The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-09-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Examining the Results

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA

Political parties are examining the results of the latest polls and are hammering out a new strategy for the future.

PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) appears satisfied, while the government has stated it received the message and will proceed with its reforms.

Government: "Message Received"

Asked to comment on the latest polls, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos stated that the government had received the messages, adding that it will proceed with its reforms with hard work and not with promises.

Referring to the qualitative elements of the polls, National Defence Minister E. Meimarakis stated that the civilians still have confidence in the New Democracy party, describing Mr Karamanlis an important asset for the government.

Referring to corruption cases, Mr Meimarakis stated that they have been made public because the ND ruling party had seen to that with the rules it had institutionalized.

PASOK Satisfied

PASOK President George Papandreou chaired a meeting at the partys headquarters and stated that he is satisfied with the results of the latest polls. Kostas Skandalidis said Papandreou would be a credible PM, while Petros Efthymiou stressed that the party should deepen its relations with the society.

Meanwhile, SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) Anastasios Kourakis stated that although the parties psychology would change, polls are not an electoral result.

Karamanlis-Tragakis Meeting

ND Secretary General of the Parliamentary Group Giannis Tragakis met with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis at Maximos Mansion.

After the meeting, Mr Tragakis stated that they discussed issues related to the Parliamentary Group.

Mr Tragakis stressed that the Parliamentary Group has proved in the latest vote of Article 14 of the tax-bill that it crouches when provoked.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[02] New O.A. in April

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105.8-ΑNA/ΜPA

Athens have been satisfied with the information as per which the EU Committees College will approve the streamlining plan for Olympic Airlines. As per the Transport Ministrys proposal "Pantheon" will cover the Olympic Airlines flights gradually and adopt its sign and name. Then, a new company will be formed with the same name and sign; however, it will be smaller that the present one. Mr Kostis Hatzidakis reiterated that the employees positions would be secured. However, O.A. employees are reacting to the companys privatization.

Employees to be Secured

The 5,000 O.A. permanent employees will have three choices: they will be allowed to retire voluntarily, be transferred to another civil service with the same salary or hired at the new company with work contracts that will be signed from the scratch.

The Commission's official announcement is expected to be issued Wednesday noon and then Mr Hatzidakis will announce the government's solution at a Press Conference.

Meanwhile, the Commission's green light for the privatization of Olympic Airlines has sparked reactions among O.A. employees. Specifically, technicians held a rally at the Eleftherios Venizelos airport runway.

Political Reactions

At the same time, the political parties have reacted to the solution promoted by the government for the streamlining of Olympic Airlines.

"NDs neo-Liberal descent has deprived the country from its capability to regulate autonomously strategic policies in communications and transport. It is an extremely tough and dangerous policy that had been tested and failed in the countries, where it had been implemented," stressed SYN (Coalition of the Left).

Translated by John Crystallidis

Related News:

Greece-Commission Agreement on OA

[03] Melamine Detected in 69 Brands of Milk in China

Sources: ANA, AFP

A chemical blamed for killing two infants in China has been found in 69 brands of baby milk powder nationwide, state television said on Tuesday, in a potential dramatic escalation of the scandal. The government has ordered a halt to the sale of the 69 brands tainted with the chemical melamine, said the report by state-run CCTV, adding the products were made by 22 different companies. The tainted milk powder has sickened more than 1,200 infants across several provinces in a scandal that erupted last week but so far had focussed solely on the Sanlu brand.

On Monday, the government confirmed that about 10,000 infants consumed Sanlu milk.

"In order to ensure the safety of the milk products, the relevant government departments have pulled them from shelves, sealed them, recalled them and destroyed them," CCTV said in its nightly news broadcast.

The scandal had prompted a nationwide probe and the additional tainted brands appeared to have been detected through testing linked to that investigation.

Police have arrested two more suspects, state press said Tuesday, bringing the total to four arrests, in reports that warned more sick babies were expected.

The government has blamed the scandal on milk collectors deliberately contaminating the milk, possibly to boost its protein content. Police in Hebei province said that in the two latest arrests, both suspects confessed to adding melamine, Xinhua news agency said. Melamine is a chemical product used for the construction of plastic, glue and artificial gum.

[04] Athens Stock Exchange Drops by 1.99%

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ANA

Within the framework of the negative climate in international Stock Markets, the General Share Price Index of the Athens Stock Exchange dropped by 1.99%, closing at 2,933.43 points. Transactions amounted to 338.4 million euros, while of the shares traded, 44 rose, 201 dropped and 40 remained stable.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[05] Oil Price Drops to US$91.41

By Andreas Roditis

Sources: ANA

Oil prices have dropped by over 4% in the international markets today due to the concern caused by the crisis that hit international Stock Market over the drop of demand for energy.

Oil prices also dropped because concerns over the possible damages caused by hurricane Ike proved not true.

US light crude in New York dropped by 4.30 dollars and was trading at 91.41 dollars per barrel.

Besides, Brent in London dropped by 4.54% to 89.70 dollars per barrel.

Low demand for petrol in other big consuming countries has dropped oil prices by 55 dollars since 11 July, when it hit the record high price of 147.27 per barrel.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[06] Karamanlis-Alogoskoufis Meeting

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has met with Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis at Maximos Mansion. Mr Alogoskoufis briefed the PM on the meetings held at the European Councils in Nice on the international economic situation. Mr Alogoskoufis stated that the international economic crisis and the rise of inflation worldwide have affected Europe, adding that several European economies remained stagnant in the second trimester of 2008 and in some cases had negative economic development. Moreover, inflation has caused problems to the EU member-states budgets. He also said the repercussions to Greece have limited in comparison to most EU member-states.

Furthermore, he reported that development in Greece continues to be high and its rate double of Eurozones, adding that inflation has been dropping.

He also stated that the repercussions on the budget have been dealt by the bill that passed in Parliament recently.

Referring to the reform and the budgetary adjustment policies he said that the government should continue implementing its policy, so that the Greeks standard of living will rise.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[07] Dangerous Products Blocked

The competent authorities in the prefecture of Piraeus blocked the import of 69 tons of Chinese raisin and raw coffee from India because they were full of insectifiges and loopers. The products were confiscated before reaching the market. Meanwhile, in checks carried out in 300 enterprises by the health authorities of the prefecture 45 were found clean, 215 relatively clean and 16 dirty. 24 were lacked the necessary permits.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[08] At Maximos Mansion

16 Σεπ 2008 11:54:00 (Last updated: 16 Σεπ 2008 16:02:15)

By Athina Saloustrou

The port reform, as well as the sea services linking mainland Greece to islands, topped the meeting held Tuesday morning between new Merchant Marine Minister Anastasis Papaligouras and Prime Minister Kostas Karamanis at Maximos Mansion. Papaligouras stressed that the port reform is of pivotal importance to the nations development and economy. He further added that there will be a campaign to have living conditions on islands improved. Touching on seagoing shipping, he claimed that investments and development require greater incentives.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] Ukraine's Coalition Government Dissolved

Ukraines pro-Western coalition government was dissolved, plunging once again the nation in a political impasse, said Tuesday House Speaker Asreniy Yatsenyuk, confirming the political divorce between President Viktor Yushchenkos Our Ukraine party and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenkos party. The latter has to submit her resignation and act as a Prime Minister until a new government is formed. The conflict between President Yushchenko and Prime Minister Tymoshenko escalated during the war between Russia and Georgia in August.

Translated by Areti Christou

[10] Olmert still Believes in an Agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is expected to step down as soon as his successor is elected on Wednesday, has claimed that a deal with the Palestinians could be brokered by the end of 2008. The Prime Minister believes that the door has not closed and a deal is likely to be achieved by the end of the year, said a spokesman of the Prime Minister a few hours prior to a new meeting between Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The spokesman refused, however, to elaborate on the kind of agreement the Israeli Prime Minister would like to sign.

According to the military radio, Olmert hopes to agree with Abbas on a text that will restate in writing the key points of an agreement signed after the resumption of the peace talks in November 2007 in the USA.

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