The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-01-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Samaras Lashes out at Government

In his interview with Eleftheros paper, opposition leader Antonis Samaras lashed out at the government and blasted PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) for having inflated the deficit for political reasons. He also accused the government for making hasty moves and for lacking a plan to get the country out of the crisis. "The shooting up of the spreads do not only reflect the chronic problems of the Greek economy. It also reflects the really band handlings of the new government in the past three months," stressed Samaras.

Shifting his attention to the farmers' protests, Antonis Samaras held both PASOK and George Papandreou responsible.

"I did to go to the road blocks to advertise my support to the farmers. PASOK has huge responsibilities, because it fooled everyone, including the farmers. It promised everything, while it knew or ought to have known that its promises were blank."

With regard to the Siemens case, the opposition leaders stressed that his party has nothing to be afraid of, and offered his backing to former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

Source: NET News item: 32670

[02] Al. Tsipras: "Emergency Congress to Break Free from Paralysis"

SYN President Alexis Tsipras blasted the Socialist government, while opening Saturday morning the conference of his party's Central Committee. He also proposed an emergency congress to solve the party's domestic problems.

"We watched the other day the Greek Prime Minister trying in Davos to ease the profiteers. He proceeded to a recount that would have infuriated the Greeks had it taken place in Greece. He said that the Greek government has suspended thousands of working contracts in the public sector and has cut wages. He referred to painful measures, knowing that the word 'painful' caresses the ears of the reps of the world profiteers. He vowed to knock the pension system down really quickly, something which he did not mentioned before the elections. As for the farmers, who are shivering with cold in the road blocks, he said no single euro will be spent."

Tsipras called on the members of the Central Committee to give thumbs up for his proposal for a congress of dialogue and unity so that the Left can break free from its domestic red tape that has let its members down.

He also lashed out at the former SYN head, Alekos Alavanos. He spoke of personal aspirations foreign to the Left philosophy.

Tensions, however, are expected to flare up, since sources said that Alexis Tsipras could even resign in case his proposal do not gain support.

Source: NET 105.8, ANA/MPA News item: 32668

[03] Farmers to Escalate Their Protests

Farmers in Greece decided to escalate their protests, following the fruitless meeting they had Saturday with Agricultural Minister Katerina Batzeli. In the meantime, hundreds of cars have been trapped in the border crossing of Promahonas.

Farm Measures Unveiled

On Friday evening, Katerina Batzeli outlined a package of farm measures. The immediate settlement of overdue debts through the extension of a payoff period and the adoption of a grace period of two years, as well as a credit limit increase to cover 100 pct of cultivation expenses, are among the measures unveiled.

The Greek Communist Party (KKE) blasted the government for threatening the farmers with prosecutors and slandering their cause using the media.

Source: NET 105.8 News item: 32652

[04] Haiti: Tented Villages for the Homeless

At least 400,000 quake-hit Haitians are being transferred to tented villages, although only three of the 350 tented villages that have been set up have access to drinking water. In the meantime, the aid operation is still hampered, since only 120-140 airplanes get permission to land at Port-au-Prince' airport. Unicef, on the other hand, fears a flare-up in children trafficking, after reporting the disappearance of 15 children from hospitals after the devastating earthquake.

Unicef Fears Child Trafficking

The homeless left in the wake of the devastating earthquake have exceeded 1.5 million, while thousands of children have gone missing. Adoption procedures are to become even harsher, since no one knows whether the relatives of the children are still alive or not.

"We have documented let's say around 15 cases of children disappearing from hospitals and not with their own family at the time," said UNICEF adviser Jean Luc Legrand.

"We have documented let's say around 15 cases of children disappearing from hospitals and not with their own family at the time," said UNICEF adviser Jean Luc Legrand.

"UNICEF has been working in Haiti for many years and we knew the problem with the trade of children in Haiti which existed already beforehand, and unfortunately many of these trade networks have links with the international adoption 'market'," Mr. Legrand explained

Hollywood stars will join their forces on Saturday in a campaign to raise money for Haiti's victims. News item: 32310

[05] Blair Denies Scenarios of Secret Deals

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Friday he had no regrets about the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, saying Saddam Hussein was a threat to the world who had to be disarmed or removed.

Blair said the Sept. 11 al Qaeda attacks on the United States meant rogue states had to be dealt with to prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) falling into the wrong hands, risking even greater carnage.

Facing the first official public grilling on why he sent 45,000 British troops to war in Iraq, he repeatedly said he was concerned that such a risk remained today, referring to fears over Iran's disputed nuclear programme.

"Responsibility, but not a regret for removing Saddam Hussein," he said, when asked if he had misgivings about taking military action. He said a majority of Iraqis would say they were better off now than under the former dictator.

The decision to go to war was the most controversial episode of Blair's 10-year premiership, provoking huge protests, divisions within his Labour Party and accusations he had deceived the public about the reasons for invasion.

"In the end it was divisive. And I'm sorry about that," he said. "But if I'm asked if I believe we are safer, more secure, that Iraq is better, that our own security is better with Saddam and his two sons out of power and out of office, then I believe indeed we are."

Source: Reuters News item: 32638

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