The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-06-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] For the Crisis Plaguing PASOK

16 Ιουν 2008 16:38:0 (Last updated: 16 Ιουν 2008 17:31:3)

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

The protagonists of the PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) infighting over Papandreou-Simitis brawl are expected to unveil their intentions on Tuesday afternoon, during a parliamentary debate on the opposition parties call for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. A roll-call vote will take place in midnight.

All eyes will be fixed on the stance of the Socialist deputies that have objected to PSOK leader George Papandreous decision to place its former chief and ex-Prime Minister Kostas Simitis at the fringes of the partys activities.

Those backing Papandreou appear determined and willing to undertake initiatives lest the party should derail from its course. To that end, forced resignations are not out of the question, although they might bring about unpredictable developments in PASOKs intra-party life.

Speaking on NET radio station, SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) Mihalis Papagiannakis said: "If you asked me whether forced resignations in general are a good thing, I would say yes, provided that they result from transparent procedures."

The spate of intra-party squabbles was reflected in the statements of leading Socialist deputies in the Sunday press.

Theodoros Pangalos noted that the Simitis letter gave the impression that the party should always agree with his positions.

Christos Papoutsis spoke of a drive masterminded by media mechanisms to undermine PASOK.

Giorgos Lianis stressed that PASOK should rediscover the word "unity," implicitly defending Papandreous decision with regard to Simitis.

Tassos Giannitsis dismissed Simitis marginalization as a panic move and did not rule out scenarios speaking of division.

Petros Efthymiou underlined that PASOK is experiencing one of its most difficult and saddest moments in its history.

SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) is proved to be the only reliable alternative, said SYN President Alexis Tsipras.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Greek Socialist Party in Turmoil

[02] Emergency Measures to Help Traffic

Sources: NET, ANA-MPA

Traffic police have stepped emergency measures to facilitate the return of the long weekend excursionists to the urban centres. In particular, traffic wardens have been positioned to key highway intersections and Atticas major avenues, while there is going to be a traffic ban on lorries from 1600 to 2300 hours .

Weather is going to be rather mild, with wind not exceeding 5 Beaufort. Scattered showers are forecast for northern Greece.

[03] Skyrocketing Oil Prices

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ANA-MPA

Oil prices have slipped in the Asian trading, after Saudi Arabia said it would raise daily output by 200,000 barrels in July to meet the high demand. Crude oil has lost 71 cents, standing at $134.15. North Sea Brent has amounted to $134.52%, down by 59 cents.

The skyrocketing oil prices keep spooking the international community and triggering social unrest in Europe. In France, truck drivers have scheduled rallies, protesting against the rise in fuel prices.

In Greece, the government, the business world and the consumers are trying to tackle the price hikes. Major companies have been forced to make offers to attract consumers, while the Finance Ministry is considering supporting the low-income earners by granting them the heating benefit. The consumers unions, on the other hand, have formed a blast list of products, and after the successful boycott on milk, they are thinking of doing the same with fuels.

Lead Fuel Pricey in Greece

Greece is the third nation after the Netherlands and Italy with the priciest petrol. From 1.111 euro per litre in January, lead fuel in Greece rose to 1.118 in March, to 1.228 in May, to fix at 1.26 in June.

Taking advantage of the situation, profiteers have shot up product prices up to 48% since early 2008. The Development Ministry, on the other hand, has unveiled a package of 45 measures in a drive to stop the soaring prices. As a result, several multi-national companies have agreed to significant reductions.

"Price hikes is a beast that cannot be defeated with a knock-out hit," commented Development Minister Christos Folias in Vima tis Kyriakis papers. With regard to the hikes in PPC rates heralded by the Corportations CEO, Folias assured that apart from the already agreed increases, there will be no new ones.

Translated by Areti Christou

[04] National Cadastre Opens on Tuesday

Citizens living in Greece have been given between 17 June and 30 September to submit their property certifications to the 76 new Cadastral offices, since another 107 Greek regions have been included in the Greek National Cadastre. The closing date for Greeks living abroad, who can submit their certificates either online or through a representative, has been set on 30 December.

Translated by Areti Christou

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[05] In Brussels

16 Ιουν 2008 17:06:0

Sources: NET, ANA, AFP, Reuters

The rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the people of Ireland is the key topic of the EU General Affairs Council that is holding a meeting since Monday noon. Greece is being represented by its Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis. The 27 Foreign Ministers will also sort out the details for the EU Summit scheduled for Thursday in Brussels.

The members of the EU General Affairs Council have already called on Israel to contribute to the peace process in the Middle East, underlining that they wish to have their ties with it boosted.

With regard to Iran, they neither discussed nor agreed on a new package of sanctions on it, said the spokeswoman of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] In the City of Amelo

16 Ιουν 2008 15:18:0 (Last updated: 16 Ιουν 2008 17:59:5)

Sources: ANA-MPA

A gunman has taken five people hostage in the Dutch city of Amelo, said reports citing the local police.

A restaurant owner involved in a licence dispute with local authorities is holding a council member and four others. The restaurant owner torched his car, which was prked outside the City Hall. No sooner had they council members rushed to put the fire out, than he entered the Hall, eyewitnesses were quoted as saying.

A special police unit has rushed to the site.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] Heatwave Forecast to Hit Greece

Mercury is forecast to soar to 38C on Wednesday and Thursday in Greece, creating the first mini heatwave of this years summer.

Starting soaring as of Tuesday, temperature will reach 35C in Athens and 36C in Thessaly, central Greece, Evia and eastern Peloponnese.

On Wednesday, scatter clouds are forecast in central and northern Greece, while showers are expected in the mountainous areas. Mercury will rise to 38C.

[08] Bush Visits Britain

Sources: NET, ANA-MPA

US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura arrived Sunday in Britain in their last trip in Europe as presidential couple. They met with Queen Elisabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh and later on dined with Britains Prime Minister and his wife. Bushs visit to London was met with demonstrations. Police seized at least 25 protestors, while police officers sustained injuries. The agenda of the talks held between British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the US President included the unrest in Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Zimbabwe, as well as the soaring oil and food prices.

In his interview with Observer paper, George Bush said the Gordon Brown should withdraw the British troops from Iraq based on the success of their mission, instead of an arbitrary timeline.

There should not be a pre-set timeline, argued Bush, further adding that he was pleased that Brown often keeps him update on his personal plans and the plans of the British troops.

The paper estimated that the US President issued a warning to Brown, however, the White House dismissed that, claiming that the two nations are on the same page when it comes to Iraq.

As many as 4,200 British troops are still in Iraq, with the majority of them having been deployed to the south of the country. Britain has implied that it could withdraw its entire force by the end of 2008, but with Iraq still being in turmoil, such a move does not seem feasible.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] Albanian Opposition Grows Stronger

Ali Ahmetis Albanian opposition party (DUI) grew stronger after the partial re-run of parliamentary election in FYROM, while the rival Albanian party led by Menduh Thaci saw its power reduced. The coalition headed by Nikolas Gruevskis party garnered a total of 47.45%, with the Slavo-macedonian coalition trailing with 22.99%.

Although the State Electoral Commission did not unveil the distribution of seats, Nikolas Gruevskis overwhelming win is still unquestionable. However, Gruevski will seek to form a coalition government with the participation of an ethnic Albanian party to maintain balances in the country.

Of the two Albanian parties, Gruevski prefers that of Thacis, however, Ali Ahmeti had warned that if his party was excluded from he government despite earning first place among the ethnic Albanian parties (as was the case in the 2006 parliamentary elections), then the country would sing into a prolonged crisis.

Sundays rerun vote was held in 183 of the 187 polling stations, due to irregularities reported in four of them.

If authorities decide that the result of the four polling stations where there was no rerun vote could influence the distribution of a single seat, then the vote in those four stations will be repeated in two weeks time.

Translated by Areti Christou

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[10] Grp A: Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic

Sources: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nihat Kahveci scored two goals in three minutes late in the match Sunday to finish off an incredible comeback and give Turkey a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic for a spot in the European Championship quarterfinals. Kahveci equalized in the 87th minute after a mistake from goalkeeper Petr Cech, and then added a second in the 89th to cap Turkeys second straight rally in the rain. Kahveci profited from an unlikely blunder from Cech, one of the worlds greatest goalkeepers, who fumbled a simple cross. With the game seemingly heading for a penalty shootout, the Czech defense fell apart and Kahveci scored the decider with a precise inside-foot shot that bounced off the bar and into the goal. Jan Koller had given the Czechs the lead in the 34th, and Jaroslav Plasil added another in the 62nd.

Lineups

Turkey: Volkan Demirel, Hamit Altintop, Servet Cetin, Emre Gungor (Emre Asik, 63), Hakan Balta, Mehmet Aurelio, Mehmet Topal (Kazim Kazim, 57), Arda Turan, Tuncay Sanli, Nihat Kahveci, Semih Senturk (Sabri Sarioglu, 46).

Czech Republic: Petr Cech, Zdenek Grygera, Tomas Ujfalusi, David Rozehnal, Marek Jankulovski, Libor Sionko (Stanislav Vlcek, 84), Marek Matejovsky (David Jarolim, 39), Tomas Galasek, Jan Polak, Jaroslav Plasil (Michal Kadlec, 80), Jan Koller.

[11] Grp A: Switzerland 2-0 Portugal

Sources: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hakan Yakin scored twice Sunday to give Switzerland its first ever win at a European Championship with a 2-0 win over Portugal. Although Portugal was already through to the quarterfinals as Group A winner and the Swiss eliminated, the co-host ended the tournament on a high note despite losses in its first two matches. Yakin opened the scoring at St. Jakob Park after a flicked pass by fellow striker Eren Derdiyok in the 71st minute, shooting through the legs of goalkeeper Ricardo from about 14 meters (yards). The striker added his second goal from the penalty spot in the 83rd after Fernando Meira was adjudged to have fouled substitute Tranquillo Barnetta. It sealed Switzerlands first win in three European Championship appearances, albeit against a Portugal team that rested eight starters including Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco.

Lineups

Switzerland: Pascal Zuberbuehler, Stephan Lichtsteiner (Stephane Grichting, 83), Philippe Senderos, Patrick Mueller, Ludovic Magnin, Valon Behrami, Gokhan Inler, Gelson Fernandes, Johan Vonlanthen (Tranquillo Barnetta, 61), Eren Derdiyok, Hakan Yakin (Ricardo Cabanas, 86).

Portugal: Ricardo, Paulo Ferreira (Jorge Ribeiro, 41), Bruno Alves, Pepe, Fernando Meira, Miguel, Raul Meireles, Miguel Veloso (Joao Moutinho, 71), Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Helder Postiga (Hugo Almeida, 74).

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