The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-05-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] In New York on FYROM Name Issue

02 May 2008 08:18:00

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌNA

US special envoy Matthew Nimetz is having a new rpund of contacts on FYROM name issue. Today he is going to meet with Greek ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis in New York while a few days before he had a meeting with Skopje ambassador Nikola Dimitrov. According to information of NET state channel Mr. Nimetz wishes to visit Athens as well as Skopje. Meantime, Skopje Prime Minister Gruevski insists on his intransigent stance. He stated that he will not acccept the compromise which as he claims- is imposed by Greece. He stressed that he is not going to accept any change in the institutional name. State Department Deputy Undersecretary Matthew Braiza asked from Greece not to mind Mr. Gruevskis statements and called on both sides not to expect everything to be done by "Prometheus Nimetz". "They have to do more that just sit and wait from Prometheus Nimetz to appear with fire" he stated.

They Insist on their Intransigent Stance

Nikola Gruevski released in public his partys agenda at the sight of the elections. Gallops present him as the winner.

According to the agenda, his party is not going to accept any changes in the constitutional name of Skopje.

In addition, he states that he is not going to accept any suggestions or proposals that will affect "the Macedonian national identity, the Macedonian nation and the Macedonian language".

VMRO-DPMNE peoples party will not allow any kind of solution and compromise on the issue. No politician, government and Parliament will accept solutions and compromises without peoples expression through a referendum, VMRO-DPMNE states and adds that "the minority and national rights of Macedonians who live in the neighboring countries as well as US, Australia and Canada will be defended".

Yesterday, Deputy Undersecretary Matthew Braiza called on Greece and Skopje to work on new suggestions. "We need to hear from Greece that it will improve Mr. Nimetz suggestion and we also need to hear the same thing from your neighbor in the south", he said.

Turkish president Mr. Abdullah Gul who is visiting the neighboring country expressed his sorrow about the fact that Skopje did not receive an invitation to enter NATO and said that he is in favor of FYROM leadership stances.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[02] Weightlifting Athletes

02 May 2008 13:48:00 (Last updated: 02 May 2008 19:18:05)

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌNA

Babis Lukoudis, the lawyer of the 10 athletes of the National Weightlifting Team who were found positive in the anti doping control they were submitted to the District Attorney Andreas Karaflos a statement of defense. The athletes deny that they took illegal substances. In addition, the 25 years old athlete who is accusing their co-athletes that they were ordered to change their sim mobile cards asked through her councilor and received a new deadline for her testimony. The report of the second anti doping test which proved positive only to an illegal anabolic substance was submitted to the district attorney. Older samples taken by the athletes were checked by the anti doping center in the Olympic Stadium and were found negative.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] With Garganas, Alogoskoufis and Pavlopoulos

02 May 2008 14:28:00

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA-MPA, NET

Greek Premier Kostas Karamanlis met early on Friday with Governor of the Bank of Greece Nikos Garganas. The latters tenure runs through on 14 June, and as he himself said, he would step down after a 33-year tenure in several posts. The Greek Prime Minister then held talks against red tape with the Ministers of Finance and Interior, Giorgos Alogoskoufis and Prokopis Pavlopoulos respectively, at Maximos Mansion, the Greek PMs official residence. Exiting the meeting, Pavlopoulos argued they touched on the trimming of administrative burdens and the cost of red tape. "For the first time in Greece because under the Socialist rule all this stuff was unknown and abandoned the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) includes a special operational plan on administrative reforms, with cutting the red tape being its keynote goal," commented the Interior Minister. Several similar sessions would follow, since the issue of the red tape means a great deal to the citizen and economy, Pavlopoulos continued. A European Commission report has shown that the cost of red tape in Greece was greater than the average for all European Union nations and, especially for businesses, exceeded 6.5% of GDP, claimed Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis. Both Ministries have embarked on a joint campaign to cut the red tape for businesses and the public, as well.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] In local councils Elections in England

02 May 2008 08:43:00

Sources: ANA, MNA

Prime Minister Gordon Brown received a blow in his first test at the polls since taking over from Tony Blair. This was Britains Labour Party worst local election defeat in 40 years. With two-thirds of the results counted from local councils in England and Wales, BBC predictions put the Conservatives on 44 percent and Labour on only 24 percent, one point behind the centrist Liberal Democrats. Political analysts say that Gordon Brown will loose around 200 council seats --around a quarter of the partys councillors who were up for election. Governmental ministers believe that these results were outcome of the international crisis and consider that when the elections are going to take place, the Labour Party will be the winner.

According to BBC estimations the percentage of the Labor party has dropped to 24% while conservatives have gained a percentage of 44%. The governmental party is in the third place. Traditionally, the governments in Britain copy with big lose during their tenure in local councils. What is stressed is that Gordon Brown does not have to go to elections until 2010 when he hopes to improve economy.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[05] 21 Childern at Least

02 May 2008 09:51:00

By Vivian Papastefanou

A deadly intestinal virus that has killed 20 children in eastern China has spread and so far infected nearly 2,500 kids in all, state press said Friday, citing health authorities. Of those, more than 700 remain hospitalized due to the disease, 36 of them in a serious condition, Xinhua news agency quoted health authorities in Anhui province as saying. The number of children to have been infected with the enterovirus 71, known as EV71, the disease begins with fever, blisters, mouth ulcers and rashes. According to local authorities, all patients are children under 6 years old while most of them nave completed the second year of their lives. Health authorities stressed that the transmission of the virus can bee avoided if families take the necessary health measures.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[06] In Havana

02 May 2008 18:46:00

Sources: ANA-MPA

Visiting Cuba upon the countrys Communist Partys invitation, the Greek Communist delegation led by the partys general secretary Aleka Papariga held a series of meetings in Havana. The Greek delegation met with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, National Assembly Speaker Ricardo Alarcon, and other Cuban Communist officials. Aleka Papariga joined the May Day demonstration held in Havana. She also visited the University of Computer Sciences, where she discussed education affairs with the teaching staff and the students. On Saturday morning, Aleka Papariga will give an interview top Granma, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party.

[07] Bush Offers Nearly One Billion Dollars

02 May 2008 17:56:00

Sources: NET, ANA

The global food crisis has sounded the alarm in the third world countries. Authorities in Egypt stepped up stern measures to ensure bread supplies, while in Afghanistan, the army was called to put down a revolt organized by starving populations.

The "silent tsunami" of hunger, as the experts have termed the global food crisis, is sweeping the economic foundations of dozens of nations. In two weeks time, US President George W. Bush has offered a financial aid reaching one billion dollars to help ease the effects from rising food prices.

Much more should be done, commented Bush, further adding that he would request the US Congress to back his proposal.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] Kills at Least Six

02 May 2008 14:02:00

By

Sources: ÁÐÅ-ÌÐÅ, REUTERS

Six people were killed and at least 35 wounded on Friday when a bomb hidden in a motorcycle exploded outside a mosque in Yemens volatile northern city of Saada. The blast happened as worshippers, including army officers, were leaving the Salman Mosque after Friday prayers, officials and security sources said. Saada city is considered centre of the Shiite rebellion against governmental forces which has resulted in the death of thousand people since 2004.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[09] 150 People Evacuated

02 May 2008 11:37:00

Some 150 people were evacuated early Friday after a landslide hit a small community in Gudbrandsdalen, some 350 kilometres north-west of Norways capital Oslo, officials said. Two buildings were swept away by the landslide but no-one was injured, police told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. A section of the E6 highway was also closed off by the landslide that was estimated to be 50 metres wide and 300 metres long. As a precaution, police and emergency services evacuated some 50 nearby houses in Otta. Police said several other minor landslides had occurred in recent days. The ground was soaked after heavy rains.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[10] Strong Quake Hits Alaska

Sources: Reuters

The U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday reported a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in a sparsely inhabited area near the tip of the Aleutian island chain, 45 miles (72.42 km) WNW of Adak, Alaska. The temblor, recorded at 6:33 p.m. Pacific time (0133 GMT), was at a depth of 29.6 miles (47.64 km), the USGS said. No widespread destructive tsunami threat was linked to the quake, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

[11] At Least 17 People Died and 46 Injured

02 May 2008 10:02:00 (Last updated: 02 May 2008 15:05:37)

17 people at least died and 46 were injured in new separate incidents reported yesterday in Iraq, as announced today by police sources, eyewitnesses and US army. German News Agency reported that 30 people were injured when a trapped car exploded in violent clashes in Mount Sinai, Baghdad. The blast caused damages in neighboring houses and shops. In Kirkuk, one died and three more people were injured when a bicycle full of explosives, blasted. In Saadr city 5 died and 11 were injured when conflicts broke out between armed and Iraqi forces. On Wednesday, a US soldier was killed in Nineveh. Death toll of American troopers has risen to 4.063 since March 2003. Last month at least 52 US troopers have been killed and 2.000 have been injured in Iraq making April one of the bloodiest months in Iraq.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[12] Weightlifting Athletes to Testify Today

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105,8

The 11 athletes of Weightlifting National Team who were found to have taken an illegal substance are going to testify today to the prosecutor. Their lawyer Haralambos Lykoudis expressed his support the their coach Christos Iakovou saying that what he claims is true while the statements of athlete Vassiliki Kassapi who said that the athletes had been given orders to change their mobile cards are lies.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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