The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-03-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] News Polls Released

The polls released in the Sunday papers showed that the people demand consensus against the crisis, champion the EU decisions and give the lead to the Socialists.

At the Rass poll commissioned for Paron paper, the gap between the two major political parties stood at 3.4 percent.

ND garnered 30.8 percent and PASOK received 34.2 percent. KKE (Greek Communist Party) trailed with 7.3 percent, SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) with 6.1 percent and LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) with 4.7 percent.

On the question whether the snap elections requested by PASOK serve the national interests, the majority of the respondents (66.1 percent) calls for consensus.

The poll conducted by VPRC on behalf of Sunday paper Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia, the gap between the two parties amounted to 3 percent, as 35 percent of the people gave a positive rating to the ruling party of ND, compared to 38 percent that went for PASOK. KKE trailed with 7.5, SYRIZA 10 percent and LAOS with 4.5 percent.

The same poll showed that 61 percent of the Greek people look up to the EU, as opposed to 25 percent that believed otherwise.

However, six in ten citizens appeared dissatisfied with the way the EU handles problems.

Source: NET, NET 105.8

News item: 19538

[02] Seeking a Joint Action Plan

Seeking to bridge differences and forge a joint front to tackle the global economic crisis, the 27 European Union leaders are holding Sunday an emergency summit in Brussels. Among the issues to be discussed are the high unemployment levels within the Eurozone, the stimulus plans and the measures to boost industry and the banking sector. Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis' goal is to convince the Europeans that his administration will commit itself to implementing its stability plan to the full, lest there should be any need for additional measures. On Sunday morning, the Greek head of government will hold separate meetings with the European Commission President and the Eurogroup head.

Common Goal-Conflicting Interests

The European Union has been divided in three camps with conflicting interests, thus making the shaping of a joint action plan to tackle the crisis a rather tough task.

It is the bloc of the nine nations of central and eastern Europe, whose banking system is on the verge of collapsing, the five weak Eurozone nations, including Greece, weighed down by a huge public debt and high unemployment rate and finally the French-German axis, which has appeared willing to give a helping hand. Berlin, however, has asked for increased guarantees.

There is also England, following national protectionism.

Reactions

Kostas Karamanlis will meet with the opposition leaders to brief them on the financial developments.

The Greek administration has a very specific action plan, commented Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis after her meeting with the Prime Minister on Saturday. She further stressed that the fight against the crisis requires a joint EU policy that will include both the eastern European and Balkan nations.

The government lacks a plan to deal with the crisis, underlined Socialist leader George Papandreou in his interview with Kathimerini paper. Papandreou reiterated his call for snap elections and heralded a "public pillar" that will make the banking system boost real economy.

The EU's objective is to transfer the repercussions of the crisis to the nations, commented the Greek Communist Party (KKE). "The disagreements within the EU related to which monopolies are to be favoured. What it takes is counterattack. The working people should not be afraid to clash with the EU and its parties. The worse are yet to come."

The government is an onlooker of what is going on in the EU, stressed SYN (Coalition of the Radical Left), while LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) wondered how a government that failed to convince its people that it has a plan will manage to convince Europe.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA

News item: 19542

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