The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-06-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tough Talks on Labour Matters

The crucial talks between GSEE, Greece's umbrella union for the private sectors, and the employers' associations on the 2010 national collective work contract have kicked off. The three-years freeze in wages, lower salaries for the rookies of the workforce and the increase in the redundancy threshold demanded by the International Monetary Fund and the European Union have created a gap which is rather difficult to be bridged.

GSEE chief Giannis Panagopoulos stressed Monday the need for the protection of the collective work contract.

SEV (Hellenic Federation of Enterprises) head is expected to propose the full implementation of the agreement, as well as a three-year freeze in private sector wages.

The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) -that supports materialization of measures indicated in the Memorandum- is expected to propose three-year salary freezing in the private sector. ESSE proposes small and stable increase in salaries in the next three years while GSEBEE (medium sized businesses) see salary freeze this year and small rises (0.5%) in 2011 and 2012.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA

News item: 37155

[02] Tension in Siemens Inquiry Committee

The Parliament Inquiry Committee continues its work shedding more light in the Siemens scandal. Confrontation centers on former Siemens chief Mihalis Hristoforakos e-mail maintaining that the German company bribed a minister in Karamanlis government in 2008. The ND party asks to summon former prime-minister, K. Simitis while the government has made clear that light would be shed in all cases. In the meantime former minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, referred to the PASOK transparency committee, was called to justify the source of income for the purchase of his house in Dionisiou Aeropagitou St.

"e -mail Involves ND Minister"

Chain revelations in Siemens case have sparked tensions in the political stage. The Inquiry Committee is focusing on Mihalis Hristiforakos e-mail referring Siemens bribery of Minister in K. Karamanlis government in 2008.

Basiliki Tsonoglou, PASOK deputy and member of the Inquiry Committee, in an interview with state radio NET on Tuesday morning, said that an e-mail refers bribery in March, 2008 of Minister during ND party ruling. The e-mail does not name the minister but includes a bank account number which will be investigated.

The ND party is expected to ask summoning of Haris Kastanidis ( Transport minister before Tasos Mantelis) former prime-minister Kostas Simitis as well as his close aides Pantagias and Tsoukatos.

Government spokesman George Petalotis said the government agreed with the summoning of former prime-ministers to contribute to shedding light in the case provided the members of the committee decide it was necessary.

In an interview with NET, undersecretary for Justice Apostolos Katsifaras stressed nobody had right of asylum adding that inquiry committees whether to summon former prime-ministers or not.

Examination of all Data on the Purchase of the House

In the meantime, the Prosecutor's office has ordered preliminary investigation of procedures in the purchase of Akis Tsohatzopoulos house in the most expensive area in Athens, Dionisiou Aeropagitou. Prosecutor Paraskevas Adamis, competent on economic crime will carry out an investigation on whether there are any violations regarding taxation or other crimes.

Akis Tsohatzopoulos was referred to the PASOK Transparency Committee after newspaper articles on the purchase of the house by his wife. ND deputies maintain that the real estate company selling the house to A. Tsohatzopoulos wife is the same company that sold the property in Kifissias Av. to Batopedi Monastery.

During the session of the Inquiry Committee on Batopedi case this afternoon, the ND party is expected to ask for extension of the Committee's works till fall underlining the need for a common report.

Sources: ΝΕΤ,ΝΕΤ 105.8

News item: 37152

[03] First Six Greeks Arrive from Israel

Six Greek nationals who were deported from Israel after the military raid against a pro-Gaza humanitarian envoy landed Tuesday morning at the Athens International Airport. All six are safe and sound. Authorities in Israel stripped all activists of their personal belongings, including their mobile phones.

Activists Speak of Acts of Violence

"I was aboard the ship 'Sfendoni'. Israeli battleships were closely monitoring us and yesterday [Monday morning] we were attacked by commandos. No warning had been issued. When they arrested us, they told us we had infiltrated their country. We underwent six body searches and they took everything from us. I had to sign a piece of paper to leave their country. All the Greeks are safe. Some have been injured, but only slightly," said activist Thanos Petrogiannis.

Giving similar accounts, other activists accused the Israelis of violating human rights, carrying out repeated body searches and using teasers.

"There was an organized provocation. The Israeli troops were attacked by the activists," an Israeli spokesman told NET television.

Greek Foreign Minister Demands Greek Nationals Return to Greece

The Greek Foreign Minister welcomed Tuesday morning the first six Greek citizens who were deported from Israel and is doing its best so that everyone can return to Greece.

The Greek embassy in Tel Aviv, said spokesman for the Greek Foreign Ministry G. Delavekouras, is working along with authorities in Israel to access the Greek nationals detained in Israel.

"The protection and safety of the Greek citizens lies with Israel," stressed Delavekouras.

The first six Greeks who were deported are:

1. Stylianakis Zaharias

2. Chrysohoides Nektarios.

3. Grigoropoulos Mihail.

4. Papadokostopoulos Aristides

5. Gelalis Dimitrios

6. Petrogiannis Thanassis

In the meantime, Cypriot daily Fileletheros correspondent to Athens Maria Psara is among those detained by the Israeli army.

The daily's today cover read that anxiety over her has culminated since no one had managed to reach her.

31 Greeks Detained

About 610 people are being detained until they are tried by Israeli justice.

Among them there are 31 Greek nationals, whom the head of the Greek embassy in Tel-Aviv Kyriakos Loukakis is trying to access.

Israel has stressed they are not prisoners but they are detained in a special place of the prison.

Israel has not made it clear whether they are detained because they declined to be deported and sign what the Israeli authorities want them to sign, or because the detainees themselves have decided to take legal actions against the Israeli military operation that resulted in their being arrested in international territory.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA

News item: 37147

[04] Tropical Storm Agatha Kills 135

At least 135 people perished in the severe flooding and landslides caused by tropical storm Agatha that has been wreaking havoc in Central America, while more than 150,000 people have fled their homes since last weekend because of the flooding.

Authorities in Guatemala, the hardest-hit country, recorded 109 casualties, while at least 100,000 people evacuated their homes.

In neighboring Honduras, the death toll has risen to 17, while nine people have been killed in El Salvador.

Agatha is the first tropical storm to hit the area.

The heavy showers caused by the tropical storm have already reached southern Mexico.

Source: NET 105.8, ANA

News item: 37146

[05] A.Tsohatzopoulos Referred to Transparency Committee

Socialist deputy and former minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos will be referred to the Hellenic Parliament's Special Standing Committee on Transparency after press reports dropped hints at the conditions under which his wife purchased a house in a high-profile Athenian district. In the meantime, the main opposition New Democracy party is expected to call on the committee investigating the Vatopedi case to have its proceedings extended till fall, citing the need for a joint report. The ND deputies claim that the company that sold the house to Tsohatzopoulos' wife is the same that had sold the building once belonged to the General Secretariat of Sports to the Vatopedi Monastery.

The First Instance Prosecutor Chief Eleni Raikou ordered a preliminary investigation into the conditions under which Tsohatzopoulos' house was bought. Led by prosecutor Paraskevas Adamis, the investigation will see whether tax or any other offences have been committed.

Source: NET

News item: 37145

[06] Crucial Talks on Labour Affairs

The crucial talks between GSEE, Greece's umbrella union for the private sectors, and the employers' associations on the 2010 national collective work contract are to kick off Tuesday noon. The three-years freeze in wages, lower salaries for the rookies of the workforce and the increase in the redundancy threshold demanded by the International Monetary Fund and the European Union have created a gap which is rather difficult to be bridged. At the meeting held Monday at the Employment Minister, Andreas Loverdos requested employers' associations submit their proposals by 15 June. The SEV head said a three-year freeze in wages and the full implementation of the agreement signed with the troika are necessary.

Source: NET, NET 105.8 News item: 37143

[07] Al Qaeda's Chief in Afghanistan Is Killed

Al Qaeda's chief in Afghanistan Mustafa Abu al-Yazid was killed, said SITE a group that monitors Islamist websites. Yazid, who is also known as Saeed (Said) al-Masri, was one of Al Qaeda's founding members. He was also in charge of Laden's finances.

SITE did not elaborate on the conditions under which he was killed. It posted, though, that he was killed along with several members of his family.

Al Qaeda's top man in Afghanistan had appeared in a listed of people and groups whose assets had been frozen by the US Finance Minister after the 9/11 hit.

For FBI, Yazid was the one who transferred money to the three men behind the attack on the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

Source: NET 105.8

News item: 37144

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