The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-07-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Inaugural Summit of Mediterranean Union

13 ���� 2008 17:51:0 (Last updated: 13 ���� 2008 19:26:0)

By Athina Saloustrou

A union for integration at the heart of Europe is what the French President is aiming for in Paris, where the Union for Mediterranean (UPM) is taking place before 43 heads of state from Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa, including Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. All eyes have been focused on Syria and Lebanon, which agreed to establish diplomatic relations. Another hot couple is Israel and Palestine that have argued that are closer than ever to brokering a peace deal. The inaugural Summit opened earlier on Sunday in Paris. The 43 heads of state and governments of the EU nations and the southern and eastern Mediterranean coast sat around French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak, who is co-chairing the Summit. Syrias President Bashar al-Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are also attending the meeting. Libya, which was invited, sent no reps to the Summit. Muammar Gaddafi declined the invitation, dismissing the plans to have the UPM founded as scary.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed all the Arab leaders that joined the UPM Summit and met that challenge, making a gesture of peace. We will work for peace in the Mediterranean, as we worked for peace in Europe, commented Sarcozy.

He further added that one of the most important challenges of the Union is the recording of History based upon equality between the South and North.

The Union for the Mediterranean was inaugurated Sunday, with the Summit taken place at Grand Palais, a breath-taking palace on the banks of the Seine. It was originally built in 1900 to host an International Exhibition.

The key goal of the Union is to lay the grounds of specific cooperation campaigns against pollution in the area, the use of solar energy, political security and development of sea routes.

The Union of Mediterranean will have 43 member states: the 27 EU nations, 10 southern countries, namely Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. The Palestinian Authority, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Monaco are also in included in the member states.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he would free some Palestinian inmates, a source close to the Israeli Premier was quoted as saying.

Olmert, however, did not say anything about the number of the inmates to be freed, nor when this would happen.

In the meantime, Ehud Olmert and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held indirect talks with the intervention of Turkish head of government Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said an Israeli source.

The same source stressed that Olmert met with his Turkish counterpart in a Paris hotel to thank him for his role in the peace talks between Israel and Syria.

Erdogan also met with Assad to discuss the same subject.

An Israeli Government spokesman stressed that his country hailed Turkeys drive.

In his interview with Al Jazeera, the Syrian President said that his country is ready to have smooth ties with Israel, by exchanging embassies and signing bilateral treaties, in case a peace deal between the two is achieved.

In the meantime, as it was announced, it was the decision that the joint conclusions text to be released will include a paragraph recognizing that Turkey is a candidate EU member that made Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan join the inaugural meeting.

The said paragraph was a condition Turkey had set in order to participate in the Union for the Mediterranean. Sarkozy had assured the Turkey Prime Minister that his request would be accepted when the former was in Japan for the G8 meeting.

French President Sarkozy had Sunday a 30-minute meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan. The meeting focused on the Turkish-EU ties and Turkeys role in the talks between Syria and Israel.

According to sound information, the Turkish head of government requested the French President not block the opening of new chapters in the accession drive. He was rest assured that as long as the necessary procedures take place and the relevant chapters are ready, France will not raise any obstacles in the way.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Summit on the Mediterranean Union

[02] Sarkozy Initiative in the Framework of the Summit

13 ���� 2008 15:37:0 (Last updated: 13 ���� 2008 17:31:4)

Israel and Palestine is very close to reach agreement. The most important step was taken today in Paris by presidents Olmert and Abbas who exchanged handshakes along with French president Nikola Sarkozy stating that "they are willing to co operate for peace", a few hours before the Summit Meeting" on the "Union of the Mediterranean". The Israeli president said that he "is deeply moved by the initiative of the French prime minister to promote the meeting between leaders especially the Israeli-Arabian meeting which is considered very important. Olmert stated that negotiations are very serious but Israel and Palestine must take serious decisions in order to reach a stage of procedures for peace. On reference to the French President, he said that Mr. Sarkozy could offer more in order to join George Bush and Condoleezza Rice who also have provided aid to Israel.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] Burned Big Part of Forestall Area

13 ���� 2008 10:24:0

Sources: ���-��� 105,8

Fire that burnt a big part of forestall area in Trahi of Skyros is in progress and threatens residential areas. Strong winds harden the situation. 29 fire fighting vehicles, 69 firemen are battling to put it under control. Reinforcement is expected to arrive to the island from Macedonia. The fire front that burnt Plakia, Crete has been put under control.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[04] Olmert, Abbas Meet in France

By Athina Saloustrou

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met and shook hands at the French presidential mansion. Before Frances President Nicolas Sarkozy, cameras recorded the shaking of hands between the three men manifesting their will to work for peace, as they themselves said after the opening Summit of the Mediterranean Union launched in Paris. Clearly satisfied, Sarkozy hailed the evening opening Summit on Mediterranean as a historic event. Just the fact that the majority of the Arab leaders along with Israel will co-exist in the same hall is a historic one, because only President Abbas had attended the Barcelona talks, reminded Sarkozy.

The Palestinian President thanked the French head of state, noting that his last trip to the area had been remarkably successful, as it yielded results meant to contribute to the future developments.

He then gave Nicolas Sarkozy credit for his four virtues that allow him to play an instrumental role in the Middle East peace process.

The Israeli Premier, on his part, argued he felt really moved by the French Presidents initiative to pave the way for such a gathering, during which the Israeli-Arab meeting with emphasis placed on the peace talks with the Palestinian Authority and President Abbas would obviously be one of the most pivotal events.

Olmert then went on to touch on the extra help the French President could offer to add to the aid provided by US President George W. Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Claiming he was living the most beautiful day, in the most beautiful city, in a friendly nation, under this impressive ruling, the Israeli head of government concluded that he was aware of the risks threatening the Middle East. He further added that along with the Europeans, the Americans and others, Israel was trying to find ways to sidestep the threats coming from the Iranian leadership.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Angelina Jolie Gives birth to Boy and Girl

By Vivian Papastefanou

Angelina Jolie has given birth to a son and a daughter in Nice, France with father Brad Pitt at her side. The actress delivered her twins by Caesarian section at the Fondation Lenval hospital on Saturday (12Jul08). The twins, baby girl Vivienne Marcheline, after Jolies late mother Marcheline Bertrand, and baby boy Knox Leon, weighed 5 pounds (2.27 kilograms) and 5 pounds 3 ounces (2.35 kilograms) respectively. Jolie and actor partner Pitt are already parents to adopted children Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, Zahara, 3, and biological daughter Shiloh, 2. The babies first photograph was sold to a U.S. paper for $US11 million ($A11.4 million), Nice-Matin said, adding that the money would be given to a humanitarian cause

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[06] Tragic Fate for 11yo Boy from Aigio

Fate played its worst game in an 11 years old boy from Aigio and his family who is mourning for his loss. Late on Thursday, the child was beaten by a bee, and immediately suffered an allergic shock. His parents transferred him in two hospitals and his allergy was successfully treated. Tragically, in their way back, their car crashed with another vehicle in National highway Corinth-Patra. The only passenger that passed away was the little boy. His parents shocked and prostrated with grief hold the pediatric clinic of Aigio hospital responsible for not transferring the boy to the hospital. The funeral of the unfortunate small boy, Thanasis took place in Aigio.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[07] Destroyed 3 Laboratories

13 ���� 2008 13:48:0

Sources: ANA/MNA

Unidentified people destroyed yesterday laboratories in T.E.I (Technological Educational Institute) of Chania, Crete throwing water in the electronic equipments. The director of the seismological laboratory, Phillipos Valianatos, reported the incident. It must be noted that the area is not guarded and similar incidents were also reported in the past. Due to the university asylum, police can not enter the area in order to take fingerprints.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[08] IndyMac Bank Bankrupts

Sources: Reuters

Federal regulators closed Pasadena, Calif.-based Indymac Bank late Friday -- the shuttering of the largest bank nationwide since the Savings & Loan Crisis in 1991, and a move that will affect two Atlanta operations centers. In a unique twist, IndyMac Banks closure is blamed, in part, by the public disclosure of a letter by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), expressing concern about the banks ability to operate going forward. The bank had $32 billion in assets and $19 billion in deposits, according to the Office of Thrift Supervision and FDIC. In a statement, the OTS said:"The immediate cause of the closing was a deposit run that began and continued after the public release of a June 26 letter to the OTS and the FDIC from Senator Charles Schumer of New York. The letter expressed concerns about IndyMacs viability. In the following 11 business days, depositors withdrew more than $1.3 billion from their accounts."

[09] Suicide Attack in Afghanistan

Sources: Reuters

17 civilians, most of whom children as well as 4 policemen were killed today in a suicide attack reported in Afghanistans southern province of Uruzgan, police said. The bomber targetted a police vehicle in a bazaar in Deh Rawud district, the provincial police chief told Reuters. "Seventeen civilians and four policemen died in the attack.Thirty seven more civilians and five police have been wounded," Juma Khan Himat said by phone, adding the death toll could rise. Taliban have not commented the incident so far.

[10] In Paris

13 ���� 2008 10:48:0

43 leaders from Middle East and S. Africa as well as the Greek Prime Minister Mr. Kostas Karamanlis are expected to decide today on the foundation of the Mediterranean Union. This is an ambitious plan launched by French president Nikola Sarkozy which targets at the reinforcement of the Euro- Mediterranean cooperation in issues of environment, civil security and emigration. The chair of the Mediterranean Union is expected to be defined after discussions. Rabat, Tunisia, Valetta and Barcelona are the candidate cities.

D. Christofias-T. Erdogan in Paris

President of the Cypriot Republic Dimitris Christofias is in Paris in the framework of the summit meeting with the General Secretary of UN discussing the prospective of immediate start of discussions. Ban-Ki Moon will meet with Mehmet Ali Talat, the current President of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (or KKTC in Turkish),

French Nikola Sarlozy welcomed today the Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Erdogan who confirmed his participation in the summit meeting.

Turkish FM Ali Babacan who met yesterday Saturday with his counterpart Bernard Kushner confirmed that his country will support the UPM plan and expressed his wish Paris not to use EU presidency to block Turkeys entrance in the EU. Mr. Sarkozy and Mr. Erdogan are also expected to discuss the issue of conflicts in Middle East and the repetition of immediate negotiations between Israel and Syria.

Sarkozy Announces Agreement between Syria Lebanon

The summit meeting was completed by the return of Syria in the political scenery and the presence of its president Mr. Bashar al Assad. During his meeting yesterday with Nikola Sarkozy Assad expressed his will to reclaim the diplomatic relations with Lebanon. French president asked from his Syrian counterpart to "convince Iran to prove that it does not pursuit nuclear weapons." In his interview today Sarkozy also stressed that "Syria plays an important role in Middle East". On his side, Assad made clear that he does no go after a solution to the crisis regarding Irans nuclear weapons but added that he does not think Teheran intends to construct a nuclear bomb.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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