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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Shocks Santorini

04 ��� 2008 11:11:00

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ���, ��� 105.8

Residents in the village of Vourvoulou in the popular Greek island of Santorini were terrified at a the most gruesome crime in Greece in recent memory, committed by a 31 year old man. He decapitated his 25 year old girl-friend and walked around the streets with her head. Five policemen arrived on the spot and called him to surrender. The man knifed a policeman who tried to arrest him, stole a police car and crashed into a motorcycle seriously injuring two women, before police ended his escape by ramming the car. The two women, who suffered fractures in hands and legs, were transferred to Gennimatas Hospital where they underwent surgery during the night. They are both out of danger A third woman, slightly injured in the leg by a police bullet that ricocheted off the road during the chase, is in good health condition at Agia Olga hospital. The Health Minister, who visited the three injured women, said that the state will stand on their side. The alleged knifeman is in serious condition, under life support mechanism at the intensive care ward of Gennimatas hospital.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

Related News:

Savage Crime in Santorini

[02] Criticism and Cooperation

Sources: ���-��� 105.8-�NA/�PA

The political scenery has been dominated by the ruling party cadres criticism on government policy and the issue of a one-party government in the next elections. Meanwhile, Mr Vassilis Michaloliakos statement on the Economy Ministrys policy and Mr Zorbas withdrawal triggered wrangling. Meanwhile, PASOK (Socialists) has been receiving messages, advising it to prepare itself for the euro-elections.

Michaloliakos' Barbs

In an interview with Alpha today, Mr Vassilis Michaloliakos has disagreed with the way the Economy Ministry handled Mr Giorgos Zorbas withdrawal from the Authority responsible for combating secret money. He said he admired Mr Zorbas personality, adding that if he was not suitable he could have been replaced instead of being ousted by new hammered out laws.

In parallel, ND MP Giannis Lampropoulos statement that instead of hosting a dinner to ND MPs, the PM should have distributed the money of the dinner to the families of the victims in Perama has caused the partys reactions. ND Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis described the two issues irrelevant from each other, adding that the government had already taken its measures for the families of the victims in Perama.

Other ND MPs, who have expressed their disagreement with the governments policy, are Messrs Petros Tatoulis, Giannis Manolis and Vyron Polidoras.

At the same time, talk on post-elections cooperation continues taking place.

ND cadres wish their party succeeds in the next elections and rules as a one-party government, while PASOK MP Michalis Chrysohoidis described the next euro-elections an opportunity and not a threat for the party.

Furthermore, while PASOK and SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) appear to be flirting, their cooperation remains uncertain.

SYN Euro-deputy D. Papadimoulis sees SYRIZAs drastic rise of percentage as the only way for the Conservatives defeat.

LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) leader George Karatzaferis has asked for early elections not ruling out cooperation with the ND ruling party provided the purification from scandals takes place.

KKE (Greek Communist Party) Secretary General Aleka Papariga stated that a future cooperation with SYRIZA would create a temporary illusion, adding that the governments real intentions would become evident soon.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Related News:

Cooperation from Afar

Lampropoulos' Statements Cause Discontent

[03] Al. Kontos Told NET

04 ��� 2008 13:56:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ���

Agricultural Development Ministry is examining some reforms in the tax return of special oil tax. In an interview with "Proti Grammi" morning program in NET television channel, Agricultural development Minister, Alexandros Kontos described the program as fair and objective, however, he underlined that it needs improvement as any other system implemented for the first time. Improvements will be made after a dialogue with farmers, he said. Mr. Kontos also announced that the farmers registry will be ready in a few months while the Ministry is examining tax return of special oil consumption tax only to farmers whose main profession is farming.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[04] National Cadastre

04 ��� 2008 17:36:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ���-��� 105.8

It has not been decided yet whether the locals will receive an extension of time beyond 30 September and expatriate Hellenes and foreigners beyond 30 December to register their property to the National Cadastre. The announcement by the National Cadastre came as a reply to publications, which were stating the opposite. The citizens influx has been described satisfactory.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[05] Folias Requests Lower Petrol Prices

Sources: ���-��� 105.8-�NA/�PA

Development Ministry inspection teams are carrying out strict checks in the oil market, as despite the drop of oil prices worldwide, the price of oil in Greece and especially in the province is still high. The issue was in the focus of discussion among the Development minister, oil refinery and petrol station representatives. He warned them that the checks would be strict and constant. In parallel, he asked from all to reduce the oil prices, helping thus in the combating of inflation. Michalis Kousis, the President of the Petrol Owners Federation blamed the oil companies and oil refineries for the high prices.

Blaming Each Other

As per Mr Kiousis, if oil companies and oil refineries reduce the prices, petrol station owners commit themselves to pass the reduction of oil prices to the consumers.

As per Development Ministry checks, the average price of unleaded oil has dropped this week by 3.5 cents, while the difference in oil prices in tourist areas and urban centres is big, sometimes even 20 cents.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[06] TOR-M1 Case to the Prosecutor

Sources: ��� 105.8, �NA

The file of the 21 ��R - �1 anti-aircraft systems is opening again, with the Prosecutor examining whether three people have been involved and broken the law. The Prosecutor will examine whether they had committed the crime of breach of trust, money laundering and bribe, as three bank accounts opened by the Swiss authorities prove show that suspicious transactions had taken place.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[07] Clean Waters

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA-MPA

In checks carried out by a certified lab and KEDI along the Saronikos Gulf and South Evoikos 181 beaches have been found to have clean waters. The results of checks proved that the quality of waters for swimmers correspond fully to the parameters designated by the joint Ministerial Decision of 1986. Samples have been taken from beaches in Voula, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, Koropi, Kalivia (Lagonisi), Saronida, Anavissos, P. Fokaia, Lavreotiki, Keratea, Markopoulo, Mesogaia, Artemida, Rafina, Nea Makri, Marathonas, Grammatiko, Varnavas, Ag. Apostoloi, Kalamos, Markopoulo (Oropos) and Oropos.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[08] Alexander Solzhenitsyn Passes away

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: �NA-�PA-��� 105.8-German Newsagency

Interfax news agency has reported today that Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn has died of cardiac arrest at the age of 89 at his home in the countryside. The Ukranian President Viktor Yushchenko was among the first foreign leaders to expresses his condolences for Solzhenitsyn, calling the Russian writer our own and dear to us all.

In the name of the Ukrainian people and personally from myself I wish to express heartfelt condolences over the death of the outstanding Russian writer and Nobel Prize winner, a telegram sent by Yushchenko to his Russian counterpart Dmitriy Medvedev read in part.

The Ukrainian official message came with uncharacteristic speed, only hours after Solzhenitsyns death was announced. Ukraines government in similar situations in the past had delayed a day or even two before sending Russia condolences on the death of a Soviet-era figure.

Solyzhenitsyn for decades enjoyed wide popularity in Ukraine for his dissident views, and his characterisation in his early works of ethnic Ukrainian inmates being among the most inveterate opponents of the Soviet Unions Gulag prison camp system. Alexander Solzhenitsyns funeral will be held Wednesday at Moscows Donskoy cemetery.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[09] Prime-minister-Interior Minister Meeting

04 ��� 2008 12:14:00

By Vivian Papastefanou

Talks during the meeting of Prime-minister, Kostas Karamanlis with Interior Minister, Prokopis Pavlopoulos centered on the timetable for materialization of administrative reforms. In his statements after the meeting, Mr. Pavlopoulos underlined that the governments top priority for the next period is reforms in administration system. Specifically, he said that draft-bill on reforms in administration will have been tabled to the Parliament till the end of 2008. the Interior Minister referred that reforms in administration system provides for fewer and stronger local administration authorities and added that dialogue with KEDKE will be completed in the next period to achieve necessary consent and understanding while he also announced Economics Ministry measures to stabilize their funds. Mr. Pavlopoulos also briefed the Prime-minister on the operational plan mainly providing for e-government reforms and discussed draft-bill regarding Greeks abroad vote.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[10] Fires Contained

Sources: ��� 105.8

Fire in Dihala, in Komotini, burning forest land has been contained. Also fires in Tsamanta, in Thesprotia, Sparto in Amfilohia, Astakos, Potamia in Elassona and Aspropirgos have been brought under control. An army plane is flying over the regions of Eboia and Boiotia since early this morning due to warning of high risk of fires today.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[11] Folias-Petrol-Station Owners Meeting

04 ��� 2008 11:17:00

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: ��� 105.8

Development Ministry has ordered strict inspections in oil market aimed to restrain oil prices growth. Despite drop in world oil prices, fuel prices remain high particularly in rural areas. Development Minister, Hristos Folias is scheduled to meet with representatives of oil refineries and petrol stations within efforts to convince them to indicate restrain.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[12] Caused Extensive Damage

04 ��� 2008 09:59:00

By Vivian Papastefanou

A fire that broke out at the early hours this morning( 04:00), at Bouliagmeni Marine Club caused extensive damage. Firefighters put out the fire two hours later after it had destroyed the clubs bar and damaged many of the sailing boats anchored at the marina. Port authorities are conducting investigations to find cause of the fire.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[13] Russian Writer

04 ��� 2008 09:03:00

By Vivian Papastefanou

Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who exposed Stalins prison system in his novels and spent 20 years in exile, has died in his home in the Moscow area at the age of 89. According to his son Stepan his father died of heart failure at 23:45 local time on Sunday. His funeral will be held on Wednesday at the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow. Moscow Patriarch said that Solzhenitsyn had selected this site 5 years ago.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn was born in Caucasus, on December, 11, 1918. He studied Physics and Mathematics at the Rostov University and served the Red Army during World War II. He was sentenced in 1945 to eight years in the Soviet prison system, Gulag for criticising Stalin in a letter. He was released in 1953 a few months before Stalins death and then was exiled to central Asia where he began writing.

Publication in November1962 of the novella Denisovich, an account of a day in a Gulag prisoners life, made him a celebrity during the post-Stalin political thaw. However, within a decade, the writer awarded the 1970 Nobel Prize for Literature was out of favour again for his work, and was being harassed by the KGB secret police. In 1973, the first of the three volumes of Archipelago, a detailed account of the systematic Soviet abuses from 1918 to 1956 in the vast network of its prison and labour camps, was published in the West or illegal editions. Its publication sparked a furious backlash in the Soviet press and authorities stripped him of his citizenship and expelled him from the country. He lived in Germany, Switzerland and the US until he returned to Russia in 1994 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin presented him with Russia State Prize for his exceptional achievements in the humanitarian sector. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as well as global leaders have sent their condolences.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[14] Mini-Tornado Hit N. France

By Anna Kourti

Sources: �NA-�PA, AFP

Three person were killed and at least 9 injured when their houses collapsed during a mini tornado that hit northern France last night. About 40 houses were damaged, some of them collapsed, in Hautmont town, near Belgium borders. The freak storm devastated two streets in Hautmont, where 16,000 people live.Roofs were ripped off, trees uprooted and cars overturned. Rescuers are still picking through the rubble in case any more residents were buried alive.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

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