The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-06-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Illegal emigration: Invitation for Dialogue

Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said the government steadfastly and consistently seeks to consult with opposition parties on issues of crucial importance for the country and citizens, charging however, that its efforts have faced a constant and permanent 'no' - primarily from main opposition PASOK.

Antonaros said Markoyiannakis had sent a similar letter on May 5 but had received no reply from any of the political parties. He stressed that those who again refused would be "solely responsible" for their refusal to participate and that the government had done its duty.

The spokesman pointed out, meanwhile, that the issue of illegal immigration will be discussed at the upcoming European Council next week as a result of the Greek government's diplomatic initiatives.

"We are interested in tangible results and not the ephemeral and noisy drum-beating that others resort to in the hope that their voice will be heard," he added, contrasting the government's stance with "those who restrict themselves to general wish-lists or who present existing actions as their own initiatives".

"Certainly there is a problem and I think that it must adopt different directions. Firstly, it must create record of all these people. All must be provided with documents. A part of illegal emigrants should have been incorporated and their children should have been provided the Greek nationality", SYRIZA president of Parliamentary group Alavanos stressed and criticized severely José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission because as he said he treats emigrants like sacks and Greece as storehouse.

Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) responded positively to the invitation but expressed reservations.

"Despite the fact that we are not convinced yet that this is another communicative "firework" and as we as a political Party are in favor of the democratic dialogue, LA.OS will participate to the meeting and will be represented by Ambassador Giorogs Georgiou, LA.OS press representative Kostas Aivaliotis said.

Source: Athens News Agency

News item: 23540

[02] WHO Warns that Battle against Á (Ç1Í1) will be Long

The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic Thursday, the first global flu epidemic in 41 years as infections in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere climbed to nearly 30,000 cases.

The long-awaited pandemic announcement is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. WHO will now ask drugmakers to speed up production of a vaccine, which it said would be available after September. The declaration will also prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.

WHO chief Dr. Margaret Chan said she was moving to phase 6, which means a pandemic, or global epidemic, is under way.

WHO appeals to Pharmaceutical Companies to Make Swine Flu Vaccines

WHO will now recommend that pharmaceutical companies make swine flu vaccine. The agency typically recommends which flu strains drug companies should use in the vaccines. In a global outbreak, WHO also advises whether companies should make pandemic vaccine.

Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline PLC said it could start commercial production of pandemic vaccine in July but that it would take months before large quantities are available.

The World Health Organization has urged pharmaceutical companies to reserve part of their swine flu vaccines for poor countries.

Glaxo spokesman Stephen Rea said the company's first doses of vaccine would be reserved for countries who had ordered it in advance, including Belgium, Britain and France. He said Glaxo would also donate 50 million doses to WHO for poor countries.

Cases Rise

China has confirmed 126 cases of swine flu on the mainland. There have been no reports of deaths.

Spain said on Thursday that the number of schools in the Madrid region hit by swine flu has reached 22, with 139 children infected

In Dusseldorf, the Japanese school in Dusseldorf has been closed following an outbreak of swine flu which has infected at least 32 pupils, officials in the west German city said Thursday.

The Moroccan Health Ministry says it has detected the first case of H1N1 Swine Flu in the North African kingdom. The ministry says the patient is a young woman who arrived from Montreal, Canada, earlier this week. She was detected at the airport in the northern city of Fez because she showed symptoms of high fever.

British health authorities told parliament that there were now 909 confirmed cases of swine flu in Britain and warned that there would be more.

Source: Reuters, BBC, Associated Press

News item: 23537

[03] Police Officers Accused of Murdering Griogoropoulos to stand Trial

The two police officers are detained before trial.

"Athens Mmisdemeanours Court confirmed what the victims' family claimed that this was a criminal act, contradicting that way the accused provocative claims" the defendant of the victims' family Dimitris Tsovolas said.

SOURCE: ÍÅÔ-ÍÅÔ 105,8-ÁNA/ÌNA

News item: 23533

[04] Too Soon to Reach Conclusions on Tourism

âThere are no gloomy scenarios when it comes to tourism anymore,â commented Tourism Minister Kostas Markopoulos, after his meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. âI briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of the tourism policy in our country. To be precise, I re-briefed him, because he is greatly interested.

I can tell you that the gloomy scenarios existing in the beginning of the year have disappeared. Of course, we are on constant standby, since we are still at the beginning of the season. When one is at the beginning, one cannot give percentages. â

Association of the Greek Tourism Enterprises

At the same time, the figures released by the Association of the Greek Tourism Enterprises have suggested that the arrival of foreign tourists in Greece went down by 10% in the first five months of the year, compared to the same period in 2008. Touching on the figures, the Association head Nikos Aggelopoulos stressed that the above reduction has brought about losses amounting to 18%, further adding that the number of reservations for the rest of the season is not satisfying despite the low rates.

Aggelopoulos called on the members of the Association not to lower their rates but to offer high-quality services and establish a long-term tourism policy.

News item: 23529

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