The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-03-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Meeting tomorrow between Karamanlis and Baroso Focus on Fiscal Policy

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET 105.8

Greeces fiscal prospects and the influx of European Union funds will be at the focus of discussions between Greek Prime Minister Mr Kostas Karamanlis and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Baroso on Wednesday in Brussels. The next day, Mr Karamanlis will meet with the Prime Minister of Luxemburg, who currently holds the EU revolving presidency. Tomorrow the College of Commissioners will meet in plenary session and discuss the Main Shareholder Act. In the meantime, Greece has seen a significant improvement in the absorption rate of EU funds, as since the beginning of the year, more than 670 million euros have been absorbed.

Main Shareholder In Focus

On Monday in Brussels, the notorious question of the Main Shareholder Act rasied its head again. All possibilities remain open until tomorrow, when the College of Commissioners will meet in plenary session

The Greek EU Commissioner Stavros Dimas opinion on further study of the Act has found ground in Brussels. However, the decision is in the hands of the President of the Commission.

Increase in Absorption rate

The rate of absorption of EU funds is accelerating. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 670 million euros have come into Greece from European funds, and this has resulted in the absorbency rate for the end of February reaching 33.7%, from 32.3% at the end of last year.

Of the 23.2 billion euros of the total of EU participation in the 3rd CSF, 7.65 billion euros have been absorbed.

Translated by Millie Williams

[02] Attack Targets Rugova

By Betty Savourdou

A strong explosion struck the car belonging to the President of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, in the centre of Pristina, causing one person to be injured, announced the presidential security service. "The injured person is not the President," clarified a meber of the presidential guard for the French News Agency. The explosion occurred whilst President Rugova was on his way to a meeting with the European Union special Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Civil Security, Javier Solana. Mr Solana arrived in Kosovo on Tuesday morning for talks with the President of the Province. "Thank God I survived again," declared Rugova, an hour after the attack, referring to another assassination attempt a year ago, when unidentified assailants threw a grenade at his house.

Concern After Haradinaj's Resignation

The explosive device, which had been placed in a litter bin in the centre of the city, detonated whilst the presidential convoy was passing. According to the Kosovo Police, who are searching for the perpetrators and the motives behind the attack, the explosive device was set off by remote control.

The explosion occurred one week after the resignation of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramus Haradinaj, former leader of the Albanian rebels, who has been handed over to the International Criminal Court to face charges relating to war crimes during the war in Kosovo (1998-1999).

Haradinajs resignation has triggered concerns of a return to unrest in Kosovo, following the anti-Serbian unrest in March 2004, and NATO has rushed to reinforce its presence in the province.

In fact, Mr Rugova blamed the assassination attack on circles who wish to destabilise Kosovo.

Translated by Millie Williams

[03] Events for World Consumer Day

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Three days of celebrations to mark World Consumer Day, which has been established for 15 March, have been organized by the General Secretary of Consumers. In Athens today (Tuesday), there is an event at the Metro station in Syntagma Square, with speakers from the Ministry for Development, while representatives of consumer organisations, commercial groups, social and trade unions will also be present. In addition, among things to be presented are a study into the profile of the Greek consumer and the special edition "Consumer Guide" by the General Secretary of Consumers, with useful information and advice. Finally, material regarding the operation of 1520, the open line for communication for Consumers with the Ministry for Development, will be circulated.

On Wednesday 16 March, the General Secretary of Consumers and the Board for Communication Controls are co-hosting an event titled "Advertising and the Consumer" while the next day a meeting and discussion is scheduled between consumer and market bodies, to be attended by the European Union Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, Markos Kyprianos. The meeting will also be attended by the leaders of the Ministry for Development and the President of EFET, Nikos Katsaros.

Translated by Millie Williams

[04] Essential dialogue necessary Contacts for Valinakis in Washington

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET 105.8

The issue of the name of FYROM and the crisis in Kosovo were at the focus of Mondays meetings in Washington between deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Valinakis and American officials. As Mr Valinakis stated, FYROMs unmoving stance on the name issue is making its European prospects difficult. On Monday in Washongton, the deputy minister met with the Director of European Affairs of the American National Security Council, Dan Fried, and the deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns. Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis is to travel to the US on 24 March.

Matters of Bilateral Relations

As he left the State Department, Mr Valinakis stated that he had presented Greeces constructive positions regarding the name of FYROM, and noted that the other side needs to show the same constructive stance to facilitate its progress, if there is a solution, towards the EU and other international organisations.

The deputy minister added that would be useful and in fact necessary for other countries to assist in finding an agreement.

He also stated that beyond the issue of the name, the wider issue of Greek-American relations was discussed, in view of the Foreign Ministers visit to Washington next week.

Speaking to reporters at the Greek embassy, after his series of meetings, Mr Valinakis noted the need for a real and not predecided dialogue to be opened with FYROM on the issue of the name and he described Greeces stabilizing role in the Balkans and its actions on the Kosovo issue.

Responding to a question on the Cyprus issue, the deputy Foreign Minister said that both Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue are part of the constructive dialogue between Greece and the US.

Translated by Millie Williams

[05] At Skopeftirio, Kaisariani Pavlopoulos Says Yes to Monument

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET 105.8, ANA

On Clean Monday, the Minister of the Interior assured the Mayor of Kaisariani and the Municipal councillors, who halted the hunger strike they had started on Friday, that he supports the construction of a monument to National Resistance. Prokopis Pavlopoulos told the mayor that the ministry would assist by providing 250,000 euros funding for the monument, while at the same time there will be communication with the Minister for Education, as Skopeftirio belongs to the School Buildings Organisation. On Thursday, the mayor of Kaisariani will meet with Mrs Giannakou, in order to establish the matter.

Monument to History

The aim of the Municipality of Kaisariani is for the area to become a monument to history, which both schoolchildren and adults will be able to visit freely.

The Hellenic Shooting Company, which had laid claim to the area, and hindered construction of the monument, will be transferred to another area.

Translated by Millie Williams

Related News:

Pavlopoulos in Kaisariani

[06] Brakes on after driver is injured No Buses in Menidi and Zefiri

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET 105.8

Bus routes will not be operational today in Menidi, after the shots fired on Clean Monday in the area at an OASA bus driver. Yesterday, at 16:00, on Christou Dede Street in Menidi, Vasilis Floros was hit by a stray bullet. The driver told the police that he had been waiting outside his bus until it was time to start on his route, when he suddenly felt a burning sensation in his leg and saw that he had been injured. A bullet was found at the scene. This is not the first incident in which a bus driver has been the subject of an attack in that area, and in a show of protest, the drivers have pulled on the brakes.

Translated by Millie Williams

[07] Health Ministry employees targeted Explosion in Northern Baghdad

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA

A car packed with explosives detonated on Tuesday morning near a Sunni Mosque in the district of Bab al Mozzam in northern Baghdad, resulting in at least four people being injured. All indications are that the target of the attack were employees of the Ministry of Health, as the vehicle blew up in a carpark used by the workers. The district, which is mainly inhabited by Sunni Muslims, was covered by a thick cloud of smoke after the explosion.

Translated by Millie Williams

[08] In the Philppines Dozens Dead in Uprising

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA

Twenty-two people, including three leaders of the Abu Sayyaf organisation, were killed on Tuesday when the police authorities in Manila stormed a high security prison in the centre of the city, after it had been taken over by the prisoners the day before. According to the Chief of Police Avelino Razon, during the operation three of the higher ranking members of the Islamic organisation were killed: Galib Andang, alias Commander Robot, Alhamser Limbong, known as Commander Kosovo and Najmi Sabdula, or General Commander. On Monday afternoon, the insurgents had been talking of surrendering their weapons.

Congratulations from the Presidents

A further two members of the organisation, as well as three prison guards lost their lives on Monday when the uprising began, while six policemen were injured.

Eight weapons were found in the possession of the insurgent prisoners.

The President of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo congratulated the security forces on the operation, considering that after the failure of the negotiations, it was inevitable that there would be loss of human life.

Translated by Millie Williams

Related News:

Bloody Uprising in Prison

[09] Meeting between Straw and Gul "Recognition After Turkey's Accession"

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA

The British Foreign Secretary places the recognition by Ankara of the Republic of Cyprus after the full accession of Turkey to the European Union. In statements following talks in London with his Turkish counterpart, Jack Straw stated "the focus is on the preparation for the negotiations and the practical work that has to be done and not on the issue of recognition, which will be solved gradually, in the context of Turkey as a full member." The British minister tried to lay the blame on the European Commission for the non-signing so far of the protocol on customs union. Apart from bilateral relations, they also discussed Iraq, the Middle East and the Cyprus question, on which the two ministers agreed that all parties must concentrate their efforts on finding a solution.

"Signature Does Not Equal Recognition"

Moreover, the Turkish Foreign Minister stated: "the protocol of customs union with all ten new countries will be signed once the relevant procedures are completed."

At the same time, he repeated that Ankaras position is that the signature does not mean recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to the Turkish Constitution, said the Turkish minister, it will simply be a signature and when the relevant procedure is completed, Turkey will sign the protocol and present it to the Turkish National Assembly.

Furthermore, Abdullah Gul said that customs union "has already been operating for the ten new countries since 1 May 2004 and Turkish products can also start moving on the Greek-Turkish side."

On a question relating to the issue of property in Occupied Cyprus, Jack Straw stated that those planning to buy must seek independent legal advice.

Translated by Millie Williams

[10] Olympiacos Flies to Newcastle

By Ilias Papaioannou

Without the Brazilian super star, Rivaldo, Olympiacos set off this morning from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens for England, for tomorrows return match of the 1-3 against Newcastle, in the round of 16 for the UEFA Cup. The three goals from the first match obviously do not leave much room for optimism, as Spanish referee Ibanez turned out to be invincible. This means that the aim of the red-and-white team in Britain is to put on a good performance, as the 80-year history of the Piraeus club "sentences" Dusan Bajevics team to try their best. Penalised players Kostoulas and Georgatos remain in Athens, having been shown the red card by the inexplicable Spanish referee.

Playing for History

The many absences along with the score from the first match clearly do not leave a great deal of hope of qualifying for tomorrows Newcastle return match with Olympiacos facing the Magpies of the premier league, but despite this Olympiacos is forced to play for its history.

"Olympiacos has a name and a history, it will fight, and come what may," said the coach, Dusan Bajevic, shortly before the Piraeus club set off for England. For the match in Newcastle, the Serbo-Greek coach has the following players at his disposal: Anatolakis, Vallas, Giannou, Castillo, Kafes, Kouloheris, Maric, Mavrogenidis, Mendrinos, Nikopolidis, Dacol, Okkas, Pantos, Schurrer, Stoltidis, Taralidis, Giavanni, Djordjevic and Filippakos.

Translated by Millie Williams

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