The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-06-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK Attacks the Government on Economy

Katseli accused the government of rising taxes to middle and low incomes, reducing the buying force, promoting adjustments to banks and more specifically to big businesses, of non provision of funds in education, health, of reducing state investments and of selling profitable state businesses.

Katseli s also stressed that the result of the Euro election constitutes the condemn of the government's financial policy and called on the Prime Minister to lead the country to elections as soon as possible. ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA

Older news items: News item: 23425

[02] The Government Excludes Co Operation with LAOS-Attacks PASOK

The government through its spokesman ended today the scenarios speaking per co operation with LAOS.

Governmental spokesman Evangelso Antonaros when asked if the government focuses on public safety issues, he stressed that specific initiatives were part of the government's agenda before the completion of the elections and that now they are going to be applied.

"The government is always doing what it has to do. The security of the country's citizens was always and still is the government's main priority", he said.

At the same time, he expressed severe criticism against socialist party PASOK stressing that the opposition party through its spokesman who is heading to Brussels insists on misinforming the Greek people that there is a chance to abolish or cancel the stability agreement. He accused PASOK that does not realize or intentionally does not wish to realize that all countries must comply to the stability agreement and added that no one speaks of abolition not even within the European union.

"PASOK must now tell the truth to Greek citizens, without attempting for once more to misinform them". Finally, when asked if the government is going to take measures in order to reduce deficit, Antonaros answered that the government targets at reducing state expenses and cracking down tax evasion.

News item: 23419

[03] G. Karatzaferis: âThe Original is always Betterâ

Karatzaferis called on ND PMs who "feel the disaster coming and know that they can not re elect in the forthcoming national elections" to affiliate with LAOS.

More specifically Karatzaferis said: "We live nodal times, Karamanlis seems as he does not understand and as he advocates PASOK coming in power. For this reason we asked for co operation. Mr. Karamanlis did not wish to co operate with use. But this is his right and his problem as far as the basis of the New Hellenic Republic is concerned. PASOK does not come as a parenthesis but stays for decades. In the old times there was Andreas Papandreou that raised the people. Today, Giorgos Papandreou does not captivate the people but Karamanlis makes sure that he becomes the next Prime Minister. We in LAOS battle for democracy we battle to save the country from overrunning from PASOK. We will face PASOK alone...", he concluded.

As per the prints speaking of the Prime Minister adopting Karatzaferis' agenda, that is extreme policies, Karatzaferis answered: "The original is always better".

News item: 23414

[04] Papariga's Criticism on Other Parties

Regarding ruling New Democracy (ND) party, Papariga said that "based on the statements made by the prime minister ND is determined to continue to support the financially stronger (classes) regardless of the cost."

Papariga accused main opposition PASOK party of "blatant demagogy" and of adopting a "provocative stance", adding that it "categorises big capital into bad and good" -- offering no solution to the working classes.

Referring to the rightist Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS), she stated that this party "attempts to highlight, as a problem, the issue of immigration, claiming that it (illegal immigration) affects people's security."

The communist leader said the rival Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) "can offer no solution ... its agenda is a dead end."

On the environmental concerns and the emergence of a Greens party from Greece in the European Parliament, the KKE general secretary stated that "the existing ecological problems cannot be left in the hands of an NGO or political entities."

Finally, commenting on the reduction of the mandatory military service, announced by the defence minister a day earlier, Papariga stated that "serving in the armed forces is not a profession ... such decisions undermine the country's defence capability," while adding: "one is left with a sense that a mercenary army is being formed."

Source: Athens News Agency

News item: 23406

[05] Search for Air France âBlack Boxesâ Continues

The first bodies recovered from the Air France plane which crashed into the Atlantic last week have been returned to Brazil, officials say.The remains were taken by helicopter to Fernando de Noronha, off the coast of Brazil.

Officials say 28 bodies have now been recovered from the Atlantic, up from 16. A total of 228 people were on the plane when it went down on 1 June. Earlier, a search team recovered a large tail section from the ocean.

The US is sending two sophisticated listening devices to Brazil to help in the search for the plane's "black box" data recorders. The devices, which can detect signals from the black boxes up to a depth of 20,000ft (6,100m), will be taken to two French tugs on site. The boxes are capable of emitting signals for 30 days. A French submarine is also expected to arrive this week at the crash site to help with the search.

Investigators have so far focused on whether the plane's speed sensors stopped working properly just before it crashed in turbulent weather. French officials have said the sensors could have iced over, meaning pilots may have flown into a storm without knowing their speed.

BBC: Jet crash bodies arrive in Brazil

News item: 23388

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