The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-06-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek PM in New York

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou arrived Friday evening in New York to chair a Socialist International council at the UN headquarters. The council will run through Tuesday. On the sidelines of the meetings, George Papandreou will hold talks with several Socialist leaders.

During his stay in New York, the Greek Prime Minister will meet Monday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Papandreou will be escorted by Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas and Greece's ambassador to the UN Anastasios Mitsialis.

Papandreou's agenda also includes several interviews with US media, as well as a press conference to media run by Greeks living in the USA.

On Tuesday morning, George Papandreou will chair the third session of the Socialist International and then he will fly back to Athens.

Source: NET 105.8, ANA/MPA

News item: 37824

[02] Kenyan Killed 19 to Drink Blood

A Kenyan serial killer, who admitted killing 19 people to drink their blood, revealed 5 more scenes in Nairobi where he had committed murders The abhorrent revelations of a former guard with an international security company, arrested last week, are confirmed by police and residents of the areas where investigations are carried out. His crimes recall murders that have not been cleared.

Shocking Revelations

Serial killer Philip Onyancha,32 showed police the areas in south Nairobi where he killed two women in April, 2009 and left their bodies. The suspect led police to another part where he had buried the bodies of another two women and next to a northern suburb where he had killed one more woman.

The murderer, who all believed was a quiet person, said he had never raped his victims-exclusively women and children- but drank their blood as part of a ritual. He also claimed he wanted to commit a total of one hundred murders, "I cannot really say I know any of them very well, because whenever I developed that urge of drinking blood, I went for my target, " he said.

On Thursday police arrested a teacher whom Onyancha said initiated him into the ritual murders.

Sources: ΑNA-ΜPA News item: 37577

[03] 49 Killed and over 650 Injured in Kyrgyzstan

See video

The toll of violent clashes in Kyrgyzstan has reached 49 dead and 654 injured said the country's Health Ministry. "49 people have been killed since Thursday" in fighting between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan says the Health Ministry. Kyrgyzstan interim government declared a state of emergency in Osh and a night curfew after clashes broke out between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz on Thursday night.

Clashes Continue

Local security forces say gun fire continued through the nigh in Osh.

The situation remains complicated and difficult ...Exchange of fire continues and many buildings are ablaze", said a police officer

Clashes broke out on Thursday after after rival ethnic gangs fought each other with guns, iron bars and petrol bombs and extended to neighbouring towns. In the meantime, hundreds of demonstrators, who want to go to Osh, gathered in the center of Kyrgyzstan capital, Bishek near the state television premises.

The country's authorities have called on reserve army and security forces officers to go to Osh to assist in "averting civil war".

"Kyrgyzstan interim government has called on retired army and security forces officers to help in restoring stability in Osh" said government spokesman Azimbek Beknazarov.

The fresh violent clashes broke out two weeks before referendum for the ratification of the new constitution, on June, 27.

Appeal to Russia to Quell Ethnic Clashes

Kyrgyzstan interim government appealed to Russia to send peace forces to restore order in a country where at least 50 people have been killed since Thursday.

"We need the entry of outside armed forces to calm the situation down," interim government leader Roza Otunbayeva told reporters. "We have appealed to Russia for help and I have already signed such a letter for President Dmitry Medvedev."

Sources: NET, ANA-ΜPA, Reuters

News item: 37576

[04] Kyrgyzstan Clashes Kill 37

Kyrgyzstan's interim government declared a state of emergency and slapped a curfew on southern parts of the country Friday after ethnic clashes left at least 37 people dead and around 500 wounded.

The provisional government, which has struggled to assert order over the ex-Soviet state since taking power amid unrest earlier this year, insisted that while the situation remained volatile, government forces were in control.

The clashes are taking place in a crucial period for Kyrgyzstan, as a referendum on the country's new constitution has been scheduled for 27 June.

However, the clashes that broke out have started refuelling civil war scenarios in a country that hosts Russian and US military bases.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe called for calm in the country.

The OSCE urged all sides to avoid violence and talk their differences out and reach a compromise

Russia and the USA also called for calm.

Source: NET, AFP News item: 37565

[05] Egypt & USA Hold Talks on Mideast Row

The progress of the US-brokered peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians topped the meeting held between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and US peace envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell.

The two men touched on the steps required to be made for the lifting of the Israeli blockage in Gaza.

Israel has already loosened up its blockade, however, the Palestinians did not welcome this development as satisfactory.

Egypt has embark an important role in mediating between the two rival Palestinian groups of Fatah and Hamas

Egypt's Foreign Minister urged Hamas to accept the Egypt-brokered peace plan that calls for reconciliation with Fatah.

Ο Αιγύπτιος υπουργός Εξωτερικών Αχμέντ Αμπούλ-Γέιτ, κάλεσε τη Χαμάς να αποδεχτεί το ειρηνευτικό σχέδιο της Αιγύπτου, που προβλέπει συμφιλίωση με τη Φατάχ.

Source: ANA/MPA, AFP News item: 37833

[06] Greek Minister Attends Shanghai Word EXPO

Louka Katseli, Greece's Minister of Economy, Competiveness and Shipping, is in Shanghai, the hosting city of the 2010 Word Expo, where she held talks with Chinese officials and businessmen on how Greece and China can improve their cooperation on matters pertaining to tourism, investments and shipping.

Louka Katseli outlined the Greek government's plans on port development at a press interview given Saturday in the biggest Chinese city, further arguing that the key goal is to create a new corporate form for Greece's major ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki. She also unveiled an e-initiative called "Invest in Greece," an information tool for those interested in investing in Greece, so that they can have a full and documented insight into programmes and projects promoted by the Greek government.

Addressing an event hosted by the Greek embassy, the Greek Minister said, "We are promoting our cooperation with China by reinforcing our ties in four sectors, those of products and services that we can export to the Chinese market, to attract Chinese investments, of tourism and shipping, as well as the sector of cultural exchanges which has to be fully exploited." She further noted that the safety net agreed will help Greece overcome its problems.

Earlier, COSCO head Capt. Wei Jiafu had said that China believes in Greece's attempts to overcome the crisis, adding that other Chinese companies are interested in investing in Greece, as well.

Louka Katseli also met with Chinese Vice Minister of Transport Weng Mengyong, with the former arguing there is still room for better cooperation between the two sides and the latter stressing that temperature in Shanghai is rising and so is the "business temperature" of transactions with Greece.

Source: ANA/MPA News item: 37832

[07] Pension Reforms Decided

Employment Minister Andreas Loverdos briefed the President of the Republic on the new pension reforms and the changes in the labour relations. The final decisions were taken in the talks the Employment Minister held with the troika on Thursday. Karolos Papoulias urged him to fight a battle to reduce losses and convince the society that the sacrifice will result in better days. Loverdos, on his part, expressed his conviction that Greece will overcome the crisis on its own, further adding that the government is trying to take the measures it has to take, safeguarding as much as it can. The pension bill will be submitted to Parliament on 23 June.

Papoulias: "Tough Times"

Welcoming Employment Minister Andreas Loverdos, the President of the Republic spoke of "tough times" and voiced his hope that the government will fight to reduce the losses and convince the society that the sacrifices will lead to better days.

Loverdos, on his part, although he admitted that he is going through tough times, he stressed he won't back down because he has faith in his mission. He underlined that what the Prime Minister and his Ministers are doing is a major effort to save the country.

With regard to labour relations, he did not rule out future changes in what the presidential decree provides for, noting that the troika made no other proposals.

Andreas Loverdos said he will brief Tuesday the House on the pension reforms and the presidential decree on labour relations.

Reactions

SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Let) head Alexis Tsipras lashed out at the Employment Minister.

Tsipras spoke of an "unbelievable Employment Minister who spends days and nights in television channels sometimes whining and sometimes boasting." Tsipras also said that Loverdos does nothing else but defending the borrowers' interests. News item: 37813

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