The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-01-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papathanasiou-Almunia Meeting in Brussels

Finance Minister, Yiannis Papathanasiou is to meet with European Union Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, in Brussels, on Monday to be briefed on national economies flexibility provided by the reformed stability pact. In parallel, the Commssion will announce its economic report on EU member states, expected to predict deep recession according to reports. Meanwhile, former Prime-minister Kostas Simitis, in his statement to "Eleftherotypia" newspaper predicted fractures in the euro protection of Greece's economy, stressing that the problem was not exclusively financial but to a great extent it was due to formulation and implementation of policy. FinMin Yiannis Papathanasiou is likely to meet with the Presidents of the European Central Bank and Eurogroup, Zean Claude Trichet and Jean-Claude Juncker respectively.

European Commission economic forecast, expected to predict deep recession is to be released on Monday. During his meeting with bankers, Mr. Papathanasiou called for acceleration of liquidity injection plan to the benefit of the market and businesses. The two sides also agreed to immediately activate the third pole of the â¬28 billion rescue plan, that is guarantee of credits while talks between Bank of Greece and bankers for the signing of liquidity measures are about to conclude. They also discussed technical interventions regarding sponsion fund for small and very small businesses to widen its effectiveness. Finally, it was announced that state inspectors would assume duties next week to observe course of injection of liquidity to real economy.

Sources: ÁNA-ÌPA-ÍÅÔ

News item: 17845

[02] Under the Microscope of Antiterrorism Body

In a multi-page proclamation sent to "To Pontiki" newspaper, the "Revolutionary Struggle" organization claims responsibility for attacks against Riot Police squad in Exarheia, where young policeman Diamantis Mantzounis was injured, Riot Police bus on December, 23, in Goudi as well as an unsuccessful bomb attack against an oil company in Faliro.

The Eharheia attack was the response to 15 yo Alexandros Grigoropoulos death says the proclamation. The Anti-terrorism Body is already examining the proclamation of the Revolutionary Struggle organization.

Use of violence is condemnable whatever its source is said government spokesman, Evangelos Antonaros. "There is no excuse and I will not waste any time on texts by some who want to justify the use of violence" said Mr. Antonaros.

News item: 17754

[03] Russia-Ukraine Struck a Deal

At his news conference with Mrs Tymoshenko, Mr Putin said that discounts for both Russian gas supplied to Ukraine and the transit rate charged by Kiev would apply for the current year. They also agreed that from 1 January 2010, Russia and Ukraine will entirely move to price and tariff formation fully in accordance with European standards without any exemptions or discounts as regards both the transit and the price of gas.

Bilateral talks were suspended at the end of 2008 disrupting gas flow to much of Europe via Ukraine. EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80% of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. Russia Gazprom switched off the gas this month, accusing Ukraine firstly of failing to pay for its own supply, then later of stealing gas meant for other countries. In the last days Gazprom was trying to restore partial gas flow to Europe but Ukrainian network proved unprepared. However, Ukraine asked Russian reserves to cover the so called "technological gas" necessary to maintain efficient pressure on the network. On its part Russia insisted that "technological gas" was obligation of the transit country on the grounds of Moscow-Kiev contract and made counter-proposal for creation of European consortium to share the cost of technological gas, indirectly financing Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin and Yulia Tymoshenko talks started at noon on Saturday and continued between the two countries delegations till the early hours on Sunday while the two Prime-ministers attended the mid of the emergency gas Summit hosted by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with the participation of representatives of the Czech Republic, which holds the EU rotating presidency as well as Presidents and Prime-ministers from post soviet union Commonwealth of Independent States.

EU expressed satisfaction but reserved optimism at Russia-Ukraine deal, which will restore gas supplies to Europe.EU Commission spokesman underlined that this period was regarded as a test case for judging whether or not they are credible partners.

News item: 17842

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