The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-04-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Unscheduled Visit Rice in Iraq

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters - ANA

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Baghdad to voice along with US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld Washingtons support towards the new Iraqi administration. Rices visit to Iraq was unscheduled, thus she broke off her trip to Sofia, where she will participate in the NATO Summit. In the meantime, the US State Secretarys visit to Greece and Turkey has been making headline news. The reports mainly concentrate on Rices talks, as well as her stance towards Iran and the energy issue.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Read the story on other sources:

Reuters: Secretary of State Rice arrives in Iraq

Related News:

Rice's Visit to Turkey

Rice in Ankara

Rice's Meetings in Athens

[02] Chernobyl: 20 Years On

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: AFP, ANA

The worst nuclear accident in history occurred 20 years ago and 26 April marked a sad anniversary in the Ukraine. Hundreds of people holding candles and carnations gathered at the central square of Slavutych, a town near Chernobyl. Filled with sadness and silence they reached the monument erected in the memory of the 30 persons, who died in the year following the disaster. Sirens were heard around the town at 01:23, the exact time that one of the reactors of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant blasted, on 26 April 1986, raising a large radioactive cloud. In Kiev, approximately 300 persons, among whom Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, attended a service in the church near the monument. As per the Ukrainian people, the tragedy affected 5,000,000 of their compatriots, while a 2005 UN report estimated that 4,000 persons in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia lost or will lose their lives due to the different types of cancer linked to the accident. However, this number is disputed by many non-governmental organisations. Greenpeace spoke of a misinformation campaign, which offends victims and estimated that the death toll by cancer may even reach 93,000.

The Worst Nuclear Accident

The commemorative events for the 20th anniversary began on Tuesday night. A play titled "The Chernobyl Prayer: The Chronicle of the Future" by Belarusian author Svetlana Aleksievich was staged by French actors and attended by journalists at the power plant. The play concerns all the people who saw their lives change following the nuclear accident.

Twenty years on, the accident continues to affect the lives of millions of people. "The shock caused by Chernobyl will be felt for the years to come and will continue to constitute a challenge for the world," stated Yushchenko on the eve of the anniversary.

He called on to the rich countries to provide financial aid to the Ukraine, so that it can face the consequences of the accident.

In Moscow, President Putin decorated Russians who rushed to Chernobyl and offered their assistance.

In Belarus, a country affected by the radioactive cloud, the opposition is organising a protest march on Wednesday, as it does every year, against the policy of the authorities, which want the area to be inhabited.

On his part, the US President sent a message paying tribute to the victims of Chernobyl.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Ukraine remembers Chernobyl blast

CBC: Chernobyl: 20 years later

[03] For a Price Rise in Black Gold Iran Issued Warning

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, ANA

Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh warned over a new upward spiral of oil price, in the case that the UN Security Council decides to impose sanctions against his country over its nuclear programme. As the Iranian Minister stated the sanctions will obstruct Iran proceeding to the necessary investments for the increase of oil production. "The need of the world for energy is soaring, and if Iran is taken out of the equation, prices will shoot up and there will be big difficulties in the energy markets," said Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh to the Wall Street Journal.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Tehran Won't Back Down

[04] State on Alert Measure Implementation for Fires

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA, NET

Following the meeting of the Civil Protections Central Steering Body, Minister for the Interior Prokopis Pavlopoulos announced that the State will be on heightened alert for facing any fires during the summer period, which begins on 1 May. The meeting was also attended by General Secretary of Civil Protection Panagiotis Fourlas and all relevant bodies. Moreover, decisions will be made related to the works and actions for preventing and extinguishing forest fires. On his part, the Interior Minister stated "the aim of the meeting was the heightened coordination and the alertness of the State, as this summer is expected to be difficult." Mr Fourlas referred to the circular sent to all relevant services, in view of the summer season and voiced the optimism that all will go well, based on the preparation and alertness of the State.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[05] Twelve Persons Dead New Bloodshed in Sri Lanka

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, BBC, ANA

At least 12 civilians were killed by new air and land strikes of Sri Lankan Armed Forces against Tamil Tiger bases in the eastern region of the country. Women and children are among the casualties. The Sri Lankan Army attacked with bomber aircrafts and artillery in retaliation to the Tigers attack, in which 10 persons were killed and the chief of the Armed Forces seriously wounded. The Tigers denied involvement in the attack. The battles have raised many questions over the future of the truce declared by the Sri Lankan Government and the Tamil Tigers in 2002. Concern is great as the civil war, which lasted for two decades and cost the lives of 64,000 persons, may resume.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] For Illegal State Aid Olympic Airways Referred

Sources: NET

On Wednesday, the European Commission, after a recommendation by its Vice-President Jacques Barrot, decided to refer Greece to the European Court over illegal state aid of 540 million euros given to Olympic Airways in 2002-2004. The new decision follows the one made in 4 April, when the Commission had given Greece a 2-month deadline to recover state aid of 161 million euros given to OA in 1998-2002. At the same time, the Governments contacts with candidate investors for the privatisation of the national air carrier are continuing.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] No Serious Damage or Casualties Reported Strong Quake in Indonesia

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA

An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale occurred in the early morning hours of Wednesday, on the island of Nias, on the western shoreline of Sumatra, in Indonesia. So far no serious damage or casualties have been reported. As official of Jakartas Meteorology and Geophysics Agency Arief Achir stated, the earthquake occurred at 01:26 local time (20:26 Greek time on Tuesday) and its epicentre was located undersea at the Indian Ocean, approximately 60km from Nias Island. As per the Hong Kong Observatory the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.1 on the Richter scale and its epicentre 420km south-southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh at the northern tip of Sumatra.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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