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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Election Talks Intensify in view of ITF

Prime-minister K. Karamanlis is expected to make announcements in the next few days that will formulate political developments for the coming period while ND deputy Yiannis Manolis resignation has sparked many reactions. In his meeting with the Central Union of Hellenic Chambers in view of ITF, Mr. Karamanlis has said that election talks do not help but rather harm the economy. The Maximos Mansion, however, has not made any comments regarding scenarios either about early elections or government reshuffle.

Government spokesman E. Antonaros neither commented on reports that the Prime-minister would announce his intentions in the next days nor on ministers and deputies' statements.

Mr. Antonaros again attributed responsibilities to PASOK for forcing holding of early elections linking them with the re-election of the President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias. Regarding domestic issues of the ruling ND party, he underlined that people have judgment and understand. He also stressed that the government's target was to serve national and public interest through the materialization of its commitments and clarified that government decisions to deal with the global financial crisis are not linked with election scenarios.

In his resignation letter, ND Argolida deputy Yiannis Manolis states that his intention is to facilitate the Prime-minister in view of the ITF and calls him not to succumb to ones proposing suicide elections.

The secretary of ND Parliamentary Group, Yiannis Tragakis, commenting on Y. Manolis resignation, said that he was not legalized to appear as a so called censor of the country's political life and the political party that supported him, adding that his move was apparently made out of personal political motives.

Yiannis Manolis selected the role of Ifigenia but unfortunately there is no Agamemnon in ND party, stressed LAOS.

Dimitris Kranias, who will be sworn in on Tuesday, takes Y. Manolis seat in the Parliament.

Environment Minister G. Souflias, who is said to be among supporters of elections in October, maintained that he took into consideration the country's interest in all his suggestions.

The government has to deal with many and serious problems and has no reason to call elections said Interior undersecretary Kostas Gioulekas while ND deputy Basilis Mihaloliakos labeled as drolleries to make decisions about holding elections on the grounds of minuses and pluses of circumstances.

Commenting on Y. Manolis resignation, employement Minister Fani Petralia said that each one was responsible and accountable for his actions while she accused PASOK of being the only party in EU member states that exercises opposition in the mid of the global financial crisis.

PASOK

PASOK Political Council met on Tuesday to discuss political developments. The party's leader G. Papandreou in his address described the country ungoverned under the government's responsibility, stressing that elections was the only solution.

In an interview with NET, PASOK spokesman G. Papakonstantinou said that the government is following a dead end road. It must change course.

Commenting on possible government reshuffle, PASOK Parliamentary spokesman Hristos Papoutsis said he could not think of a possible transfer of ministers that could allow for new hope and guarantee change of policy. The country needs a clear solution.

SYN

Elections, whenever they are held, could be a solution only to the extent that they could formulate new political correlations, able to bring a radical change in the course of the country, said SYN. Speaking to private television channel MEGA, SYN president Alexis Tsipras said that SYN and SYRIZA parties would come out stronger from the crisis.

LAOS

In his today statement LAOS president G. Karatzaferis said: âCorruption in ND party threatens the political world. I call the Prime-minister to hold elections on October, 4, 2009 to prevent the worst. Each day that goes creates additional dangers for the countryâ.

Y. Manolis Resignation toâ¦Facilitate the PM

ND deputy Yiannis Manolis resignation gave rise to domestic reactions in the ND party. Mr. Manolis in his letter, which he handed to the Prime-minister and then to the Speaker of the House D. Sioufas, explains that he wants to facilitate the Prime-minister in view of the ITF and calls him not to succumb to ones who propose suicide elections.

The secretary of ND Parliamentary Group, Yiannis Tragakis, commenting on Y. Manolis resignation, said that he was not legalized to appear as a so called censor of the country's political life and the political party that supported him, adding that his move was apparently made out of personal political motives.

News item: 26285

[02] Banks Suspend Mortgage Auctions

Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 September 2009 17:05

Mortgage auctions for debts up to 200.000 will be suspended till 31/12/2009 following an agreement during Tuesday's meeting of Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou with representatives of the Hellenic Union of Banks. The Finance Ministry is promoting a relevant regulation. The two sides also discussed the grave problem with bounced checks. The Inter-ministerial Privatization Committee is holding a meeting at present while Wednesday's meeting between Yiannis Papathanasiou and Joaquin Almunia is considered of high importance for economic developments, as Greece has requested extension of deadline to bring state deficit down below 3% .

Regarding bounced checks, the two sides agreed on the one hand to seek for means to reduce postdated checks and on the other hand to protect those businessmen who receive checks that bounce.

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry announced yesterday that it is drawing a regulation to disengage VAT declaration from its payment which will be soon tabled to the Parliament. The regulation provides for the payment of 30% of the VAT declared amount and the rest amount in two monthly installments.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8 Relevant Articles: Athens asks extension to bring state deficit down

News item: 26276

[03] Fires Raging in California-Portugal

Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 September 2009 10:36

Eight separate fires, which have burned thousands of acres of land, are still raging in southern California and mainly on mountains around Los Angeles. At least 53 houses have been destroyed with another 12.000 threatened by flames. More than 2.500 firefighters are battling the flames that had burned some 85.000 acres of land till Monday afternoon. Fires that broke out in Portugal on 30/8, are burning large areas of forest land. Greece and Italy have immediately responded to Portugal's request for assistance.

In California fires doubled in size overnight on Sunday in the mid of high temperatures and extended drought. Los Angeles National Park burned down to ashes while a park housing many exotic animals was evacuated.

The California wildfires are posing a serious threat to the historic Mount Wilson Observatory, as well as the cluster of antennae that serve local television, radio, law enforcement and even Los Angeles International Airport

Sources: French news agency, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA

CNN: 'Angry fire' roars across 100,000 California acres

News item: 26269

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