The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK- National Committee Convention

21 Mar 2008 20:43:00

Sources: ANA, NET

"We leave behind the psychotic gap, camps, personal strategies and bitterness that it is only human to be created. In a party like PASOK a "presidential guard" can not exist neither an "internal opposition party", PASOK President Mr. Papandreou said speaking in the first day of the partys Political Council Meeting.

Mr. Papandreou welcomed the election of the new members of the Political Council and on reference to PASOK renewal, he said: "we should give time to the new generation, to give them a role and chances, they will make mistakes, but they will also give a new dynamic". In addition, he called on an "opening of PASOK organization", putting as a landmark the symbolic date of September 3rd of 2008.

Mr. Papandreou addressed the members of the Political Council and told them that they are in the front line of the fight, being at the same time successors of a tradition of PASOK offer in the country and the Greek people. "Many things have been written for your election, I have read and heard about scenarios, speculations or interpretations and I want to say one word to the prospective or real script writers: You plough the sand. We are a wrist for the change in our country", Mr. Papandreou stressed. He also said that the new members have been elected to work and to take responsibilities reminding everyone that this was the reason PASOK was founded and this is the partys soul.

"This week we gave fights for the social pension bill and we will continue to give fights until the bill is withdrawn", he stated congratulating at the same time PASOK parliamentary members and pointing out that Mass Medias strike drew much interest in contrast with "the fight tasking place in Parliament."

Mr. Papandreou also repeated the partys main axons regarding the pension bill and said: "The government must be ashamed to have divided the country in order for itself to be saved and called on everyone to fight until the government "takes back the pension adjustments and also to fight for PASOK victory in the forthcoming elections so as for the socialist party to bring a fairer social pension adjustment. PASOK Meeting can and must be a new starting for the Socialist party and the society," Mr. Papandreou stressed repeating the main axons of PASOKs proposals for a new model of development, for a strong fare and effective social state with services of quality and fare distribution of production wealth.

Mr. Papandreou denounced the "systematic effort of non institutional centers to downrate the political life of the country stressing that this afflicts the democratic movement more and added that "politics is the only authentic expression of the people"

As per top members of PASOK, Mr. Papandreou said that the Political Council has to express unity, renewal and meritocracy. "Every post will be occupied by the best", he said on reference to meritocracy. Former ministers will check the government and they will be at the front line of the public speech, he added. Finally, Mr. Papandreou especially thanked Nikos Athanasakis who undertook the post of PASOK Political Council secretary

The New Members

Presenting PASOK proposal for the new members of the party, Mr. Papandreou proposed for the position of the secretary Mr. Giannis Ragousis. Nikos Androulakis, Tonia Antoniou, Kostas Askounis, Fofi Gennimata, Michalis Karhimakis, Louka Katseli, Paris Koukoulopoulos, Giannis Koutsoukos, Panos Beglitis, Thanos, Moraitis, Mariliza Xanogiannakopoulou, Giorgos Panagiotakopoulos, Sylvana Rapti and Dinos Rovlias will be the new members. Maria Arseni will undertake the position of the Counsel Member and Friend of PASOK.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[02] Saturday 22 of May

21 Mar 2008 19:06:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: NET 105,8, ANA

Tomorrow, Saturday, 22 of May is the World Water Day. Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company S.A. (EYDAP) released an announcement according to which water supplies in Attika prefecture are reduced in comparison with last year. PASOK (Pan-Hellenic socialist movement) announced: "Radical changes in the worlds environment, turns water, the most important physical source for human life and financial activity, into a competitive element and a limited factor for the development of Greece. The Greek government, having ignored the signs of the time, sees suddenly and being unprepared the nightmare of water shortage, reaching the conclusion that EYDAP water tanks are in alert; there are 400 cubic meters of water less than last year. DEH (Greek Public Power PPC), supported by the government does a mismanagement of water reserves in order to limit production costs and financial damages. That way it has made the problem worse and it is driving the country to extreme conditions in sight of the summer."

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] ETA Takes Responsibility

21 Mar 2008 18:26:00

Sources: ANA

8 people were slightly injured from bomb explosion in trapped car in Calahorra in the Rioja region, N. Spain. A warning call had proceeded on behalf of ETA

Local channel RNE transmitted that the explosion took place next to a police station near an inhabited area. An unidentified person had made a warning call earlier for a possible explosion on behalf of the Basque separatist group ETA.

Police evacuated the area as there were fears for a second bomb.

According to authorities a massacre was prevented in Calahorra due to the immediate response of police officers. Before the attack, a religious service for the Holly Friday of the Catholic Easter had taken place and many people were around.

It must be noted that ETA had launched an attack to the same police station 25 years before.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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