The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-12-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Iran Foreign Min. Meets with Papoulias-Droutsas

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who is paying an official visit to Greece, met with the President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas on Monday. Both expressed support to resolution of Iran nuclear program through negotiations and Greece's hope and wish for a positive result and peaceful solution. On his part Iranian Foreign Minister stressed that Greece could become an important energy hub for Europe. In the meantime, UN Security Council 5 permanent members and Germany started a new round of talks on Iran nuclear program. The two-day talks are expected to be difficult since Iran continues refusing to suspend its uranium enrichment program.Teheran announced yesterday that it fully controls production of nuclear fuel, raising the West's fears.

Greek President Supports Peaceful Resolution of Problems

Greek President Karolos Papulias, in his meeting with Manouchehr Mottaki earlier today, expressed support to dialogue and negotiations regarding Iran nuclear program and objection to any possibility of war confrontation and described the situation prevailing as "lack of credibility".

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA/ÌPA

News item: 50806

[02] Police Looking for Hide outs & Suspects

All six people arrested on Sunday- George Karayiannidis 30yo, Hristos Politis 31yo, Stella Antoniou 26yo, Dimitris Mihail 26yo, Konstantinos Sakkas 26yo and Alexandros Mitrousia 21- charged with participation in terrorist organization, weapon possession, supply and possession of explosive material, have asked for postponement till Tuesday to face interrogator. The six suspects told public prosecutor that they neither knew the content of the report nor their rights were observed. Arrest warrants for participation in terrorist organization "Cells of Fire" against Mitrousia and Karayiannidis were pending . Hristos Politis had been interrogated for arson attack in May, 2008, and released under terms.

In the meantime, police continue investigations after finding several hide outs. Police believe the 6 young people arrested were planning attack on Monday on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos 15yo.

However, the weapons found in Nea Smirni, Kallithea and Piraeus hide outs had not been used in terrorist actions while results on ballistic tests on weapons found in Agrinio hide out are expected today.

In an interview with newspaper "Ta Nea", Minister for Protection of Citizen Hristos Papoutsis said that masterminds of terrorist ring were arrested and reconfirmed that they were planning a new attack.

Defense Minister E. Venizelos described the mission as success of the Greek police.

See: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 50645

[03] Eurogroup-Ecofin Crucial Meetings

A crucial week for developments in Greek economy begins today. Prime-minister G. Papandreou is in Brussels to discuss extension of time for repayment of 110 billion euros loan with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in view of EU Summit meeting on Decemeber, 17. Eurogroup and Ecofin which meet on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively are also to examine extension of repayment period. Chief of International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss Khan, who arrives in Athens on Tuesday, is expected to ask the Eurogroup for a more robust rescue fund and extension of the European Central Bank state bonds' purchase program for countries facing problems in order to ease markets.

In the meantime, Eurogroup president Zean Claude Yunker and Italian Finance Minister Julio Tremonti, in a joint article in Financial Times newspaper, present a plan for the immediate creation of a European Debt Management Agency entitled to issue European bonds.

Germany objects to this plan. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has categorically rejected both the issue of a common "Eurobond" and the extension of rescue mechanism beyond 750 billion euros as decided in May.

D. Kouselas Meets with DOY Heads

Finance undersecretary Dimitris Kouselas meeting with the heads of the largest Internal Revenue offices in Attica is also considered crucial for the course of revenues and particularly the collection of 5.9 billion euros will the end of the month to close 2010 budget smoothly.

Following his briefing of the President of the Republic, Bank of Greece governor, George Provopoulos will present the interim report on monetary policy to the Parliament Economics Committee this afternoon,

"We must achieve and get back on track as soon as possible", said George Provopoulos, governor of the Bank of Greece during his meeting with the President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias. Mr. Provopoulos underlined that we are in the mid of a tough and painful effort to correct long-standing accumulated weaknesses and problems.

On his part, Mr. Papoulias said: "the problems are many and serious and need patience and method to be resolved", and added "It is a realistic estimation and I believe many agree with it".

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA/ÌPA, ÍÅÔ

News item: 50743

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