The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-06-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] "Prime-minister Hour" on Skopje

Alternate Foreign Minister, Dimitris Droutsas on Friday responded to LAOS president, George Karatzaferis question concerning FYROM name dispute during the Prime-minister's Hour in the Parliament . Mr. Droutsas said debate on names was useless at this time and called on Skopje Prime-minister Nikola Gruevsky to indicate the same sobriety as Greece. George Karatzaferis blamed the government for channeling a specific name to the press in order to weigh reactions.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8

Related News: Papandreou-Gruevsky Meeting

News item: 37798

[02] G. Papandreou in NY

Prime-minister, G. Papandreou will fly to NY on Friday from Brussels where he attended the EU Summit meeting. On Sunday afternoon ( 22:00 Greek local time), Mr. Papandreou will give a press interview. On Monday, he has a scheduled meeting with UN Secretary General Ban-Ki- moon at the international organization's headquarters.

From Brussels, on Thursday the Prime-minister stressed the need for further dialogue with social partners, particularly GSEE and SEB on labour reforms aimed to reach best possible solutions within the memorandum framework.

In his statements after the EU Summit meeting, Mr. Papandreou spoke about measures for emergency financial aid and underlined that there would not be need for the memorandum if the former ND conservative government had not left the country at brink of bankruptcy.

The prime-minister expressed satisfaction at the course of reforms , stressing that Greece was recovering its credibility step by step. Referring to labour relations, Mr. Papandreou said the government was promoting measures to facilitate the infiltration of the youth in the labour market , subsidizing part of their salaries and social security contributions. News item: 37791

[03] Teachers Abstain from Grading Exams

High School Teachers Union (OLME) in their meeting on Thursday decide to continue to abstain from grading national exams tests till next Tuesday with six votes in favour and four against. OLME president Dimitris Pepes said teachers intend to request a meeting with the Prime-minister and parents of tertiary education candidates to expound the circumstances and underlined their anger. He said abstention from grading continues in protest against unfair treatment concerning their financial requests.

Alekos Arbanitidis member of OLME administration board stressed that teachers would not make a move back while another member Aggeliki Faturu said that high ranking officials completely disregarded them as if they were members of the IMF. On Friday, Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou appealed to the Teachers' union and called them to show understanding and respect, underlining that they could not hold hostage 90.000 students and their families. She said 25% of tests remain to be graded.

News item: 37790

[04] Metro New Strike on Friday

Athens commuters will be facing fresh problems on Friday after new mobilizations decided by Attiko Metro Union during their meeting on Thursday. Specifically, they decided repeated stoppages-which means no metro services on Friday- in protest against the company's refusal to renew 286 temporary employees work contracts. The General Public Administration Inspector ruled them illegal as they were hired during the pre-election campaign. Some 650.000 people use the Metro services daily which means that they have to find an alternative means of transport to get to work.

Sources: ÁNA/ÌPA News item: 37789

[05] Greece's Historical Victory

Greece achieved its first world cup victory after beating Nigeria 2-1 in the second game in Group B held in Bloemfontein Free State Stadium, South Africa. It is now facing a tough mission with much hope to qualify as it shares 2nd place with S. Korea. Greece showed great potential reminding its performances during Euro 2004. Salpigidis and Torosidis scored the goals in 44min and 71min respectively.

Greece to advance to the round of "16" needs to beat Argentina on June, 22 but also needs S. Korea's defeat in its game against Nigeria.

Papandreou Congratulations

From Brussels, Prime-minister G. Papandreou congratulated the Greek team for its victory. "The Greek National Football Team made us proud. It was a gleam of hope in this particular period with so many negative articles about Greece", said Mr. Papandreou who congratulated the team's coach Otto Rehhagel, the team's leader George Karagunis and all the players but particularly the two scorers Basilis Torosidis and Dimitris Salpigidis.

Watch the game again and see statistics

News item: 37786

[06] FinMin Visits SDOE

Finance Minister, George Papakonstantinou on Friday visited the headquarters of the Financial Crime Enforcement Body (SDOE). He said that 6.000 cases of tax violations have been referred in the first 5 months in 2010 compared to 4.000 cases during the whole year in 2009. Confirmed fines have approached the sum of 1.5 billion euros till may compared against 700 million euros last year. Addressing Financial Enforcement Body officials, Mr. Papakonstantinou repeated that the government was determined to combat corruption and called all to cooperate in the battle against corruption and tax evasion and isolate their counterparts that are bribed.

Reports say the Finance Ministry plans to strengthen SDOE with the transfer of personnel from other services.

Furthermore, the Finance Ministry has already drawn up a list of night clubs, bars and restaurants where inspections showed taxation violations. It is expected that strict fines provided by the new taxation bill will be activated soon leading even to closure of some 15-20 shops. Inspections will continue in summer placing emphasis on the most popular islands.

In the meantime, SDOE has recorded all swimming pools nationwide with the help of construction companies. It will soon start cross-examination to see which pools have permission and which not. Mr. Papakonstantinou underlined: "Our aim is to bring Justice" He also announced intensification of inspections in the next period to combat tax evasion .

Finance Ministry high ranking officials warned ones having bank accounts abroad to take advantage of present favourable terms for the repatriation of capital till November. After this date a mission will be launched to locate bank accounts of Greek depositors with the held of foreign banks.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÁNA-ÌPA News item: 37801

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