The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-09-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Decision on Olympic Airways Future Tomorrow OA in Liquidation Process

By Jenny Charalampidou

Today, the Governmental Committee convened in order to investigate the event of voluntary redundancy and mandatory transfers of Olympic Airways employees, in view of the critical decision over the future of the company by the European Commission tomorrow. The Commission is expected to decide if illegal state funds were given to Olympic Airways and Airlines, which should be returned to the Greek Public Sector "immediately and effectively" within two months. It is estimated that the sum will exceed 500mn euros and is over the current abilities of Olympic Airways, while it practically leads to the crash of the company. Tomorrow, after the EU decision, the Denationalisation Committee will convene in order to announce the decision over the future of the Olympic Airways.

"Employees Will Not Be Affected"

After the Governmental Committee meeting, Minister of Economy Giorgos Alogoskoufis said, "We are awaiting the decision of the European Commission," and repeated the pledge of the PM that employees will not be affected. The European Commission is expected to ask for 200mn euros extra, a fact that burdens the privitisation operation, stated ND European Parliamentarian Kostis Chatzidakis to NET 105.8, and accused PASOK over the way it handled the issue in the past.

"The government did not give an imperative political or a legal fight and is currently hiding behind the Commissions answer," noted to NET 105.8 former Transport Minister Christos Verelis.

"ND is giving the last blow to what the PASOK governments had programmed which is the privitisation or the closing down of the company," stated KKE. SYN asks for the national air carrier to be supported with the broadening of its public and social role.

Collective Actions On The Way

In the meantime, the employees announced collective actions in the biggest airports of the country for tomorrow and the day after. However, the flight schedule will run as planned as the company reassures.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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"Will Continue Flying"

[02] He Will Participate in the UN's Summit PM Left for New York

By Athina Saloustrou

Shortly after midnight (Greek time), Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will be meeting with the UN's Secretary General Kofi Annan. Mr Karamanlis is expected to arrive in New York at 22:00 (Greek time) to attend the UN's Summit Meeting (14-16 September). The two men will focus on a series of issues regarding the international community, since Greece is a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the period 2005-2006. The Cypriot issue is expected to be one of the topics, as well as the UN's mediator efforts over FYROM's name. After meeting with Kofi Annan, the Prime Minister will attend US President George Bush's reception, which will be given in honour of 180 state and government leaders, who are currently in New York. On Thursday, the PM will participate in the Security Council meeting.

Round Table Discussion on S.C. Reformation

During his stay in New York, Mr Karamanlis will address the UN Summit Meeting on Friday at 17:45 in the afternoon (Greek time), while on Wednesday he will take part in the Security Council Summit Meeting.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister will take part in a round table discussion for the Security Council's reformation and will have a series of bilateral meetings with several state and government leaders.

Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, Foreign Deputy Minister Giannis Valinakis and Evripidis Stylianidis, deputy Government spokesperson Evangelos Antonaros and other officials are escorting the Prime Minister at the Summit Meeting of the United Nations.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] When Children's Honesty Leads To Jail Child's White Lie

By Annita Paschalinou

Following you will read how childrens innocence can lead their parents in jail. The unbelievable incident took place in Pieterburen, the Netherlands. A 30-year-old man returning from work all of a sudden saw a car parked in his driveway and in the vehicle two small children in the back seat. His amazement continued when on the question of "what are you doing here and where are your parents" they replied "they are inside robbing your house." The young man ran in the house to see if they were actually speaking the truth. And they were. Mom and dad were rummaging through the cupboards, but once they heard the man enter the house they ran away, without of course forgetting the two children parked in the driveway and without any loot since their childrens innocence ruined their plans. Here is another reason to teach ones child to lie under certain circumstances. Of course we are kidding!

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] Seismologists Are Reassuring Ionian Sea Shaken

By Annita Paschalinou

A strong earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale occurred in the sea area west of Cephallonia, 300km west of Athens, at 07:41. The quakes tremor was not felt as it was quite far from the island. A few hours earlier, at 00:31, a 4.7 earthquake occurred southwest of Paxoi, 320km northwest of Athens. The seismologists are reassuring. Speaking to NET 105.8 Georgia Panopoulou, a seismologist of the Institute of Geodynamics, noted that the earthquake is not a cause for alarm.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[05] Ministerial Pledge For Filling Vacancies Solution for Problems in Schools

By Jenny Charalampidou

Yesterday, the new school year started with new hopes for 1.5mn students nationwide, as well as complaints by the Presidencies of Greek Federation of State School Teachers of Secondary Education (OLME) and the Greek Primary Teachers Federation (DOE) over insufficiencies in education personnel. The Ministry replied that the filling of all arising vacancies has been reassured, while it accuses teachers and parents of not actually being involved with education but serving political interests.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] Charged With Receiving and Committing Briberies Judge and 11 Lawyers Referred

By Athina Saloustrou

The investigation over extra-judicial rings continues. With a proposal, Appellate Prosecutor Kyriakos Karoutsos asks for the referral to the Three-Member Appeals Felony Court of former First Instance President Leonidas Stathis and 11 lawyers, charged with crimes of receiving and committing briberies. As per the charges, former First Instance President apparently received around 160,000 euros (54mn drachmas) from his co-defendants lawyers in order to favourably handle his clients cases.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] Traffic Pandemonium Blackout Due to A Cut Cable

By Jenny Charalampidou

Sources: ANA

Last nights power cut in the US was due to a human error and resulted in Los Angeles being drowned in darkness for two hours. A traffic pandemonium took place in the City of Angels, while many other operational problems were created. A majority of persons got trapped in elevators, while hospitals operated with generators. The citys international airport remained intact and in full operation. Fear spread throughout the US city, since the blackout occurred a day after the video broadcast where an Al Qaeda spokesperson named Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia as the next targets of the organisation.

Fear Over Every Power Cut

"As every city, Los Angeles sometimes experiences power cuts. The fact that it occurred today, Monday, the day after September 11, and after the threats voiced yesterday, Sunday, caused great concern," stated the citys Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa.

During the past years many big power cuts have taken place in the US. The most important was on August 15, 2003, when 50mn households were left without electricity in New York and the northeastern areas of the country.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] Norwegians Voted for A Social State "Red-Green" Win in Norway

By Annita Paschalinou

The pledges of the Left-Socialists for more social goods from the use of oil reserves seems to have convinced the voters of Norway who voted against the programme of outgoing PM Bondevik. Regardless of the tax relief and the international praise on the economic situation of the country Kjell Magne Bondeniks alliance with the far-right Progress Party received 81 seats in Parliament, as opposed to 88 by the alliance of the Left-Socialist led by 46-year-old economist Jens Stoltenberg. The outgoing PM appeared disappointed over the result. Bondevik will submit his resignation in mid-October when the proceedings of the new Parliament are estimated to commence. Within the day he will also admit his defeat in the vote to King Harald.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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[09] Victorious Comeback

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Larissa claimed their first victory for the season over Kallithea with 2-0 goals, in the match that completed the second round of the championship. Better in the first half, they made the 10,000 fans inside Alcazar go crazy. Agelos Digozis in the 27' and Stathis Aloneftis in the 41' scored the two victorious goals. In the second half, their pace slowed down, but held on to the score, which provided Larissa with its first three points in A National, after nine years of absence.

Good in the First, Worse in the Second

Even though the first half was entirely Larissa's case, things could have been different if Lazanas had taken advantage of Simos unexpected gift. In the 1', Larissa defender lost the ball, Lazanas came face to face with Kotsolis, who finally saved the ball.

From the onwards, the home team owned the pitch. It was all downhill, after Kallithea lost their opportunity and in the 27, Angelos Digozis surprised Bartzokas and opened the score (1-0).

Larissa continued to apply pressure and in the 41' Stathis Aloneftis scored the second for his team with a direct foul-kick.

In the rerun, things were different. The home team backed down without a reason and Kallithea took the lead in the pitch, but not on the scoreboard. Mladenov's players seemed unable to finalise their efforts, even though Lazanas (47'), Koutsospyros (56'), Mujiri (64') and Georgiev (72') tried hard.

In the last 20 minutes, Larissa balanced the pace and held on to precious victory.

Referee: Vassaras (Thessaloniki)

Yellow Cards: Serban, Angelopoulos, Yanchev

LINE-UPS

LARISSA: Kotsolis, Paleologos (67' Forester), Dabizas, Katsiaros, Simos, Digozis, Gkikas, Aloneftis (55' Vela Junior), Spasic, Serban, Kalantzis (63' Papakostas)

KALLITHEA: Bartzokas, Georgiev, Dragicevic (42' Koutsospyros), Mujiri, Angelopoulos (76' Petkovic), Koulakiotis, Venetis, Pasas, Yanchev, Lazanas, Tzorbatzakis (58' Tsiolis)

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[10] Voulgarakis at School Bus Inspections

By Annita Paschalinou

This morning, the Public Order Minister partook in the Traffic Police inspections in school buses. Giorgos Voulgarakis asked from all for a responsible stance on the issue of child security, and warned that there will be serious consequences to whoever does not abide to the rules. "Everyone has to contribute to this cause; the bus owners, the schools and the state as it should be consistent with its inspections," he said, and did not hide his concern over the results on yesterdays inspections. "I was terrified when I saw that a large percentage of buses did not fulfil the prerequisites," he noted, and warned that the state will be stern to those who do not abide with the rules on the safe transport of children.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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