The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-04-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] For Easter Celebration

25 Apr 2008 10:13:00 (Last updated: 25 Apr 2008 16:36:23)

Sources: NET 105.8

The city dwellers exodus has culminated on Good Friday despite forecasts about the deterioration of the weather. Traffic on both national roads was heavy with the Athens-Corinth national road encountering most of the problems. The Traffic Police is on the alert to secure a safe exodus for city dwellers, who wish to spend Easter in the province. On Maundy Thursday, 170,000 cars left Athens, while ports, airports and bus terminals were packed with people with 100% complement of passengers for ships.

Exodus "By All Means"

City dwellers used all available means to flee to the province to celebrate Easter. However, some problems rose in the both national roads with heavy traffic culminating mostly in the Athens-Corinth national road and Maliakos Gulf.

At the same time, long vehicles and heavy trucks (over 1.5 tons) have been from using the national roads in the morning hours on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and in the evening hours on Wednesday.

Variable Weather

On Maundy Friday it will be cloudy with rain and storms in Macedonia and Thessaly, gradually extending to Ionio and the mainland. The temperature will be 22 Celsius, with 7 Beaufort winds blowing in the Aegean.

In western Greece it will be cloudy turning fast to local rain and storms mainly in the mainland. Some snow is expected in Epirus and western mainland, as well as on the highlands of Thessaly.

The temperature is expected to drop on Holy Saturday and the weather will improve in central and southern Greece.

Occasional rain is expected in Attica in the early morning hours, while storms are expected in Thessaloniki mainly in the afternoon with the temperature reaching 17 Celsius.

On Holy Saturday, it will be mainly cloudy, while occasional rain and storms are expected originally in western and central Macedonia, extending to the rest of the country in the afternoon.

At Easter it will be cloudy and rainy with local storms in the east and south. It will be cloudy in the rest of the country will local rain expected mainly at noon an in the afternoon.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[02] Last Minute Shopping

Sources: ���-��� 105.8

Consumers are in the market to do the last shopping for Easter. The price for local lamb meat ranges from 6-10.5 euros and of the respective imported meat from 5.5-7 euros. Prices at suburban butcher shops are two to three euros higher. In parallel, prices for fruit and garden produce, brioches and eggs are high. Meanwhile, as per consumer associations, shopping for consumers will cost more this year than 2007. Shops will close at 19:00 and supermarkets and butcher shops at 20:00. On Holy Saturday, shops will open at 09:00 and close at 15:00, while shops in Piraeus will open an hour earlier.

Meanwhile, during his visit to the Varvakios central market in Athens Deputy Development Minister Giorgos Vlachos expressed his satisfaction over the smooth running of the market. He rejected exaggerations about problems in the market, adding that any reports on the existence of meat cartels should forwarded to the Competition Committee. In parallel, he rejected accusations from the opposition about high prices in the market.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[03] Holy Drama Culmination

Sources: ���-��� 105.8

Good Friday is traditionally a time of fasting and penance, commemorating the anniversary of Christs crucifixion and death. Thousands of worshipers across Greece visited churches to attend the Epitaph procession. For Christians, Good Friday commemorates not just a historical event, but the sacrificial death of Christ, which with the resurrection, comprises the heart of the Christian faith. Today, officiating at the Athens Cathedral was Fanari bishop, who is replacing Archbiship Ieronymos. In his message, Archbishop Ieronymos reports that for man sharing light and the Resurrection is the most important thing.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[04] Barroso Disagrees with Boycott

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: �NA/�PA-AFP

President of the European Commission Manuel Barroso has stated that he is against the idea of boycotting the Beijing Olympic Games. Mr Barroso, who is paying an official visit to China, he stressed to Prime Minister Wen Jiabao that Tibet is part of China, hoping that the issue would be settled in a positive way soon. However, the European Commissioner did not refer to the boycott issue during the Olympic Games opening ceremony, proposed by some EU leaders, among French President Nicola Sarkozy.

Sarkozy Shocked

The French president stated that he had been shocked by what had happened in Tibet pointing out that he informed the Chinese president that he may attend the Olympic Games opening ceremony on Friday. In parallel, he reported that he would do whatever he could to see that all EU member-states adopt the same stance on the issue.

As per the Chinese state newsagency, Chinese officials will meet with Dalai Lamas envoy in the coming days at the request of Tibets spiritual leader and Nobel Prize winner.

In parallel, China and the EU have agreed to see secure a balance of trade. The EU recorded a trade deficit of over 159 million in 2007, while Chinese exports to Europe has been rising by 27% annually in the last five years, as per the European Commission.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[05] "No" to Truce Proposal

Sources: �NA/�PA-AFP

The Israeli government has rejected Hamas proposal made Thursday for a six-month truce in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, describing it not serious. Spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister Mark Regev described the proposal not serious, adding that Hamas is targeting the Israelis, as well as buying arms. He spoke of calm before the storm, reporting in parallel the Hamas should stop launching rockets from the Gaza Strip. Finally, he demanded the termination of terrorism and smuggling.

Following negotiations with Egyptian mediators, on Thursday Hamas asked for the mutual ending of hostilities in Gaza and the termination of Israels blockade on the Palestinian territory it has under control.

Mahmoud Zahar, former Hamas Foreign Minister stated that the Islamic movement is ready for a truce that would be originally implemented in Gaza and then in the West Bank, provided Israel lifts the blockade it had imposed in Gaza.

Rejecting the proposal, the Israeli government stressed that the proposal had been made so that Hamas could buy time and reorganize.

Finally, it said that Israel would continue launching air raids in order to protect its citizens.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[06] Segolene to Run for President Again?

By Vivian Papastefanou

The losing candidate in the 2007 French presidential elections, Socialist Segolene Royal told France Inter Radio Friday that she was preparing another run for the presidency in 2012. Asked if she was looking to stand again for the office, Royal said, Of course. This is not the time ... but you no doubt noticed that I am assuming my responsibilities as a political leader, Royal said. The first-ever woman to reach the second round of the presidential elections in France, Royal was soundly beaten by Nicolas Sarkozy in the May 6 runoff, 53 to 47 per cent. After her defeat, she was roundly criticized by members of her own party for having run a mediocre campaign. Her loss also plunged the opposition Socialists into a crisis that was only partly resolved by the partys excellent showing in municipal elections earlier this year. It is widely believed that the popular Paris mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, is the current front-runner to become the Socialist candidate for the 2012 presidential elections.

[07] Incidents in Zimbabwe

Armed riot police have raided the headquarters of Zimbabwes main opposition party in Harare and arrested scores of activists Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman Nelson Chamisa said. Chamisa reported that about 100 police officers, who had arrived in busses and military trucks, were trying to chase out those who had found refuge in Harare. The opposition in Zimbabwe, which assures that it has won the presidential elections, is accusing President Robert Mugabe that he has declared a "war" against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), in order not to assume power.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[08] Transport Means Slacken

The Metro will not operate from 00:00-0200 on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, while services will slacken on Monday. The frequency of services for the Metro will be from seven to 10 minutes in its two lines on Good Friday, while the last departure from Syntagma station is scheduled for 00:20. On Holy Saturday, services will run per 10 minutes, while services will slacken further on Easter Sunday and Monday, running every 12 minutes. Services with other means of transport will also slacken.

Translated by John Crystallidis

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