, there is a prospect, underlining the great importance PASOK gives to regional development and decentralisation of power.

Mr Papandreou directed at the Prime Minister, referred to the candidacy issue of Mrs Kachrasan and said that it symbolises that "we do not segregate, keep files and create second class citizens. I heard that the relevant Macedonia-Thrace Minister spoke of a notion referring to all the above, an authoritarian notion of the right-wing and I ask the Prime Minister if these facts express the official policy of Mr Karamanlis. Because he is the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace. It is a shame for such words to be spoken, at these times, in a democratic country."

[04] Greek Development Minister in Egypt

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ANA

Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas met with His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria Theodoros II and the representatives of the Greek community in Egypt, in the context of his five-day official visit to the country. Mr Sioufas also held talks with Egyptian Ministers to discuss the prospects of economic and development cooperation between the two countries. Mr Sioufas conveyed the respect and love of Greek Premier Kostas Karamanlis has towards the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa and His Beatitude Theodoros II. On his part, Theodoros referred to the missionary work in Africa. Development Ministry Secretary General Nikos Stefanou, Greek Consul General in Alexandria Theoharis Lalakos, the head of the Greek community in Alexandria Haralambos Katsibris, as well as other officials, were present at the meeting.

[05] By the UN Security Council No Agreement on Iranian Issue

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA, Reuters

The UN Security Council appeared divided, in reference to the proposed decision plan on Irans nuclear programme by the US, France and Great Britain, as Russia and China disagreed on the reference to Article 7 of the UN Charter, which would pave the road for imposing sanctions or taking up military action. "The decision plan investigated by the UN Security Council needs great changes," stated Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak, adding that "it is too soon to say which changes have to be included so that the Russian side is satisfied." On Friday night, the five permanent members of the Security Council attended a second behind-closed-doors meeting, without however bridging their differences. On Monday, the Foreign Ministers of these countries and their German counterpart will meet at the UN headquarters in New York.

Related News:

Annan's Call for Iran

[06] Berlin Paid Ransom to Free Hostages

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, ANA

The German Government paid more than 10 million dollars in ransom to free two German held hostages in Iraq for some 99 days, reported the state-run television network ARD, citing security sources. The two German engineers were freed last Tuesday. However, German weekly magazine Der Spiegel read the ransom paid by the German Government was million dollars more than the sum paid for former hostage Susanne Osthoff ($ 5 millions). In the meantime, Berlin refused to comment on whether it paid ransom to win the freedom of Osthoff or the two kidnapped men from Leipzig, Rene Braeunlich and Thomas Nitzschke.

[07] In Basra British Chopper Crashed

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, ANA

A British helicopter was crashed Saturday in Basra, killing four British soldiers. UK Defence Secretary Des Browne confirmed the death of British soldiers, yet he failed to determine the exact number. The helicopter was downed by a missile, said a UK military spokeswoman. Dozens of Iraqis rejoiced over the crash, hurled stones at the soldiers and even tried to torch a tank. In following, British soldiers clashed with armed Iraqis. Five civilians were killed, including two children, and some 28 were wounded. The violent incidents prompted the Iraqi police to impose a curfew from 20.00pm to 06.00am Sunday morning in the city of Basra.

Armed Iraqis threw stones and opened fire at the British soldier that rushed to the crash scene and wounded one, an AFP journalist was quoted as saying. He also said he saw at least two bodies. Firefighters reported they saw four burnt bodies. The British army confirmed the crash, without making any comments on the number of the passengers.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

Reuters: British helicopter down in Iraq

[08] Oil Prices to Rise

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA

On Friday, the price of crude oil for June deliveries closed at $70.19 per barrel in New York, surging slightly after a two-day drop. Over the past two trading days, crude prices showed a decline of five dollars, reaching the lowest levels since April 13. The fall in the prices came after the US Energy Department announced out of the blue a 2.1 million increase in the US gasoline reserves. This move cooled off the US market, as it safeguarded the smooth supply of the US with gasoline. However, the possible escalation of the Iranian crisis keeps troubling analysts, who called the drop excessive and predicted a new corrective rise.

[09] At Athens 2nd Cemetery Last Goodbye to Alexis Damianos

Sources: NET

The last goodbye was said to the great Greek director and actor, Alexis Damianos, at the Athens 2nd Cemetery. Friends, associates, common people, who loved the creator whose simplicity marked Greek cinema, gathered at the funeral service. His absence closed an important chapter in the history of modern Greek cinema. All three of his movies, "Mechri to Ploio," "Evdokia" and "Iniochos," presented the life of common people. The man with the restless spirit travelled as to unite his name with eternity. The liveliness of the rebel, whose lens was directed at a harsh but human reality, will be forever remembered. Wreaths were sent by Minister of Culture Giorgos Voulgarakis, the Greek Directors Company, the Greek Film Centre and the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

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