The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-03-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Mother Mastermind Wanted Gypsy Gang Broken Up

By Anna Kourti

A gang of gypsies, which was arrested following a major police operation, had carried out over 200 robberies in the areas Oropos, Kalamos, Kapandriti and Avlonas. Seven people were arrested, while the mother of the family, who is considered the mastermind, is still at large.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[02] Over the Collective Bargaining Contract Crucial Negotiations

Sources: NET, NET Radio 105.8

Negotiations over the new Collective Bargaining Contract have reached a crucial phase, since the fourth round of talks between the GSEE (Greek General Confederation of Labour), SEV (Federation of Greek Industries), GSEVEE (General Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses) and ESEE (National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce) will open today at 13:00 CET. As per information, employers will present a new improved proposal, while GSEE warned of a head-on collision if the proposal is not altered. Suggested raises so far did have not exceeded 2.8%, while trade union organisations asked for raises ranging from 7% to 9%. Employment Minister Savvas Tsitouridis voiced his optimism over the result of Wednesdays meeting, while repeating that the Government does not intervene with collective contracts. Meanwhile, he asked employers to be more generous, as employees have made sacrifices and clarified the Government wont adopt proposals over free dismissals or employment without social security.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] In Protest Thessaloniki Prefecture Closed

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA, NET

By the decision of Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis, the Thessaloniki Prefecture, except for Citizen Service Centres, will remain closed on Wednesday in protest for the problems in the area and in demand of a 40-million-euro emergency fund. Vehicle Technical Control Centres (KTEOs) will only operate for reinspecting vehicles, while all appointments have been rescheduled for Thursday. Meanwhile, three prefectorial parties harshly criticised Mr Psomiadis' decision to shut down the Prefecture offices, speaking of efforts to impress the public opinion. The Prefecture's Employees Union asked all personnel to report to work and leave if agencies are closed.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] Against a National Bank Branch Nighttime Raid in Athens

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: NET - ANA

The centre of Athens became a scene of new incidents on Tuesday night. A group of thirty youths, coming from Exarchia Square, started walking along Charilaou Trikoupi. On the intersection with Akadimias Street, they broke the storefront of a National Bank branch, throwing Molotov cocktails inside the building. A fire broke out, but the Fire Department intervened immediately and stopped it from spreading. As a result, only office furniture was damaged. The group was pursued by a police squad that was in the area, but they managed to get away. Upon fleeing, the youths threw pamphlets, which mentioned that the group Arsonist Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack. In the same pamphlet, they condemned the banking policies and declared solidarity for Giannis Dimitrakis, who is remanded in custody for participating in the National Bank bloody robbery.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] Against Lukashenko in Belarus Major Protest on Saturday

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA, Reuters

Protest demonstrations against the reelection of Alexander Lukashenko culminate in Belarus. Opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich urged the citizens of Minsk to attend a major protest rally at the October Square on Saturday. "We will demonstrate on a daily basis until 25 March," stressed Milinkevich speaking before thousands of protestors on Tuesday and urged the crowd to communicate the event to everyone they know. The other candidate for the presidency, Alexander Kuzulin, asked citizens to demonstrate on the same day but advised caution, because he was tipped the Police would intervene. 25 March is Liberation Day, an anniversary celebrated by the Opposition in commemoration of the first and temporary People's Republic of Belarus in 1918, an anniversary not recognized by the existing regime.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] Regarding the Nuclear Programme Chavez in Favour of Iran

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA, Reuters

The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, launched a new verbal attack against the USA, this time on the occasion of Whasignton's stance against Iran and its nuclear programme. During his speech on Tuesday, Chavez voiced his support to the Islamic Republic, accusing the Bush Government of lying when supporting that Tehran is planning to develop a nuclear arsenal to control the country's oil reserves. Furious once again, the President of Venezuela spoke of the USA's defeat in Iraq and predicted the superpower would lose again if it attacked Iran. "I truly believe the US empire is heading to its grave," added Chavez to conclude, "This is the century when the US imperialism will be buried."

Chaves delivered his speech while the UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement over the way to handle Tehran's nuclear ambitions and while Washington warned of Tehran's ability to blackmail the world were it to acquire nuclear weapons.

The leader of Venezuela is having close ties with Cuba and Iran, thus alarming the US.

The USA and Venezuela are engaged in a constant diplomatic fight since Chavez was elected to power in 1998, but that does not stop Washington from importing oil from Venezuela, thus covering 15% of its total oil needs.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] Riots Continue Streets Around the Sorbonne on Fire

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ÁNA-Reuters-BBC-AFP

Some 40,000 students took to the streets of France on Tuesday night, 5,000 people alone in Paris, protesting against the First Employment Contract. Collective actions were generally held in peace, however sporadic riots occurred and the Police proceeded with 37 arrests, while three police officers sustained injuries. The situation in the French capital is still tense, especially after the serious injury of a 39-year-old trade unionist on Saturday in Paris, during a collision with police forces. Testimonies regarding the man's injury, who is still in a coma, are confused. Some say he was stamped and brutally abused by the Police, while a stretcher-bearer said he was stamped by protestors. The trade union he is a member of, the SUD PTT, asked for an inquiry and accused the Police of refusing to call an ambulance in time, while French authorities stressed there are no indications of wrongdoing by the Police.

Meanwhile, incidents continue. New riots occurred late on Tuesday night near the University of Sorbonne, between police forces and youths, who kept shouting "Police everywhere, Justice nowhere," and "Free the Sorbonne," in an effort to go near the metal partitions isolating the entire yard of the Sorbonne, symbol of the May 1968 student revolt. The Police answered back with teargases.

Under the burden of increased pressure, French Premier Dominique De Villepin seems to be backing down, but still refused to repeal the law, supporting such an action would equal to yielding to ultimatums. Instead, he said social partners are free to reduce the trial time, thus asking trade unions and employees to stand by his side in an effort to better apply the measure and not abandon it, as new job openings will be created.

However, those who criticise and fight the law stated the only thing they can expect from the First Employment Contract is a generation of "expendable" young employees.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

De Villepin Not Backing Down

[08] Over the New Collective Labour Contract New GSEE-SEV Negotiations

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

On Wednesday, GSEE (Greek General Confederation of Labour) and SEV (Federation of Greek Industries) will hold discussions over the new collective labour contract, during a very crucial meeting. The Confederation has asked for a new improved proposal on the part of the employers, else it threatened with collective actions. Employment Minister Savvas Tsitouridis also referred to the matter. On the occasion of SEVs statements for 2.8% pay rises and the adoption of the French model, he stressed that the low-wage earners have given everything they had to offer, while he clarified that the Government would not be adopting proposals for arbitrary dismissals and uninsured employment. At the same time, he appeared optimistic that the social partners would reach an agreement, based on their sense of responsibility. The employers are expected to submit an improved proposal for pay rises in the private sector, however, GSEE, which is asking for rises ranging from 7% to 9%, has pointed out that if the businessmen insist on 2.8%, then a conflict would be unavoidable.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Employees Are Dissatisfied

[09] AEK Favourite for Cup Final

By Stathis Petropoulos

Armed with experience and solemnity, AEK scored a victory against Agrotikos Asteras, a Division 3 team, in the Greek Cup semifinal and set the foundations for not becoming yet another victim to the Thessalonican teams progress this year. Actually, the victory is quite important, since AEK scored three goals, but has not received any goals for the last two matches. No goals were scored in the first half, mainly due to the efforts by Agrotikos goalkeeper, Theofanous.

Things changed in the second half, though. In the 59, Lymberopoulos caught a header off Cezars penalty kick, scoring the first goal of the match and releasing some of AEKs tension. In the 80, Cezars free kick was once again converted into a goal with a header by Moras. The last goal was scored in the 86 by Sapanis, who had just entered the pitch as a substitute. It was an amazing goal and a very rare one for Greek pitches. After the ball travelled 40 metres in the air, it just missed Theofanous crossbar, ending up in the nets.

Referee: Kontogiannidis (Xanthi) Yellow Cards: Chiotis, Emerson G. Papadopoulos, Tsouklis, Kosmidis, Kalliakis

AEK: Chiotis, Kontis (73 Soares), Malbasa, Dellas, Moras, Emerson (81 Ivic), Chanko, Kyriakidis, Cezar (85 Sapanis), Lymberopoulos, Kapetanos

AGROTIKOS ASTERAS: Theofanous, Barbas, Kalliakis, G. Papadopoulos, Tziokas, Kosmidis, Bekiaris, Tsouklis (84 Nikic), Kyzeridis, Iordanidis (74 Telliadis), Sakellaridis.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[10] Away Victory for PAOK

By Stathis Petropoulos

Although Panionios was desperate for the three points of victory, PAOK was eventually the one that managed to win the match that concluded round 24 of the Greek Division 1 football championship with a goal by Salpigidis in the 50. The home team started off well, but was faced with Fernandez, who saved PAOK on quite a few occasions. Salpigidis missed his first opportunity to score in the 48, but came back with a successful header two minute later. From that point, it took Panionis 20 minutes to threaten PAOK. In the 72, though, Dimitradis was knocked over in the box by the goalkeeper and the referee awarded a penalty. Fernandez, though, who came face-to-face with PAOKs Fernandez, missed the mark. So PAOK won the three points, increasing its chances to play in the UEFA Cup next year, as it climbed to sixth spot, alongside Larissa.

Referee: Porfyris (Arcadia) Yellow Cards: Giannopoulos Udeze, Charalambous, Konstantinidis, Christodoulopoulos, Arabatzis, Balafas, Feutchine

PANIONIOS: Vaniak, Giannopoulos, Magdy, Kampantais, Koutsopoulos (81 Spyropoulos), Goundoulakis, Exouzidis, Zografakis (61 Fernandez), Gaspar, Breska, Luciano (69 Dimitriadis)

PAOK: Fernandez, Karypidis, Chasiotis, Udeze, Konstantinidis, Balafas, Charalambous (88 Malezas), Feutchine (74 Arabatzis), Salpigidis, Iliadis (90+ Mumin), Christodoulopoulos.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[11] Chinese-WHO Agreement First Human Samples

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, ANA

China has agreed to share virus samples from bird flu outbreaks in poultry and humans and the first batch should arrive at overseas laboratories within weeks, World Health Organisation officials said on Wednesday. The move will meet a WHO request for China to go beyond sending samples collected from people and help international efforts to fight the spread of the disease. "China has done an excellent job, but we need more information," stressed Shigeru Omi, the WHO's Western Pacific regional director. China's agriculture minister announced this week that the country's widescale poultry vaccination campaign had been very effective, and denied any healthy, vaccinated birds had been infected with the H5N1 strain of the disease. The WHO has said that studies are needed to see if China's vaccination programme might be "masking" the virus, though the organisation originally backed a plan to vaccinate billions of poultry.

"Vaccination played a role in reducing transmission," Omi said. "But it has to be implemented carefully and surveillance for animals has become more important because immunisation may mask symptoms of infected animals."

[12] Draft Report by Experts Shedding Light into the Boeing Crash

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET

The report compiled by experts on the circumstances surrounding the August 2005 Helios Airways Boeing 737-300 crash, resulting in the death of 121 people in Grammatiko, Greece, is expected to be concluded by July. According to exclusive information obtained by ERT, the draft report, which will be concluded in the next few days by the Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board, mentions that the human errors proved fatal. The first error indicates that in the pre-flight check, the pilots did not check whether the pressure valve was at the right spot, resulting in the alarm going off when the plane reached 10,000 feet, due to the depressurising of the cabin. However, as the same alarm sounds when there is an erroneous configuration, the two pilots focused their attention elsewhere, losing valuable time in trying to deal with the problem. Eventually, they became unconscious.

The draft also noted that the inspection showed there was no mechanical failure.

The draft report will be sent to the Cypriot Air Accident Investigation Committee in mid-May, while it will then be sent to the respective US committee. The two committees will then have to send back their comments, while the Greek Committee is expected to conclude the final draft by the end of July.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[13] Over the New Collective Labour Contract New GSEE-SEV Negotiations

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

On Wednesday, GSEE (Greek General Confederation of Labour) and SEV (Federation of Greek Industries) will hold discussions over the new collective labour contract, during a very crucial meeting. The Confederation has asked for a new improved proposal on the part of the employers, else it threatened with collective actions. Employment Minister Savvas Tsitouridis also referred to the matter. On the occasion of SEVs statements for 2.8% pay rises and the adoption of the French model, he stressed that the low-wage earners have given everything they had to offer, while he clarified that the Government would not be adopting proposals for arbitrary dismissals and uninsured employment. At the same time, he appeared optimistic that the social partners would reach an agreement, based on their sense of responsibility. The employers are expected to submit an improved proposal for pay rises in the private sector, however, GSEE, which is asking for rises ranging from 7% to 9%, has pointed out that if the businessmen insist on 2.8%, then a conflict would be unavoidable.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Employees Are Dissatisfied

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