Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 07-10-22

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM addresses message of solidarity, collective work to ND deputies

[02] FYROM withdraws teams from SE Europe Games

[03] Ministers outline gov't priorities to ruling party's Central Committee

[04] ND victories built on foundation of collective work, Zagoritis says

[05] FM sends condolences to Pakistani counterpart; Benazir Bhutto

[06] Papandreou communicates by phone with Bhutto

[07] PASOK leadership contenders tour Greece

[08] KKE calls for rallying, counter-offensive

[09] Alavanos tour of Iraklio this week

[10] Archbishop Christodoulos attends emotional Church service in Miami

[11] SAE President Tamvakis in Toronto

[12] Anti-racist rally held in west Athens

[13] FinMin gives press conference in D.C.

[14] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[15] Wildfire reported on shores of Lake Koroneia

[16] Two ships collide in port of Thessaloniki

[17] Hundreds join cyclists' protest to demand bicycle lanes

[18] Sports

[19] Showers, storms on Monday

[20] Cypriot president: No deviation from Gambari process

[01] PM addresses message of solidarity, collective work to ND deputies

"We are working and cooperating with each other to provide solutions. We are working and cooperating with a plan and a vision," Karamanlis said, adding that millions of Greeks were struggling under "the banner of common values and goals, demanding dedication to these goals, demanding that we show solidarity with each other".

He called on the party to put the collective above the personal and urged members of the governing party to pay attention to society.

"We are all judged by these things. We all have responsibilities and obligations. The obligations in this new four-year term are greater," Karamanlis stressed.

He also noted that ND's place was in the modern social centre. "We leave to others the extremes and extreme actions. We address all Greeks, we listen to all citizens no matter what they voted. We do not enter the dead-end roads of populism," he emphasised.

The prime minister was also adamant that the policy of change and reforms will continue, noting that the government's first term had given solutions to accumulated problems and opened a cycle of reforms that had been needed for several years.

"Our commitment is to protect all that we have achieved so far and to secure even more. It is a commitment for all to work to clear time frames and for measurable results," he underlined. At the same time, he noted that Greece was currently going through a difficult time and the road ahead would be an uphill course that would require everyone in the party to join forces, remain united and work together without letting up even one day.

"This is a joint commitment; it is a duty to Greece and to Greeks. It is an irrevocable decision," he stressed.

According to the prime minister, the public sector was the "sick man" and the effort the government had begun in all areas would have to be completed. With respect to the economy, he said the target was to eradicate all the fiscal deficits by the year 2010 in order to create funds for the social state.

The start of the government's new term had brought a new start in this area with major reforms of social policy, Karamanlis added, and he outlined the government's main policy guidelines for a modern, just social state.

He said that these measures will responsibly secure funding for social insurance, which would also be created through the steady growth of the economy, without requiring additional contribution or any increase in the age of retirement, nor a reduction in the size of pensions.

"With these positions we sought and are seeking to move forward with consensual steps, without the postponements and deliberate delays that augment the problem," Karamanlis stressed, saying that this was a strategy giving firm solutions to major social issues.

Regarding the participation of the parties and social partners in dialogue on reforming the pension system, he said that pretexts benefited no one and that they indicated either a lack of proposals or a conscious refusal to contribution to solving the problems.

"Flight serves no one apart from the privileged and comfortable. Denial is the choice of conservatism, immobility and impasse. It is the most anti-working class choice," he underlined.

Referring to the ruling party's recent re-election, the prime minister said this was a victory for the past and future of the country and underlined that the government now had only one choice and only one right - to succeed.

"And I want you to be absolutely certain. We will not settle for anything less than what we undertook to do. This is demanded by millions of Greek men and women that entrusted us with their vote," he concluded.

Message to FYROM

The prime minister also used the podium of the ND Central Committee to send a clear message to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) regarding Greece's policy on the name issue.

"We say this to neighbouring FYROM clearly. We have invited them, as foreseen in the relevant decision of the UN Security Council, to engage in substantive, constructive participation in the UN process for finding a mutually acceptable solution to the outstanding issue of their name. Obstinacy, intransigency, historically unfounded actions and insistence on propaganda along irredentist lines does not build relations of alliance. It does not build relations of solidarity, such as are required for their participation in NATO and the EU," Karamanlis stressed.

FM again outlines policy on foreign policy issues; comments on PASOK developments

The EU Reform Treaty, the Cyprus problem and the "name dispute" with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) were cited by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis during an address to ruling New Democracy's Central Committee on Saturday, whereas she also touched on the current discord within main opposition PASOK in commenting on domestic political developments.

According to Bakoyannis, the situation within PASOK gave New Democracy an opportunity to live up to its responsibility and obligation to "preserve the credibility of politics".

"As long as they (in PASOK) are comparing their 'leftness' and raising their bids about who is more left-wing, they are leaving open a crucial (political) area for our party," she pointed out.

Commenting on the results of the recent European summit in Lisbon, she said the agreement on a text for the EU Reform Treaty opens "new roads" for Europe that would allow it to emerge from a climate of introspection.

"We must now devote ourselves to the target of keeping to the time frame agreed," she added, noting that there was no longer any room or excuse for delays.

With respect to the Cyprus issue, she underlined that relations between Turkey and Greece could never become fully normalised until a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem is found, stressing that Athens was continuing to work hard in this direction, in close collaboration with the government of Cyprus.

She also reiterated Greece's support for Turkey's European prospects, with the unwavering position that Turkey's full accession demands its full compliance with EU terms and requirements, both in its domestic and external behaviour.

Moreover, she again sent a clear message to FYROM, stressing that the two sides had undertaken a commitment to find a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue.

"We say to them: Come so that we can keep to our commitment, set aside intransigency and the past, and come so that we can together take the steps required to move forward toward a better future. We are at a crucial point. It is a time of decision. Hiding our head in the sand has a cost."

Commenting on recent statements by FYROM Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, as reported by an Athens daily this wee, Bakoyannis said these showed that those ruling the neighbouring state were "captives of their insistence on obduracy and showed their views on respecting their own signature and keeping the agreements they have made".

"How can someone be an ally and a partner when they do not keep agreements and do not respect the spirit of a good neighbourhood?" she added, stressing that Greece and the other members of the organisations that FYROM was trying to join were well aware that striving for good neighbour relations and resolving problems were prerequisites for participation in these. She also underlined that Greece "fully preserved all the rights that we have as members of these organisations" in an indirect reference to the possibility of a Greek veto.

The minister had taken an even tougher stance in statements to reporters before the start of the meeting. Questioned about Milososki's comments, she said it appeared that Skopje's first priority was joining NATO in April, whereas resolution of the "name issue" ranked fourth.

"Things are simple: a condition for the first is the fourth," Bakoyannis stressed.

In an interview carried by the daily "Ta Nea", Milososki repeated arguments by the Skopje government, namely, re-asserting that the "name issue" was primarily a bilateral problem with Greece and that FYROM would only participate in the UN process for the "name issue" in order to arrive at an compromise on what Greece - and only Greece - will call the land-locked country.

Questioned about the prospect of a veto by Athens over FYROM joining NATO and, in the future, the European Union, Milososki said there "were no greater costs than national identity and the constitutional name".

[02] FYROM withdraws teams from SE Europe Games

The manager of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) agency for sport and youth, Ivica Georgievski, on Sunday claimed that the withdrawal of the country's teams from the Southeastern Europe Games -- scheduled from Oct. 15 to 21 in Thessaloniki -- was due to organizers' refusal to address FYROM's teams under the full name, i.e. the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", instead of the acronym "FYROM".

[03] Ministers outline gov't priorities to ruling party's Central Committee

According to Education Minister Evripides Stylianidis, a number of important reforms remained to be carried out in education, steps that his predecessors had begun but which had not happened at the necessary speed and extent.

Regarding university reforms, in particular, he said that ND's political opponents had attempted to create the impression that the government was backtracking on reforms and stressed that this was not the case. He underlined that the government would press on with deepening, completing and carrying out the reforms, noting that good state universities were the "main vehicle for the future", while expressing hope that a revision of article 16 of the Constitution to allow the foundation of private universities would be possible in the present Parliament.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos referred to ongoing efforts to reform public administration in order to create a state that fully trusts and rewards the law-abiding citizen while punishing offenders. He also referred to the struggle to curb bureaucracy and simplify administrative procedures, as well as efforts to promote decentralisation and local authority action.

Pointing out that the electorate had approved the plans that ND had set before its judgment, he called for an immediate and faithful execution of government's policies and programme.

Employment Minister Vassilis Magginas - whose ministry is currently in the eye of the storm as dialogue on the thorny issue of social insurance reform gets underway - said that the stance of the social partners up to this time had been attentive and serious.

"The same is not true of the political forces of the country," he added, noting that Greek society would be the final judge.

He repeated the government's pledge to move forward without surprise moves, with prudence and efficiency, and said that the ultimate goal was a modern, just and viable solution insurance system that will truly serve the interests of the insured and pensioners.

Magginas emphasised that, unless there was some sort of intervention, the Greek social insurance system would in a few years be completely unable to meet its obligations and that it was necessary to make changes that would gradually and without large-scale upheavals lead to the desired result.

"I believe we are faced with an issue of critical national proportions," he said at one point.

He also highlighted the difficulties of the attempt in the face of opposition from "established mind-sets, fixed behaviours and out-dated thinking that resist change and reform".

According to the minister, funding of the social insurance system from the state budget and finding additional funds would be ensured by the steady and sustainable growth of the economy, which the government had already achieved, and not through higher contributions.

Outlining the main points of the government's proposal, he listed measures like drastic mergers between currently fragmented social insurance funds, dealing with contribution evasion and undeclared labour, better exploiting fund assets, updating the heavy and hazardous labour system, allowing people to stay in work after retirement age, as well as a gradual increase of low and mid-range pension and better protection of motherhood.

[04] ND victories built on foundation of collective work, Zagoritis says

"These victories came because we did not become complacent, because we did not stop working for even a moment," the party secretary underlined.

He pointed out that ND had not just prevailed in national elections but its success had been repeated at the Euro-elections of 2004, the local government elections, the elections at the national municipality and prefecture unions, KEDKE and ENAE, at the Attica municipalities union TEDKNA, in professional chambers, trade unions and student elections.

According to Zagoritis, the citizens gave the government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis a clear mandate and Parliamentary majority on September 16, in spite of the "petty party-political games of [main opposition] PASOK and the manipulations it attempted through the election law".

He also noted that PASOK had been mistaken in believing that failing to win a Parliamentary majority would cause problems for ND, adding that the party in crisis was now PASOK, which "has fallen into the trap that it tried to set".

[05] FM sends condolences to Pakistani counterpart; Benazir Bhutto

Bakoyannis expressed her abhorrence over the terrorist attack on Bhutto's motorcade, as well as her profound condolences to the victims' families.

[06] Papandreou communicates by phone with Bhutto

According to an announcement by PASOK, Papandreou reassured her that he will stand by her side, both personally and in his capacity as Socialist International President, in her efforts to consolidate democracy in her country.

On her part, Bhutto thanked Papandreou for his support and, in a state of emotion, described her arrival in Pakistan "that began with dances and songs for Democracy and ended in a tragedy with bodies and blood in the streets."

[07] PASOK leadership contenders tour Greece

On his part, rival leadership candidate Evangelos Venizelos gave a speech in Agrinio, western Greece, on Sunday.

Elections for the PASOK leadership will be held on Nov. 11.

"The dilemma is not whether PASOK will be united or split, as the answer to this has been given since the 1980s; the question is whether we proceed with yesterday's PASOK or towards a PASOK of tomorrow. We all want a great, strong, victorious PASOK," the Thessaloniki-area deputy said.

In Larissa, Papandreou said that what is necessary is a "PASOK of change, a PASOK of democracy and of the socialist centre-left."

Speaking in his first address away from Athens ahead of the elections, Papandreou insisted on an "autonomy of politics", terming it a precondition for overcoming the crisis currently being experienced by the political system. He further said that the enemies of autonomy are not only the vested interests, but those serving them as well.

"The way with which the big publishing interests became involved in our internal procedures confirms the need for democratic and social control of the media," he said.

Papandreou also said he was never a supporter of exclusions, separations or expulsions and will not allow the unfair expulsion of comrades, but he will also not allow the expulsion of ideas either.

The PASOK leader went on to criticise ruling New Democracy party, saying that what his party had been saying before the elections is now being confirmed by government policy.

In Agrinio, Venizelos charged that PASOK "was obliged and could have won the general elections with an adversary, the worst government after the fall of the dictatorship."

He added: "However, we are all sending a strong message to our only opponent which is the Right, conservatism, (Prime Minister Costas) Mr. Karamanlis and the government."

Finally, former party secretary and long-time PASOK cadre Costas Skandalidis spoke in Rethymno, Crete, on Sunday, noting that "I insist on my lonely path and course in to speak politically, to propose, to try to open roads for the following day."

"Division and polarisation must not reach the rank and file of the movement (i.e. PASOK)," he said, adding that "the rank and file must not be trapped in the trenches but trust a PASOK of the future, a PASOK of victory."

Meanwhile, speaking later in the Cretan city of Hania, Skandalidis emphasised that "PASOK, the way it is today, cannot win the next elections."

[08] KKE calls for rallying, counter-offensive

KKE added that the targets of the "one way European path" and in general of the needs of plutocracy are being served.

It further said that the response of working people and of the working classes to the invitation by the prime minister for dialogue and consensus can and must be only one: No sacrifice for the plutocracy, insubordination over the "one way European path", popular rallying and a counter-offensive so that the new attack on modern-day rights will not succeed.

[09] Alavanos tour of Iraklio this week

Alavanos, speaking in the city of Hania on Friday, proposed the holding of referendums in Greece and in European Union countries on the new reformist treaty approved in Lisbon by the leaders of the EU member-states.

"We are opposed, it does not express our directions on a Europe of democracy, of social progress and of peace and I repeat our positions that it will be inconceivable for this plan for the reformist treaty to be promoted without a referendum taking place in all the EU countries, including Greece," he said.

[10] Archbishop Christodoulos attends emotional Church service in Miami

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece on Sunday addressed hundreds of Greek-Americans who packed the Orthodox Cathedral of Aghia Sofia in Miami, Florida.

"Do not be disappointed, do not lose your courage, the last moment has not come. I hope we shall meet again. I am returning to the homeland ... nostalgia is gnawing at me," Christodoulos said.

He also called on the faithful not to lose their courage and their faith in God, while referring to human values, the will to live and the struggle for good. Archbishop Christodoulos was admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for a liver transplant but the spreading cancer eventually aborted the transplant. Christodoulos is expected to return to Athens for further treatment at a later date.

[11] SAE President Tamvakis in Toronto

The President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Stefanos Tamvakis on Saturday began a tour of Toronto, after the conclusion of his visit to the Greek-Canadian community in Montreal.

While in Toronto, Tamvakis will visit the Greek antiquities wing at the Royal Ontario Museum and attend an official dinner organised by the president of the Greek community in Toronto, Costas Menegakis. This will also be attended by Metropolitan Sotirios, the general consuls of Greece and Cyprus.

[12] Anti-racist rally held in west Athens

Protesters said they were demonstrating over an incident earlier in the month when an armed gang targetted several Pakistani guest workers in the same district.

Financial News

[13] FinMin gives press conference in D.C.

Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis gave a press conference here over the weekend on the occasion of the visit he is making in the framework of the annual conference of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

Alogoskoufis underlined the government's commitment to carry out further reforms in the wider public sector and in the social security system and to confront tax evasion, while continuing fiscal adjustment in order to achieve balanced budgets by the year 2010.

The minister also placed emphasis on the country's active presence in the sessions of the IMF and the World Bank, stressing that Greece intends to gradually increase its contribution to the International Development Organisation.

Alogoskoufis pointed out that Greece supports the decision taken by the World Bank to use its financially powerful position in the effort to handle poverty, with the commitment to provide 3.5 billion dollars from its profits for the International Development Organisation.

Commenting, lastly, on the consequences for the Greek economy stemming from ongoing oil price hikes, Alogoskoufis said that the Greek economy has the ability to overcome whatever negative consequences, provided that reforms and the restructuring of the economy are continued.

[14] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

U.S. dollar 1.440

Pound sterling 0.702

Danish kroner 7.513

Swedish kroner 9.241

Japanese yen 166.18

Swiss franc 1.684

Norwegian kroner 7.732

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.391

Australian dollar 1.605

General News

[15] Wildfire reported on shores of Lake Koroneia

They said the fire posed a relatively minor risk, since there was intermittent rain in the area since the morning, and that the only problem it posed was the difficulty of access on foot because there were no agricultural roads leading to that area.

[16] Two ships collide in port of Thessaloniki

According to an announcement by the Merchant Marine and Insular Policy ministry, the ships were freighters registered in Bulgaria and Panama and collided three nautical miles outside the port. No gash was created in any of the ships, nor did any pollution of the sea take place. The Bulgarian-flagged "Geo Milev" and the Panama-flag "MSC Helena" remained in the port.

[17] Hundreds join cyclists' protest to demand bicycle lanes

The starting point was the statue of Athena at Pedion tou Areos and the cause was the creation of bicycle lanes on busy Athens thoroughfares, the right to load bicycles onto the Athens Metro and OSE railway carriages and changes to the current cyclist-unfriendly traffic code.

The cyclists poured out onto Alexandras Avenue, blocking the passage of cars, and said they would follow a route going down Zacharoff street, Kifissias Avenue, Vassilisis Sofias Avenue, Filellinon Street, Vassilisis Amalias Avenue, Panepistimiou Street, 3rd Septemvriou Street, Marni Street and Patission Street, with an hour-long stop at 3rd Septemvriou to symbolically mark a cycle lane on the road.

[18] Sports

Olympiakos Piraeus - Panionios Athens 4-1

AEK Athens - Larissa 1-0

Apollon Kalamaria - Ergotelis Crete 2-1

Levadiakos Livadia - Xanthi 2-1

Aris Thessaloniki - PAOK Thessaloniki 3-1

Atromitos Athens - Iraklis Thessaloniki 1-1

OFI Crete - Asteras Tripoli 0-3

Veria -Panathinaikos Athens 0-2

Standings after five weeks of play:

AEK 15 points

Olympiakos 11

Panathinaikos 10

Atromitos 10

Aris 9

Xanthi 7

Panionios 7

OFI 7

Asteras 7

Larissa 5

PAOK 4

Levadiakos 4

Apollon 4

Veria 3

Ergotelis 3

Iraklis 3

Weather Forecast

[19] Showers, storms on Monday

Cyprus Affairs

[20] Cypriot president: No deviation from Gambari process

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said here on Saturday that Turkish Cypriot leader and the Turkish side are interested only in confidence building measures (CBM), noting that the Greek Cypriot side is interested in the promotion and imple-mentation of the July 8 Agreement.

He noted that the July 8 Agreement aiming at preparing the ground for substantive negotiations on the Cyprus question is supported by the Security Council, the UN Secretariat and the EU, adding that we should not deviate from this process just to discuss confidence building measures (CBM).

Speaking at Larnaca airport, on his return from Lisbon where he participated in the EU informal summit, President Papadopoulos said that during his meetings in the Portuguese capital he found that everybody believe in the Gambari process.

Asked on the possibility to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, he noted that "we have asked for a meeting with Mr. Talat."

Furthermore, President Papadopoulos stressed that the proposals he has submitted to the UN Secretary General clearly aim at promoting the UN-brokered agreement.

As regards the EU informal summit, President Papadopoulos said that the European Union leaders approved the EU Reform Treaty ending a discussion which started six years ago.

Noting that the agreement was welcomed by everybody, President Papadopoulos stressed that the success was the result of the efforts made by the German Presidency and the Portuguese Presidency.

The Portuguese Premier and President of the European Council Jose Socrates "has achieved what everybody thought would be impossible: an agreement of all on a Reform Treaty, which secures the efficiency of an enlarged Union," Papadopoulos said.

On July 8, 2006, Papadopoulos and Talat reached an agreement in Nicosia, in the presence of UN official Ibrahim Gambari, aiming at preparing the ground for substantive negotiations on the Cyprus question, leading to a political settlement that would reunite the country, divided since Turkish troops invaded in 1974.

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