The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-02-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Eirinaios Vs Christodoulos Holy Disputes

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: NET 105.8 - NET

The torrential revelations regarding Giosakis and Vavilis relations, as well as the financial scandals involving Hierarchs, are causing new rumblings in the Church. The Archbishopric denied the Jerusalem Patriarchs allegations, according to which Christodoulos had personally sent Vavilis to Jerusalem in an effort to support Eirinaios election to the Patriarchate throne, and spoke of a plan to tarnish the Archbishop. However, two days ago, Christodoulos was forced to admit that he had met with Giosakis, a fact he previously denied. In the meantime, following Eirinaios revelations, the Metropolitan Bishop of Zakynthos, Chrysostomos, speaking on radio station Flash, demanded the resignation of Christodoulos as the ultimate solution. Furthermore, according to NET 105.8, resignations are expected as early as today from Christodoulos circle. In the meantime, an Israeli court froze all of the Jerusalem Patriarchates bank accounts and attached its blocks of land, due to $ 8 million in debts. "The Patriarchate will pay off its debts to the company soon," declared the Patriarchates spokesperson, Vaggelis Mavraganis, on radio station NET 105.8.

New Testimony by Koen

The revelations regarding Apostolos Vavilis actions are continuing. As per TV station NET, in January, during the time when Vavilis was sighted in Thailand, his ex-wife, Mali Koen, had telephone conversations with a person or people calling from specific numbers in that country, as well as from two Greek mobile phone numbers. The frequency of the calls was quite high during the times when Greek TV shows were broadcasting reports about Vavilis.

During his testimony to Greek police yesterday, Vavilis ex-wife claimed that she had not seen him since 2001. However, according to the police, her prints were found in his apartment in Mela Street, Holargos, and she is expected to be called back for a supplementary testimony.

Retired military officer Giannis Triantafyllakis, who is accused of issuing Vavilis with a fake ID, is also expected to testify before the Organized Crime Squad once again.

Jerusalem Patriarchate's Assets Frozen

In the meantime, on Wednesday, the company South African Israel proceeded with putting into action the courts ruling for freezing the Jerusalem Patriarchates assets and attaching its blocks of land in the wider Profitis Ilias Monastery area.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued the following announcement:

"With regard to the ABU TOR case, we declare that the late Patriarch Diodoros (Patriarch Eirinaios predecessor) had entered a long-term lease for a specific area owned by the Patriarchate in Jerusalem under the name "ABU TOR", with the company Cidron Corporation.

A few years after signing the aforementioned lease, and while Patriarch Diodoros was still alive, the then head secretary of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the Metropolitan Bishop of Vostra, Timotheos, dissolved the contract with another document.

As a result, the company, which had commenced works in the aforementioned area and had proceeded with expenditures, resorted to the courts, asking for $ 8 million in compensation. The court ruled in favour of the company, which is contractually linked to the Patriarchate, and today, with a letter to the banks, froze the Patriarchates almost non-existent accounts.

Being in this difficult situation, which we inherited from our predecessors, and despite negotiations from both sides lawyers to lift the freezing, we will proceed with paying off this debt by raising this huge amount of money."

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

New Evidence For Vavilis Case

Giosakis in the Archbishopric

Amidst A Storm of Revelations

[02] Awaiting Bush and Putin's Signatures Measures Against Nuclear Terrorism

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: The Washington Post

The main issue of a joint statement, which is expected to be signed by US President George Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Bratislava, Slovakia, will focus on measures to counter the threat of nuclear terrorism. Quoting US officials, The Washington Post wrote that the agreement would mainly provide for the immediate upgrading of security measures in Russian nuclear facilities, where, according to US intelligence, nuclear material is stolen from and ends up in terrorists hands. It will also provide for the establishment of a programme to replace highly enriched uranium in research reactors, to prevent it from being used for weapons. The details of the agreement were being negotiated until late last night and will be made public today, following the meeting between the two Presidents.

Cooperation in Security Issues

With this agreement, Washington aims to make todays bilateral Summit more constructive, since the atmosphere is somewhat intense, following Moscows denial to accept "lessons on Democracy" from the Americans. Actually, President Bush stressed his continuing friendship for the Russian president and their ability to work together on mutual security issues, despite the various disputes.

"Were trying to demonstrate that we can make progress and move forward despite these other issues," a senior Bush administration official told the newspaper.

Furthermore, the two sides were also working on an agreement to help stem the proliferation of shoulder-fired rockets, used by terrorists. That agreement is to be signed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Other topics that will be discussed include economic cooperation, counterterrorism, exchange programs and the fight against AIDS.

However, negotiators seem unable to break an impasse that has held up a programme to dispose of 68 tons of plutonium usable for nuclear weapons. The programme was first announced by Presidents Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin in 1998, but remains unrealized.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] More Soldiers Targeted

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: The Times - ANA

At the time when a US soldier, who was taped executing an unarmed Iraqi in cold blood, seems to be getting off, due to insufficient evidence, the revelations regarding brutal and cruel abuse against Iraqi citizens by British soldiers do not seem to end. Yesterday, three Britons were found guilty for violent behaviour against detainees, while today, another 18 names were added to the list of soldiers who seem to show a bit more zeal than necessary. As per an article in The Times, the Court Martial is examining the possibility of bringing charges against 11 British soldiers and 8 parachutists. The latter have actually been charged with beating to death an 18-year-old Iraqi in May 2003. The changes that might be brought against the soldiers regard three cases of abuse, which led to the death of three Iraqi citizens.

No Court Martial

In the meantime, quoting military sources, the US TV network CBS revealed that no charges would be brought against an American soldier, who was taped executing an unarmed Iraqi in cold blood in a Fallujah mosque last November, due to insufficient evidence. The pictures were broadcast all over the world, causing shock and reminding of the Abu Ghraib prison scandals.

The examiners responsible for investigating the case concluded that the soldier might have reacted to an action by the wounded man, believing that he was trying to grab his gun. The network, however, clarified that the Marines Corps will consider imposing penalties on the soldier.

Toughening their Regulations

Meanwhile, in an attempt to limit the abuse scandals against prisoners, the US army toughened the regulations governing the interrogation of detainees and implemented measures in order to clarify the role of the military police and the intelligence agencies in military prisons. As per military officials, the new directives will be further clarified next month, at which time a revised military companion will be published.

Major General Donald Ryder, who is responsible for the detainee programmes, announced the establishment of 35 military police units, trained in prison and military camp management. The first unit will be posted at the Guantanamo navy base in Cuba, which holds people who have been arrested in the context of the "War against Terrorism".

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related Links:

The Times

[04] In Alogoskoufis' Meeting with ND Parliamentarians Economy at the Focus

By Viki Keleri

The government's strategy regarding the Economy, the actions of the Ministry of Economy and Finance so far, as well as future plans were the focus of discussion between Giorgos Alogoskoufis and ND Parliamentarians participating in the competent committee of Financial Affairs. There was special reference to the fiscal inventory, its argumentation and results, the Tax Bill, as well as to the promotion of the development law. The parliamentarians who attended the discussion said the meeting was held in a warm atmosphere and underlined it will help them to better support the government's economic policy. Earlier in the afternoon, New Democracy coordinators had a meeting which focused on organizing tours in regional Greece to promote the government policy.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] Scheduled March to Health Ministry Work Stoppage by Medical Personnel

Sources: NET 105.8

Employees working in hospitals, Health Centres, Welfare agencies and EKAV (National Centre for Emergency Medical Care) have announced a work stoppage from 10am to 3pm. Among other things, the employees are demanding the hiring of permanent staff, their inclusion in hazardous and unhealthy professions and pay increases. Furthermore, a protest march has been scheduled for 10:30am, from Mavili Square to the Health Ministry. In addition, the pensioners have also scheduled a rally at 10am in Kotzia Square, as well as in Thessalonikis city centre, demanding pension increases.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] 12 Dead, 29 Injured Early Morning Attacks

By Despina Hristopoulou

The death toll of a double-fronted attack today in Iraq reached 12, while many others were injured. In Tikrit, an attack on a police station resulted in the death of 10 people, while another 25 were wounded. The explosion was probably prompted by a car bomb. According to a local police official, a man dressed as a policeman tried to enter the police station compound with his vehicle and then detonated the explosives. In the meantime, a roadside bomb killed two people in Kirkut, while another four were injured, three of which are in critical condition. The attack targeted the motorcade of Kirkuts police chief, Colonel Hatab Omar Arefs motorcade. As per the Colonel, the bomb exploded at precisely the moment when his entourages cars were driving past, and as a result two of them were completely destroyed.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[07] Revealed by Deputy Minister of Economy Excesses of Olympic Proportions

By Viki Keleri

The Deputy Minister of Economy Petros Doukas, speaking in an event held by the Centre of Modern Politics "Development and Competitiveness in the Post-Olympic Era," announced figures that reveal excess of hundreds of millions of euros in 15 Olympic venues. Indicative examples are the Olympic Stadium which instead of costing 8.8 million euros, as was originally estimated, it finally cost 399 million euros. The Olympic Softball-Baseball Centre in Helliniko cost 200.4 million euros instead of 32.3 million euros, while the final cost of the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Markopoulo was elevated from 22.6 million euros to 110.4 million euros. Finally, the Weightlifting Hall in Ano Liossia was supposed to cost 32.3 million euros, but is cost 80.8 million euros instead.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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