The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-04-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Meeting on Merging in Public Sector

Prime-minister George Papandreou meets with deputy president Theodoros Pagalos and Finance undersecretary Philipos Sahinidis at the Maximos Mansion at noon on Monday to discuss the course of merging in public sector organizations.

Final Countdown for "Kallikratis" plan

Announcement of new Local Administration chart during the Ministers' Council on Wednesday signals the final countdown for the establishment of the "Kallikratis" plan

The new bill is expected to be passed by the Parliament till the end of May, so that forthcoming local administration elections in November are held under the new law. Kallikratis plan reduces municipalities to 380 and prefectures to 13.

KEDKE-ENAE Extraordinary Meetings

KEDKE ( Central Union of Municipalities and Communities) will express its final view on the draft-bill during its extraordinary conference on May,3.

ENAE (Union of prefectural Administrations) has scheduled a meeting on May, 5 to discuss Kallikratis draft-bill.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÊÅDÊÅ - ÅÍÁÅ News item: 35869

[02] No Mass Transport from 00:11-17:00

Blue and Trolley buses, metro, electric train and tram services are not running from 00:11- 17:00, on Tuesday, April, 27 as employees in the mass transport are attending a general assembly. Commuters will face problems as only suburban train will run regular services.

Commuters should be aware that buses will stop running about an hour before 11:00 and regular services resuming an hour after 17:00.

For further information dial 185 or look at webpage http://www.oasa.gr

Source: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA-ÌPA News item: 35889

[03] Merkel Presses for Stricter Measures

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ramped up pressure on Greece to impose further austerity measures over three years as a condition of approving a joint aid package from the International Monetary Fund and European Union. In her statements, Angela Merkel underlined that Athens should prove that it could return to viable development but rejected the idea of expelling Greece from the eurozone. However, after a meeting with presidents of Parliamentary groups, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said accelerated parliamentary proceedings were adopted to approve a law to bail out Greece before May, 19. In the meantime, opposition to Merkel stand rises.

"Ìeasures to Release Aid "

Germany continues its lukewarm response on the activation of the Greek rescue package.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked for further austerity measures for over three years to approve release of financial aid.

"I clearly say that Germany will support Greece if it meets preconditions"said the German Chancellor and cited her confidence in negotiations between Greece, EU, ECB and IMFbecause they will lead to the economic measures Berlin demands.

"Germany will start procedures to support a European financial aid package for Greece provided certain conditions are met" and added "If Greece is ready accept tough measures, not just in one year but over several years, then we have a good chance to secure the stability of the euro for us all."

Angela Merkel said she insisted on a well prepared program due to the concerns of German citizens but rejected the idea of expelling Greece from the euro-zone, underlining that this possibility expressed in Germany in the last days "is not a selection" and could only result in market unrest.

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105.8-ÁNA/ÌPA News item: 35888

[04] Crucial Week/Troika New Meetings

Focus of interest during this crucial week lies on the course of negotiations between Greece and the EU Comission, ECB , IMF on the request for activation of rescue mechanism. The final text including measures and reforms to be materialized in a three-year period will be completed the latest in ten days said Finance Minister G. Papakonstantinou on Sunday to send a clear message that Greece will cover its debt and will not leave the euro-zone. He also assured that euro region member states will grant aid in the event of a delay. Turn to rescue mechanism will be discussed on Tuesday during PASOK Parliamentary Group.

Foreign Officials Meet with Health & Economics Ministers

Foreign delegation officials will meet with Health Minister Foreign delegation officials will meet with Health Minister Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou to discuss purging in hospitals supply system and drug prescriptions.

They will also meet with Minister for Economics, Louka Katselis to discuss details on development mechanisms to exit recession soon. to discuss purging in hospitals supply system and drug prescriptions. They will also meet with Minister for Economics, Louka Katselis to discuss details on development mechanisms to exit recession soon.

However,spreads on 10-year state bond spiked over 600 basis points with a slight drop earlier.

Pressure for new Measures

In the meantime, Germany and French demands for stricter austerity measures to activate rescue mechanism

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble said Greece must restructure its economy radically as an "unavoidable and absolute prerequisite" to aid approval.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle says Germany opposes giving financial aid to Greece if Athens does not first present a credible program of debt reduction.

"Making promises of concrete aid too soon will only have the effect of taking the pressure off Greece," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.

and added:

"Above all, we need to see budget consolidation taking place in Greece, otherwise Athens might not act "with the necessary diligence and discipline".

For her part, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said release of aid to support Greece was necessary to overcome its financial problems but the euro region must keep a stricter stand with its members to prevent future crisis.

In an interview with "Ta Nea", Employment Minister A. Loberdos referred to IMF and EU pressures for abolition of 13 and 14 salaries from private sector. He also spoke of instructions about reduction of lowest salary which is â¬780 and lay off regulations.

Rescue Mechanism

IMF managing director Dominique Straus Khan underlined the need for acceleration of procedures while EU Economic and Monetary affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said the Greek rescue package should be complete by early May. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde expressed conviction that negotiations would have been completed before May, 3, a date after which the French parliament will discuss the Greek rescue plan.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105. 8 ÁNA - ÌPA

News item: 35864

[05] Mobilizations in Ports

A 24-hour strike staged by the Greek Seamen Federation (GSF) on Monday opens new mobilizations scheduled for this week. All cruise ships under Greek flag are anchored due to the strike in protests against the lifting of cabotage.

The Greek Seamen Federation announcement says: "Social sensitivity is not expressed by kicking out Greek seamen from cruise ships. We underline that seamen have good reasons to be permanently concerned about the present and future of their work".

Greek seamen Federation rejects views about benefits from the lifting of cabotage maintaining that it would bring mass losses of job positions and sky high unemployment rate.

They described as summer night dream expectations that the measure would create new job positions in the land and sea (4.000 Italian sailors are employed in Italy's cruise business) and also job positions in other fields.

The GSF is not convinced by relevant arguments but it is certain that unemployment and prosperity are two incompatible concepts.

The GSF announced a new strike on Saturday, May, 1.

Greek Post Office Federation (POST) has suspended its scheduled strike for Monday, April, 26.

ND deputy Yiannis Plakiotakis responsible for the ND party's Merchant Marine policy sector appealed to all parties to indicate responsibility and wisdom as we are at the beginning of the tourist season and in the mid of difficult financial circumstances.

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105.8-ÁNA/ÌPA News item: 35863

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