The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-02-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Inquiry Committee on Siemens

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA

PASOK (Socialists) President George Papandreou accused the government of trying to whitewash the Simens case, asking it to accept the setting up of an Inquiry Committee that would shed light to everything. He also called the civilians to be on alert, adding that he is deeply concerned over Democracy, as the public life is submerged by scandals. In reply, Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos stressed that an Inquiry Committee should not be set up at a time when Justice is doing its job, adding that when Justice finds the accused, then an Inquiry will be set up.

Political Wrangling

KKE (Greek Communist Party) Secretary General Aleka Papariga stressed that her party supports the setting up of an Inquiry Committee, describing the present political system useless.

SYN (Coalition of the Left) Parliamentary Group President Alekos Alavanos supported the setting up of the Inquiry Committee, holding responsible both the ND and PASOK parties.

From his side, LAOS (Orthodox Popular Rally) President George Karatzaferis rejected the governments position that an Inquiry Committee cannot operate in parallel with a judicial inquiry, adding that in the past Mr Pavlopoulos had stated the opposite on the Ocalan case.

Meanwhile, ND MP Chr. Markoyannakis said that those who wish that an Inquiry Committee is set up in fact wish to whitewash the Siemens case, adding that the then PASOK government was not interested in the implementation of the contract on the safety and security of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games, but only to the benefits it would gain.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[02] In Washington on Thursday

12 Feb 2008 19:45:00 (Last updated: 12 Feb 2008 23:03:19)

Sources: ANA

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will meet with her American counterpart Condoleezza Rice, as well as with Senate and Congress officials in Washington on Thursday. Ms Bakoyannis objective is to present Greeces positions on FYROMs (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) accession to NATO. Talks will also focus on regional issues as well as Kosovos future status.

Rice-Milososki Meeting

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Skopje during her meeting with her FYROM counterpart Antonio Milososki to support UN mediator Matthew Nimetzs initiative. Referring to the eventuality of a Greek veto, FYROMs foreign minister stated that it would be against Greeces interests in the region, as well as against NATO interests at a time when it is facing serious challenges, such as the Kosovo issue.

On a relative development, the State Departments has issued an announcement describing the Rice-Milososki meeting good, adding that Ms Rice had urged Mr Milososki to see that FYROM takes advantage of Mr Nimetzs initiative, so that a solution is found. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stated that the FYROM name issue had not been discussed at the Rice-Milososki meeting.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[03] Across Greece

12 Feb 2008 19:34:00 (Last updated: 12 Feb 2008 23:30:20)

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ÍÅÔ-ÁNA-ÌPA

On Wednesday it will be cloudy, while sleet and snowfalls are expected in the Aegean and Crete respectively. Temporal storms will prevail in Crete and the Dodecanese in the evening. The temperature in northern Greece will range from -5-8 Celsius, from -2-9 in central and southern Greece, from 1-12 in western Greece and from 1-8 in the northern and eastern Aegean islands. The temperature in the Cyclades, Crete and the Dodecanese will range from 5-11 Celsius.

Meanwhile, a new cold wave is expected to hit Greece as of late Friday, despite Thursdays temporal improvement of weather conditions. Meanwhile, the gale force winds and low temperatures have disrupted sea services. Vehicles using the road networks in the highlands and several prefectures should carry anti-skid chains. Meanwhile, the temperature in several areas in the weekend will drop to 0 Celsius, accompanied by gale force winds. Snowfalls are also expected in lowland.

At the same time, most parts of central and western Macedonia are experiencing chilly cold. Due to the frost, anti-skid chains are a must for vehicles using the Florina-Kastoria country road through Vitsi, as well as those heading to Ioannina from Kastoria through Nestorio.

Theologos in Rhodes was hit by sleet early Tuesday, while certain parts of the country roads in Euboea closed due to snowfalls and frost.

Sea service from Rafina port to Marmari run as scheduled, while the departure of vessels from Lavrio port has been banned.

In parallel, all departures of ships except for those for Chios and Mitilyini run smoothly. Finally, dozens of passengers, who were about o sail to Limnos, Mitilyni, Chios and Samos on "Samothraki" remain stranded in Thessaloniki port due to the gale force winds blowing in the Aegean Sea.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Related News:

Frozen Weather

[04] At Akkuyu

12 Feb 2008 20:36:00

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ANA-AFP

Turkey has decided to build its first nuclear power plant at at Akkuyu Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said on Tuesday. The plan was dropped in July 2000 amid financial difficulties and protests from environmentalists in Turkey and neighbouring Greece and Cyprus, as they raised safety concerns, arguing that the proposed site is only 25 kilometres from a seismic fault line. The government will make the tender announcement on the construction of a nuclear plant on February 21, while the plant is expected to become operational in 2013 or 2014. Turkey plans to build three nuclear plants with a total capacity of about 5,000 megawatts in hopes of preventing a possible energy shortage and reducing dependence on foreign supplies.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[05] On Illegal Migration

12 Feb 2008 20:32:00

By Katerina Ioannidou

Sources: ANA-MPA

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos met with his Italian counterpart Giuliano Amato today in the presence of Deputy Interior Minister Christos Zois. The meeting focused mainly on illegal migration and the measures to tackle it. As per Mr Pavlopoulos, Greece will boost its cooperation with other countries such as northern Africa to combat slave trading and illegal migration and will try to persuade Turkey to accept back illegal immigrants, who set off from this country. He added that the measures discussed today will be included in the agenda of talks set by the French EU Presidency when it assumes its duties in June. The Italian minister referred to the two countries long efforts against illegal migration and asylum, as well as to the improvement of their cooperation, adding that the two countries port authorities are cooperating in locating illegal immigrants, who first arrive in Greece and then pass to Italy in various ways. Finally, he stressed that the EU gives special emphasis to the eastern Mediterranean and especially to the arrival of illegal immigrants from eastern countries.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[06] G. Alogoskoufis on Ecofin & Eurogroup

By Nasos Bratsos

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8 ÁNA

On the sidelines of the Ecofin meeting that was held in Brussels Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis told journalists that the Eurogroup and Ecofin meetings are taking place amid great uncertainties in the world economy. Moreover, he reported that the Eurogroup was informed on what was discussed by the Group of Seven in Tokyo recently. Europes positions, as expressed prior to that meeting have been adopted in joint communiqu&#233;, said Alogoskoufis, adding that the great concerns are with the US economy, while the repercussions for the European economy have been minor until today. In parallel, he added that the problems of the Markets should be monitored, as well as whether any repercussions can affect Europe, the inflation of which is imported and is mainly due to the prices of oil, raw materials and foodstuffs worldwide. Talks at the meeting also focused on the revised Stability and Development Programmes of Germany, France, Italy, Luxemburg, Holland and Finland. Special emphasis was given to the programmes of Italy and France, which are facing the greater fiscal problems, on how the Stability and Development Pact and the Berlin Agreement are being implemented, at times of uncertainty in the world economy. Today, the Ecofin meeting adopted a conclusions plan that confirms all the countries objectives that had been agreed in Berlin. Among others these include balanced budgets until 2010.

On the Environment

The Economy minister also added that talks focused on the Environment and its protection, as well as on the less costly decisions for its protection. In parallel, a procedure for the reduction of the administrative cost of enterprises is under way. In reply to a question as to whether the uniform tax on fuels will be introduced on Friday, the minister said that law would be implemented.

Translated by John Crystallidis

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