The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-02-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] From Germany Greek PM in Ireland

By Athina Saloustrou

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will arrive in Dublin at noon, accompanied by FM Dora Bakoyannis. He will then attend a working luncheon with Irish PM Bertie Ahern. The agenda includes European policy, bilateral relations and other international matters. In the meantime, the EU fiscal prospects, the Euro-Turkish relations, Kosovo and the Cyprus question, for which Angela Merkel stressed that she is interested in a "sensible solution", were at the focus of the talks between the Greek PM and the German Chancellor in Berlin on Wednesday. Specifically, with regard to the Cyprus question, Mr Karamanlis repeated that Greece is always willing to contribute towards finding a fair, just and operational solution in the context of International Law and the UN. The Greek PM is accompanied by the new FM, Dora Bakoyannis, whom Angela Merkel addressed using warm words while she described her as a friend of Germany.

Deep and Meaningful Talks

FM Dora Bakoyannis and alternate Government spokesperson Evangelos Antonaros appeared extremely satisfied with the climate as well as the content of the talks between the Greek PM and Angela Merkel. The two met with Greek reporters after the working dinner between the two delegations, which broke every previous record, as it lasted for over two and a half hours.

During the interview, Ms Bakoyannis spoke of "deep and meaningful talks", which focused on matters of general strategy for the progress and the future of the European Union and international developments. They also incorporated matters of general Greek interest in this European context, including the Cyprus question and the developments in the Balkans in view of the commencement of procedures to settle Kosovos regime.

There was no mention of divergence of approaches between the Greek and the German side on matters such as dealing with Turkish FM Abdullah Guls proposals for Cyprus (which Berlin is reviewing and has not rejected yet). However, both the FM and the alternate Government spokesperson insisted that there is a possibility of further analysing the Greek Governments stances, as this became apparent during the talks, a fact they described as "extremely important."

Foreign Policy

Answering to reporters questions and relevant articles that appeared in the Greek and Cypriot Press, Dora Bakoyannis underlined that foreign policy will continue, it is an overall government matter and the PM has the last word on it. She also added that she could never use her capacity as Foreign Minister to exercise personal policies.

Referring to her private meeting with her German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the new FM stated it was more of a short acquaintance discussion that mainly focused on the developments in the Middle East and the issue with Iran.

Furthermore, Ms Bakoyannis denied rumours of her visiting the USA on 11 March to meet with her counterpart Condoleezza Rice. "I have not accepted the invitation," she said.

Eurofighter Issue to Be Reviewed

Finally, answering to a question regarding Greek-German collaborations in the armament sector, the FM confirmed that the German side approached the issue anew and proposed to Greece the delivery of a number of Eurofighter planes.

"The issue of armaments and the Eurofighters will be reviewed and dealt with by summer, in light of the European defence policy constituting the main pillar of the EUs prospect," said Ms Bakoyannis, noting, however, that this would not be the only parameter.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Warm Welcome in Berlin

[02] On the Government's Work and the PM Full Frontal Attack by G. Papandreou

Sources: NET 105.8

At the PASOK Parliamentary Group meeting, George Papandreou made a full frontal attack against the Governments work and the PM over the wiretaps, the Economy and citizens income. "This is not a new beginning for the Government but only the beginning of the end," he stated. "We are witnesses of a Government, which is breaking up public interest, serving the few against the many," said George Papandreou. The President of PASOK personally attributed responsibility to Mr Karamanlis on the failures in the departments of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Public Order, while he described the work done in the Culture Ministry worst than in comparison to the political changeover era. On the wiretaps scandal, he accused the Government over concealment and queried why a criminal indictment was not immediately made.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Voting has Begun "Bolkestein Directive" at EU Parliament

By Athina Saloustrou

The marathon voting session for the Community directive, concerning the freeing of services in the EU, under a new milder version on the "country of origin," has begun. More than 400 amendments were made to the initial plan that will be voted on and which was submitted in the beginning of 2004 by the European Commission. Yesterday, the heads of the bigger groups of the EU Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering of the European Peoples Party and Martin Schulz of the European Socialist Party stated that they are waiting for broad support to be ensured to the compromising proposal reached by the negotiators. This compromising proposal annuls the initial proposal by the European Commission in relation to the "country of origin principle," which foresees that employees coming from one country and work in another, are subjected to the legislature of their country of origin. However, there are disagreements between the EU Parliamentarians coming from new Member-States, as well as the French and Belgian Socialists, who will obstruct the voting procedure.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Protest over "Bolkestein Directive"

[04] According to an ÌRÂ Poll Positive Reactions to Reshuffle

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: NET 105.8

New Democracy leads PASOK by 2.3 percentile units as per an opinion poll conducted by MRB on Tuesday and Wednesday and presented on TV network Alpha. ND gathered 36.2% in voter intention, followed by 33.9% for PASOK, 6.8% for KKE, 3.5% for SYN and 4% for LAOS. Kostas Karamanlis is considered more suitable for PM with 46.6% as opposed to 34.4% for George Papandreou. In addition, 50.5% of those asked view the reshuffle positively, while 36.4% expressed a negative view. Furthermore, a high percentage of those asked (66.4%) believe that the reshuffle was necessary for the better performance of the Government. However, the citizens appear reserved, since 53% believe that the changes would not precipitate the resolution of the problems, as opposed to 40.2% who offered a different opinion. With regard to the ministers, 75.9% view Dora Bakoyannis appointment positively, 64.4% Vangelis Meimarakis, 61.7% Savvas Tsitouridis, 60.5% Giorgos Voulgarakis, 59.3% Byron Polydoras and 56.7% Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] Streets of Violence in Australia Racist Crime in Sydney

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA - MPA

Ruol Agang believed he was one of the luckiest people in the world. He and his gamily were among the 5,561 Sudanese refugees granted the right to move to Australia, in the context of a humanitarian programme for the victims of one of the longest civil wars in Africa. But it was not be.

Four months after arriving in Sydney along with his wife and his four children, Agang was beaten by a group of young Australians and later succumbed to his injuries. The youths threw eggs at the 28-year-old refugee and the man reacted by throwing an empty soft drink can at the car they were driving. The group then got off the car and started beating the man, who sustained serious head injuries.

Agangs cousin, Majok Akok, voiced the despair of the Sudanese community in Australia. "When we came here we thought we had arrived at a safe place where no one could have been murdered. We thought we had escaped the murders," he said.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] With the Aim of Replacing Oil A First for Biodiesel

Hellenic Petroleum started distributing environmentally-friendly biodiesel as of today, as announced by the company.

Biodiesel is produced in Greece and is added to diesel fuel at a 2% ratio. It is made from vegetables oils, which are renewable raw materials, and constitutes an answer to the efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, deal with the greenhouse effect and eventually replace oil.

As per Greeces pledges and the expected increase in local production, the ratio added to diesel fuel will gradually increase in the next few years.

Apart from the environmental benefits, biodiesel also improves on other characteristics of diesel fuel, such as the ability to lubricate the engine.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[07] Sixth Win for Apollon Patras

By Stathis Petropoulos

Apollon Patras defeated Penellinios 91-82 and took an important step towards entering in the 8. The players of Giannis Christopoulos earned their eighth win out of 16 rounds of games, while the "Olympians" club did not manage to earn a positive result, which would bring them to the fourth place of standings. This was the third consecutive defeat for the team of Argyris Pedoulakis after a straight win of 8-0. The score of the ten-minute periods: 19-29, 40-45, 67-65, 91-82.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] Maroussi Wins the Derby

By Stathis Petropoulos

Panathinaikos handed over a great win to Olympiacos with its defeat in Pylaia, however, the "red and whites" did not take advantage of it, since they were defeated by Maroussi 82-69. With this score, Maroussi covered the defeat difference in the Peace and Friendship Stadium and received the lead to a probable tie. The Maroussi players who scored double-digit points were Blackney 13, Kyritsis 17, Seculic 12 and Kaimakoglou 10. Boudouris contribution was important, as he scored three three-pointers and eased his team out of a difficult position. Olympiacos on the other hand paid for an ineffective defence and the bad performance of Ednie and Luis. The score of the ten-minute periods: 29-19, 49-43, 67-58, 82-69.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] First Fine of 6,000 Euros Bird Flu Fines

By Athina Saloustrou

The first fine imposed in Greece for not following the directives on bird flu protection was 6,000 euros. The fine was imposed by the Prefect of Chalkidiki on a poultry unit. Actually, the poultry farmer allegedly tried to deceive the inspectors, reassuring them that he had culled all his chickens, in order to avoid new inspections. At the same time, the authorities are continuing to monitor the Evros Delta. The Rodopi Prefecture Veterinary Service is determined to file lawsuits and impose fines on those who breed large or small numbers of poultry and do not abide by the precautionary biosafety measures, i.e. keeping the poultry confined indoors. The European authorities are establishing protection zones around the areas where dead birds are located so as to stop the infectious virus from spreading to domestic poultry. In Indonesia, two more people who manifested flu symptoms passed away. In the meantime, since dead birds are located daily, the veterinarians are noting that those should be collected; while they are reassuring that the H5N1 virus was only detected in wild and not domestic birds. Moreover, experts at Lowy Institute, Australia, are developing a "worst-case scenario". A wide-ranging meeting took place yesterday at the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, chaired by Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis and attended by mayors, and representatives of health and veterinary services. The discussion focused on dealing with the problems arising from bird flu. Finally, the EU experts committee in Brussels decided on banning all imports of untreated feathers from third countries and co-funding national surveillance programmes by 50%.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Added Measures for Bird Flu

Virus at the Heart of Europe

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