The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-10-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Lithuanians Go to the Polls

Sources: REUTERS

Lithuanians began voting in a parliamentary election on Sunday against a backdrop of double-digit inflation and fears its once high flying economy will be sucked into the global financial crisis. Worries about a newly assertive Russia after its war with Georgia over the South Ossetia region have also been on the minds of some voters in the former Soviet republic, opinion polls show.

Analysts say no party will win a majority in the 141-seat parliament, meaning tough coalition talks are likely in the European Union and NATO member nation which only threw off Moscows rule in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed.

The ruling centre-left Social Democrats and the main opposition Homeland Union-Christian Democrat Party are both vying to be in the driving seat at the talks. A new government has to keep Lithuania on the road to euro adoption, which analysts say could happen in 2011 or 2012.

[02] Vietnam

12 Οκτ 2008 10:34:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA-MPA

President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias left Sunday morning for a five-day visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, escorted by top-ranking government officials and a group of businessmen. The visit came in return for Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triets visit to Athens last June. While in Hanoi, Papoulias will also meet with the countrys Prime Minister, the head of the National Assembly, the secretary general of Vietnams Communist Party, as well as with Vietnam war veteran Nguyen Giap.

The two sides are after boosting their bilateral ties, which were inaugurated by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis visit to the country in 1997 and the establishment of the Greek embassy in Hanoi. Talks will mainly focus on matters pertaining to trade, tourism, culture, health, environment and water management, while four agreements are expected to be signed. Economic and trade ties between the two nations have not been given particular attention, mainly due to Vietnams political and financial regime, the poor quality of infrastructure, as well as the distance parting the two countries. Although the bulk of trade has been on an increase, a fact put down to the rapid rise in Vietnamese exports, trade balance is rather negative for Greece.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] Running the Final Stretch

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA-MPA

Transport Minister K. Hatzidakis is to hold one last meeting on Monday with Olympic Airlines unionists, wrapping up his talks with the OA personnel. He is to introduce the final plan of its denationalization in the coming week. In particular, he is meeting with the board of Civil Aviation Trade Union Federation (OSPA) to hand it the complete denationalization plan. The Federation will then decide whether it will enter talks on labour and pension matters. The last days witnessed a turmoil among the OA unions, as to whether they would go to talks with the Ministers. Adopting a harsh stance, OSPA rejected dialogue, while the Unions of Flight Attendants, the pilots and the contract workers responded to the invitation for dialogue and gave their consent to several aspects of the plan.

Translated by Areti Christou

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