11/11/2011 GMT with George Alagiah

The Eurozone's bad boys, Greece and Italy, prepare to take a step back

from the brink of economic chaos. Athens gets a new government, Rome

are prepared to say goodbye to Berlusconi, are they serious about

Welcome to GMT. I'm Stephen Sackur. Also in the programme: Syria is

accused of crimes against humanity. Commemorations in Afghanistan and

around the world to mark Armistice Day.

It is 12:30pm in London. In Rome the upper house of the Italian

parliament has approved a sweeping set of austerity and reform

measures designed to convince international financial markets

Italy is serious about dealing with its mountain of sovereign debt. In

Athens the effort to bring the eurozone back from the brink

continues. A new government led by Lucas Papademos is about to be

sworn into office. Last night the US government demanded swift action

in Europe to end the crisis. Could today marked a turning point?

Humphrey Hawksley has the latest. The era of flamboyant showmanship

is drawing to a close. Technocrat Mario Monti heads into the Senate

building, he could be prime minister as soon as tomorrow. A

former low key European Commissioner seen as effective, a

low profile and scandal free. He was given a hero's welcome inside

the chamber, then came speeches underlining the pressure on Italy

to change direction. TRANSLATION: We hope this can pave the way to a

government that will enable it to lead to come out of this critical

situation and avoid default altogether.

The austerity package hopes to save almost 60 billion euros, and aims

to balance the budget by 2014. The measures include an increase in VAT

to 21%, up 1%. And increasing the retirement age for women to match

that of men, to 60 in 2014, and 65 in 2026. There will be measures to

fight tax evasion. The cuts will be tough, but the markets and many

Italians welcome the change Mario Monti symbolises. I think he will

be good, capable. He inherits a complete disaster but has the right

capabilities. TRANSLATION: I hope he goes better than the last lot, I

hope things improve. For us that is the message from Asian and American

finance ministers -- ministers speaking with one voice about

Europe's ability to reform. It is crucial to all of us Europe

moves quickly to put into place this plan to restore financial

stability. We are all directly affected by the crisis. The

economies of the Asia-Pacific region, gathered here today, are

run a better position than most countries to take steps to

strengthen growth in the face of the pressures from Europe.

Across Europe that other troubled country, Greece, is about to swear

in a new prime minister. It is also opting for a technocratic safe pair

of hands, Lucas Papademos is an economist, formerly with the

European Central Bank. As we reported the upper house of

the Italian parliament has approved the package of reforms in the last

few minutes, and the lower house is expected to do the same over the

weekend which should lead to the promised resignation of Silvio

Berlusconi. We are joined by Karen Jenia any -- by Our Correspondent

from Rome. Does the round of applause indicate guarantee he will

be the next prime minister and they believe that will be the right

move? If you look at the front of the newspapers you would get the

impression Mario Monti was definitely going to lead the next

government, the technocratic government as it has been called,

by different parties he wanted to take different forms, but there is

consensus in many politicians he is the man. You saw that welcome as he

walked into the Senate, a very warm and heartfelt welcome to this man

who is widely respected, even by those who don't necessarily think

he should lead the next government. I have been speaking to some MPs

and senators from Berlusconi's own party and put to them over the last

few hours whether they thought it was a definite thing that Mario

Monti would be the next prime minister. They said, hold on, there

are other names, we are not necessarily backing him. But the

consensus if you look in the papers, 10 on the television, everybody is

watching Mario Monti, talking about his safe pair of hands, his

incredible economic brain, he is head of the University in Milan, a

very prestigious university, widely seen as the next successor to

Silvio Berlusconi and all the talk is just how different he would be

Eid in this country to what Italy has had on and off over the last 70

years. I am joined by a representative from the University

of Boston. I know you have Greeks new leader, -- I know that you know

him personally, is he the man to decrease out of the mess?

Yes, I do. He is a very experienced person, a governor to the Central

Bank of Greece for many years, vice-president of the European

Central Bank. He is the right person at the right time. The Greek

government has to come up with specific plans to implement the or

austerity package which is tied to the European Union bale-out. There

is a real discussion about with Mr Papademos in power if the Greek

public will except stronger measures than they have been

prepared to accept thus far, what to do you think?

He has a short mandate for three or four months, he has to implement

the decisions of the summit to back in October October. After two years

in recession the Greek public is reluctant for a way out, and

Papademos at present, according to the polls, is the person entrusted

with the hope that next to debt management there will also be

growth measures that will allow Greece to start creating wealth

again in order for it to be able to pay its debts.

A you almost made me smile when you said that is all he has to do. He

has a massive task ahead of him. You say he has got three months in

power. It seems it is way too early to breathe a sigh of relief and

think grief -- Greece is on its path to stability. Yes, you are

right. There is still a mountain to climb for the Greek people. The

only hope is that a technocrat can do better than politicians who have

failed in the past to do their Let's take a look at some of the

In Yemen people have been killed through shelling by government

forces. This coincides with a return to Yemen of the un envoy

trying to end the months of conflict. The moment and have a

quick hit a Turkish city, 12 people on knowing to have been killed. Two

weeks ago another earthquake hit the region killing more than 600

people. Palestine's application for full

membership of the United Nations appears destined to fail as

divisions have emerged within the Security Council on the issue. The

Council is meeting today in New York to formally approve a report

into the application. Israel and the US have made plain their

opposition to the membership bid. The plight of a blind Chinese

activist has captured the imagination of people both inside

and outside the country. Chen Guangcheng used to offer legal

advice to people attempting to take on the government and now he is a

prisoner in his own home. Other activists have made regular

attempts to visit him, most are barred. We went to see if we could

meet him. Along this country roads in Shandong province lives and

activist who has become a focus on disc -- focus of discontent. He is

not allowed visitors. Shady figures garden. There we are going to try

to see him. -- shady figures guard him. The men are waiting and know

exactly what to do. There are no pleasantries. When they realise we

are journalists they forced open the doors and go through everything.

We are told to stay put. It is a glimpse into a world many don't

know it exists in China. These are not robbers. Quickly and

efficiently they are carrying out the work of the state. And no time

did these people identify themselves, but they were obviously

in authority. We were left in the car wondering what happen next and

suddenly they through our equipment back at us, closed our doors and

told us to leave quickly. They didn't want us to see this man, a

blind activist who taught himself the law. Run For All -- Dumo used

his knowledge to help women who forced to undergo abortions -- Chen

Guangcheng. This video shows how closely they keep watch.

TRANSLATION: There is no law that places restriction on him, he

should have the freedom to speak out, the freedom to meet friends.

If China's leaders hope people would forget about him they were

wrong. Dozens of activists like this man have travelled to see him.

He says he was beaten up, but that will not stop him going again.

TRANSLATION: When I heard about this blind lawyer who fight for

human rights who represents people for no personal gain, I was deeply

moved. That is why I wanted to see him.

Others have shown their support in a different way. Posting

photographs of themselves on the internet wearing dark glasses, it

just like Chen Guangcheng. The blind activist has become a symbol

of people's unhappiness with the government and its sometimes had

the handing -- heavy-handed way of dealing with discontent.

Here is a timely question, how do countries laid low by economic

meltdown recover? Iceland, at the centre of the financial storms in

2008, may provide some lessons. The President is encouraging all

Icelanders to turn a profit in their own homes by opening up their

doors to visitors. President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson is leading by

example, inviting visitors into his own home, the presidential palace.

For pancakes. We are going to invite you to visit our home, and

we will give you a delicious pancakes with cream and sugar,

Traditional Icelandic delicacy, because we favour health and good

nutrition, and extraordinary product.

Still to come, a Human Rights Watch condemns Syria for crimes against

humanity, we will here from the city which is the focus of the

uprising. First, let's get all of the

business news. We just cannot stay away from the eurozone, can we?

No. The prospect of what is now going to happen, a short-term

stabilising of the market. There are structural questions, can it

continue to exist intact? A long time ago I heard economists are

talking about the possibility of not that Greece would leave but

Germany would, and form a two-tier Europe. The reality the impact that

would have would make it difficult and there is no mechanism to do

that. Also, the decision-making process, it has taken two years to

get to this point with Greece. I spoke to Ireland's former Minister

of State for European affairs. He helped negotiate -- negotiate the

burlap package for Ireland. We need to have, sit down calmly

and look at the lessons of the last 12 months, strange and

institutional arrangements -- strengthened. We need to get away

from talking about a to tears and all of that, that undermines

confidence and would make it We also know that as Italy grapples

with its eurozone problems it has focused elsewhere because there is

a big telecoms scandal in Italy? in India! For give me! De GE to

selling off of mobile phones -- thick 2G selling off of mobile

phone licences was controversial because the many people thought

they were sold off too lightly. 17 people are on trial, one of which

is the telecoms minister. If you compare it with the previous

scams including telecoms dams, they pale into insignificance if you

look at the magnitude and personalities involved. It is a

landmark judgment, and I am shocked -- I am sure the world business

community is watching what is going on because there is a lot at stake.

A big scandal there, and part of a general feeling that India has too

cosy a relationship between the business and political elite.

Thank you. Don't forget you can keep up with

everything happening in the world today on our website. There you

will find all the latest on the eurozone crisis and also the latest

on the markets. We are seeing some stabilisation of

the markets, the FTSE up from about 0.5% there. We are seeing a

response to the stabilisation of the political crisis in Italy and

Greece. Thank you very much indeed.

You are watching GMT, I am Stephen Sackur. A headlines: The upper

house of the Italian parliament has approved a sweeping set off

austerity and reform measures. And in Athens the interim

government is about to be sworn in. It will face the task of pushing

through the bail-out package agreed with European leaders last month.

Around the world, Armistice Day, commemorating the fallen in the

world's wars, has been marked by silent reflection and simple

ceremonies. British Defence Minister Philip Hammond joined

3,500 British soldiers at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, laying a

wreath and observing a two-minute silence. It comes to A days after

the latest death of a British soldier in Helmand province -- it

comes two days. In Canberra, a Senedd -- a ceremony

was held at the War Memorial with Julia Gillard laying a wreath. The

names of eight Australian soldiers who died in Afghanistan in the last

12 months were added to that memorial's roll of honour.

In Seoul, Americans remembered those who died throughout their

history, including in the Korean War. The commander of US forces in

Korea, General James Thurman, led the anniversary ceremonies at

Yongsan base, not far from South Korea's National War Memorial.

For more on the Armistice Day memorial services, do please head

to the BBC website. There you can read about the sacrifices made by

World War One veterans and we have a selection of portraits of

soldiers who served in the war and some of their stories are explained,

The New York-based group Human Rights Watch has accused Syrian

forces in the City of Tom's of -- in the City of Homs of unlawful

killings. The city has become what activists called the capital of the

human rights uprising. Human Rights Watch says that UN Security Council

action should be supported to end what it calls the carnage. The

report gives graphic eyewitness accounts of torture by the Syrian

forces. Human Rights Watch says nearly 700 people have been killed

in Fisher since April, more than 100 since Syria agreed to run Arab

League peace deal more than a week ago -- 700 people have been killed

in Homs. We were trying to reach a doctor live in Homs, we know that

he is there, witnessing some terrible things, but unfortunately

the Telecoms have let us down. I am pleased, though, to say I am joined

by Jonathan Powell to consider the wider implications not just of the

Syrian crisis but of so many international arenas where there is

a question over whether international intervention can work.

Jonathan Powell, former chief of staff to Tony Blair and not

unfamiliar with some of these questions. On Armistice Day, let's

start with Syria. Do you see any potential for international

intervention in Syria? I certainly see potential for it. What is

happening there is horrifying. Just as in Libya where support was given,

there is a case for it in Syria. The cases against are that they

have not asked for such support, and it has been proved very

difficult to get UN support for it. In Kosovo we took action without UN

support, so it is possible but difficult. We now have the United

Nations which for the last six years has been committed to the

notion of responsibility to protect if there is a humanitarian crisis

and civilians are being killed, but is the politics is not right, as

you have described in Syria, does that mean nothing? No, we can do

things politically and in terms of the initiative taken by the Arab

League, but it is not sensible to take military action. You only want

to do that if you are called upon to do it by the opposition and if

the neighbouring countries thought you should and if it can be proved

to be effective. In Chicago in 1999 Tony Blair made a speech which set

out criteria on using force in such circumstances and we should be

guided by the nose. We do accept that the conflict -- guided by

those. -- would you accept that the conflict has made it more difficult

to get the income must -- the international community onside.

They go through phases on this subject. It's the thing of Somalia

after Black Hawk down, the UN were reluctant. Then we had Afghanistan

and a rat, and then people were reluctant again. Post Libya, people

are willing to intervene to. have skirted round the issue of the

Security Council and the way it works. Does it mean, everything you

have described, the politics and the reality on the ground, that we

have to accept Russia and China can exercise a veto on humanitarian

interventions? That was the danger that Tony Blair pointed out in the

context of Kosovo. He said, will we allow the UN to block any action

taken in those circumstances? Kosovo went ahead even though we

could not get Russian or Chinese support. That was a relatively

happy experience. Iraq was not a happy experience. You now

specialise in conflict resolution and opening dialogues. The Arab

League said it had got a deal to open a dialogue in Syria. If he

were advising the leaders of the Syrian National Council, the

opposition leaders, right now, would you advise them to engage in

a dialogue? I would advise them to do that but it is their decision. A

large part of them do not want a dialogue with the Assad regime.

They need a united position on this, do they have a dialogue to get him

out or fight until he gets out? do you think it could be used for?

I am in favour of dialogue in all circumstances, it is something I

used in Northern Ireland. You do not need to concede opposition but

talking may be easier to get Assad out. Talking may have been easier

to get Gaddafi out. Jonathan Powell, thank you.

Animal welfare charities across the UK are reporting a dramatic rise in

the number of pets being handed in by owners who can no longer afford

to look after them. The Battersea Dogs and cats homes the number has

more than doubled in the last year. When household budgets are

stretched, even the most loved family pet can be too expensive.

Shady's owner, out of work for four months, has decided giving him to

Battersea Dogs Home is his only a option. You are not out of work,

you will be in arrears with rent, I am on the verge of losing my flat

and if I lose my flat, can I keep him? But I love him so much, I want

to make sure he will be all right. Battersea has always taking in pets

from owners who can no longer afford them. In the past year,

however, numbers have doubled. Eight year-old Sam is typical of

the new wave of arrivals. He was brought in three weeks ago after

his owner's home was repossessed. The home is also seeing more

pregnant animals and those needing potentially expensive medical

treatment. A lot of the animals coming in have conditions that make

us think they have been ignored for some time and the owners can no

longer get to grips with them. In a case like this, had the surgery

been done one or two years ago, it would have been cheaper, easier and

better for him. It takes an average of 48 days for Battersea Dogs to be

re-home. The future for shady's owner, himself facing eviction, is

less certain. We are coming to the end of GMT,

but time to remind you of the main story today. The Italian Senate in

the last hour also has approved an emergency austerity package aimed

at averting economic collapse and helping resolve the eurozone debt

crisis. The Bill now passes to the lower house. The measures are a

part of efforts to end the country's spiralling debt crisis

and it is believed once the lower house approves them then Silvio

Berlusconi will resign and Italy will get a new Prime Minister.

In Athens, the incoming Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is putting

the final touches to his interim government, which will face the

task of pushing through the bail- out package agreed with the

European leaders last month. He is due to be sworn in later today but

the ceremony, as we understand it right now, has been delayed by

several hours. His administration will be a coalition of the

governing Socialists, the centre- right New democracy and a small

party of right-wing populists. Correspondents say Lucas Papademos

will be forced to introduce further austerity measures. Things still