The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-03-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Easter Shopping Hours

Majority of consumers are doing market research as there is still one week before Easter. So far price of lamb, the traditional Easter dinner, ranges at last year's level. In the meantime, Agricultural Development and Taxation Office crews are carrying out inspections in super markets, butchers' and Barbakeios Market.

Consumers Reserved

Easter shopping hours are in effect since Saturday. Shop owners hope that long shopping hours will increase business -to make up for particularly low turnover in the recent months. But consumers appear reserved.

Shopping Hours

Saturday, March,27 shops open from 09:00 to 18:00. Holy Monday to Holy Thursday from 09:00- 21:00, Holy Friday 13:00- 19:00 and Holy Saturday 09:00-15:00.

Taxis Resign from Easter Bonus Charge

Taxi owners and drivers nationwide have decided not to charge Easter bonus for all rides, which is a significant relief for commuters taking taxis.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÍÅÔ News item: 34822

[02] Short-term Targets amid Positive Reactions

Outcome of EU's Summit meeting in Brussels as well as ECB decision to back Greek bonds have sparked positive reactions. Prime-minister G. Papandreou underlined that it was a significant decision, though expressing conviction that there would not be need to activate it. He also warned markets not to play with Greece.

Among the next targets is the holding of an investors conference in Greece with the participation of Greeks of the diaspora and world businessmen. It should be noted that developments (EU-IMF deal) had a positive impact in markets as interest rates for Greece's loans dropped and the euro recovered.

Petros Hristodoulou, head of Public Debt Management Agency, told the Financial Times that the Greek government intends to borrow 5 billion euros saying "We would like to return to the market within March".

To refinance maturing debt, Greece needs 20 billion euros till the end of May. The government will most likely issue a 3 or 7 year bond in March to be followed in April by a bond of a similar size, a move that will test the country's credibility says an article in Financial Times.

Germany aims to agree on the proposal at a cabinet meeting next week to be attended by French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, and work it by mid-year into a draft law to protect taxpayers from bearing the costs of future bank rescues alone, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told Die Welt newspaper.

Germany and France as the US are setting their sights on a model , in case of financial crisis, to protect taxpayers from bearing alone the cost of future bank rescues..

In an interview with state radio NET 105.8, the Speaker of the House Philipos Petsalnikos said Angela Merkel did not act as leader of the stronger European economy but as a Chancellor focused on elections in Rinania and objections within her government.

Euro region member states unanimous decision is necessary to activate support mechanism, which means additional measures said ND leader A. Samaras. He added that IMF involvement undermines European institutions and signals further unfavourable terms for Greece.

In its announcement on Saturday, the GCP says: "Uprising Now!" People must declare war on the war against them by the government, the EU and all the bourgeoisie political parties which will continue stronger after the EU Summit meeting. The general secretary of the GCP Aleka Papariga will give a press interview on the outcome of the EU Summit meeting, at 12:30, on Monday, March, 29.

We have achieved a truce without knowing its duration said LAOS.

"Greece remains bound by speculators and Greeks by anti-popular recession policy measures which will keep reducing their income" said SYN president, Alexis Tsipras.

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

Related Articles: Papandreou: "Landmark decision for Greece & Europe", ND Concernedï- Opposition Reactions

News item: 34819

[03] Misplacement of Confidential Plans

Misplacement of confidential documents containing security plans for the Parliament, Presidential Mansion and Maximos Mansion (government headquarters) sparked high concern in Attica Police Headquarters. Finally, the documents were found in the cabinet of a policeman. According to announcement he had taken the documents to study them.

Police internal affairs department is looking into the case. The documents were taken from the office of a police officer. Police sources say the documents did not contain plans for interior security of government buildings but measures for police patrols in the areas around the government buildings.

Initially the disappearance of documents was rendered to internal disputes among senior police officers.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8 News item: 34816

[04] South Korean Navy Ship Sank

A South Korean navy ship sank near the disputed maritime border with North Korea. Tension in relations between the two countries is defusing after South Korea officials played down suggestions that it may have been attacked by the North.

Investigations so far show scant evidence that North Korea in fact attacked the vessel, however, the cause of the sinking is yet unclear, a senior government official told Yonhap news agency.

The cause of the sinking was a hole in the ship's stern said South Korean official leading analysts initially to believe it may have been the result of a North Korea torpedo attack. The South Korean ship was navigating in disputed waters in the Yellow Sea when it sank. Fifty-eight sailors were rescued while 46 are still missing but rescue operations continue.

Sources: ÁNA-ÌPA, Reuters, French News item: 34808

[05] Summer Time from Sunday

At 3.00 am on Sunday, 28, March, 2010 the clocks will move forward by an hour to show 04:00. Summer time will be in effect till the last Sunday, in October, 2010.

News item: 34807

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