The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-04-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] New Meeting in New York on Friday

30 Apr 2008 11:52:00 (Last updated: 30 Apr 2008 13:03:03)

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ANA-MPA

A new round of talks between Athens and Skopje has been in full swing. The new talks mean to reassess the situation and determine the next moves in the negotiations on the FYROM name dispute.

UN envoy Matthew Nimetz will have a new meeting with Greek ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis in New York on Friday. Nimetz met Tuesday with Skopjes negotiator Nikola Dimitrov, however, there were no comments after the meeting.

Greeces Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, in her article that appeared Wednesday in US paper Washington Times, argued that Greece is ready for the direct resumption of the UN-sponsored talks and urged FYROM to display the resolve and political spirit that will secure its accession to NATO and the EU.

Bakoyannis: Greece Has Covered Its Half Way

In her article, Dora Bakoyannis stressed that the term "Macedonia" defines a wider geographic region, only a part of which is in FYROM, and thats why one wonders whether FYROM has territorial claims to the entire region.

FYROMs leaders, she went on, claim they have no such plans, and that Greece wants to believe them. However, she added, official FYROM maps and other state documents depict the region of Macedonia in Greece, which they call "Aegean Macedonia," as "occupied" territory belonging to FYROM that will one day be "liberated."

Bakoyannis also underlined that Greece has taken bold steps toward a solution, accepting a composite name, with a geographical qualifier for the term "Macedonia. "All we ask of the other side is that they meet us half way," said the Greek Foreign Minister.

Milososki: Greece Has Opened Pandora's Box

In the meantime, in his article entitled "Why Was Natos Door Slammed in Our Face?", in Canadian paper Globe and Mail, FYROM Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki blasted Greece for its using the democratic nations to claim that it has the exclusive right on Macedonia from antiquity to the 21st century. Milososki concluded stressing that Greece had opened Pandoras box and that the international community has to help to have it sealed.

Related News:

Nimetz Invitation for Unofficial Talks

[02] Regarding OTE

30 Apr 2008 15:45:00

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105,8

Greece aims to sell its stake in OTE to Telekom, Europes largest telecom operator, in an effort to make the Greek company more competitive, but has been reluctant to relinquish control. The government as well as Deutsche Telekom is close to find a solution regarding negotiations on their strategic cooperation with OTE. Finance minister Mr. Alogoskoufis is having a meeting now with the vice president of Deutsche Telekom. During the last 48 hours in a series of meetings, consultants of denationalization and the German vice president of Deutsche Telecom are looking for a compromising solution. The first ray of light was revealed in the meeting yesterday and as stressed by a head representative of Ministry of Finance: "There is progress. Dialogue continues. Discussions will also take place next week which is going to be a crucial week." According to analysts, the agreement on the issue of the directive councils briefs will open the road for the resolution of other issues too". Earlier in the morning, Finance Minister Mr. Giorgos Alogoskoufis and Transport Minister Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis had a meeting in the Ministry of Finance. Just before the meeting of the cabinet Finance Minister briefed the Prime Minister about the issue at Maximos Mansion. After the cabinets meeting Finance Minister Mr. Giorgos Alogoskoufis said: "There has been progress in the negotiations but there are still many issues to be discussed next week", while Giorgos Souflias noted that New Democracy's agenda provides for a strategic alliance guided by an appropriate management in OTE. The government is pursuing a balanced agreement which will shield the public sectors position. Deutsche Telekom on its part wishes to present an investment in a Greek association that preserves control of the company. According to information, both sides have agreed to transfer 3% of public shares more than 26 per share. What must also be resolved during the next days are technical issues of the agreement.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] Last Farewell to Marios Tokas

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ΝΕΤ

Family and friends and all those who loved Marios Tokas said the last farewell to the Greek composer. The funeral ceremony took place in Athens 1st Cemetery under the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias. Education Minister of Cyprus Mr. Andreas Dimitriou delivered the funeral speech while actor Grigoris Valtinos rerad the farewell of composer Mikis Thodorakis. The coffin of the beloved composer was covered with the Cypriot flag. The hearty and extended clapping of the gathered people accompanied him in his last residence. Marios Tokas passed away on Sunday at the age of 54. He was suffering from cancer.

The Prime Minister Mr. Costas Karamanlis in his statement said: "Marios Tokas left an important legacy in the history of modern Greek music. His talent and the quality of his character credited him in Greece, Cyprus and to all centers of Ecumenical Hellenism". Wish of his family and of Marios Tokas himself was instead of submission of funeral wreaths attendees to reinforce the humanistic organization "Doctors without Borders".

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[04] Sunshine Forecast on May Day

By Anna Kourti

Sources: http://www.hnms.gr/

Bright sunshine and high temperatures will make up the weather in several regions throughout Greece on May Day. Weather conditions in Attica will be rather mild, with temperatures ranging from 13C to 26C and winds at speeds of 3 to 4 Beaufort. In Thessaloniki the weather is forecast a little cloudy. Winds will be southerly at 3 to 4 Beaufort and temperatures will range from 11C to 20C.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Palestinians Arrested in West Bank

The Israeli army arrested Wednesday 30 Palestinians in a refuge camp in the West Bank city of Nablus, said a Palestinian official. An Israeli spokesman spoke of 13 arrests made during in a routine operation that targeted wanted. Thirty Israeli tanks invaded in the early hours of Wednesday the Askar refuge camp in Nablus and Israeli troops stormed houses before arresting 30 people, added the Palestinian official. Fatah and Xamas members were among the arrestees, people living in the camp were quoted as saying.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Siemens Case: New Testimonies

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8

A former and a current Siemens Hellas official and a former OTE official implicated in the Siemens scandal have been summoned to testify Wednesday to the First Instance Court Prosecutor as suspects of punishable deeds.

The case relates to the 8002 contract for the digitalisation of the OTE network singed in December 1997. The contract earned Siemens some 800 million euros.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] Breakthrough Treatment against Obesity

Australian researchers appear to have come up with a breakthrough treatment against obesity and diabetes. Their study has suggested that blood pressure drugs could speed up ones metabolic rate, thus burning more calories. This breakthrough is hoped to hold the key to treating obesity and diabetes. Leading researchers Dr Michael Mathai said that the discovery is quite promising, given the fact the more than half of the grownups and one in three children are either obese or overweight.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] Russia-Georgia Tensions Run High

Sources: ANA/MPA, BBC

Tensions between Russia and Georgia are escalating, after Moscows decision to beef up its forces in the pro-Russian breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia.

Moscow said that Georgia had massed about 1,500 soldiers and policemen in the Kodori Gorge, the only part of Abkhazia that remains under Tbilisis control.

A statement from the Russian foreign ministry said that "a bridgehead is being prepared for the start of military operations against Abkhazia," read a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, which had warned that it would defend the Abkhazian allies if they were attacked.

Were Georgia to fulfil its threat for use of violence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia would have to retaliate to protect the lives of its citizens, argued Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, following his talks with EU officials in Luxemburg.

Georgian officials, on the other hand, claimed no attack against Abkhazia had been planned, while Tbilisi reacted fiercely, dismissing Russias plans as "irresponsible." "We think this step will utterly destabilise this region," Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze told reporters after an emergency session of Georgias security counc

The EU called for caution, while it described Russias decision to increase its troops in the breakaway provinces as "unwise."

"Even if the increase in peacekeepers is within limits, if we want to diminish the perception of tensions, I dont think it is a wise measure to increase now," Mr Solana said after meeting with Lavrov.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] No Damage Was Reported

30 Apr 2008 09:25:00

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An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale hit a rural part of northern Carolina at 20:03pm on Tuesday. The quake struck some 307km to the north of Sacramento and was felt from the Pacific Ocean to Oregons administrative border. There had been no reports of casualties or damage, said the U.S. Geological Survey.

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