The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Focusing on Reforms "We Do Not Compromise"

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105,8

Addressing NDs Central Committee, which has been convening since Saturday morning, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis reiterated the governments steadfast commitment to the path of radical changes and reforms, as well as his pledge to fight corruption and vested interests. In particular, Mr Karamanlis pointed out that the Greek people have embraced the governments effort to reform the structures of both the state and the economy. The Prime Minister also noted that Greece will not go backwards and lashed out at the Main Opposition arguing that the accused cannot play the part of the complainant. Foreign Affairs Minister Petros Molyviatis and Rural Development Minister Evangelos Basiakos also addressed the partys Central Committee.

Reforms Based Upon Social Responsibility

Mr Karamanlis stressed that the government has embarked on a paramount reform course in the Public Sector, a change which means:

less burdens on the taxpayers, competitive public enterprises, improved services to the citizens.

At the same time, the Prime Minister repeated the governments pledge "to overthrow corruption, to provide rules common to everyone () We will not go back on what we have said. We have no reservations," and underscored that the State is institutionally safeguarded by upgrading its monitoring mechanisms to make them more and more efficient.

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] Gotovina to Hague

By Betty Savourdou

Former Croatian general and war crimes suspect Ante Gotovina embarked on a military plane and flew out of Madrids prison to face the UN War Tribunal in The Hague. Gotovina, 50, was arrested in Spains Canary Islands last Tuesday and is accused of the death of nearly 150 Serbs in 1995. It is noted that the leading Croatian army officer along with Bosnian Serbs leaders Radovan Karadjic and Ratko Mladic were the top three war crimes suspects.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Croat suspect 'leaves for Hague'

Related News:

Gotovina Arrested

Related Links:

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

[03] International Human Rights Day

By Betty Savourdou

It has been fifty years since the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights banned any form of tortures, yet tortures remain a harsh and rather common practice. This is what highlighted UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, calling on the international community to strongly and unanimously condemn tortures and urging the states to reiterate their commitment to the universals of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. At the same time, International Amnesty, based on the September 2001-2005 flight list, spoke of 800 secret CIA flights from and to Europe.

Right to Freedom and Dignity

The universal recognition of human rights is the greatest achievement of liberal democracy, underlined Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in his address on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day. Mr Karamanlis further added that the government aims to safeguard the rights of all the Greek citizens, as well as the rights of those living and working in Greece.

PASOK leader George Papandreou underlined that there are no minorities when it comes to human rights. He also condemned the practices, including tortures and unjustifiable arrests, for they humiliate humans.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

U2 Declared "Ambassadors of Conscience"

Related Links:

United Nations

Amnesty International

[04] For Handling the Economy Faith in ND and Karamanlis

Although most citizens are pessimist over the improvement of their financial state, they put faith in New Democracy and Kostas Karamanlis to handle Greek Economy, as per a new opinion poll conducted by RASS for Isotimia tou Savvatou newspaper. In particular, 25.2% said ND is the party that can handle the Economy better, 20.1% preferred PASOK, while 44.5% said no political party is capable of handling the Economy. What is more, 31% trust the Premier to handle the Greek Economy, 22.4% put faith in George Papandreou, while 32.3% none of the two.

As per the opinion poll, citizens are troubled by the issue of corruption and 57% feel nothing has improves, while just 18.4% feel differently.

Questioned which party can deal with corruption better, 26.1% preferred ND, 10.8% chose PASOK, while 45.5% replied no party is capable of dealing with corruption.

What is more, citizens support the government in its choice for newly hired in DEKOs to work under private sector terms and 55.9% are in favour of the reform, while 31.6% think the reform is wrong.

However, half the civil servants disagree with the particular reform.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] Hamas Against Israel

By Tina Valaoura

Hamas warned of a new round of violent clashes with Israel. In a protest held in Damascus, the group's political leader Khaled Meshaal, who lives exiled in Syria, announced that Hamas is not planning on renewing the unofficial ceasefire with Israel, which expires at the end of the year. "I say to our brothers in the Palestinian Authority that we are witnessing political stagnation. I say it loudly, we will not enter a new truce and our people are preparing for a new round of conflict," stressed Meshaal. Hamas had warned of its intentions since last November, when the Israeli army killed Amazad Al Hinawi, leading figure of Nablus' military wing at the northern part of the West Bank. Meshaal is considered the organisation's most senior figure after the assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in March 2004.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Hamas to end truce with Israel

[06] U2 Declared "Ambassadors of Conscience"

By Betty Savourdou

Amnesty International granted the 2005 Ambassador of Conscience Award to the Irish rock band, U2. The award in question, the highest accolade awarded by Amnesty International, honours personalities that have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights. The award was named after a poem devoted to the organisation by Irish writer and Nobel Prize laureate Seamus Heaney. "From Live Aid in 1985 () U2 has arguably done more than any other band to highlight the cause of global human rights in general and Amnesty Internationals work in particular," argued Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

U2

Amnesty International

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