Tests tapescripts

TEST 1

Israel kills 17 in response to Palestinian attacks

AM - Wednesday, 16 January , 2008  08:16:00

Reporter: David Hardaker

TONY EASTLEY: The Gaza Strip has seen its bloodiest day for more than a year with Israeli forces killing 17 Palestinians, including three civilians.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has denounced Israel's attacks as a massacre and a slap in the face to efforts to resume peace-making.Israel says it was acting to defend itself against continued rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.Middle East Correspondent, David Hardaker reports.DAVID HARDAKER: It's only been four days since US President George W Bush left Israel and the West Bank after promoting peace talks.It was widely predicted that Israel would wait until his departure to increase its attacks on the Gaza Strip and so it came to pass: an attack which left close to 20 dead and dozens severely wounded.Among the dead was the son of Mahmoud al-Zahar, who's a founding member of the Hamas movement and one of its most militant leaders. For him the political became very personal.MAHMOUD AL-ZAHAR: This is one of the results of Bush visit. He encouraged the Israeli to kill the Palestinian people and we are going to defend ourselves by all means.DAVID HARDAKER: The deaths came during an Israeli air and ground operation on the eastern side of Gaza City.Israel says it took the action to stop Palestinian militants from firing rockets into the border town of Sderot - and beyond. Hamas has taken responsibility for a barrage of rockets over the last 24 hours. Israel government spokesman Mark Regev:MARK REGEV: Only today, an innocent farmer was murdered by gunfire from the Gaza Strip. And unfortunately, every day over the last weeks and months we've had continuous terrorist activities - mortar shells, rockets, small arms fire. And it's our obligation to do what we can to protect our people.DAVID HARDAKER: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas denounced what he called the massacre and butchery of the Palestinian people.(Mahmoud Abbas speaking)"We say to the world and to Israel we can't remain silent about crimes such as these. In no way whatsoever can it bring peace," he said.But Mr Abbas is in a difficult position. He's been embraced by the US President and Palestinians have watched as he's shaken hands and smiled with Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert.In the eyes of many Palestinians, it means Mr Abbas has become a traitor to the Palestinian cause.Hamas leaders said as much today, of the man known as Abu Mazen.Mahmoud al-Zahar:MAHMOUD AL-ZAHAR: This is the hope of Abu Mazen and his colleagues. They collaborate with Israel and the spies of America.(Ismail Haniyeh speaking)DAVID HARDAKER: "Shame on those who shake hands with occupation leaders, who sit with the occupier during these crimes and massacres," said former Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh

This is David Hardaker in Jerusalem, reporting for AM.

TEST 2

Romania and Bulgaria join EU

AM - Wednesday, 27 September , 2006  08:16:00

Reporter: Stephanie Kennedy

TONY EASTLEY: During his time at Number 10 Downing Street, Tony Blair has seen and supported a radical expansion of the EU.Romania and Bulgaria will officially join the European Union early next year, 12 months ahead of schedule.The EU has agreed to admit the two Eastern European countries to its exclusive club, but under strict conditions.But enlarging the EU could pose big problems for Britain and its new Prime Minister.Since the last expansion two years ago, there's been an influx of half a million immigrants into the UK.Stephanie Kennedy reports from London.STEPHANIE KENNEDY: In 2004, the European Union allowed 10 countries to join, but Romania and Bulgaria missed out on the big eastward expansion.Now their time has come.The European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, said both countries had made enough progress to join the union a year ahead of schedule.JOSE MANUEL BARROSO: Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to the European Union is an historic achievement. It makes our union safer and stronger.STEPHANIE KENNEDY: But there are strings attached for Bulgaria and Romania, stricter than those imposed on previous new members. Both nations have been told to beef up their fight against corruption, and they must ensure there's a proper system in place to pay EU grants to farmers.Katynka Barysch is from the Centre of European Reforms.KATYNKA BARYSCH: What has to be the yardstick here is not some absolute measure of whether a country's squeaky clean or not, but can it be a reliable and effective member of the European club? And that remains to be seen, and that's why we have this strict monitoring regime and these tough conditions and these sanctions hanging over these countries, where the EU says look, you have to sort out your problems of corruption, because as soon as we sense that this affects the functioning of the EU decision-making, or the internal market, or the way we handle our EU budget, then we will clamp down and we'll make sure that you make better progress.STEPHANIE KENNEDY: The big question now is whether to allow workers from Romania and Bulgaria immediate or gradual access to the European Union's job market.Britain had an open-door policy after the last EU expansion, but that led to a flood of skilled workers - 500,000 in two years.This time the UK is warning that it's likely to put a cap on immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania.That's angered the Romanian Prime Minister, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.CALIN POPESCU-TARICEANU: I'm expecting from the British authorities to apply an equal treatment for Romania as for the other new member states who have joined the EU in 2004, because this is a basic principle, so the freedom of the workforce throughout the EU, it's a basic principle which is stated in the treaty. I don't see any reason to impose restrictions.STEPHANIE KENNEDY: And Lachezar Matev, the Bulgarian Ambassador to the UK, doesn't think there will be a mass exodus from his country.LACHEZAR MATEV: Final surveys made by independent agencies in Bulgaria show that not more than 12,000 Bulgarians will rush to Europe for the next five years, and UK's not the favoured destination, only the sixth one. Around 3,000 Bulgarians will try to establish themselves in the UK for the next two years.This is Stephanie Kennedy reporting for AM.

TEST 3