The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-03-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] New FGI-GSEE Meeting Battle over Work Contracts

By Vagelis Theodorou

The solution for the new collective work contract will be sought after in a new meeting between the leadership of the Greek Federation of Industries (FGI) and the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) scheduled for Monday. During Thursdays talks, the fifth consecutive ones, the unions of employers proposed a 9.8% rise for 2006-2007. On its part, GSEE insisted on 5.5% increase as of January 1 and accused the GFI of intransigence. The GSEE leadership will contemplate on the new data on Friday, while it did not rule out proceeding with collective actions in case Mondays meeting ends in a deadlock. "The Government backs the dialogue," commented Deputy Government spokesman Evengelos Antonaros, terming the new meeting scheduled between the two parties as a particular positive development, portraying their willingness to find common ground.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Crucial GSEE FGI Meeting

[02] Negotiations on Collective Work Contracts Crucial GSEE FGI Meeting

The fifth set of negotiations for the new national work contract is underway by the representatives of employees and employers. The leadership of the Greek Federation of Industries (FGI) insists on its positions for increases in minimum wage by 3.8% of the GDP for 2006, while the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) asks for the average increase of two percentile units above the inflation rate of 2005. Todays meeting is considered crucial. If it reaches a dead end, it is expected that the Plenary Session of the Confederations Administration will decide on collective actions for April, during Fridays meeting. In the meantime, the Greek Federation of Bank Employee Unions (OTOE) is expected to convene today to determine its further stance, following the voting of the amendment on the social security of banks, at midnight on Wednesday, in Parliament.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] ERT's Telethon in Progress Kivotos: A House of Love

As of 06:00 Greeces public television ERT has been organising a telethon for the children hosted in Kivotos, a non-governmental organisation offering security, protection and love to the children that need it the most. It has been operating for the past nine years and its founder is Father Antonios Papanikolaou, who has been gathering youths and creating a relationship of trust. The mission is great, as money has to be collected for building a permanent residence that will host the dreams of 200 children. All together we can help built a house of love!

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] Given a 30-Day Deadline UN SC Ultimatum to Iran

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, BBC, ANA

Following three weeks of tough negotiations the five permanent members of the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement over Iran, in which it calls on Tehran to suspend its nuclear programme within 30 days. The statement was supported by Germany, which together with France and the United Kingdom, which for the previous two years have attempted to convince Iran to abandon its nuclear programme. The Ambassadors of the US, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom, the permanent members of the Security Council, said that the statement, on which an agreement was achieved, constitutes "a clear and strong message" demanding Irans conformation. "There is no disagreement among the five. Iran should not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons," stated US Ambassador John Bolton. "Yes, we reached an agreement. Our German counterparts fully support our statement," said Russian Ambassador Andrei Denisov. The statement does not describe Irans nuclear programme as a threat to international peace and security. On the other hand, a high-ranking Iranian diplomat commented on the statement by the SC members and said that "Iran has the inalienable right to pursue nuclear energy and it is allergic to pressure and intimidation."

Iran Rejects Agreement

The agreement on the 30-day deadline was made following pressures by Russia and China, while initially the US, France and the United Kingdom had asked for a 14-day deadline.

The UN members are expecting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to compile a report on "the progress of the Iranian conformation based on the necessary steps" within 30 days.

In Washington, George W. Bush stated "I am satisfied over the progress achieved on the diplomatic front," while Chinas Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya stated "this is a strong message so that diplomatic efforts can be supported leading to a solution that will be in accordance with the IAEA. We support the statement based on the above reason."

On his part, Irans Ambassador to the UN Javad Zarif noted that "it concerns a developed country and its inalienable right to pursue nuclear energy. In Irans case we are committed by the regime of the Non Proliferation Treaty and we have clear duties."

Moreover, he reminded that 50 years ago the UN was threatening Iran, when the nationalisation of the oil industry begun, with the rationale that this action could threaten the region. "Nothing has changed. Iran would like to cooperate with the international community but it cannot accept pressure and intimidation," concluded Irans Ambassador, voicing Tehrans wish to peacefully resolve the issue.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

Reuters: World powers to discuss next steps in Iran crisis

BBC: Crunch talks on Iran nuclear plan

[05] "Protection to a Degree" in its Current Form US: Experimental H5N1 Vaccine

By Athina Saloustrou

The trials on humans of a new experimental vaccine for H5N1, which causes avian flu, are considered as successful. The trials indicated that that the vaccine is safe and activates the reaction of the immune system necessary for facing the deadly virus as reported by weekly scientific journal The New England Journal of Medicine. The vaccine was developed by Dr John J. Treanor, from the University of Rochester Medical Centre in New York and his associates by using hemagglutinin protein (the "H" in the virus designation) and neuraminidase protein (the "N" in the virus designation), which were extracted from a sample of the virus, which cost the life of a young boy in Vietnam in 2004. The vaccine also contains genes from a lab flu strain widely used for manufacturing seasonal vaccines for the virus.

As per Dr Treanors team, the trials were conducted on 451 healthy adults and showed that the vaccine did not present side-effects and caused a reaction of the immune system and production of antibodies that the scientists believed can protect humans from exposure to the avian flu. As per Dr Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, if the virus possibly evolves to human-human transmission "it is likely to be different from the H5N1 strain that Dr. Treanors team tested, but not completely different." This gives degree of protection for the population, if a specific stockpile of the vaccine is created. In another article in the journal titled "A Race against Time," Dr. Gregory A. Poland, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, noted that the US Health Department has funded 30 candidate vaccines, the effectiveness of which will be shown within the next six to twelve months. In the meantime, the news from the avian flu front is not encouraging. Tests confirmed the presence of deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu to dead ducks found two weeks ago at the borders of Cambodia and Vietnam as announced by a high-ranking official of the country.

More than 100 ducks and 59 chickens were culled within a radius of three kilometres from the spot where the dead poultry was found, in the southern province Kampot, where two persons lost their lives by the deadly disease in 2005.

"This makes us worried that the virus will spread to other areas because of our poor health system and bad communications," Deputy Agriculture Minister Yim Vanthoeun said.

Up to now there has been no indication that the virus has been transmitted to humans in this remote region, 95 kilometres from capital Phnom Penh.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

New Cases in India

H5 Hits Czech Republic

[06] K. Karamanlis Meets Chiefs Police and Fire Service at Maximos Mansion

By Vagelis Theodorou

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis requested a more effective plan of action for countering crime, during the introduction of the new leadership of the Greek Police and the Fire Service by Minister of Public Order Byron Polidoras. As Mr Polidoras stressed, the aim of the Ministrys leadership is for citizens to feel secure. Regarding the Fire Service, the aim is for the prevention and effective combating of fires, while in the Police the primary aims are respect and the defence of citizens, as well as the eradication of criminals and combating crime. Apart from the new Greek Police Chief Tassos Dimoschakis and Fire Service Chief Andreas Kois, Mr Polidoras was accompanied by Deputy Commander of Greek Police Stelios Syrros, Deputy Commander of the Fire Service Giorgos Kardaras, Chief of Staff Stratos Kyriakakis, Police General Inspector for Macedonia Georgios Andravizos and Police General Inspector for Northern Greece Vasilios Tsiatouras.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] In a Meeting between Karamanlis and Kalantzis Course of Works in Macedonia-Thrace

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA, NET

The course of works in Macedonia and Thrace was at the focus of the meeting held by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace on Thursday morning, at Maximos Mansion. Giorgos Kalantzis briefed Kostas Karamanlis over the auctioning of the last segment of Egnatia Odos and the appointment of contractors for the airport and metro train. Regarding the Phosphoric Fertilisers Industry in Thessaloniki, Mr Kalantzis announced that the Board of Directors and the employee unions will convene on Monday and decide on its operation. Following the end of the meeting, the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace stated "Macedonia and Thrace are a big worksite. The last segments of Egnatia Odos have been auctioned while the vertical axes, which will connect the motorway with the northern borders, are in progress."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] Wrangling Between Alogoskoufis and Venizelos Mutual Fund Becomes Law

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: ΝΕΤ

With 153 votes for and 109 against, the Greek Parliament passed late on Wednesday the controversial amendment on the banking sectors social security. In the discussion that preceded, PASOK insisted on the unconstitutionality of the provision, with PASOK MP Evangelos Venizelos underlining that the court will rule it out. You are fighting a pointless battle, immediately answered Economy Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis, who cited the opinions of four professors of Constitutional Law, who termed the provision as constitutionally legitimate.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] 65 Persons Lost their Lives Around the World Bad Year for Journalists

By Athina Saloustrou

Sixty-five journalists lost their lives around the world in 2005, 13 less that in 2004, as per the yearly report published and including data from 175 countries, by the International Press Institute (IPI), in Vienna, on Thursday. Iraq, in which 23 journalists were killed in 2005, remains the most dangerous country for journalists stated the Institute, which fights for journalists rights and the freedom of Press. In 2005, nine journalists were killed in the Philippines, three in Bangladesh and Haiti and 27 in another 18 countries underlined the IPI, which was founded in 1950 in the United States and is composed of 120 countries. Many governments are trying to obstruct the operation of Mass Media by several methods, such as implementing restrictive measures for the Press and arbitrary arrests, using physical violence and intimidation as the report revealed.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[10] Accused of Conspiring Against G. W. Bush US Muslim Convicted

By Athina Saloustrou

A Muslim US citizen, who reportedly joined al Qaeda following the 11 September attacks and accused of conspiring to assassinate US President George W. Bush, was sentenced to 30 years on Wednesday. Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, 25, was convicted by a court in Alexandria, Virginia, of participating in a conspiracy to assassinate the US President, for air hijacks and support to al Qaeda. The prosecutors requested a life sentence, however, District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee said that the 30-year term is sufficient, noting that Abu Alis actions "did not result in one single actual victim," as CNN broadcast.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: US man jailed for Bush death plot

[11] Graceland Proclaimed a Historic Landmark The King Receives Highest Honour

By Annita Paschalinou

The US Government proceeded to the greatest act of recognising an artists work and legacy. A decree signed by Interior Secretary Gale Norton Graceland, Elvis Presleys residence in Memphis, Tennessee, proclaimed it as a historic landmark thus recognising his contribution to culture and music history. "American culture and music changed irreversibly because of Elvis. It would be difficult to tell the story of the 20th century without discussing the many contributions made by this legendary, iconic artist, said Mrs Norton and added "it is abundantly clear that Americans will never forget him. His popularity continues to thrive nearly 29 years after his passing, with each new generation connecting with him in a significant way. Graceland is one out of five museum houses in the US and a popular attraction for visitors. Its popularity is descriptive by the fact that it is the second most well-known residence following the White House.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

Secretary Norton Designates Elvis Presleys Graceland Mansion National Historic Landmark

[12] Two-Day Summit Meeting George W. Bush in Cancun

By Anna Kourti

Sources: Reuters, ANA

President of the US George W. Bush will hold talks with Mexican counterpart Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Thursday and Friday, in Cancun, a tourist destination in eastern Mexico. Messrs Bush, Fox and Harper will discuss their countries relations, immigration issues, commerce and facing terrorism, among others. The authorities have implemented strict security measures on the occasion of the Summit Meeting. Ships are not allowed to sail near the shores of Cancun and have to keep a distance of at least one nautical mile. It is noted that Cancun is a remote region from city centres and is considered as a very expensive town for most Mexicans.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

Reuters: Bush to earn Mexican backing in immigration fight

[13] Seven Persons Dead Fatal Flight

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA, AFP

A small aircraft crashed into the grounds of a university resulting in seven persons to lose their lives, among whom two children, in the Colombian town Medellin. All five passengers of the aircraft died in the crash and two youths who were playing football. Another eight children, who were playing in the court when the aircraft crashed, have sustained serious burns. Up to now, the causes of the crash have not been clarified, but it is thought that the pilot was attempting an emergency landing.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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