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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
ATHENS, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A new interim1 Greek public television channel went on air on Wednesday, a month after the sudden closure of state broadcaster ERT in the context of efforts to overhaul2 civil services and tackle the Greek debt crisis. The step had caused strong reactions, leading to a political crisis.
"Greek Public Television" (EDT) started broadcasts on Wednesday evening with a classic Greek film transmitting from the premises3 of a private production company, since ERT's headquarters are still occupied by the protesting 2,600 dismissed employees.
According to Deputy Minister responsible for public television Pantelis Kapsis, EDT will be broadcasting films and documentaries for the next few days until a team of journalists will be hired shortly to start covering the news.
Under the government's plan the new public television and radio service NERIT (New Greek Radio, Internet and Television) which is expected to be operating with less personnel, will be on air in two months. A bill for NERIT's establishment is currently debated at the parliament.
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' move to shut down ERT overnight as a "hub of waste and corruption4" and dismiss all staff sparked protests which led to the withdrawal5 of one of the junior parties from his coalition6 government three weeks ago.
The conservative leader and his socialist7 coalition partner defend the overhaul as a necessary change under the austerity and reform program implemented8 since 2010 under bailout deals with international lenders in order to slash9 deficits10 and restore growth in Greece.
With ERT's shutdown the government inaugurated the mass sackings of civil servants for first time in decades, overturning a constitutional guarantee of a job for life for employees in the public sector11.
Following marathon negotiations12 with European Union and International Monetary13 Fund creditors14 in order to secure further rescue loans, Athens pledged on Monday to proceed with no further delays to the layoffs15 of 4,000 civil servants by the end of this year and pave the way for the dismissals of up to 12,500 employees in 2014.
The resumption of television broadcasts on Wednesday prompted the anger of ERT employees, Press unions and opposition16 parties which condemned17 the step as unacceptable.
As employees of the former broadcaster continue broadcasting via live stream, insisting on the reopening of ERT with all personnel, press unions called a work stoppage for all private television channels on Thursday "in solidarity18 with ERT employees."Meanwhile in protest of the new set of policies pushed by the government after the fresh deal with lenders, and in particular the planned mass layoffs, the two umbrella unions of public and private sector employees ADEDY and GSEE called a general strike for June 16. On the same day the multi- bill containing the measures is expected to be put to vote in parliament.
Protesters claim that the new round of harsh steps will fuel unemployment and recession. The measures were requested by lenders as prerequisites19 for the disbursement20 of further vital bailout tranches to Greece in coming weeks.
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1 interim | |
adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间 | |
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2 overhaul | |
v./n.大修,仔细检查 | |
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3 premises | |
n.建筑物,房屋 | |
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4 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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5 withdrawal | |
n.取回,提款;撤退,撤军;收回,撤销 | |
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6 coalition | |
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合 | |
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7 socialist | |
n.社会主义者;adj.社会主义的 | |
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8 implemented | |
v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 );执行;贯彻;使生效 | |
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9 slash | |
vi.大幅度削减;vt.猛砍,尖锐抨击,大幅减少;n.猛砍,斜线,长切口,衣衩 | |
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10 deficits | |
n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 );赤字;亏空;亏损 | |
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11 sector | |
n.部门,部分;防御地段,防区;扇形 | |
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12 negotiations | |
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过 | |
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13 monetary | |
adj.货币的,钱的;通货的;金融的;财政的 | |
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14 creditors | |
n.债权人,债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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15 layoffs | |
临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 ); 停工,停止活动 | |
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16 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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17 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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18 solidarity | |
n.团结;休戚相关 | |
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19 prerequisites | |
先决条件,前提( prerequisite的名词复数 ) | |
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20 disbursement | |
n.支付,付款 | |
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