The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-08-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Close to Tacking down Paleokostas' Accomplices

22 Αυγ 2008 19:57:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

With the investigation into the abduction of high-profile Greek businessman Giorgos Mylonas being in full swing, police seems to be close to tracking down Vassilis Paleokostas accomplices. Three more people were arrested on Friday. They are relatives of an inmate who allegedly supplied Paleokostas gang with weapons. They are the inmates parents and sister, who are believed to have covered up one of Paleokostas three key accomplices. They also possessed banknotes coming from the ransom paid for Mylonas release.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Credit to the Police

Paleokostas Arrested

[02] Performance of Greek Athletes on Day 14

Day 14 of the Beijing Olympic Games ran its course, but the Greek athletes failed to stand out. The only positive result was the victory the national water polo team claimed over Australia. It will now fight for seventh place against Australia on Sunday.

In taekwondo and in the Womens -67 weight division, Elli Mystakidou was eliminated. The Athens 2004 silver medallist was downed 1-0 in the first round by Asuncsion Ocasio Rodriguez of Puerto Rico.

In Mens 50kh Walk, Kostas Stefanopoulos finished 37th clocking 4:07:53. In the Mens 4 x 400m Relay Round 1, the Greek team of Stelios Dimotsios, Dimitris Gravalos, Pantelis Melachrinoudes and Kostas Anastasiou failed to make it to the final, landing seventh place.

In Rhythmic Gymnastics, Elina Andriola did not advance to the final of the Individual-All Around competition, as she ranked 21st, scoring 59,700 points. Neither the Greek team that competed in the Group All-Around Qualification managed to earn a place in the final. Dimitra Kafalidou, Olga Pilaki, Paraskevi Pleksida, Ioanna Samara and Nikoleta Tsagari, scored a total of 31,000 points, landing ninth place.

[03] Rogge's Statements Spark Fiery Reactions

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

The statements International Olympic Committee head Jacques Rogge allegedly made against Greece have sparked fiery reactions. According to Greek Olympic Committee President Minos Kyriakou, Rogge said that Greece claimed gold in doping, trailed by Bulgaria and Russia. Rogges harsh comment triggered strong reactions. Greek Secretary General of Sport Stavros Douvis stressed that Greece is too high for anyone to speak of it, while Socialist deputy Sofia Sakorafa underlined that certain people, including Rogge, had instigated the case.

"Mr Rogge should not believe that he is excluded from this case. There are instigators. The athletes are the victims and those who push them to make money are the instigators," Sofia Sakorafa told NET radio station.

"The IOC has crossed the line in the case in question. It has been malevolent. Perhaps it is justified, for many were tested positive to performance-enhancing drugs. But it has crossed the line for intending to sue the coach, as well," commented Giorgos Agiostratitis, Fani Halkia and her coach Giorgos Panagiotopoulos attorney.

The President of the Greek Olympic Committee, Minos Kyriakou, spoke of instigators who take advantage of the athletes thirst for medals. He reiterated yet again that prohibited substances traffickers should be punished.

The athletes are the victims, responsibilities lie elsewhere, stressed Defence Minister Vaggelis Meimarakis.

"The Greek athletes, and above all the champions, committee themselves to their goal, make sacrifices and trust their coaches and officials of their federations. And those are who are responsible," commented Meimarakis.

PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) agreed with the accusations of a doping ring.

"There is a doping ring in Greece and the government is incapable of controlling it, therefore were are unreliable and we listen such things from Mr Rogge," said PASOKs press spokesman Giorgos Papakonstantinou.

As per information, the Greek anti-doping agencies are to be put to a test by the IOC due to their inefficiency.

[04] US Crude Oil Stands at $114.59

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ANA

Crude oil fell as much as seven dollars, as the U.S. dollar strengthened and Turkey restored flows through a Caspian Sea pipeline. US crude oil for October delivery stood at 114.59 dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, losing 6.59 dollars. In London, Brent fell 6.24 dollars to 113.92 dollars per barrel.

[05] Bush-Sarkozy: "Russia Didn't Comply"

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ANA

US President George W. Bush and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy agreed Friday that Russia had failed to commit itself to the ceasefire agreement the White House said on Friday.

President George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed the situation in Georgia over the phone on Friday and agreed, "Russia is not in compliance and Russia needs to come into compliance now," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters.

Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, on the other hand, said that that Russia had fulfilled its pledge to withdraw from Georgia.

Serdyukovs claims, though, were immediately denied by the Georgian Interior Minister, who argued that the Russian army was still present in several Georgian cities.

The head of Georgias Security Council confirmed that the Russian troops pulled out of the city of Gori late on Friday, but they could be seen on the road linking Tbilisi to Senaki.

The Russian Defence Minister said that the Russian peacekeeping forces had begun carrying out their duties.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Tropical Storm Hits Florida

Sources: REUTERS

Tropical Storm Fay was blamed on Friday for six deaths in Florida as forecasters warned that its torrential rains threatened a large swath of the southeastern United States with flooding over the weekend.

The storm, with top sustained winds that had weakened to 75 kph, was expected to move near or over the Florida Panhandle on Saturday and to dump heavy rain over northern Florida, southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama, the Miami-based hurricane center said.

Before taking aim at Florida, the storm killed more than 50 people in the Caribbean, mostly in Haiti where a crowded bus was swept away by a rain-swollen river.

[07] Nicosia Condemns Provocations

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ANA-MPA

The Greek-Cypriot government condemned Friday the damage caused in the village of Pylla, near Larnaca, avoiding though, attributing responsibilities.

"The government condemns provocations in the sensitive village of Pylla, irrespective of their origins," commented government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, when asked to touch on the incidents. It is reminded that unknown perpetrators smashed the windows of Turkish-Cypriot shops and hurled whitewash at Kemal Ataturks bust.

Drilled whether such incidents could be accidental at this period of time, with the Turkish-Cypriots trying to connect the opening of the barricade at the Turkish-occupied area of Limnitis with the Turks demand to have the Pylla barricade, which is situated in a UN-controlled region, lifted as well, Stefanou avoided answering.

Stefanou claimed that the investigation into the incidents in Pylla, the only village where Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots co-exist after the 1974 Turkish invasion, is taking place with the collaboration of the UN.

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