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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-05-18The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>CONTENTS[01] Obama-Netanyahu MeetingExpressing his commitment to a solution to the Middle East, the US President Barack Obama stressed that both the Israelis and the Palestinians should not miss seizing the chance and the moment to achieve peace, After meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Obama said that a two-state solution is to both sides' benefit. An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed Obama's statements as encouraging.The Israeli Prime Minister, on his part, underlined that the Palestinians should be self-governed. He failed, however, to make any reference to the creation of a separate Palestinian state. With regard to the thorny issue of settlements, the US President said that Israel is obligated to stop erecting settlements along its border in the West bank, as the 2003 road map for peace in the Middle East dictates. As for Iran, Barack Obama said he sees no reason why to set a rough deadline for his diplomatic outreach, adding, however, that the USA wishes to see serious progress by the end of the year. Source: ANA, Reuters News item: 22491 [02] Greek President on Official Visit to DenmarkPresident of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias is on an official visit to Denmark. Turkey offends the EU values, Papoulias stressed before the country's royal family and political leaders. The President of the Republic, who arrived in Copenhagen on Monday for a three-day visit, touched on the strong historic friendship bonds between the two nations and underlined the shared will to have them further boosted."The planet needs a new binding and effective framework law on environment," said Papoulias, while delivering a speech at the banquet the Danish queen held in his honour on Monday evening. "We will be doomed, unless we fail to shape a framework capable of reversing the road to disaster in the forthcoming summit in Copenhagen in December," commented he. The December summit on climate and its success are key goals of Denmark's foreign policy. Denmark champions that energy sufficiency and economic growth can be successfully combined. It also supports the need to have energy sources differentiated, with a view to increasing energy sufficiency and trimming energy dependence via a coordinated energy policy within the EU. Gravely concerned over environmental issues, Denmark has won international respect, argued Karolos Papoulias, reiterating his conviction that a viable democracy can be nothing but an ecological democracy, and that viable development lies at the core of the EU set of principles. Shifting his attention to the sectors of economy, trade and investments, Papoulias maintained that cooperation between Greece and Denmark can grow even further, also adding that the business conference between the two nations confirms the will and desire of the two sides to enhance their economic and trade cooperation. The President of the Hellenic Republic then went on to argue that Greek and Denmark share the same worries regarding international security, stability, development, natural disasters and climate change. Respecting the key principle of global legal order, we defend the rules of international law, the human rights and the democratic principles, Karolos Papoulias pointed out. Papoulias also referred to the Cyprus standoff, underlining that it is high time the problem was solved, as it degrades the international community and Europe above all. "The military occupation of Cyprus, an EU member state, by a country that is pursuing to join the European family is unacceptable, and so is the fact that a European capital, Nicosia, is still divided by walls. The extension of the occupation is an insult to the EU's democratic nature, wounding its principles," added he. The President of the Hellenic Republic then expressed his hope that the steps taken recently will pave the way for an opportunity window for the solution to the problem, a fair and viable solution that will allow the two communities to co-exist in peace amidst a European environment of security, development and prosperity. News item: 22483 [03] Charges Pressed on Vatopedi ScandalChief Prosecutor Kyriakos Karoutsos, who is investigating the Vatopedi scandal, charged all parties responsible with six felonies and two misdemeanors. As many as 30 people face serious offences, while another 33, including members of the monastery's council, the head and members of the Council of the State, were exempted.According to information, chief monk Efraim, monk Arsenios, the layers and notaries that handled the case, as well as members of the Hellenic Public Real Estate Corporation and the Council of the State, were not exempted. News item: 22466 [04] Papariga Blasts Allegations Regarding Her Party's FinancesAleka Papariga, KKE (Greek Communist Party) secretary general, refuelled the dispute that has broken out between her party and the opposition parties of PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Party) and LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) on KKE's finances. Papariga challenged all those who have requested his party's finances be investigated to present their evidence.Papariga stressed that were the Communist party to slander either the Prime Minister or the Opposition leader, it would be obliged to unveil the relevant evidence, further adding that her party mainly runs non-profit publication companies. She also said that KKE was recently inspected by the Body for the Prosecution of Economic Crime (SDOE). Touching on KKE's activities, she underlined that the party is not a publication company. She then went on to drop hints at the finances of the rest of the parties, wondering whether the competent agencies have ever visited them. Commenting on PASOK's intention to issue a credit card, Papariga said that the card won't be without commission. And since the above move breaks no law, she asked herself what would happen, if KKE did the same thing. Shifting her attention to the two major political parties' policy on transparency, Papariga lashed out at ND and PASOK, demanding the law on the ministers' liability be changed. Source: NET, ANA/MPA News item: 22462 The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |