The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-11-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] NMF Stages New 48h Strike

National Marine Federation (NMF), in its meeting today, decided new 48 hour strike from 06:00 on Tuesday, 30/11 till 06:00 on Thursday 2/11 with 11 votes in favour and 4 against. The Ministry for Sea Affairs is expected to order seamen to return to active duty. Seamen on strike are ones who have not signed collective labour contract. They are working on passenger and cargo ships under 500 tones.

Cretan farmers are determined to proceed to mobilizations if their products to not leave for destinations abroad the latest till tomorrow.

News item: 49732

[02] Seamen Determined to Continue Mobilizations

The National Marine Federation (NMF) is holding a meeting to decide on continuation of mobilizations or not. Seamen appear determined to continue their strike if their demand for 2% rise in salaries is not met. "The country can not be cut in two", told state radio NET 105.8 Minister for Sea Affairs, Marine and Fishery, Yiannis Diamantidis. "I will wait for NMF decision till noon and hope and wish reason to prevail, otherwise there is a state" stressed Mr. Diamantidis who will meet with the gen. sec of NMF Yiannis Halas and the president of the Shipping Businesses Association A. Bentouris. Reports say the Sea Affairs Minister is likely to order return to active duty in the event NMF decides continuation of mobilizations.

In the meantime, PASOK deputy Dimitris Karydis in his statements referred to complaints of Aegina island business sectors who maintain that a ferry with short sea crossing contract (seamen working on short sea crossing ferries have already signed collective labour contracts) is being hampered to set off. Short sea crossing ferries are operating normally.

Dimitris Karydis asked for Sea Affairs Minister intervention and called on unions such as "PAME" to stop playing political games at the expense of the security and financial survival of Aegina island residents.

A ship from Mitilini carrying perishable goods called at Piraeus port on Monday morning. The ship will remain anchored at Piraeus port.

SOURCE: ΝΕΤ 105.8- ΝΕΤ - ΑNA-ΜPA

Σχετική είδηση: Πειραιάς: Έφτασαν 3 πλοία με ευπαθή προϊόντα

Πληροφορίες αναφέρουν ότι εφόσον στη σημερινή συνεδρίαση της ΠΝΟ αποφασιστεί συνέχιση των κινητοποιήσεων ο Υπουργός θα προχωρήσει σε επιστράτευση.

News item: 49560

[03] G. Fundas Funeral on Tuesday

Actor Georgios Fundas, 86, passed away on Sunday after being hospitalized at an Athens hospital. His funeral will be held on Tuesday. The "popular lad" of Greek quality cinema has linked his name with some classic Greek movies: "Stella", "Never on Sunday", "Red Lanterns", "Magic City", America, America". He worked with renowned producers such as Mihalis Kakoyiannis, Nikos Koundouros, Zyl Dassen and Elias Kazan. He starred in movies by Basilis Georgiadis, Panos Glikofrydis and Dinos Dimopoulos. The leadership of the Culture Ministry has expressed its grief for the loss of George Fundas.

News item: 49712

[04] FinMin Says Memorandum Ends in 2013

Finance Minister, George Papakonstantinou, in his statements on Monday, disengaged extension of payment period of rescue package loan from implementation of commitments within the frame of memorandum. Mr. Papakonstantinou, in a press interview, told journalists "the memorandum ends in 2013" but the financial support from the rescue package could be paid off in 11 years. EU Commission autumn report -on EU 27 fiscal figures for 2010-2012- foresees Greece to return to growth pace in 2012.

Extension Gives Breath

Eurogroup decision on Sunday to co-estimate Greece and Ireland cases gives Greece an 11 year breath to repay bail out loan worth 110 billion euros said Eurozone president Zean Claude Yunker.

EU Commissioner for Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn, in his statements, said any doubts about Greece's ability to repay its loans are lifted.

This development comes as reward for Greece's stability efforts, said Finance Ministry sources.

Eurozone Finance Ministers approved a 85 billion euros bail out deal for Ireland on Sunday.

Return to markets in 2011"

Finance Minister described extension of repayment period as a most significant provision that would help Greece's earlier return to markets.

Briefing reporters, Mr. Papakonstantinou said the memorandum ends in 2013 but repayment of loan moves 11 years forward, and expressed hope that extension would be in force from the next installment worth β¬15 billion in March 2011.

He made clear though that Greece's commitments are not lifted after the end of memorandum and the country remains "within a stricter EU framework".

Mr. Papakonstantinou added stabilization of deficit under 3% of GNP and creation of primary surplus at annual basis would allow for distribution of social share to weaker groups of people who have contributed more in the efforts for fiscal adoption. We have agreed on 4% floating interest rate (equal to 5.5% fixed interest rate) while extension of repayment period will push up interest rate to 5.8% equal interest rate with Ireland.

The Finance Minister said that Greece had never raised extension of repayment period although the IMF, EU and ECB supported it but there was no unanimous agreement by Eurogroup member states. He added that the government's target was return to markets in 2011 as the opening of markets for the country would mean opening to banks and eventually liquidity which would be fuelled to economy.

Referring to European rescue mechanism( to be approved at the EU Summit in Decemeber), Mr. Papakonstantinou said that it is a compromise that specifically determines possible involvement of private capital and makes very clear distinction between countries with "liquidity problems" and "survival problems".

European Commission autumn report on EU 27 member fiscal figures for 2010-2012 released on Monday foresees return to 1.1% of GNP growth in 2012 compared against 1.8% of GNP in Eurozone and 2% of GNP in EU 27 member states.

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA-ΜPA

News item: 49720

[05] Bail out for Ireland Approved

Following approval of EU-IMF bail out deal to Ireland worth β¬85 billion, Irish prime-minister Brian Cowen, in an interview with Irish state television, said he would hold general elections but remain leader of his Fianna Fail party, as its democratically elected leader. Irish prime-minister is forced to hold general elections as elections were considered inevitable as the Greens party, part of the coalition threatened to walk out as soon as the controversial state budget is passed at the Parliament.

In the meantime, a survey has shown that Brian Cowen is the least popular Prime-minister in modern Irish history. He is strongly blamed both for his mistakes that led the country to financial collapse and rise in unemployment rate. He received unemployment at 4% and during his ruling rose to 14%.

Source: ΝΕΤ 105.8 - ΑNA-ΜPA

News item: 49553

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