The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-03-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Deliberations Completed

02 Mar 2008 10:22:00 (Last updated: 02 Mar 2008 15:26:30)

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105,8

The gap between Athens and Skopje positions on FYROM name issue have not been bridged after yesterdays meeting in New York of special UN mediator Mathew Nimetz, FYROM representative Nicola Dimitrov UN mediator and Greek Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis. However both sides wish to continue the negotiations so as to find a mutually accepted solution. Greece and Skopje are waiting for Mr. Nimetz new initiative and during the next week feverish negotiations are expected. Mr. Nimetz is warning that if both sides do not solve the problem this will affect Greece and Skopje as well as the broader region. It should be noted that Mr Karamanlis is to meet with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Athens on Monday morning.

In Skopje intense worry prevails regarding the possibility of Veto imposition by Greece. Mass Media focus on Mr. Karamanlis warnings. Behind the negotiation curtains on FYROM name issue a different dealing is in progress which has to do with Greeces immediate recognition of Kosovo independence. First objections in Greece in an ally level for Skopje entrance will be expressed by minister of Foreign Affairs next Thursday in NATO MPs meeting.

Ministers of Health and Aegean Island Policy Dimitris Avramopoulos and G. Voulgarakis speaking in an open rally yesterday in Syros and Hios islands suggested cautiousness, earnestness and collectedness. KKE in its announcement says that Greek people must not be disoriented by the forces of submission and by the nationalistic voices. Both KKE believes cover up the role of the imperialistic forces and their involvement in the interests of the Greek capital.

"Public Issue" Poll

According to "Public Issue" gallop conducted for Kathimerini tis Kyriakis newspaper, public opinion in Greece adopts different approaches on the name issue of FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). More specifically, 84% is in favour of veto imposition in the neighbouring country in NATO or UN if Skopje preserves an intransitive stance, while 69% believes that FYROM constitutes a small threat for Greece. Finally, 43% accept a compound name, geographically oriented.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[02] In NET Radio Station

02 Mar 2008 21:44:00

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105,8

SYRIZA president Alexis TsioraS adopt e a harsh line against PASOK. Talking to NET radio station, he supported the view that the opposition party is in an existential crisis. Evangelos Venizelos expresses in his interview in "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia" newspaper expresses his dissatisfaction for the procedures in PASOK before the partys meeting and says that those speaking of internal enemies in PASOK turn a blind eye.

PASOK ethical restoration has to be our focus, he states and suggests a communicative spread to left parties and progressive citizens who voted in favor of New Democracy stressing that PASOK should do what the founder of PASOK Andreas Papandreou did in 1981 with conditions adjusted in 2001.

PASOK spokesman Giannis Ragousis in his interview in "Typos tis Kyriakis" newspaper suggests all parties to fight against corruption and slander. In addition he brands the governments work sad and sends a message to the "left side" saying that people needs an alternative suggestion for power.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] In "Vima tis Kyriakis" Newspaper

02 Mar 2008 11:41:00 (Last updated: 02 Mar 2008 18:17:42)

Sources: ÍÅÔ

In an interview with NET, SYN (Coalition of the Radical Left) President Alexis Tsipras has attached to PASOK (Socialists) an existential crisis, while PASOK MP Evangelos Venizelos told Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia newspaper that he disapproves pre-conference procedures, stressing that those who speak about an enemy within PASOK are turning a blind eye to justify the present situation.

At the same time, a Kapa Research poll commissioned by To Vima Tis Kyriakis newspaper 18.4% of the interviewees support SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left).

Venizelos Distances Himself

In an interview with Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia newspaper Evangelos Venizelos argues that he disapproves pre-conference procedures, stressing that those who speak about an enemy within PASOK are turning a blind eye to justify the present situation. He adds that PASOK should communicate with the Left and progressive citizens who voted for ND (Conservatives) party.

PASOK spokesman Yiannis Ragousis stresses to Typos tis Kyriakis newspaper that the people prefer and alternative proposal for leadership.

Finally, in an interview with NET 105.8, KKE (Greeek Communist Party) Secretary General Aleka Papariga is criticizing SYN, ruling out cooperation between KKE and SYN.

ND-PASOK Difference to 5,9%

Kappa Research gallop conducted for Vima tis Kyriakis newspaper records drop in both New Democracy and PASOK and SYRIZA becoming the main force standing between the two big parties in Greece. However, New Democracy preserves a 5,9 lead ahead of PASOK.

More specifically on voting intention ND gains 29,1%, PASOK 23,2%, SYRIZA 18,4%, KKE 7,5 %, LAOS 1% and other parties 1,8%. Blank or invalid poll papers were 2,2 %.

73,9% of people asked state that they are not satisfied with New Democracys governance while 87,9% state that they are nor satisfied with PASOK as opposition party.

60,7% believes that NDs re election in power is or could rather be a negative progress. 42,9% believe that the situation in Greece would be the same if PASOK would have been re elected, 28% that things could have been worse and 25,3% that things could have been better. 28,2% think that PASOK could solve economic issues while 52,7% answer that none of the two big parties can do anything.

On reference to the most suitable Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis is on the lead with 41,2%, Giorgos Papandreou follows with 19,3%, Alexis Tsipras is on the third place with 13,1%, Giorgos Karatzaferis gathered 4,7%, Aleka Papariga 2,4% while 19,3% did not answer the question. As per the future of small parties in Greece, 52,7% believe that the electoral representation will be boosted, 19% say that many voters will return to the two big parties, 17% state that small perties power will drop because in recent elections they just received votes of protestation to ND and PASOK while 9,9 estimates that their rates will be the same. The Pan Hellenic telephone poll of Kappa Research was conducted from 19 to 22 February in a sample of 6.379 people.

[04] UN Security Council

02 Mar 2008 12:03:00

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ÍÅÔ - ÍÅÔ 105,8

UN Security Council condemned Israels attacks in Gaza Strip as well as attacks launched by Hamas fighters in the territory of South Israel. The Council convened after demand of the Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas who condemned the bloody operations of the Israeli army in Gaza Strip. The attacks killed 66 Palestinians among them were many children. Two Israeli soldiers also lost their lives. Ban Ki-moon, speaking to the extraordinary meeting of UN Security Council branded the Israeli attack as exceeding and out of proportion. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas announced the end of peace talks with Israel.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[05] Russian Presidential Elections

By Betty Savourdou

Voting is under way in Russia with over 108 million registered voters called to elect outgoing President Vladimir Putins successor, which according to all indications will be 42-year-old Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The other candidates are: Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, nationalist Liberal Democrat Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Democratic Party candidate Andrei Bogdanov. Polling stations will close at 20:00 local time. Russian citizens, who live and work in Greece, have been voting in the Russian Embassy in Athens since morning.

Meanwhile, a blast that has taken place in Dagestan, southern Russia today was dissociated from the election by the police as it took place far from poling stations.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Russians vote for new president

Related News:

Russia to the Polls

[06] Memorial Service for Christodoulos

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA-ÌPA

A memorial service was held at the Athens Cathedral and A thens First Cemetery Sunday by Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos, as 40 days had passed since Archbishop Christodoulos passed away.

Mr Ieronymos described the former Archbishop unique, while later Metropolitan of Syros Dorotheos praised the deceased, adding that the "dead die when the living forget them.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[07] Ahmadinejad's Historic Visit to Iraq

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: Reuters, AFP, ÁNA-ÌPA

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is paying a two-day official visit to Iraq, during which he will hold talks with top government officials. Amongst others, talks will focus on US accusations against Tehran that it provides and trains Shia armed groups with arms in Iraq, something which the Iranian government has rejected repeatedly. This is the first visit of an Iranian political leader to Iraq. The two countries tormented relations involved in a disastrous war in the biggest part of 1980 have improved with Saddam Husseins overthrow in 2003 when the US invaded Iraq and Nuri al Maliki took over.

"New Page"

Mr Ahmadinejads visit has come without the assistance of the United States.

US forces are not involved in security for the visit and did not provide helicopters to transport Mr Ahmadinejad into central Baghdad.

Instead he had to travel by car along the usually dangerous road from the airport to Iraqi President Jalal Talabanis residence near the US-controlled Green Zone.

There, he was warmly greeted by Mr Talabani as he walked down a red carpet past an honour guard.

After talks with the Iraqi president, Mr Ahmadinejad said the visit opened a "new page" in Iran-Iraq relations.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[08] Greece

02 Mar 2008 14:25:00

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105.8

One Sunday before carnival day, Greeks are celebrating with maypoles, song competitions and parades across Greece. Dressed up people have flooded Zappeio, with clowns entertaining young and old. The carnival feast will be celebrated in Thiseio until 10:00. A colourful maypole was set up in Syntagma square, while the parade in Moschato is impressive. Meanwhile, it has been estimated that about 2,500 dressed up people have flooded Kavala streets. In Nafplio, the carnival is celebrated with traditional serenades in the old city, while celebrations are also taking place in Patra, Zakynthos and Corfu.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[09] For Presidency of the Administrative Council

02 Mar 2008 13:14:00

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ANA, NET

Poll centers opened today for lawyers who are called to vote for a new president of the administrative council. Elections took place in 14 lawyer associations around the country. Electoral procedure taking place today is repetitive. Poll centers will close with the rise of the sun and elections will be continued tomorrow Monday when the new president of the administrative council for the following 3 years will be announced. Up until this moment around 800 lawyers have voted, among them the president of Parliament Mr. D. Sioufas and the minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos. The "battle" for the presidency is between D. Paxinos and D. Vervesos. It must be noted that in the first round D. Paxinos gathered 27,59% against D. Vervesos 20,02%.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[10] In Hilton Hotel and Heraklion Railway Station

02 Mar 2008 12:27:00

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ÍÅÔ

Hilton Hotel received at 11.15 a bomb threat phone call which created much confusion. An unidentified man who said that he is calling on behalf of the organization of "Popular Revolutionary Action" threatened that a bomb is about to explode in the hotel in 25 minutes. Police arrived immediately and closed the area around the hotel, Vassilisis Sofias Avenue and Michalakopoulou road, creating problems in traffic.

Earlier a lane in Vassilisis Sofias avenue opened but investigation on the area continues and it will be completed until the situation around the hotel is clear.

Police received a second phone call at 11.33. Again an unidentified man said that a bomb is about to explode in Neo Iraklion train station. Train traffic stopped immediately and men specialized in bomb disposal searched the area. Train traffic has not been restored yet but it is expected to be smoothed shortly. After investigation the phone call in Hilton proved to be fake.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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