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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-08-12

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] Fighting Is Raging
  • [02] Fresh Provocations
  • [03] Bloody Explosion in Pakistan
  • [04] Signatures Requesting Uribe's Re-election
  • [05] Tsakmakis of Greece in the Slalom C1 Final
  • [06] Karantasiou/Arvaniti's Olympic Dreams Dashed
  • [07] Greek Archer Evangelia Psarra Eliminated
  • [08] First Win for Greek Beach Volleyball Duo

  • [01] Tensions Run High in Caucasus

    Fighting Is Raging

    12 Αυγ 2008 08:53:00 (Last updated: 12 Αυγ 2008 10:26:58)

    By Betty Savourdou

    Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8, Reuters, ANA-MPA

    Gun battles in Caucasus are escalating, since the Moscow-backed forces of Abkhazia allegedly waged an attack against the Georgian armys position in a disputed border area in the early hours of Tuesday, while Georgia claimed on Monday it successfully repelled all attacks at the Godori gorge. Abkhazia, on the other hand, said it had trapped the Georgian soldiers in the gorges highlands. Speaking on CNN, Georgias President Mikhail Saakashvili spoke of an attack masterminded by Russia, claimed that the capital city of Tbilisi is under threat and vowed that his country would not surrender. In the meantime, while a diplomatic marathon pursuing a ceasefire agreement is in full swing, the Russian ambassador to the UN said that his country would turn down a Western-back resolution plan on ceasefire in South Ossetia. Georgia, on the other hand, urged the UN to intervene, arguing that the Russian troops are entering into the Georgian soil, defying the calls of the Western nations. The US President, George W. Bush, called on Moscow to halt its military operations in Georgia, speaking of an acceptable incursion into a sovereign state obviously aiming at ousting the Saakashvili administration. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who holds the rotating EU Presidency, is due Tuesday in Moscow and Tbilisi. In Brussels, the NATO-Russia Council is to hold Tuesday an emergency sitting upon Russias request, while the EU Foreign Ministers will meet on Wednesday.

    Saakashvili: "Georgia Will Never Surrender"

    Georgia would never surrender, the countrys President, Saakashvili vowed in his phone interview with CNN. The Georgian President, who had earlier said that Georgias largest part had been under occupation, blasted Russia for having masterminded the attack. "No matter how superhuman a military you have, if you have not been preparing the attack for months and months, for Gods sake, how can you mobilize into another country 1,000 tanks within hours if its not a premeditated attack on a neighbouring country?" he wondered.

    Saakashvili also claimed that the Russian troops "are threatening the capital," and noted that the people of Georgia would never give up on freedom and democracy, for democracy is more powerful than any tank, than any shelling, than any equipment.

    At the same time, he accused Moscow of ethnic cleansing in the breakaway province of Abkhazia, further adding that the recent Russian air raids in Georgia targeted areas between the already bombarded city of Gori and Tbilisi.

    He then went on to stress that Russia would turn a deaf ear to the international calls for a ceasefire as long as they are nothing but calls. The Georgians feel betrayed by the international democracies, he said.

    Saakashvili called on the residents of the capital to stay calm, underlining that the nations armed forces would know 12 hours earlier if the capital is under threat.

    The Russian Defence Minister, on the other hand, argued it had no intention of attacking the Georgian capital.

    In the meantime, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country holds the rotating EU Presidency, meets Tuesday with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. He will then travel to Tbilisi to hold talks with his Georgian counterpart.

    On Monday, Sarkozy had talks with the Russian President, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

    On his part, the US President urged Russia to halt its military actions against Georgia, dismissing Moscows actions against a smaller nation as an unacceptable incursion into a sovereign state.

    Bush also implied that Moscows intentions is to have the Georgian regime toppled and strictly warned Russia, whose actions pose a threat to its ties with the USA and Europe.

    Mikhail Gorbachev, in his article in Washington Post, said that the USA was foolish to let Georgia believe it could take military actions in South Ossetia and go unpunished.

    "The four Greek families living in South Ossetia are well and have already been instructed to move to the Greek Consulate in Novorossiysk, Russia," Greek ambassador Giorgos Hatzimihelakis told NET radio station.

    Translated by Areti Christou

    Read the story on other sources:

    BBC: New Georgia clashes mar UN moves

    Related News:

    Out of Control

    [02] Fresh Provocations

    12 Αυγ 2008 10:37:00

    Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA-ΜPA

    In his letter to UN mediator Matthew Nimetz a few days before the new round of talks commences in New York, the FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) PM Nicola Gruevski wishes to moot the question of the recognition of the schismatic "Macedonian Orthodox Church" and the FYROM name issue. In the same letter, he escalates his provocations, demanding from Mr Nimetz to examine the re-naming of the "Macedonia" airport of Thessaloniki.

    Letter to the UN Secretary General

    In his letter to Mr Nimetz, Mr Gruevski requests from the mediator to try to resolve the countrys constitutional name. He also refers to the problem with his countrys Orthodox Church and mainly with the Serb and Greek Orthodox Church and the "close relations" between the two churches.

    Regarding the FYROM Orthodox Church he stresses that it seceded from the Serb Orthodox Church in 1967 and declared itself autocephalous under the name "Macedonian Orthodox Church". However, no official Orthodox Church across the world has recognized it.

    He adds that he would not have written such a letter if there had not been a divorce between Church and the state in Greece.

    He also demands to moot the question of Thessalonikis "Macedonia" airport, as tourists are confused when they discover that Thessaloniki is using the word Macedonia for it airport.

    Finally, in a letter to the UN Secretary General he accuses Greece of having violated the Interim Agreement with its veto during the NATO Summit Meeting in Bucharest and of raising financial and commercial obstacles in the last months.

    Translated by John Crystallidis

    [03] Bloody Explosion in Pakistan

    12 Αυγ 2008 09:41:00

    By Betty Savourdou

    Sources: ANA-MPA

    A bomb blast aimed at a security forces vehicle has killed 13 civilians and injured 10 on a bridge in Peshawar on Tuesday. Besides, in recent clashes near the Afghan border Abu Said al-Masrey, an Al Qaeda top member has been killed. Al Masrey is the second top member to be killed in Pakistan in a month, after Egyptian Abu Habab al-Masrey, specialist on chemical and biological weapons.

    Translated by John Crystallidis

    [04] Signatures Requesting Uribe's Re-election

    12 Αυγ 2008 08:22:00

    Sources: REUTERS

    Colombian President Alvaro Uribe edged a step closer to a third consecutive term on Monday after supporters handed in five million signatures petitioning for a referendum to allow the U.S. allys re-election.

    "We may have a lot of capable politicians, but none is more capable than Uribe," Luis Guillermo Giraldo, a former senator who organized the petition, told Reuters. "And he has proven himself, in democratic security, in foreign investment."

    Should Uribe agree to run, the proposal faces hurdles as electoral officials must verify the signatures before it can be sent to Congress and the constitutional court. If approved, a vote could be held in the second half of 2009.

    [05] Tsakmakis of Greece in the Slalom C1 Final

    12 Αυγ 2008 10:49:00

    By Giahanatzis Dimitris

    Succeeding in making it to the final of the Mens Slalom C1 competition, Christos Tsakmakis became the first Greek athlete to participate in a final at the 29th Beijing Olympic Games. Having clocked the sixth best time in the semis (92.18), the Greek champion will struggle for the best possible result in the final that starts at 11:47 (Greek local time).

    Translated by Areti Christou

    [06] Karantasiou/Arvaniti's Olympic Dreams Dashed

    12 Αυγ 2008 10:15:00

    By Giahanatzis Dimitris

    Greek volleyball players Vasso Karantasiou and Viki Arvaniti suffered yet another loss in their second match in the Womens Beach Volleyball Olympic tournament. On day 2 of the Group F, the Greek duo was downed 2-1 sets by Candelas and Garcia of Mexico and eliminated, since they stand no chances of booking a ticket as one of the three best teams of the Group.

    Translated by Areti Christou

    [07] Greek Archer Evangelia Psarra Eliminated

    12 Αυγ 2008 09:16:00

    By Giahanatzis Dimitris

    Archer Evangelia Psarra of Greece failed to make it through the next round of the Womens Individual. She lost to Chinese Lin 110-101 and was eliminated.

    [08] First Win for Greek Beach Volleyball Duo

    12 Αυγ 2008 08:47:00

    By Thanasis Karlos

    Being more decisive on day 3 of the beach volleyball Olympic tournament, Tsartsiani and Koutroumanidou of Greece embraced their first victory in the tournament, downing Augustides/Dell of South Africa. Despite a rather stressed beginning, the Greek players took over and claimed an easy 2-0 sets win. In the last encounter of their group, the Greek duo will play against No.9 seeds Ludwig/Goller of Germany.

    Translated by Areti Christou


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