The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-04-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Over the New Collective Work Contract Crucial Talks

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: GSEE-ме-мет 105,8-ANA

The Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) and the Federation of Greek Industries (SEV) are holding their sixth consecutive meeting at 15.00pm aiming at reaching a compromising solution to the new collective work contract. In their last meeting, SEV proposed a 9.8% rise for 2006-2007, with minimum wages standing at 650 euros. On its part, GSEE asked for a year-long work contract with rises amounting to 5.5% as of January 1. Should talks reach a deadlock, GSEE is expected to stage new collective actions, which GSEEs Plenary Session will define Tuesday morning. GSEE officials will hold Monday a rally outside the headquarters of the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce (ESEE). Employment Minister Savvas Tsitouridis and Economy Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis voiced their optimism over the positive outcome of the meeting.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Labour Issues at the Focus

Optimism Over Labour Issues

[02] Allergy Epidemic at the Gate Europe Goes into Allergic Shock

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: Reuters

Allergies have reached epidemic proportions in Europe, scientists claimed. The data they have gathered suggest that an epidemic is looming, triggering off grave economic and social consequences. About one third of the Europeans have developed some kind of allergy, yet only 10 per cent of these people are treated well. The estimation that one in two children in Britain will be an allergy sufferer by 2015 cause serious concerns.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Bid to Acquire FinansBank NBG Enters Turkey's Market

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA-мет 105.8

National Bank of Greece is set to make its largest investment abroad, by winning the bidding for FinansBank, one of the largest Turkish banks, at a price of about three billion euros. The details of the corporate deal will be made public in an unscheduled Press Conference the Banks Governor, Takis Arapoglou is due to give at 12.30pm. On Monday morning, the Banks Board of Directors approved the deal. To protect investors, Chairman of the Athens Exchange Spyros Capralos decided to temporarily suspend the participation of NBCs sharesin the Athens Exchanges sessions until the bids terms go public. The head of the Istanbul Exchange stepped up the same measure for FinansBanks shares.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] Karamanlis-Bakoyannis Meeting Cooperation on Cyprus Issue

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: мет-мет 105.8-ANA

Greek PM Kostas Karamanlis held talks Monday morning at Maximos Mansion with FM Dora Bakoyannis, ahead of the latters three-day visit to Cyprus. Upon exiting his meeting with Mrs Bakoyannis, the Greek PM underlined that Greeces objective is to strengthen the cooperation between the Greek and Cypriot Government in view of the developments the new momentum will trigger off.

The developments on the Cyprus issue will be the keynote topic of the talks Mrs Bakoyannis will held Tuesday with President of the Cypriot Republic Tassos Papadopoulos.

On Wednesday night, Mrs Bakoyannis will meet with her Cypriot counterpart Giorgos Iakovou, while she is to have separate meetings with the Speaker of the Cypriot Parliament, Dimitris Christofias, and the leaders of the political parties.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Strict Message to Ankara

[05] Stressed V. Polydoras in Interview "The NIS Did Not Tap Phones"

By Vivian Papastefanou

In his interview on newspaper "Kathimerini," the Minister of Public Order categorically refuted allegations the National Intelligence Service was tapping phones. "Commanding officers provided me with absolute reassurances. No group within the service ever intercepted telephone calls." Mr Polydoras stressed all necessary measures are taken to implement the law on confidentiality and protection of personal data at all levels. He also described George Papandreous statement on reestablishing the parastate of the right as slanderous and added the Government was too a victim of phonetaps.

Papaligouras' Interview on Phone Taps

In his interview to the Sunday edition of "Eleftheros Typos", the Justice Minister referred to the issue of phone taps.

Answering whether authorities know the nationality of the phone tappers, Mr Anastasis Papaligouras stressed, "We know what happened, how, where and when it happened. Justice has not yet completed its investigation to locate the perpetrators. Certainly, we can all make assumptions, imagine various scenarios, but nothing is self-evident."

Referring to the Government's followed policy on the matter, Mr Papaligouras underlined there were no personal handlings on the issue of phone taps. "The Government and the Prime Minister were the targets of this national scandal, which we handled collectively with responsibility and clarity," underlined Mr Papaligouras.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

ADAE Reinspects Vodafone

[06] Multifatality Accident

Sources: NET Radio 105.8, ANA

Two men and a woman died a tragic death on Sunday night in a car accident, which occurred on the Thessaloniki-Efzonon national highway, when a passenger car and a truck collided. The truck driver, 68, and his wife, 58, are dead, as well as the 32-year-old driver of the passenger car. Three more people were seriously injured in the head-on collision. The accident occurred at the 53km of the national highway, near the Polykastro bridge, and the causes are still unknown.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] Criminal Proceedings against Blood Donor

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: мет, мET 105.8-ANA

The Thessaloniki Prosecutor brought criminal proceedings against the blood donor, whose infected with the HIV virus blood was transfused to two patients. The blood donor is charged with breaching the measures set by the relevant committee against the spreading of diseases. The decision was taken after the preliminary investigation came to an end at the weekend. In his deposition to the Prosecutor, the 38-year-old blood donor claimed he did not know he was an HIV carrier, while, as he said, he had informed the doctors of his short-lived affairs with unknown women. He asserted, though, to have practising safe sex. As per the Prosecutor, the defendant had no intention, yet he should have refrain from blood donation on that particular day.

On the other hand, the doctors of the Blood Donation Centre at the Thessaloniki Hippokration Hospital were freed of any responsibility. According to the Prosecutor, their actions fell in line with the usual procedure and made the best of the equipment available.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Depositions on Blood Transfusion

[08] Awaken by Weak Tremor

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

A weak tremor measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale occurred at 3.49am, some 250km west of Athens. Its epicentre was located off the west coasts of the Ionian island of Zakynthos. They were no reports of damages.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] Deadly Clashes Rock Turkey

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: NET-ANA

Three people were killed in Istanbul, when a gang of youths tossed makeshift explosive devices at a bus packed with passengers. The bus was soon set ablaze, resulting in the death of three people. Another passenger was wounded and admitted to hospital in a critical condition. Firefighters rushed to the accident scene to pull the trapped passengers to safety. As per the Turkish Media, the perpetrators kept chanting in favour of PKK. Earlier, a group of about 200 right-wingers had staged a protest rally in the heart of Constantinople and clashed with the Turkish police, who fired tear gases.

In the meantime, Turkish police officers opened fired and killed Monday another Kurdish in the SE town of Kiziltepe, since pro-Kurdish riots keep running high.

Serious incidents have broken out in several cities situated in SE Turkey since last Tuesday, on the occasion of the funerals of some 14 Kurdish rebels, who were killed in combat by Turkish troops. Moreover, the shabby living conditions, poverty and unemployment that plague the SE Turkish provinces keep refuelling the tension.

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to step up harsh measures to halt the bloody incidents, which he put down to circles that wish to split Turley into two.

At the same time, the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) plead with all parties to put an end to the violent clashes, requesting the Government push forward the reforms it had promised to soothe the rage of the residents.

In the meantime, authorities in Turkey are gravely concerned after a Kurdish group called the "Kurdish Liberation Hawks," which have claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks, announced attacks against Turkish tourism facilities.

The Kurdish group also called on the foreign tourists not to visit Turkey.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Ongoing Clashes in Turkey

[10] In France, over the CPE Law "Black Tuesday" No 2

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Sources: ANA-AFP

Union and student leaders in France have scheduled new street protests for Tuesday, on the occasion of the First Jo Contract (CPE) law. On Thursday, the Paris Constitutional Council ruled the law constitutional, while on Friday, President Jacques Chirac ratified it and announced a plan to ease off the crisis. The plan was dismissed. As a compromise, he proposed amendments, including reducing to one year the trial period for youths under 26 to be dismissed, and introducing the right for youths to know why they are being fired. However, he failed to convince the union leaders, as well as the majority of the French public. An opinion poll conducted Sunday by CSA company, sixty-two per cent of the French viewed Chiracs address as not at all convincing, while 54 per cent of the respondents stated that the protests should go on until the CPE law is scrapped.

The union trades hope Tuesdays strike will prove even more successful than that of last Tuesdays, while for the first time since the break-out of the protests, Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande made a call for a mass turnout.

The strike is expected to seriously hinder the public transport system, as well as public agencies. Air France and some ten union trades have called for a 24-hour strike.

At the same time, private sector employees are also to participate in large numbers. Journalist will take part in the protests, as well.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Chirac Says Yes to CPE

[11] Britons: "UK Pullout from Iraq"

By Athina Saloustrou

A considerable majority of the British, amounting to 55%, wants the UK troops be withdrawn from Iraq within a year, no matter the conditions in Iraq, suggested an opinion poll that appeared Monday on British daily The Daily Telegraph. Twenty-four per cent of respondents wish for the immediate pullout of the British troops, while some 31 per cent are in favour of withdrawal within 12 months, regardless of the conditions in Iraq. Only 39 per cent back the Governments stance, according to which, Britain has to maintain its military presence in the area until the Iraqi army and police forces become capable of taking over control. The opinion poll revealed that the objection to the war in Iraq has reached its peak. Fifty-seven per cent of respondents think that US President George W. Bush and British PM Tony Blair were wrong to invade Iraq. Only a third believes otherwise. In the meantime, in his Sundays interview with BBC, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he hopes the Iraqis will form a government soon.

Translated by Areti Christou

Read the story on other sources:

Daily Telegraph: Time to pull out of Iraq, voters tell Blair

[12] Greek Development Minister in Komotini Natural Gas Pipeline Inaugurated

By Tina Valaoura

Greek Development Minister travelled to Komotini, northern Greece, to inaugurate Monday the Komotini-Alexandroupoli natural gas pipeline. The pipeline, which stretches for 53.4km and constitutes the western part of the Greek-Turkish natural gas pipeline, will transfer gas from the Caspian countries to the West, earning the Greek gas transfer system a place in the EUs energy networks. The Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) has undertaken to construct the pipeline. The works will have been concluded in March 2007.

[13] Due to the Floods Affecting Seven Areas Czech Republic in State of Emergency

By Athina Saloustrou

The Government of the Czech Republic has declared seven flood-stricken areas of the country in a state of emergency. Prime Minister Ji&#345;&#237; Paroubek explained that this measure will limit movement in the areas that have to be evacuated. Strikes and all kind of activities that may hinder the rescue operation have also been forbidden. As per Paroubek, the state of emergency, which came into force at 11pm (Local time) on Sunday, will last until April 10. The floods, which were brought on due to the heavy rainfalls and the melting of snows, have claimed four lives so far.

Translated by Areti Christou

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