The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-10-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tightening of Greece-China Relations

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Prime-minister George Papandreou speech at the 8th Euro-Asia Summit Meeting, held in Brussels, centered on Greece-China relations, Europe-China cooperation, importance of green energy in creation of jobs and boosting growth. Mr. Papandreou also announced the foundation of a Greek-Chinese Institute on growth and marine.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made positive comments on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao recent visit to Greece and the furthering of the two countries relations.

Mr. Papandreou, after the conclusion of the Euro-Asia Summit, will fly to Belgrade to deliver a speech at the annual conference on Serbia's European prospect.

Effective world financial governance is the basic issue discussed at the Euro- Asia Summit.

The Prime-minister also met with Indian deputy-president Mohammad Hamid Ansari and discussed Greece-India cooperation on issues of tourism, high technology, marine and cultural relations. They also exchanged views on security issues , Middle East as well as Greece's relations with Turkey and Balkan countries.

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA News item: 41564

[02] ND Leader Strongly Attacks the Government

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ND party leader A. Samaras launched a strong attack against PASOK one year ruling in his speech at a special event held on Tuesday at the ND party headquarters. Mr. Samaras referred to the memorandum and developments in the economy and repeated that the ND party has an integrated plan on the economy. He also blamed PASOK for setting up inquiry committees while earlier he met with representatives of security forces officers.

" One Year PASOK Ruling"- "One Year Lies"

Main opposition leader A. Samaras, in his speech at a special event at ND party headquarters, attempted to deconstruct the government's argumentation and damage Prime-minister G. Papandreou profile.

The event started with a video, centered on the past promises of the Prime-minister such as "there is money, promises for rises in salaries and pensions and his refusal that the country will refer to the IMF" . "To formulate image of an untrustworthy and weak Prime-minister dragged by developments", seems to be A. Samaras apparent target.

The video ends with the slogan "Give a good lesson to the government with your vote".

Mr. Samaras made a negative assessment of PASOK one year ruling, saying that it is the party that told lies to win elections, made the opposite of what it had promised, set up inquiry committees, caused an unprecedented borrowing crisis and signed a memorandum tying up the country.

In reference to agreement with Qatar, he said development of state property should be put forward through international bid and not direct assignment.

Furthermore the government started defaming the country abroad leading to skyrocketing of spreads, did not take measures on time and turned the deficit problem into borrowing crisis.

Mr. Samaras repeated that the government is not following the correct economic policy leading the country to deeper recession and underlined that he would set up an inquiry committee to investigate how the country resorted to the memorandum.

Going on, Mr. Samaras said that other European countries had and have state deficits but have not handed their governance to the troika. He also underlined that state debt will continue increasing and deficit will never zero under wrong combination of economic policy.

Mr. Samaras also said that ND party supports structural reforms underlining that some of them to which PASOK objected in the past, are necessary.

The ND leader said the phrase "From there is money to together we wasted it", sums up one year of PASOK ruling.

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Commenting, government spokesman G. Petalotis said: "Once again today, Mr. Samaras proved that he has not realized -or does not want to realize- in what situation his party led the country one year ago. Captive of his partisan past, Mr. Samaras believes that ND ruling had done everything correctly".

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA-ÌPA News item: 41559

[03] D/F on OSE to Be Tabled on Thursday

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Meeting of Ministers' Council on Hellenic Railways gave "green light" for draft-bill providing for restructuring of Hellenic Railways Company (OSE). The draft-bill, incorporating two changes regarding labour regulations, will be tabled to the Parliament on Thursday. In the first stage, there will be a voluntary transfer of some 1450 employees. If volunteer applications do not meet the necessary number, there will follow obligatory transfer of employees based on social criteria. The Hellenic Railway Company will have to operate under the new organization chart the latest till March. Other changes till March include rise in fares, cuts in routes and employees' salaries while plan for reduction of personnel will have started till the end of the year.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8

News item: 41547

[04] Budget D/B Tabled to the Parliament

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Draft-bill on 2011 state budget tabled to the parliament provides for state deficit reduction to 7% of GDP instead of 7.6% as referred in the memorandum. It also sees a 2.6% negative growth , an 8.7% instead of expected 13.7% rise in state revenues and 6.9% rise in state revenues for 2012. Net revenues will increase by 3.640 billion euros while, state expenses will drop by 783 million euros while Greece will pay 15.8 billion euros in interest from 13.2 billion euros.

D/B Incorporates Measures in Memorandum

The draft-bill on the new state budget incorporates measures provided by the memorandum such as rise in VAT, rise in objective value of real estate, salary and pension freeze, special tax on profitable businesses and introduction of objective source of income.

Regarding VAT, a compound solution will be introduced to raise 1 billion euros in the terms of the memorandum.

A high ranking source at the Finance Ministry has revealed that the most likely option is reduction of VAT to 5.5% from 11% for certain broad consumption products in combination with 1% to 2% points rise in VAT for most products and services.

Plan for equalization of fuel and heating oil prices has not been abandoned, but it needs further studying as it has to be combined with heating allowance for low income groups.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8

News item: 41544

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