The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-11-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prime-minister's Hour

Prime-minister G. Papandreou, speaking at the Parliament, categorically belied scenarios about co exploitation of Aegean Sea energy resources with Turkey in response to LAOS president G. Karatzaferis relevant question. Mr. Papandreou said there was no question about such talks with Turkey since there is the threat of "casus belli". On his part, Mr. Karatzaferis said: "we are the first supporters of Turkey's admission to Europe when it threatens our country with war". The main opposition ND leader asked for a briefing on the same issue and blamed the Prime-minister for using the financial crisis as an alibi for submissions on national issues.

Greek Prime Minister G.GeorgeGGG Papandreou set very clear political lines concerning a possible co-exploitation of the Aegean Sea with Turkey. "There is no question of relevant discussions with Turkey on the one hand because of the threat of «casus belli» and on the other hand Turkey's questioning of Greece's sovereign rights through the ongoing FIR violations, Turkey's refusal to recognize the International Law of the Sea and finally the fact that the dispute over the continental shelf has not been resolved on the basis of International Law and the International Court of the Hague", said the Prime-minister.

"Today's efforts are targeted to examine resolution of continental shelf issue and talks naturally continue, but there is no question of talks about co-exploitation of the Aegean Sea", added Mr. Papandreou.

Sources: ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 49458

[02] Samaras: "We Won't Fall into Introversion Trap"

ND party leader A. Samaras, during his speech to his party's Parliamentary Group, launched strong criticism against the government and the "alliance of the willing" who support its economic policy. Mr. Samaras placed special weight on economic issues as well as the tragic mistakes the government insists on. "We will not become accomplices in a deadlock policy, we give our consent only to get the country into a recovery stage, nothing less", said Mr. Samaras, adding "we keep insisting on a change of economic policy mixture. If they ask for our complicity to a deadlock policy, they will not have it, they should seek elsewhere for accomplices. Some are offering crutches and some others want admission to the " coalition of the willing" said Mr. Samaras indirectly referring to Dora Bakoyianni and the ND depities that recently resigned. The ND leader said that his party's ideology is social liberalism and it is not a mass of unshaped ideas. The meeting of the ND Parliamentary Group continues closed doors.

Referring to national isues he denounced Prime-minister G. Papandreou for exercising secret diplomacy in Greek-Turkish relations and warned that he would use the financial crisis as an alibi for submissions in national issues.

Mr. Samaras also brought up the results of local administration elections maintaining that they indicated an upward trend of the ND party, its return to a protagonist role and reduction to 2 percentage points of its 10.5% gap from PASOK. "ND had never achieved this difference before".

He launched an attack against the government saying that it has fallen out in all its predictions about expenses, revenues, unemployment, inflation and supported that the government was going to take even tougher measures.

Mr. Samaras underlined that the ND had a positive proposal for the country's exit from the financial crisis with growth and recovery and that his party had proposed measures for control of state deficit, plan for the country's exit from recession and voted in favour of 30 significant draft-bills.

Petalotis: "Mr. Samaras Misleads»

Commenting on Mr. Samaras speech, government spokesman G. Petalotis said: " he would rather find a different mixture of political proposal for the ND party instead of insisting on magic solutions".

He also underlined the government's willingness for political consent on a specific agenda and announced a relevant initiative of the Prime-minister for meetings with political leaders in the next days.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA

Related News: Crucial Meeting of ND Parliamentary Group

News item: 49460

[03] Crucial Meeting of ND Parliamentary Group

A crucial meeting of ND party Parliamentary Group started at 12:00. The party's president Antonis Samaras is expected to warn deputies to put an end to introversion and underline that he would no longer tolerate differentiations. Mr. Samaras has made clear: " whoever wants to support the government and the memorandum policy not only should leave the ND party but also resign from his parliament seat". Apart from the president's speech, deputies will also take the stand after a long time.

Sources: ÍÅÔ - ÍÅÔ 105.8

News item: 49424

[04] Christina Branco in "Half Note"

Christina Branco, one of the most significant fado singers, will be at the Athens Half Note Jazz Club for a few performances from Friday, November, 26 till December, 2, 2010. Sponsor is ERT S.A.

Christina Branco in her youth had not shown any interest for fado or music in general. Her favourite music was jazz and rock and favourite singers were rather Billie Holiday and Joni Mitchell rather than Amalia Rodrigues. Actually her contact with Amalia Rodrigues, fados top singer, was accidental but determined her career as she turned to fado, however, without professional ambitions.

Quite accidentally though a live record made her widely known in Portugal and gradually in Europe. So she saw that her destine led her to music and specifically fado.

With a particular music approach and focus on its poetic aspect, Christina created an elaborated style of fado which does not contradict with the tradional. All her records show her insistence to project the beauty of Portuguese folk music.

HALF NOTE JAZZ CLUB

Trivinianou 17, Ìets

11636, Athens

Telephone: 210 9213 360

News item: 49244

[05] Introduction of New Payment System

Single Authority Payment , the new system for the payment of civil servants, is being launched on Friday with the payment of some 202.106 civil servants, who will receive their pays for the first half of December. As of December, 27, the new system is expected to include another 200.000 employees in the central administration, specifically working in the ministries of Finance, Defense, Citizens' protection, Infrastructure, Culture , Employment, Deposits and Loans Fund, General secretariat for Press and RadioTelevision National Council.

The newly introduced payment system will facilitate inspections in cases of double payments, bonuses not justifiable by relevant regulations, fake overtime, payments not corresponding with formal qualifications and salaries above⬠5.981 ceiling. First inspection revealed 65 cases while experts estimate savings of at least â¬100 million in 2011

A census was carried out to find and cut off irregular payments through the cross examination of payments and declared income. Furthermore, the implementation of the single payment authority frees employees exclusively involved in payroll service.

The Single payment Authority will also include Employees in public entities and local administration till the end of April. Employees in this system will get their salaries only through bank accounts while ones who have not registered will not get their pays.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8

News item: 49220

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