The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-05-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] New Projects on âGreen Enterprisesâ

Ministry of development announced three new projects on green enterprises that will be put into effect in June 20. These projects will involve the support of businesses in sectors like: litter management, recycling, saving energy and improvement of competitiveness of businesses transferred into organized industrial areas.

30% to 60% of community grants and national resources will be provided to business actions and investments related to environmental development. The total budget of the three new projects will amount up to 136 million Euros.

These projects are called "Green Infrastructure 2009", "Green Operation 2009", and "Transfer 2009". Financing proposals will have to be submitted from July 20 until September 22. The proposals' first assessment stage will last from September 23 to November 20.

The project "Green Infrastructure" targets at boosting and supporting the creation of new businesses in litter management and utilization, material recovery, recycling and decontamination.

The project "Green Operation" will finance actions on litter management and distribution, pollutant emission control, green products' development, energy and water resources saving, prototype integration. The total budget per each project will start from 30.000 to 20.000 Euros.

The "Transfer" project will boost business transferring to organized industrial areas. This project will be financed wit 16 billion euro, 8 million of which will be provided by state financing.

The bill related to the projects will be submitted for approval to Parliament soon.

News item: 22859

[02] N. Korea Threatens to Abandon the 1953 Ceasefire

Pyongyang has threatened to attack South Korean, after Saulâs decision to join a US-led initiative to search ships for nuclear weapons. In the meantime, North Korea test-fired yet another missile, while South Korean press reports read Pyongyang re-opened a nuclear facility.

"Powerful Military Strike"

"Any hostile act against our peaceful vessels, including search and seizure, will be considered an unpardonable infringement on our sovereignty," a spokesman for the North's army told KCNA news agency. KCNA also said that the military warned that it no longer considered itself bound by the terms of a 1953 ceasefire which ended the war between the two Koreas.

News item: 22837

[03] In View of the European Parliament Elections

Less than two weeks prior to the European Parliament elections and a day before the debate of the political leaders, the political parties are intensifying their campaign and drafting their strategies. The central elections committee of the ruling party of ND held Wednesday morning a session chaired by the Prime Minister. Exiting the meeting, Marietta Giannakou, head of the ND euro ballot, expressed her conviction that there will not be a low turnout and called on all voters to cast their ballots. "I am not intimidated by abstention," said she.

"ND is steadfast on following the harsh path and demonstrating responsibility in a tough period. The results have vindicated us," commented Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis. Asked on the debate, she hoped there will be a serious dialogue free of populism and demagogy.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos stressed there is a huge gap in the political speech of the two major political parties. Drilled to comment the rising popularity of the Greens, Pavlopoulos claimed that results

National Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis said that there is a low turnout throughout Europe and the challenge of all the political forces is to talks the citizens into voting.

Asked on the possibility of snap elections, Meimarakis said that the general elections will take place in 2011, unless the Socialist party (PASOK) sabotages the election of the President of the Republic. Meimarakis noted that snap elections would be detrimental to the country's economy, further adding that the Prime Minister has unveiled a long-vision programme.

Commenting on the credibility of the surveys, the National Defence Minister said he has never questioned them.

Lefteris Zagoritis, secretary of the Central Committee, said that the TV spots are resourceful, aiming to informing the people. "They are promoting the work done by Kostas Karamanlis, the government and ND," said he, also claiming that the nation needs a government that knows the solutions to the problems and Kostas Karamanlis knows them and can implement them.

News item: 22850

[04] Papandreou: âEither we change or we sinkâ

Socialist party (PASOK) leader Giorgos Papandreou in his TV interview in Zappeio Mansion branded the forthcoming Euro elections a referendum. The dilemma, he said is "either we change or we sink". Papandreou estimates that after the completion of the elections, the Prime Minister will be forced to proceed to national elections that will take place before March.

SOURCE: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105,8-ÁNA/ÌNA

News item: 22866

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