The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-04-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Chirac Announced Amendments CPE Changes

By Vagelis Theodorou

French President Jacques Chirac decided to put an end to the two months of social upheaval in France, triggered by the First Employment Contract, known as CPE. As per the relevant announcement, after Chirac's meeting with Government executives, controversial article 8 of the CPE will be replaced by a provision including measures to employ non-privileged youths, who have a hard time landing a job. The French President made that decision at the Prime Minister's proposal and after discussing the issue with Parliamentarian Group presidents and minority leaders. In a televised message, Dominique De Villepin said one of the amendments would be submitted to Parliament on Monday, adding the CPE cannot be applied because the Government failed to win the trust of the youth and businesses. Meanwhile, the French Prime Minister voiced his sorrow he "was not understood by everyone," stressing he wanted "to act very quickly because the dramatic situation and the despair of a number of young people warranted it." Students and trade unions will meet within the day to determine their further actions.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] POE-OTA Strike Continues Piles of Garbage

By Vagelis Theodorou

Many areas in Attica resemble small refuse dumps, as POE-OTA (Panhellenic Federation of Workers Associations of the Local Government) employees are on their sixth day of strike. Specialised personnel are spraying over the garbage to deal with the stench, while minor incidents occurred outside the Ano Liossia refuse dump on Sunday night between police officers and strikers obstructing the disposal of garbage. Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos reassured all measures to safeguard public health will be taken, while he accused POE-OTA of intolerance instigated by political purposes. At the same time he provided a list of 11 demands, which have been met by the Government so far, adding that strikers are demolishing any efforts for dialogue. POE-OTA, demanding to receive back payments and be included in the heavy and health hazardous occupations, is determined to proceed with collective actions. Garbage collectors will stage a rally at 11:00 CET from Karaiskakis Square to the Interior Ministry, while they will reconvene in the afternoon to decide on their future stance.

Actions Will Escalate

Strikers gathered outside POE-OTA's offices at Karaiskakis Square at 11:00 CET and rallied towards the Interior Ministry, while they will reconvene in the afternoon to decide on further actions.

During the Press Conference, POE-OTA President Themis Balasopoulos said refuse dumps in Ano Liossia and Thessaloniki operated today with the intervention of the Police, while private individuals were mobilised to dispose the garbage in fear of causing fires of landslides.

As per Mr Balasopoulos, if Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos does not commit to satisfy POE-OTA's demands, the strike would continue for at least one more day. A general meeting will be then called to decide on further actions, while ADEDY (Supreme Administration of Greek Civil Servants Trade Unions) will be asked to announce a work stoppage in the coming days for all civil servants.

SYN President Alekos Alavanos accused the Government of mocking employees in Local Government and Left Parliamentarians, as it had committed to give the heavy and health hazardous benefit.

Actions Will Escalate

Strikers gathered outside POE-OTA's offices at Karaiskakis Square at 11:00 CET and rallied towards the Interior Ministry, while they will reconvene in the afternoon to decide on further actions.

During the Press Conference, POE-OTA President Themis Balasopoulos said refuse dumps in Ano Liossia and Thessaloniki operated today with the intervention of the Police, while private individuals were mobilised to dispose the garbage in fear of causing fires of landslides.

As per Mr Balasopoulos, if Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos does not commit to satisfy POE-OTA's demands, the strike would continue for at least one more day. A general meeting will be then called to decide on further actions, while ADEDY (Supreme Administration of Greek Civil Servants Trade Unions) will be asked to announce a work stoppage in the coming days for all civil servants.

SYN President Alekos Alavanos accused the Government of mocking employees in Local Government and Left Parliamentarians, as it had committed to give the heavy and health hazardous benefit.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

New Strike by Municipal Employees

[03] Exit Polls at 15:00 CET Final Battle in Italy

By Vagelis Theodorou

Italians are returning to the polls to determine whether Silvio Berlusconi will stay on power or whether Romano Prodi will be taking charge from now on. Polling stations opened at 07:00 CET and will close at 15:00 CET. Exit polls will be released shortly afterwards, while the first official results should be expected late in the afternoon. 47 million enlisted voters and some 3 million Expatriate Italians were called on Sunday to elect a new Parliament, Senate and Government. As per the Italian Interior Ministry, 66.5% of citizens exercised their electoral rights on the first day of voting. The elections will run for two days to avoid the problems recorded in 2001, when the general elections took place in one day, with thousands of people queuing up and voting hours after the polls closed.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

La Repubblica: Elezioni, l'affluenza e in calo ma domani si vota fino alle 15

BBC: Italians return to election polls

Le Monde: 47 millions d'electeurs italiens elisent un nouveau Parlement

The Times: It may be marked exit, but it could be a revolving door

[04] Burial Service on Monday Noon Kyriaki Arseni Passed Away

Sources: ΝΕΤ

Head of ERT Museum and Archive Directorate from 1994 to 2003, Kyriaki Arseni breathed her last. Historian and byzantinologist, Mrs Arseni restructured the ERT archive and considerably contributed to the creation of the ERT Museum and Archive Directorate. Following her initiatives, ERTs transmitted in Liosia was hailed as a technological monument. The burial service has been scheduled for Monday noon at the Zografou cemetery.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Structural Reforms Respecting Society's Endurance

The programme of structural reforms and fiscal adjustment fully respects and takes into account the Greek societys endurance, declared Sunday Greek Economy Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis, shortly after the end of the meeting held between the EU and Asian Economy Ministers in Vienna. Mr Alogoskoufis underlined, "Greece has been successfully implementing its own programme of structural reforms and fiscal adjustment, a programme that has yielded really positive results." The Greek Economy Minister went on to note the conclusion of the meeting, according to which the handling of fiscal imbalances and the promotion of structural reforms are the "key" to the global economic growth. Mr Alogoskoufis made it clear that Europe and Asia should cooperate to achieve a better coordination of the macroeconomic policies, and that such a cooperation will benefit global economy. The Greek Economy Minister further underscored that each country should follow its own blend of structural reforms.

The agenda of the meeting between the EU and Asian Economy Ministers also included the situation of global economy, as wells as the changes that have to be pushed forward in the international institutions. Furthermore, issues, including the eradication of money laundering and the benefits from the global economic growth and the progress of the developing countries, also attracted the interest of the participants.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Panathinaikos Booked 1st Place

By Vasilis Kalpinos

The derby on match day 22 for the Greek A1 basketball championship was "coloured" green. Panathinaikos dazzled Olympiakos 90-71, sending their fans, who had packed the Olympic Arena, buzzing with excitement. Panathinaikos have 42 points, two more than Olympiacos, and made a rather decisive step to land first place in the standings that will earn them the homecourt advantage for the playoffs. The score per period: 22-19, 39-41, 62-55, 90-71.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] Goalless Tie in Kalamaria

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Apollon Kalamarias and Kallithea shared points and impressions on match day 27 for the Greek A1 football championship. The encounter ended in a goalless tie, with both team lacking the incentive to vie for something more, since Apollon have secured their participation in next seasons A1 and Kallithea are most likely to relegate. Referee: Gaitatzis (Drama) Yellow Cards: Papadopoulos - Mijatovic, Karatzas

APOLLON KALAMARIAS: Kovac, Fytanidis, Koltsis, Cleyton, Murawski, Parmaxidis (57΄ Karaliopoulos), Pappas, Papadopoulos, Amponsah, Orfanos, Wellington (77΄ Spiropoulos).

KALLITHEA: Bartzokas, Mijatovic, Georgiev, Behi, Karatzas, Koulakiotis, Diamantis (67΄ Tsiolis), Yanchev (84΄ Venetis), Petkovic (73΄ Lazanas), Randovanovic, Sylla.

Translated by Areti Christou

[08] AEK Lost Ground

By Stathis Petropoulos

Losing to PAOK 2-1, cost AEK their lead for second place, and are now losing ground against Panathinaikos in the battle for the participation in next seasons Champions League. Although they were defeated, AEKs performance was not lousy at all. They started off better and continued being better throughout the encounter, but in their effort to break PAOKs defence line, they let their own defence go unprotected. Shikabala and Salpiggidis scored for PAOK and Katsouranis for AEK.

Referee: Koukoulakis Yellow Cards: Konstantinidis - Cirillo

PAOK: Fernandez, Karypidis, Konstantinidis, Udeze, Hasiotis, Zagorakis (35΄ Balafas), Salpiggidis, Shikabala, Iliadis, Giasemakis (87΄ Mieciel), Maladenis (78΄ Haralambous) AEK: Hiotis, Cirillo, Alexopoulos, Tziortzopoulos, Georgeas, Katsouranis, Ivic (78΄ Kapetanos), Emerson, Soares (78΄ Lakis), Cezar, Liberipoulos.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] Tie in Crete

By Vasilis Kalpinos

OFI and Akratitos shared points and impressions on match day 27 for the Greek A1 football championship. The encounter ended in a 2-2 tie, with the home side losing the chance to further distance themselves from the relegation point. OFI started off better and Isa opened the score as early as in the 4. Akratitos did not give up and tied the score in the 31 with Defrancesco. In the second half, OFI managed to take the lead anew in the 70, although they had been playing with 10 players since 61 when the referee showed Isa the way out. But Akratitos had not said their final say and Defrancesco scored the equalizer in the 90+. Referee: Kakos (Corfu)

Yellow Cards: Deyanof, Roubakis, Konstantinidis, Tchipev - Dieng, Billa, Gustavo Red Cards: Isa (61 2nd yellow card)

OFI: Sifakis, Davidson, Isa, Konstantinidis, Roubakis (44 Pitsos), Sfakianakis (76 Anastasiadis), Khachatryan, Deyanof (67 Tchipev), Nwafor, Oforiquae, Machlas.

AKRATITOS: Billa, Apostolakis (11 Gustavo), Pena, Schizas, Pipinis, Marinescu, Aravidis, Sunsing (71 Defrancesco), Dieng, Ledezma, Karahalios.

Translated by Areti Christou

[10] Points Shared in Nikea

By Stathis Petropoulos

King being the MVP of the game, Ionikos and Iraklis ended the match in a 1-1 tie. The result awarded the teams with a point each, with Ionikos escaping the relegation and Iraklis maintaining their chances to participate in the UEFA Cup. Papapostolou gave the lead to Iraklis in the 43, and King scored the equalizer for Ionikos in the 58.

Referee: Papastamatis (Athens) Yellow Cards: Vourexakis, King, Onwuachi - Georgiadis

IONIKOS: Beqaj, Kotitsas, Poulopoulos, King, Da Costa, Makor, Kakaras (61΄ Onwuachi), Vourexakis, Gutman (82΄ Lettieri), Ukar, Triantafillou (46΄ Perrone). IRAKLIS: Abaris, Sznaucner, Drougas (46΄ Perperidis, 67΄ Papazaharias), Katsiabis, Seghiri, Poursanidis, Prittas, Lawal, Papapostolou (82΄ Murati), Epalle, Georgiadis.

Translated by Areti Christou

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