The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-06-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] K. Karamanlis: âOur Agenda Includes Path of Responsibilityâ

"Our agenda includes the path of responsibility, the path of reforms, all that has to be done and we are already doing, to water down the repercussions of the global financial crisis and to shield the nation from the next crisis," stressed Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in his interview with the Athens News Agency (ANA/MPA). He further added, "Most of the reforms are already underway. Continuity, consistency and intensification is what it takes so that they advance faster."

"Huge Public Debt"

Kostas Karamanlis highlighted the major significance of the European Parliament, since it is the venue where all important decisions are taken.

He then noted that the forecasts on economy are gloomy both for Europe and the entire world, "but, compared to other nations, we have not come up against major hardships."

Commenting on Greece's peculiarities, Karamanlis stressed that Greece's most important problem is "the huge public debt that took shape in the last decade and forces us to be always on standby."

"Reforms Are the Only Way"

Reforms require continuity and consistency, with most of them being underway, said Karamanlis, while referring to the merger of 225 public sector bodies, to OSE's restructuring, to the trimming of health spending and to the pension reform.

"We can turn the crisis into a national chance, provided that we have the political nerve to take the decisions required, decision that may cause frustration," underlined the Prime Minister.

Turkey: "Full Compliance-Full Membership"

"A Turkey that will adopt the EU standards and set of beliefs will be a better Turkey for its own citizens, its neighbours and Europe," noted Karamanlis, further adding: "This means that Turkey has and should have an EU future, as long as, as any other candidate country, fully commits to the EU standards.

FYROM: "Mutually Acceptable Name"

A mutually acceptable name with a geographical qualifier is an unquestionable prerequisite for FYROM to get backing to its EU and NATO bids, said Karamanlis, terming the decisions taken in Bucharest as correct.

Finally, the head of government noted that the challenge for the country is "Whether we will choose to support and promote the path of responsibility, which may include tough decisions, or we will be lured by the sirens of irresponsibility and populism."

Source: ANA/MPA Related news: "We Follow the Path of Responsibility"

News item: 23063

[02] Ocean Debris Come from Air France Jet

The ocean debris spotted Tuesday by Brazilian aircrafts come from the Air France jet that went missing while flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris with 228 passengers aboard. Brazil has declared three-day mourning, while France is holding religious services. The causes of the crash still remain sketchy, while experts have rushed to the site, some 650km off Brazil's Fernando de Noronha island, to look for the black boxes that could shed light to the conditions under which the airliner plunged to its doom.

Only the Black Boxes Can Give Answers

Brazilian military plane "Hercules" was the one that spotted the ocean debris, said the nation's Defence Minister. Three ships changed their course to join the search operation. Brazil's three warships also rushed to the site.

France said it will dispatch a ship of the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea equipped with two robots capable of conducting underwater search.

The causes of the crash still remain sketchy, with experts wishing to recover the jet's black boxes to see what led the Airbus to its demise.

The debris to be found will be given to the French aviation safety officials who are leading the search operation to shed light to the mystery of the crash.

Source: NET, ANA/MPA Related news: Ocean Debris Spotted

News item: 23061

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