The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-06-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Inquiry Committee to Look into Railway Company File

The coming week is expected to be highly interesting regarding the Siemens scandal as the Inquiry Committee will look into the Hellenic Railways Company (HRC) file. Konstantinos Yiannakos, HRC chief advisor during the terms in office of Hristos Berelis and Mihalis Liapis when the controversial suburban railway contract was confirmed and signed, will testify tomorrow. In the meantime, an Inquiry Committee delegation will fly to Germany to meet in the head company with managers of black money funds. Also judicial cooperation is expected for the opening of bank accounts and examination of source of income of former ministers.

The Parliament on Monday will discuss the Inquiry Committee report on the Batopedi transfer of land case. Ioannis Kapelleris, head of the Financial Crime Investigation Service (SDOE) told state television channel NET persons and offshore companies involved in both Siemens and Batopedi cases are being interrogated.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÍÅÔ

Related News:Siemens: Skandalidis Testifies to Inquiry Committee

News item: 37601

[02] Kyrgyzstan Ordered Mobilization of All Military Reservists up to 50YO

Kyrgyzstan interim government announced a partial mobilization late Saturday of military reservists up to 50 years old in an effort to quell bloody clashes in the south part of the country said the Defense Ministry."The Defense Ministry calls all military reservists up to 50yo to appear at army recruiting offices before 15:00(12:00 Greek local time) today, June ,13". At least 82 people have been killed in Osh and near towns since Friday when violent clashes broke out between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. From his self-imposed exile in Belarus, Kurmanbek Bakiyev denied any role in the violence and blamed the interim authorities for failing to protect the population.

In the meantime, Kyrgyzstan government imposed a permanent curfew and a state of emergency in the southern city of Jalal-Abad and Osh, and agreed that security forces could use lethal force to defend civilians. It also announced a partial mobilization late Saturday of military reservists up to 50 years old and ordered troops to shoot rioters dead in an effort to quell bloody clashes fearing "destabilization" of the country.

The situation has been unstable in the south since former President Kurmanbek Bakiev was ousted in the aftermath of a bloody uprising in April where 87 people were killed.

US-Russia Reactions

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said the US supported efforts coordinated by the UN and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to restore peace and order and dispatch of humanitarian aid to the victims of violence.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said the US calls for rapid restoration of peace and public order.

Kyrgyzstan interim government leader, Roza Otunbayeva in a television message said "Since yesterday, the situation has been spiraling out of control and we need some kind of help from third forces" and appealed to Russia to send forces to calm the situation down.

Kyrgyzstan hosts both U.S. and Russian military air bases, but they are in the north, away from the fighting. The U.S. Manas Air Base in the capital, Bishkek, is a crucial supply hub for the coalition fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The EU announced it would send experts to Kyrgyzstan to assess the need for humanitarian aid.

"The EU is closely monitoring the situation and would move rapidly if necessary".

Source: ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 37598

[03] First Crucial Test for Greece's Economy

Greece is to face the first crucial test after the signing of the memorandum as EU, EUC and IMF fiscal experts arrive in Athens on Monday. The Troika will audit the numbers ( revenues, state expenditures) and visit Ministries to monitor reforms within the frame of materialization of commitments. In the meantime, draft-bill on social security will be finalized after the visit of Troika inspectors to the Employment Ministry on Wednesday. It is expected to be passed by the Parliament this month. A draft-bill on the public sector and a presidential decree determining lay off ceiling and compensation sum are being drawn.

Prime-minister George Papandreou, in an interview with Austrian state television channel, underlined it was high time for reforms in Greece which we want to become the model of overcoming the financial crisis.

"The group of actions facing first assessment are moving within the given timetable and there is no reason for concern for as long as we are proceeding at this pace", told newspaper "Real News" Finance Minister George Papakonstantinou. He described as science fiction scenarios about Greece's bankruptcy and exit from euro common currency and warned speculators that they would simply lose their money.

Furthermore, Mr. Papakonstantinou stressed that the government received a strong mandate for a 4-year term in office and moves ahead without petty partisan considerations. He added that the largest part of opposition forces are unable to contribute creatively for the country's recovery.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÍÅÔ

Related news: G. Papandreou: "Talks of Bankruptcy Groundless"

Related news: Optimism over Economy-Wrangling over privatizations

News item: 37592

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