The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-03-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] SYRIZA's Positions on Pension System

Sources: ANA-MPA

The Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) unveiled Tuesday its positions on the pension system. Head of the partys Parliamentary Group Alekos Alavanos requested the governments pension policy be withdrawn. At the Houses Senator chamber, where SYRIZAs Parliamentary Group is convening, representatives of several trade unions have been called on to express their views on the matter.

Speaking Tuesday at a special meeting between SYRIZA and social partners on a "different solution to the social security issue", Alavanos suggested the establishment of three social security funds, for salary earners, farmers, and the self-employed, following a worker-approved merger of existing funds.

The preparation of actuarial analyses, the settlement of pension fund deficits, a maximum common denominator in the merger procedure and the workers consensus are regarded by SYRIZA as fundamental preconditions before proceeding with the mergers.

SYRIZA also backs retirement after 35 years on the job with no age limits, social security for women, farmer social security independent from farm production insurance, a drastic increase in the minimum pensions, and improvement of administrative and operational procedures in social insurance organizations.

Criticizing the governments social security reform plan, the SYRIZA parliamentary group leader pointed out that the adoption of flexible and part-time employment overturns the fundamental labor relationship on which the social security system was based until now.

Related News:

On Strike

2nd Day Debate on Social Security

[02] 2008 Eurovision Young Musicians

ERT, Greeces national broadcaster, has launched a competition for the selection of a young talented musician to represent Greece at the 14th European Competition for Young Musicians. The competition is sponsored by John S. Latsis Ileians Scholarships Foundation. EBU stages this competition every two years, while ERT has undertaken to hold the contest for the selection of the Greek entrant. The European Competition, which will be hosted in Vienna, will be broadcast live on 9 May.

Greek citizens or at least people living permanently in Greece for at least the last two years aged no more than 19 are eligible to take part in the Greek national final.

The winner of the Greek final will be in Vienna from 3 to 9 May to initially compete in the Competitions preliminaries along with the rest 15 candidates, and then, if he/she makes it to the final, the Greek entrant will be called on to perform part of a concert.

At the 2006 Eurovision Young Musicians, which was dedicated to Mozart, Ilias-Ionian Kantesa, 13, did his best representing Greece and gained a pivotal musical experience.

This years Greek national final will be held on 29 March at the Athens Music School.

[03] Impasse in Russian-US Talks

Sources: ANA/MPA

The talks between Russia and the USA on the US missile interceptors in Europe and the strategic nuclear arms control treaty (START) reached a deadlock. In an interview after the end of the talks with US Secretary of State and Defence, Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates respectively, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Washington and Moscow fail to strike a deal, reconfirming the two sides disputes on these two matters. Citing sources participating in the bilateral talks, Interfax, the Russian news agency, reported that the key disputes between Russia and the USA relate to the US missile interceptors, as the Americans do not appear willing to suspend their plans to have an anti-missile system planted in eastern Europe.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] The Transport Minister Briefed the Cabinet

18 Mar 2008 15:48:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ANA

Transport Minister Kostis Hatzidakis briefed the Cabinet on matters falling under his Ministrys authority. Touching on the Olympic Airlines standoff, Xatzidakis stressed that a solution will be found within 2008, as he is in collaboration with the European Commission to strike a legal solution that will make the Greek national air carrier more attractive. Apart from the OA future, developments in ELTA (Hellenic Post), OSE (Hellenic Railways Organisation) and the public transport were also brought up.

Hatzidakis said that the Government is thinking to make the best of Greeces regional airports through private and public sector partnerships. Therefore, special consultants should be hired. As for ELTA, the Government will seek for a strategic ally within 2008.

With regard to OSE, a new board is due to be formed in the days to come, while the Organisations finances are being examined.

Referring to OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications), Hatzidakis welcomed the buyout of 20% of the Organisation by Deutsche Telekom AG.

Asked on the Governments intentions following the buyout, Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said: "The competent ministry is waiting for a Deutsche Telekom expressing letter of interest, which will go through the inter-ministerial committee for denationalizations."

[05] Arrests for the Tirana Blasts

Three Albanians were arrested Tuesday, after a huge explosion at an ammunition dump near Tirana, charged with failure to observe the safety rules with regard to the dismantling of ammunitions and radioactive materials. Two of the arrestees are top officials of an Albanian company that had undertaken to dismantle the ammunition stock, while the third is the director of a company exporting and importing military equipment. The blasts claimed 16 lives, while another ten are still missing. Police sources said that more arrests were likely to follow. Southern Ammunition Company, the US company that had originally undertaken to dismantle Albanians obsolete stock, said that its contract with the Albanian authorities had expired in December and that the Albanian company was in charge.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Dramatic Hours in Albania

[06] On March 21, 24

18 Mar 2008 12:16:00

By Vivian Papastefanou

The Hellenic Financing system will have a special holiday on 21 and 24 of March, 2008 as the Target system ( Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross settlement Express Transfer) will be closed to celebrate Good Friday on March, 21 and Easter Day on March, 24 for Catholics and Protestants. Article 11 of 3336/2005 regulations effect special holidays for on-line bank exchanges when they do not coincide with Greeces official Easter holidays. An announcement of Hellenic Banks Union (EET) says that banks will be open on these days but will offer limited services as the TARGET system will not be operating due to the Catholic/Protestants Easter holiday.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[07] To Sell their Blood

18 Mar 2008 11:06:00

By Athina Saloustrou

Indias police announced today that they arrested 5 people involved in a racket supplying illegal blood units to various hospitals after extracting it from 17 people they kept hostage. The horrifying tale came to light when police raided a house in a remote area near Chorpurwa village of Gorakhpur district late on Saturday evening. According to police spokesman, Piyush Mordia these donors had come to the city in search of jobs as labourers but fell into the trap of blood racketeers, who lured them into the profession by offering them 1.500 Rs ($37.5) a month. They were forced to give blood many times a week. All blood donors, were very weak, and have been admitted to hospital for check ups. The per month profit of the illegal blood racket from each donor came up to 30.000 Rs.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[08] In Omonia

18 Mar 2008 10:37:00

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA-MPA

A group of foreigners attacked a police officer on his motorcycle, hitting him in the face and removing his gun. The police officer was on Sophocleous and Menadrou crossway in the centre of Athens. While attacked, the police officers gun went off injuring a Sudanese national on the thigh. Some took the police officers gun, while the Sudanese was arrested. The police officer and the Sudanese national were hospitalized while the police have launched a manhunt to arrest the culprits. The police officer, who was attacked, was off duty.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[09] Auction for e-Bay Bidders Starts on June, 22

18 Mar 2008 09:19:00

By Athina Saloustrou

A man in Australia is auctioning his life - his house, his job, his clothes and his friends - on eBay, after his marriage broke up, saying he wants to start a new life. "Its time to move. A completely fresh start. I want to see where life takes me," Ian Usher, 44, told Australian television. Usher said he was auctioning his life as "a package" with his house in Perth valued at around A$420,000. "Hi there, my name is Ian Usher, and I have had enough of my life! I dont want it any more! You can have it if you like!," reads his Web site which has a link to eBay for bidders. Usher said his life auction, which starts on June 22, included not only his house, a car, a motorbike, a jet ski and a spa, but also an introduction to "great friends" and a job at a rug shop in Perth for a trial two-week period. Usher said that his ex-wifes comment when she heard of his auction was "it seems a bit mental to me".

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

Read the story on other sources:

eBay

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