The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Fresh Milk Boycott

09 Ιουν 2008 09:13:0

By Vivian Papastefanou

Greek Employment Minister Fani Palli-Petrallia will bring up the issue of price hikes at the EU Council of Employment Ministers. In the meantime, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) is meeting with federations and labour centres in view of the street protest against the high cost of living.

Meanwhile, the Panhellenic Federation of Consumer Associations has called on Greeks to boycott fresh milk priced for more than one euro until Saturday.

Despite a price cut from 1.38 to 1.32 euros, the fresh milk prices have increased more than 10% within a year. So far, about 70% of the companies have responded to the Development Ministrys call to either freeze or reduce prices.

[02] Siemens Case

09 Ιουν 2008 14:57:0 (Last updated: 09 Ιουν 2008 16:01:4)

By Anna Kourti

Conservative deputy Kyriakos Mitsotakis handed over to First Instance Court Prosecutor Panagiotis Athanasiou all the purchase invoices of the office equipment he had ordered from Siemens in the previous summer. Athanasiou also examined a Siemens employee on the case of Mitsotakis office equipment and a secretary of a former Siemens executive. As part of the investigation into a real estate purchase in the Aegean island of Tinos through an offshore company, Athanasiou has also invited the wife of a Siemens official to testify. In the meantime, Deputy Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, asked on the Governments stance on the Siemens case, said, "The Government will not comment on a case which is being probed." Antonaros also responded to the criticism of Socialist officials, who implied manipulation of justice. "This Government totally respects the independent operation of Justice and proves it constantly, as opposed to past practices," stressed Antonaros.

Related News:

Rumors and Publications on Siemens

[03] Inflation Hike, Oil Prices Fall

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ANA-MPA

Inflation climbed to 4.9% in May from 4.4% it had stood at in the past three months. The skyrocketing fuel prices are among the key factors that lead to an inflation hike. After a major rise in oil prices in the world markets on Friday, reaching $139 per barrel, oil prices have sunk to $ 137 per barrel.

[04] Spain: Truck Drivers on Strike

Sources: REUTERS

Spanish truck drivers began an indefinite strike over rocketing fuel prices on Monday, smashing windscreens of vehicles that crossed picket lines. They were joined by truck drivers in neighbouring Portugal who also went on strike, while there were also protests across the border in France over the impact of the surge in oil prices to record highs of over $139 per barrel.

Spaniards fearing fuel shortages queued to fill up at petrol stations. Queues also built up outside some hypermarkets after truckers warned supermarkets would run out of goods within days.

Long lines of trucks formed at Spanish-French border crossings and television stations showed pictures of abandoned lorries with broken windscreens, lights ripped out and tyres punctured after they tried to defy the strike.

The government reported incidents at crossings in Catalonia and in the Basque Country as Spanish truckers protested alongside French drivers also demanding government action to counter a more than 20 percent rise in fuel prices this year.

Strike leaders have dismissed government proposals and want price guarantees to stop large firms undercutting smaller operators.

[05] Voting Rights to Expatriate Greeks

09 Ιουν 2008 09:01:0

By Alexandros Moz

Sources: ANA-MPA

2008 will be dedicated to the Greeks living abroad, as they will be given voting rights, said Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis in her interview with leading Geek-Australian paper Neos Kosmos.

"Granting expatriate Greeks the ability to vote in the [Greek] national elections from their place of residence is the Government and the Prime Ministers pledge," said she.

Bakoyannis reiterated the Governments will to work with the rest of the Greek political parties to promote the voting of the relevant draft law within the year. She also recognized the malfunction of the Greek Consulate in Melbourne

At the same time, she sent a crystal clear message to the new FYROM government, arguing that Greece is ready to continue the talks on a mutually acceptable solution. However, it has no intention of adopting FYROMs "nationalistic and provocative rhetoric," as it belongs to an obsolete Balkan past.

Asked to comment on the contribution of the Greeks living abroad to the Greek Governments campaign on the FYROM name row, Bakoyannis said: "It is beyond doubt that in the major national drive to inform the international public and out international interlocutors on the Greek positions, the expatriate Greeks have been pretty dynamic."

In Australia, where the Greeks living there are well-known for their sensitivity on national affairs, in the USA, in Europe and wherever Greeks live, the expatriate Greeks took immediate actions to effectively promote the Greek positions.

"I would like to thank all the Greeks living abroad for their dynamic, invaluable support they offered to our nations goals. I believe that, yet again, we proved how much we can achieve when we join forces to meet major and shared goals. Our effort has not yet finished, but it will go on until we achieve our strategic goal, a solution. So, it goes without saying that we count on the expatriate Greeks support and we will keep pursuing a much closer and more productive cooperation in the best interest of our nation and our national goals."

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Grp B: Germany-Poland

Sources: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lukas Podolski scored both goals Sunday to give three-time champion Germany a perfect start at the European Championship with a 2-0 win over his native Poland, which remained winless against the Germans. Podolski was born in Poland but came to Germany and took citizenship. Normally a striker, Podolski got to start as a left midfielder and justified the selection by scoring in the 20th minute. In the 73rd, Bastian Schweinsteiger shook off a half-hearted challenge by Pawel Golanski and fed Klose, who mis-kicked the ball but it bounced to Podolski, who volleyed it in from close range.

Lineups

Germany: Jens Lehmann; Philipp Lahm, Christoph Metzelder, Per Mertesacker, Marcell Jansen, Clemens Fritz (Bastian Schweinsteiger, 55), Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings, Lukas Podolski, Mario Gomez (Thomas Hitzlsperger, 75th), Miroslav Klose (Kevin Kuranyi, 90).

Poland: Artur Boruc, Pawel Golanski (Marek Saganowski, 75), Jacek Bak, Michal Zewlakow, Marcin Wasilewski, Jacek Krzynowek, Dariusz Dudka, Mariusz Lewandowski, Wojciech Lobodzinski (Lukasz Piszczek, 65), Euzebiusz Smomlarek, Maciej Zurawski (Roger Guerreiro, 45).

[07] Grp B: Austria-Croatia

Sources: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Luka Modric scored from the penalty spot Sunday to give Croatia a 1-0 win over co-host Austria at the European Championship. Modric put his team ahead in the fourth minute of the Group B match after Rene Aufhauser brought down Ivica Olic in the area. Modric and Olic combined down the left wing from a throw-in and took the ball into the box before Aufhauser ran across and knocked down Olic as he went past. Dutch referee Pieter Vink awarded the penalty and Austria defender Emanuel Pogatetz was then given a yellow card for protesting. With goalkeeper Juergen Macho diving to his right, Modric sent the ball low and into the middle of the net. Playing in front of a 54,000 fans at Ernst Happel Stadium, Austria lifted the intensity of its challenges and started to receive more possession, but Croatia kept its shape to ensure the hosts took only long-range shots. The hosts dominated late, but Croatia was able to hold on for the win.

Lineups

Austria: Juergen Macho, Joachim Standfest, Martin Stranzl, Emanuel Pogatetz, Rene Aufhauser, Roland Linz (Roman Kienast, 73), Andreas Ivanschitz, Ronald Gercaliu (Umit Korkmaz, 69), Sebastian Proedl, Juergen Saemuel (Ivica Vastic, 61), Martin Harnik.

Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Danijel Pranjic, Josip Simunic, Robert Kovac, Vedran Corluka, Niko Kovac, Darijo Srna, Luka Modric, Ivica Olic (Ognjen Vukojevic, 89), Niko Kranjkar (Dario Knezevic, 62), Mladen Petric (Igor Budan, 72).

[08] Grp A: Portugal-Turkey

Sources: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pepe and Raul Meireles scored second-half goals Saturday to give Portugal a 2-0 win over Turkey in Group A of the European Championship. Pepe, a Brazil-born central defender playing in his first major competition for Portugal, scored from inside the area after a one-two with striker Nuno Gomes. The victory comes as a boost for Portugal, which is hoping to repeat its successful campaigns at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. The Portuguese lost to Greece in the final four years ago at home, then reached the semifinals of the World Cup in Germany, losing to France. The result marked a welcome change from the Euro 2004 opener, when the Portuguese lost to Greece 1-0 and were forced to find ways to recover just to advance from the group stage. Turkey, in its first major competition since reaching the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, will have to recover to keep alive this year.

Lineups

Portugal: Ricardo, Paulo Ferreira, Jose Bosingwa, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Armando Petit, Joao Moutinho, Deco (Fernando Meira, 90), Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno Gomes (Nani, 69), Simao Sabrosa (Raul Meireles, 82).

Turkey: Volkan Demirel, Servet Cetin, Gokhan Zan (Emre Asik, 55), Hakan Balta, Kazim Kazim, Mevlut Erdinc (Sabri Sarioglu, 46), Emre Belozoglu, Hamit Altintop (Semih Senturk, 76), Mehmet Aurelio, Tuncay Sanli, Nihat Kahveci.

[09] Grp A: Switzerland-Czech Republic

Sources: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vaclav Sverkos scored his first goal for the Czech Republic in a 1-0 win over co-host Switzerland on Saturday in the opening match of the European Championship. Sverkos, making only his fourth appearance for the national team, scored from 16 meters (yards) with the outside of his right foot in the 71st minute, shortly after coming on as a substitute. Switzerland also lost influential captain and record scorer Alexander Frei when he injured his right knee. The 28-year-old striker was taken off the field in tears shortly before halftime. He returned to the bench on crutches. Sverkos ran onto Tomas Galaseks header after beating the offside trap and made no mistake with a cool finish to the left of Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. His goal saved the Czech Republic from an otherwise poor performance that included long stretches of Swiss control. Switzerland missed a chance to equalize in the 80th minute.

Lineups

Switzerland: Diego Benaglio, Stephan Lichtsteiner (Johan Vonlanthen, 75), Patrick Mueller, Philippe Senderos, Ludovic Magnin, Valon Behrami (Eren Derdiyok, 84), Gokhan Inler, Gelson Fernandes, Tranquillo Barnetta, Alexander Frei (Hakan Yakin, 46), Marco Streller.

Czech Republic: Petr Cech, Zdenek Grygera, David Rozehnal, Tomas Ujfalusi, Marek Jankulovski, Libor Sionko (Stanislav Vlcek, 83), David Jarolim (Radoslav Kovac, 87), Tomas Galasek, Jan Polak, Jaroslav Plasil, Jan Koller (Vaclav Sverkos, 56).

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