The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-09-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] In Halkida Speech

21 Σεπ 2008 20:23:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8

In his speech delivered at a political gathering in Halkida, PASOK party leader G. Papandreou stressed that the point was not to comment on results of todays gallops but to celebrate the change of the political climate and state our determination to assume our responsibilities. He, however, underlined that "gallops are the first indications of the peoples trust to our consistency and political willingness to change the course of the country". Mr. Papandreou strongly criticized the governments policy, underlining that "PASOKs battle aimed to defend the family income, the social state and the countrys economic growth starts in Halkida". The main opposition leader warned the government that PASOK will not tolerate any further cuts in the budgets for health, welfare, education and public investments. He also presented PASOK new proposals for taxation, social security, employment and development, speaking of a realistic, effective, modern and progressive plan. Commenting on a possible reshuffle, he said " A government reshuffle is easy, however, government mentalities remain unchanged". On the Batopedi case, Mr. Papandreou said " the Batopedi Monastery case should be cleared out and responsibilities should be attributed. In parallel, Mount Athos, the birthplace of Culture and Principles, must be protected and safeguarded".

Roussopoulos Response

In response to PASOK presidents speech in Halkida, government spokesman, Thodoros Roussopoulos said "the era of illimitable promises belongs to the past. Citizens do not need big words and no deeds which PASOK easily distributes. They indicate the road of the specific strategy of work and result for the country and the people which the Government is following with consistency".

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[02] At GCP Festival

21 Σεπ 2008 20:30:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA

Events of the GCP Youth Festival concluded on Sunday with a speech by the general secretary of the partys Central Committee Aleka Papariga. Among the basic points of her speech, she underlined that a social and political coalition which takes into consideration correlation of force and differences of allies on the issue of socialism is the partys response for an exit from deadlocks. She also stressed that daily struggle was more than ever necessary and should be targeted to reversal and victory of peoples power and peoples economy.

Commenting on bipartisanism, Mrs. Papariga called on people to put a halt to bourgeois class efforts to restore a bipartisan derby or an interim period of either center-right or center-left coalition governments by stop seeking for differences and weakening their force. She said that the only substantial difference is their selfish competition on who is going to win the rule of the country, adding "Do not trust forces of opportunism, who are trying to flatter people and mislead them with so called leftist governments without any intention to deal a blow to the power of monopolios.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[03] SYN Youth Festival

21 Σεπ 2008 20:02:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105.8, ΑNA

SYN party president, A. Tsipras delivered a speech within the frame of SYN Youth Festival. He among others stressed: We are ruled by a government which no one can any longer tolerate. A government which started to rule with realism and responsibility but proved to be fully engaged in all means to grow rich, in any jiggery-pokery at the expense of public wealth. The blue children had been waiting for too long to come to office and the results are: bestmen case, overpriced bonds, para-judicial circles, tappings, abductions, Siemens and now the Batopedi case. As the time passes there is more to come to light, such as profits from OTE sale, closing of Olympic Airways and concessions for any makeshift store to turn into a private university. We will learn which was the personal benefit of a strategy that provides huge gains for banks, large businesses at the time when temporary, uninsured and low-paid jobs and dependence from family seems to be the young peoples future.

He also criticized PASOK for stabilizing big economic interests during its ruling and now trying to emerge actually exercising opposition on Simitis government as what G. Papandreou referred to in his speech in Thessaloniki were measures and proposals against a policy implemented by his party. Mr. Tsipras blamed both large parties for untrustworthiness and resort to any means that will create impressions. Finally he said that the SYN party wants to be stronger not to share part of the ruling power but to defend human dignity, social rights and the environment. We want to change balances and correlation of forces and we to materialize the realistic and feasible and not those who loot society.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[04] Probe into Batopedi Case Continues

Sources: ΝΕΤ

Probe into the exchange of real estate properties case, in which the Batopedi monastery is involved, continues with the interrogation of tens of witnesses. In parallel, the decisions of the Mount Athos Double Holy Meeting- according to reports during monks maintained that the case has exposed Mount Athos- are expected. The issue is not political but judicial said former PASOK undersecretary Apostolos Basiakos, to whom head monk Efraim refers along with Mr. Drys, Basiakos and Doukas. In the meantime, Suprem Court Prosecutor, George Sanidas belied article carried in a Sunday newspaper quoting that he attributed responsibilities to politicians, adhering to his initial position that competent ministers were misled.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

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