The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-05-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] The Plane Crash Spreads Grief throughout the Netherlands

The reasons why the Libyan airliner crashed Wednesday at the Tripoli airport remain sketchy. Of the 104 people on board the plane, only a nine-year-old boy from the Netherlands managed to survive. The boy was returning from South Africa, where he had gone along with his parents and older brother for vacations. The plane was new and had been active since September. As many as 70 Dutch nationals were killed in the plane crash, said the Dutch Foreign Ministry.

Investigation in Full Swing

A group of US experts are due in Tripoli to take part in the investigation into the plane crash, said the head of the Al Afriqiyah board.

The Libyan Transport Minister, on his part, assured that Libya is ready to assist the investigation by offering the appropriate equipment.

Young Dutch Survivor's Condition Is Stable

The little boy that survived the crash has already undergone several operations, but his condition is stable.

Experts say that children stand better chances of surviving such crashes. A plane seat embraces a child's body reducing injury risks.

Condolences

EU officials expressed their condolences over the plane crash to Libya and the Netherlands.

"On behalf of the European Commission and on my own behalf I express our sincere condolences and our deepest sympathy and solidarity with the families of all the victims. Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration," read European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso's message to Libyan authorities.

The EU's president, Herman Van Rompuy, addressed himself to the Dutch premier Jan Balkenende, telling him he was "shocked at the tragic plane crash this morning in Tripoli in which so many Dutch citizens perished."

Source: NET, ANA/MPA News item: 36525

[02] Unemployment Climbs to 12.1%

Unemployment in February 2010 rose to 12.1%. It stood at 11.3% a month ago. The unemployed climbed to 154,280 people. Unemployment has mainly hit women and people aged between 15 and 24.

Reactions

ND spokesman Panos Panagiotopoulos blasted the government for failing to take measures to address unemployment. Stressing that the problem has assumed alarming dimensions, Panagiotopoulos said that the Prime Minister should have taken specific measures to boost economic activities.

"Unemployment is bound to rise even further when tons of small and medium sized enterprises close down, when the work contracts of hundreds of workers are not renewed," stressed SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left).

In the meantime, the Employment Minister said that uninsured labour amounts to 25%. Andreas Loverdos said that inspections surfaced problems in uninsured labour.

Source: NET, ANA/MPA News item: 36521

[03] List of Tax Evaders Released

In a drive to stamp out tax evasion, the Finance Ministry released lists with the names of doctors and medical laboratories that have failed to pay their taxes. The stiffest fine that has been imposed amounts to 1,326,000 euros. It was imposed on a Piraeus-based medical laboratory. In the meantime, the Financial Ministry is considering confiscating the bank accounts of those who owe money to the state, with a view to collecting dues standing at 32 billion euros.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA News item: 36519

[04] Migration Policy Institute Gets Abolished

The Interior Ministry decided to have the Migration Policy Institute closed down due to its high operation cost.

The grounds behind the above decision rest on the fact that the Institute's operation failed to be in agreement with its public mission assigned.

The Migration Policy Institute was founded in 2002 with a view to carrying out studies regarding the planning and implementation of Greece's migration policy.

The Interior Minister said that despite the bold aid given to the Institute, it failed to cover its expenditure which rose to 3, 574 and 2,958 million euros in 2008 and 2009.

Source: ANA/MPA News item: 36518

[05] Gas Rig Sinks in the Caribbean

A Venezuelan natural gas exploration rig sank in the Caribbean sea early on Thursday, but all 95 workers were evacuated safely and there was no leakage, the government said.

The accident came less than a month after a rig owned by BP exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, triggering one of the world's worst-ever oil spills.

Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said there was no gas escaping at the Aban Pearl rig site after the platform disappeared beneath the waves near the northeast coast of the OPEC nation, close to the Trinidad and Tobago islands.

"At 2:20 a.m. (6:50 GMT) the rig sunk completely. I flew over it this morning and there is nothing to see," Ramirez told Reuters.

State oil company PDVSA said the Dragon 6 oil field where the rig was working was successfully sealed after the accident.

Venezuela, one of the world's leading oil exporters, has suffered a series of fires and maintenance problems at its network of refineries in recent years.

News of the accident at the rig -- owned by Petromarine Energy Services Ltd, a Singapore-based company that is linked to India's Aban Offshore -- broke from President Hugo Chavez's Twitter account.

He said all the workers had been rescued at the exploration site, which is run by state oil firm PDVSA. "They were evacuated and at the moment two Navy patrols are moving to the area," said the Tweet at 3:11 a.m. local time (0741 GMT).

Source: Reuters News item: 36515

[06] Koronias Testifies on Siemens Case

It was former VODAFONE HELLAS CEO Giorgos Koronias' turn to testify Thursday before the inquiry committee investigating the Siemens scandal. Brokers who are allegedly involved in the case will also testify. In the meantime, the inquiry committee, with a view to putting an end to press reports that associate certain people with suspected bank accounts, decided to issue an announcement branding the information as groundless and stressing that the investigation is still underway and unable to yield results.

ND spokesman Panos Panagiotopoulos said that his party believe that light should be shed to all cases that have to do with the spending of public money, since, as he said, the political system can't stand any grey zones.

Source: NET, NET 105.8 News item: 36512

[07] National Level Exams Commence on Friday

National level exams for admission to tertiary education are to commence on Friday. The exams will run through 31 May. For the first time after four years, the minimum grade for admission to higher education will be abolished.

Source: NET, NET 105.8

News item: 36509

[08] Turkish PM Due in Athens - Interview with NET

Tayyip Erdogan's two-day visit to Athens, on Friday and Saturday, is seen by the Greek government as a chance to have the ties between Greece and Turkey improved. Shorty before his arrival to Athens, the Turkish Prime Minister was interviewed by journalist Maria Houkli who travelled to Istanbul to interview him.

Interview with NET

Tayyip Erdogan is to embark on a two-day official visit to Athens on Friday and Saturday accepting George Papandreou's invitation. He will be accompanied by 10 ministers and about 100 businessmen.

Speaking on NET, he placed emphasis on his visit, as he thinks it is a chance for the two countries to improve their ties.

He also touched on the midair tension in the Aegean, claiming that the uncontrollable armaments harm both sides. Erdogan noted that Athens and Ankara have to find a way to bridge their differences.

Among the topics to run high on the agenda are the reinforcement of economical ties, the Turkish violations in the Aegean, the issue of mutual armament cuts, the Cyprus row and Turkey's EU bid.

The cooperation council between seven Greek ministers and the ten ones escorting Erdogan will hold a meeting on Friday under the chairmanship of the two Prime Ministers.

Later on, the Greek-Turkish business forum will take place.

On Friday noon, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas will brief the PASOK lawmakers on Erdogan's visit and the developments in the Cyprus standoff.

Statements by Davutoglu

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu hailed Erdogan's visit to Athens as a "revolution," further stressing that the key goal is to alter the atmosphere in the relations with Greece and change the idea that the two countries are rivals.

Speaking on HABERTURK TV, Davutoglu argued that Turkey is not only after minimizing tensions with Greece but also maximizing cooperation so that there is no reason for tensions.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA News item: 36504

[09] Crackdown on Tax Evasion

Fighting tax evasion is the government's key goal, not only to increase revenues but also to have the feeling of social justice boosted among the people. The Finance Minister has embarked on the crackdown on tax evasion through sweeping checks on freelancers, artists and civil servants and imposing stiff penalties on the offenders. Speaking on NET radio station, a high-profile Finance Ministry official D. Georgakopoulos stressed that the crackdown on tax evasion would be ruthless.

Battling against Time to Fight Tax Evasion

D. Georgakopoulos warned that those tax offices' heads who failed to meet the goals set for the first quarter and provided inadequate explanations would be immediately replaced.

He further added that the figures to be made public would be spectacular.

The results generated by checks that have already wrapped up are to be released.

Prosecutors will intervene in cases where tax evasion incidents exceed 150,000 euros.

Source: NET, NET 105.8

News item: 36499

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