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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-05-09Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>May 9, 2005CONTENTS
[01] PM issues message on 60th anniversary of WW2Athens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, in a message issued on Saturday on the 60th anniversary of World War Two, said the anniversary is a day of honor and memory for the peoples who dared to stand up to the forces of totalitarianism.The prime minister stressed that the slogan "no more war", which was on the lips of all the peoples of the world in May 1945, is feasible today, adding that the peoples of Europe, the continent in which the horror began, are proving that cooperation is more effective than confrontation. "60 years after the ceasefire, the challenge of our generation is the example of unified Europe, an example of peace, democracy and prosperity to serve as a source of inspiration for all of humanity," the message said. Karamanlis further said the valuable podium of the United Nations, the organization created in the spirit of postwar optimism for a better common future for the peoples of the planet, must be utilized and upgraded. "These are the targets we are promoting with determination as a country and as a people, both with our participation in the European Union and with Greece's capacity as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the next two years. And this commitment constitutes a self-evident obligation for such a country as Greece, which played a leading role in the allies' effort for victory against fascism and Nazism, paying a disproportionate heavy toll in blood," the message added. PASOK party leader issues message on anniversary of WW2: Main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou, in a message issued on Saturday on the 60th anniversary of World War Two, paid tribute to the millions of ordinary people, both soldiers and non-combatants, who defended the principles of freedom, democracy and human dignity, and even gave their lives, against the forces of nazism and fascism. "Greece and our people found themselves in the lead of this struggle and we must remember and honor the Greek patriots in the war in Albania and in the liberation struggle of national resistance, which contributed decisively to the collective effort of the allies and to final victory," he said. "The coincidence, in essence, between the anniversary of the victory against nazism and the Day of Europe promotes a dynamic symbolism. The struggle against the forces of totalitarianism, intolerance, racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism is a continuous struggle for all the democratic progressive forces, for Europe, peace, solidarity, democracy, human rights and the rights of minorities, Europe of development and the social achievements of working people," Papandreou added in his message. [02] President Papoulias attends special ceremony for Greek WW2 veterans in MoscowMoscow, 9/5/2005 (ANA-N. Megadoukas)President Karolos Papoulias, addressing a special ceremony at the Greek embassy here on Saturday night for Red Army veterans of Greek origin who had fought in World War Two, paid tribute to all who had struggled in WW2 against nazism and fascism.Giving the veterans honorary medals on behalf of the Greek state, President Papoulias said "it is the least it can offer in return for their contribution of life and struggle." He further said "I stand before you with awe, not only because the personal history of each is written with heroism and self-denial, not only because Greece, the world, owe to you, to those of you who had struggled against fascism and nazism, a part of their freedom, but because you represent the highest expression of Hellenism." President Papoulias also said "distance probably brings you closer to the characteristics of the Greek and promotes them to qualities, with the most important being to survive in the place where he lives and make the homeland which receives him his homeland." The President noted that the presence of the Greek WW2 veterans in Russia "reminds us not to forget you and your dead. The difficult path from which you have come here is the reason that we owe you a great deal", adding that "we honor those who were lost and we are proud of your strength." President Papoulias pays tribute to memory of WW2 dead: President Karolos Papoulias arrived here on Saturday to represent Greece at celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the allies' victory in World War Two. President Papoulias, who will be honoured by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin for his resistance activities during WW2, said on arrival at Vnukovo airport that he paid tribute to the memory of the dead in the struggle against Nazism and Fascism. "These are days of memory and emotion for the world community," President Papoulias said, adding that "we re-member the heroic dead against Fascism and Nazism and we honor all the fighters. I shake the hand of those who survived that struggle." President Papoulias also said that as President of the Hellenic Republic, he remembers and honors the struggles and sacrifices of the Greek people against Italian Fascism and German Nazism. President Papoulias visits monasteries in Russian capital: President Karolos Papoulias, currently in Russia to attend events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the allies' victory in World War Two, visited the Donskoi Monastery here on Sunday. A memorial service was also held in the monastery's cemetery for distinguished benefactors from the region of Epirus who were buried there. President Papoulias expressed his emotion at being able to visit the monastery and, referring to the deceased benefactors, said "they distinguished themselves with their work and benefited the country which offered them hospitality, as well as poor Greece." Later in the day, President Papoulias visited the historic Holy Trinity Monastery (formerly named Zagorsk) and was given a guided tour of the premises. President Papoulias will watch a Euroleague final four basketball match between Panathinaikos Athens and CSKA Moscow in the afternoon. The match will be played for third place since both teams were defeated in the semifinals played on Friday. In the evening, he is also due to meet with the Armenian President. [03] President Papoulias to attend Battle of Crete celebrations in HaniaAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)Celebrations marking the anniversary of the Battle of Crete will begin on May 14 and end on the 22nd of the month in the presence of President Karolos Papoulias, according to the finalized program announced on Saturday.Events scheduled for May 22 include a memorial service, a visit to the home of the late statesman Eleftherios Venizelos and a special ceremony at the historic airport of Maleme, where wreaths will be laid and a recreation of the battle will be made. Many Battle of Crete veterans from Greece, Australia and New Zealand are expected to attend events, as well as a large number of British veterans. [04] Memorial service held at Greek monument at MauthausenVienna, 9/5/2005 (ANA/D.Dimitrakoudis)The memory of 3,700 Greeks who were victims of the Nazi monstrosity at Mauthausen, during World War II, was honored by Hellenism on Sunday, in a ceremony at the Greek monument at the former installations of the Nazi concentration camp in Upper Austria, which included a memorial service, speeches, the laying of wreaths, but also the presentation of the work of Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis "Mauthausen" by Vienna's musical formation "The Greeks".At the ceremony, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of Mauthausen, present were representatives of the Greek state, headed by Greek Ambassador to Austria, Theodoros Sotiropoulos, of the Church of Greece and many members of the Greek community in Austria. [05] Ruling ND party 2.4 pc ahead of main opposition PASOK, according to Kappa Research pollAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)The ruling New Democracy party is 2.4 percentage points ahead of the main opposition PASOK party, 14 months after coming to power, according to an opinion poll prepared by the Kappa Re-search company appearing in the Sunday newspaper "Vima tis Kyriakis."The poll gives ND 37.5 percent, PASOK 35.1, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 6.5, the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) 3.5 and the Coalition of the Left Movements and Ecology 3.1 The survey was carried out between April 15 and 25, while the poll conducted by the same company last March had shown a 4.5 percent margin in ND's favor, with ND garnering 39.2 and PASOK 34.7. Prime Minister and ND leader Costas Karamanlis leads PASOK leader George Papandreou by 7.1 percent on the question of who is most suitable to be prime minister. Karamanlis polled 43 percent as against 35.9 for Papandreou. Lastly, as regards the question which party will probably win the next general election, respondents gave ND 51.1 percent and PASOK 28.6. [06] Psarouda-Benaki attends conference of EU Parliament presidents in BudapestAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki attended the conference of the presidents of the parliaments of the European Union's countries which ended in Budapest on Saturday.As stated by a Greek Parliament announcement on Sunday, Psarouda-Benaki in her address on the issue on inter-parliamentary cooperation, referred to the European Constitutional Treaty, which, as she said, "secures the upgrading of the role of the national parliaments, assigning them the implementation of the principle of assistance." In this way, she stressed, "is satisfied the demand of the EU's democratic legality and the parliaments undertake an active role in the most neuralgic and sensitive point for the implementation of the Constitution, the separation of the competencies between those belonging to the EU and those belonging to the national states." [07] PM Karamanlis issues message on occasion of Europe DayAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Sunday issued a message on the occasion of Europe Day on Monday.According to a press release by the prime minister's press office, Karamanlis said: "May 9 has a particularly symbolic character. It is a day of celebration and pride for the European Union, for the member-states, and mainly for its citizens. It is the day which reminds all that Europe has permanently left in the past the conflicts and wars and henceforth is the continent of peace, democracy, stability and prosperity. "The previous year, the European Union made the greatest enlargement in its history up to now, sealing in the best way the reunification of the European continent. "This year it is called on to decide on yet another challenge, the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty. It is an effort of superb and substantial importance as it paves its further political integration, incorporating and at the same time safeguarding, in a common text, the fundamental individual, political and social rights of the European citizens. A text which shows the values and principles upon which the Union is built, in parallel setting its powers, operations and competencies." [08] PASOK leader Papandreou's message for Europe DayAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)Main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou, in an announcement on Sunday on the occasion of Monday's celebration of Europe Day, said that "from the procedure of ratification of the European Constitution by the European Union's member-states will be judged to what degree Europe will be able in an effective and trustworthy way to meet in the coming years the hopes of the European citizens and the needs of the member-states, within the framework of the world system and of the international political and economic developments."He added that from this aspect, "the bet of the creators of European unification returns today much more dynamically and for us to win it, and is a very great political responsibility of all the political forces in Europe.'' [09] Cabinet meeting on Monday to focus on regional developmentAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)A cabinet meeting will be held on Monday to examine the issue of regional development, which is a main priority of government policy. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has set the meeting for 11 in the morning.[10] PASOK party to begin procedures for local and regional bodies next weekAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)The main opposition PASOK party will begin procedures for the creation of local and regional bodies next week, with which the party's organizational reconstruction will be completed.Moreover, the party's political reconstruction will get under way in September, meaning the formation of political positions and exercising effective opposition. Procedures, according to the first circular by Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou in her capacity as party secretary, will begin on May 13 and will come to an end on June 26 with the creation of elected regional bodies for the first time. [11] New row at Jerusalem PatriarchateJerusalem, 9/5/2005 (ANA - P. Haritos)A new row broke out at the Patriarchate in Jerusalem on Sunday between clergymen and members of Patriarch Irineos' group, as well as his Greek policemen.The scene occurred following information that the Patriarch had sent some people to the economic service to take documents and amounts of money. The vicar of Petras Kornilios, accompanied by a large number of senior clergymen, arrived and arrested Archimandrite Fotios outside the economic service's door, as well as a Greek policeman from the Patriarch's guard, who were carrying bags of money and dozens of genuine proxies. Meanwhile, Patriarch Irineos has stated that he will not resign, despite the decision taken by the 13 Synod clergymen to sign a declaration denouncing him and making him lose his post automatically. A three-member delegation from the Phanar met with him but, according to authoritative sources, the members of the delegation avoided examining substantial issues. [12] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos visits PergamosPergamos, 9/5/2005 (ANA - S. Balaskas)A small number of nationalist Grey Wolves group members gathered at a mosque here on Sunday and demonstrated against a visit to the city by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, who officiated at a religious ceremony held at the ancient basilica of Saint John.Speaking during the event, the Ecumenical Patriarch replied indirectly to the demonstrators by referring to "fighters of peace, democracy and of Greek-Turkish rapprochement." Replying to a relevant question while departing from Pergamos later in the day, Vartholomeos referred to the crisis at the Patriarchate in Jerusalem and said he is waiting for the return of the committee which visited Jerusalem, but stressed that "I cannot work miracles." [13] Education minister opposes structural government reshuffleAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou, in an interview with the Sunday newspaper "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia", said she does not agree with the possibility of a structural government reshuffle or with the creation of the post of government vice president.Yiannakou said she sees no reason for a government reshuffle, while on the issue of a vice president, she said "the prime minister heads the government and he is its coordinator. It depends on him whether he wants to appoint a vice president, but I would not declare myself a 'supporter' of such a solution." She also said she has no reason to change ministry at the moment. [14] Corruption not a rule in social life, former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos saysAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)Former foreign minister and main opposition PASOK party Deputy Theodoros Pangalos, in an article in the Sunday newspaper "Ethnos tis Kyriakis", said that corruption never was and nor is it today a rule in the country's social life and in the majority of state activities.Pangalos attributed international surveys against the country to the fact that it constitutes an issue of political confrontation at times between the government of the day and the opposition. The former minister further said "present-day Greece is far better, from every point of view, than Greece of the past and encloses inside it an enviable dynamism for the future." [15] Car ferry 'Aegean Sun' arrives in PiraeusAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)The Greek-flag car ferry "Aegean Sun", which had illegally approached the Turkish-occupied port of Famagusta in Cyprus last week, arrived at the port of Piraeus on Sunday afternoon and docked at the new pier at Keratsini.Harbor Corps officers are questioning since 4 p.m. the ship's captain Stathis Stylianou and the officers of the "bridge", while shipowner Costas Agapitos has also been called on to testify. The captain has already handed over to a Harbor Corps officer the documents of "Aegean Sun" which shows the ship's route, as well as his naval pamphlet. According to information, the Harbor Corps officers are trying to learn from whom the captain took the order to approach the Turkish-occupied port of Famagusta and to whom he complained about the order, as he is said to have claimed. According to the same sources, the order will appear from the "diary" of the bridge. The questioning of the captain and the officers and of some other members of the crew will continue over the coming days, while a public prosecutor will decide whether Stylianou will be detained after making his statement. Late last week, Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis called for the most stringent of sanctions to be imposed on both the captain and the company owning the ship. All Turkish-occupied ports in northern Cyprus are, on an international level, considered illegal. [16] Army honors Patron Saint George at Infantry Academy in HalkidaAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)The land-based army honored its Patron Saint George during a special ceremony held at the Infantry Academy in Halkida, eastern Greece, on Saturday in the presence of the defense ministry's civil and military leadership.A religious service was followed by the laying of a wreath by the defense minister and a tour by him of the exhibition and museum where weapons and equipment of the army are on display. Replying to a relevant question, the defense minister said the new revised structure of forces secures the deterrent potential and renders the armed forces more flexible and effective in the framework of the European Union and the NATO alliance. [17] Memorial service for anti-junta activist Alekos PanagoulisAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)A memorial service was held at the grave of anti-junta activist Alekos Panagoulis at the first cemetery in Athens on Sunday, 29 years after his death.Former PASOK party deputy Lefteris Veryvakis said "struggles and fighters are always aware that they are experiencing a Holy Week and they are not surprised when the Resurrection is late in coming. But it comes sooner or later. Then the struggles and the fighters are recognized. We shall be here until then and we shall struggle for this." Also present at the memorial service were Alekos' brother Stathis, Parliamentary Deputy Yiannis Dimaras and former Athens mayor Dimitris Beis. [18] Results of the Greek First Division matches played on SundayAthens, 9/5/2005 (ANA)OFI Crete-Xanthi 1-0Iraklis Thessaloniki-Kallithea Athens 5-1 AEK Athens-Ionikos Piraeus 0-1 Panionios Athens-Aris Thessaloniki 1-1 PAOK Thessaloniki-Panathinaikos Athens 1-1 Kerkyra-Olympiakos Piraeus 1-3 Halkidona Piraeus-Apollon Kalamarias 2-3 Egaleo Athens-Ergotelis Irakleio 2-0 The standings after 28 games: Panathinaikos 60 points, Olympiakos 59, AEK 58, PAOK 46, Xanthi 46, Egaleo 39, Iraklis 38, Halkidona 35, Kallithea 34, Ionikos 34, Panionios 32, OFI 31, Apollon Kalamarias 30, Aris 28, Ergotelis 19, Kerkyra 16. [19] Cypriot President: Rehn not conveying any Famagusta proposalLarnaca, 9/5/2005, (CNA/ANA)Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos rejected reports that during his visit to Cyprus next week, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn will convey a proposal on Famagusta. Speaking to reporters on Sunday before departing to Moscow to attend celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, President Papadopoulos noted that this was not the purpose of Rehn's visit to Cyprus. The Cypriot president also said that during US Deputy Assistant Secretary Laura Kennedy's visit to Cyprus last week, they only discussed the Cyprus problem. He said that Kennedy never mentioned that the US would do everything possible to help lift the so called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. "Scenarios concerning the resumption of an initiative are merely press reports which have nothing to do with reality", he added. On Rehn's visit, President Papadopoulos said the EU commissioner is coming to the island following the government's suggestion, to "see the situation for himself". During Rehn's visit, they will examine the Republic's relations with the EU and all issues concerning the Cyprus problem. Asked if the Commissioner will convey any proposal on Famagusta which the government does not consider satisfactory, President Papadopoulos said Rehn is not conveying any proposal, "nor this is the purpose of his visit". The president had proposed to the EU the return of the occupied town of Famagusta to government control combined with the reopening and operation of the town's port, under EU supervision to help build trust between the two communities. President Papadopoulos also said the EU is made up of rules and regulations and the acquis communautaire and the Republic of Cyprus insists on their implementation. He also wondered who is preventing the implementation of the EU financial regulation worth 259 million euros for the Turkish Cypriots when the Republic of Cyprus is proposing its immediate implementation something which Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat objects to. The president said that the EU has decided to economically strengthen the Turkish Cypriots and develop commercial relations with them so that they will be able to get out of the so-called economic isolation they are in. However he said that for this to happen there are two fundamental prerequisites that need to be met, that the measures provide for the island's reunification and harmonization of the two communities' economies. These two conditions, the president added, fully safeguard trade with Turkish Cypriots both with the government controlled areas of the Republic and throughout the world. On his visit to Moscow, President Papadopoulos said apart from honoring those who fell during WWII, "the Russian people will also be honored for their fight against fascism and nazism". He added that "we should pay tribute and owe gratitude to all those who sacrificed their lives" during WWII as well as those who are survivors, defending freedom and the principles of democracy. The president returns home on Tuesday. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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