Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-07-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece reiterates call for just, viable solution to Cyprus issue

[02] PASOK leader on Cyprus invasion anniversary

[03] Memorial for Cyprus fallen held in Athens

[04] Education minister at service for Cyprus invasion fallen

[05] Greek parliamentary delegation: Full support for Cyprus President's efforts for viable, functional solution

[06] Exhibition of Greek newspaper front pages during Turkish invasion of Cyprus

[07] Papandreou bashes government, in closing address to PASOK National Council

[08] Nobel laureate in economics Stiglitz addresses PASOK National Council

[09] Papandreou chairs party meeting in Thessaloniki

[10] 13th Trade Exhibition of Alexandroupolis

[11] Foreign Exchange rates: Monday

[12] Routes of the Olive Tree motorcyclist killed in Georgia

[13] Athens mayor to launch revamped Avdi Square

[14] Lost hikers rescued in Hania

[15] Fires reported in Nafplio, Lagonissi

[16] Fire at Ano Liossia

[17] Wildfire breaks out near Patras

[18] Three arrested for cultivating cannabis

[19] Hot, sunny on Monday

[20] The Sunday edition of Athens' newspapers at a glance

[21] Christofias: Erdogan's illegal visit does not help efforts for a solution

[01] Greece reiterates call for just, viable solution to Cyprus issue

"The coming day reminds everyone, not just of the Turkish military invasion of Cyprus but also of the continued illegal occupation for 34 years of the territory of a European state, a member of the European Union, in violation of the relevant resolutions and decision of the United Nations Security Council," Bakoyannis said in statements on Saturday.

Bakoyannis also underlined Greece's support for efforts in this direction by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the country's leadership.

Regarding Turkey, she called on its leadership not to encourage intransigency but, instead, to encourage a moderate and level-headed stance that would allow a new, well-prepared and substantive negotiating effort to commence under UN auspices.

The minister underlined, however, that "the current status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable" and needed to change so that both communities, Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot, would be able to enjoy the benefits of Cyprus' membership of the EU.

[02] PASOK leader on Cyprus invasion anniversary

Addressing a meeting of PASOK's National Council on Saturday, Papandreou said that this was a day of "memory and reflection" for the Greek people.

[03] Memorial for Cyprus fallen held in Athens

"The best memorial for the dead of great struggles is to continue the struggle. Our own debt remains unpaid," Chrysostomides said in his address during the service.

The Cypriot minister also criticised a visit to the occupied parts of Cyprus by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing it as provocative, illegal and an obstacle to efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.

Among those attending was Parliament President Dimitris Sioufias, who stressed that sacrifices of the fallen would not be forgotten and pointed out that Cyprus, despite being a member of the European family for the past four years, still had foreign occupation troops and a wall on its territory.

"The troops must go and the wall must fall. This is our duty," he underlined.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, meanwhile stressed that Turkey must show respect for certain things if it wanted to progress down the road toward European membership, adding that Erdogan's visit "shows no respect for anything".

Ruling New Democracy Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis underlined that Greece "does not forget", while PASOK MP Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou said the struggle to remove occupation troops from the island was continuing.

The Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party was represented by Athanassios Plevris and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party by Panos Trigazis.

After the service, wreaths were laid the at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier outside Parliament by the political parties, armed forces and Cypriot organisations in Greece.

Earlier in the day, there was a blessing and wreath-laying ceremony at the Column for the Fallen of the Cypriot Tragedy at Madrid Square near the Hilton Hotel.

[04] Education minister at service for Cyprus invasion fallen

Greece' Education Minister Evripides Stylianidis had a meeting with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias on Sunday, after attending a memorial service for Greek and Greek-Cypriot fallen during the invasion of northern Cyprus by Turkey in 1974.

In statements afterward, Stylianidis said that he had conveyed the support of the Greek government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and that there had been an "interesting exchange of views" that had also focused on Cyprus' reforms to its higher education system.

"We are in a similar phase of reforms in Greece and it is worth while looking at models that have been tried and are starting to yield results," the minister said, while he also pointed to a gigantic effort underway in Greece to improve the quality of academic papers and exchange of knowhow.

Stylianidis, who is representing the Greek government at events in Cyprus for the anniversary of the Turkish invasion, had earlier stated that the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the occupied territories of Cyprus "provoked and did not assist in the direction of finding an agreed solution to the Cyprus issue".

He also stressed that the events helped remind the international community of the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of the north part of the island.

"We honour the memory of the people from Greece and of Cyprus that lost their lives in order to defend freedom and express the undivided support of the Greek people and the Greek government for Cyprus' efforts to arrive at an agreed solution for a bizonal, bicommunal federation whose operation will be based on the principles of the European Union and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, thus preserving a single character, national sovereignty, a single nationality," the minister stressed.

Stylianidis and delegation of Greek MPs representing all parties in Parliament laid wreaths at Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, where a memorial service for the fallen during the Turkish invasion was carried out in the presence of Christofias.

[05] Greek parliamentary delegation: Full support for Cyprus President's efforts for viable, functional solution

Full support for new Cyprus president Demetris Christofias' efforts for a viable and functional solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with political equality for both communities, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and with one sovereignty, one nationality, and one international identity, was reaffirmed during a press conference in Nicosia on Saturday by the members of a visiting Greek parliamentary inter-party delegation.

The delegation is representing the Greek Parliament at memorials and other events throughout the weekend in the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus, to pay tribute to those killed during the Turkish invasion of the island, which was launched on July 20, 1974.

Parliament's 5th vice-president Vera Nikolaidou (Communist Party of Greece-KKE), said that all the parties in the Greek parliament were closely following the developments and efforts for a solution to the Cyprus issue, which she said must be in the benefit of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike.

She noted that President Christofias had given them a detailed briefing, during his meeting on Friday with the delegation, and expressed hope that his upcoming meeting on July 25 with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat would be a "beginning to the much-desired solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, a single sovereignty, a single nationality, and a single international identity".

Greek ruling New Democracy (ND) party parliamentary group secretary, MP Ioannis Tragakis, noted that an upgraded parliamentary delegation was attending the events this year, given that MPs of all the parties represented in parliament were taking part in the delegation.

Tragakis further said that the Hellenic Parliament condemned Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's illegal visit to the occupied sector of Cyprus, which he said concerned "the domestic problems in Turkey".

Main opposition PASOK deputy Theocharis Tsiokas stressed that there must be a "democratic and just" solution to the Cyprus issue. "Erdogan's presence in the occupied sector does not contribute to the efforts for a solution. This is not the time for Turkey to export its internal problems," he added.

Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance MP Anna Filini voiced optimism that, despite the difficulties, a solution would be found for Cyprus' reunification, without occupation troops, and also called for protection of the cultural heritage in the occupied sector.

Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) MP Kyriakos Velopoulos described Turkey as a "bad mother-in-law" on the Cyprus issue, and Erdogan's illegal visit to the occupied sector as an "act of desperation" due to the problems he was facing in his country.

Earlier, the Greek parliamentary delegation attended a memorial service for the officers and soldiers of the Greek army contingent in Cyprus (ELDYK) who were killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, held at a military camp outside Nicosia, where they also laid a wreath. The service was also attended by Cyprus defence minister Costas Papacostas, who paid tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of the ELDYK men.

The Greek government will be represented by National Education and Religious Affairs Minister Evripidis Stylianidis, who will arrive on the island early on Sunday.

During his visit, Stylianides will be received by Cyprus President Christofias.

Turkey, a country which aspires to become an EU member still occupies 37% of the territory of Cyprus, an EU member since May 2004.

[06] Exhibition of Greek newspaper front pages during Turkish invasion of Cyprus

"Those days, and this exhibition, awaken bitter and sa dmemories of that era, which led to the mutilation of our small homeland," Cypriot justice and public order minister Kypros Chrysostomides said as he inaugurated the exhibition.

Chrysostomides added that "beginning with the (military) coup (in Greece), which Turkey used as a pretext for the invasion (of the northern part of Cyprus), we have been led, 34 years later, to be struggling for the reunification of our homeland and the reversal of the faits accomplis of the occupation", and stressed that "we must know our history, because otherwise we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past".

ESIEA board of directors member Nikos Filis said that the exhbition "helps us remember, not in order to be stuck in the past, but in order to realise our mistakes and the prospects we have to reverse the reality on the basis of the principles of international law, on the basis of respect of the rights of the citizens".

The exhibition will run through August 31.

[07] Papandreou bashes government, in closing address to PASOK National Council

Referring to statements by prime minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday at the annual conference of the ND youth organization ONNED in Ancient Olympia, Papandreou said that the prime minister had decided in his address to bring even more despair to the hearts of the people.

He accused Karamanlis of launching a demagogic attack on PASOK, adding that the prime minister "went to the scene of the crime, one year after the destruction (in last summer's wildfires), without having done anything for the problems of the area, to say that PASOK was to blame for everything".

"Mr. Karamanlis went to Olympia with a zero account and empty hands, to say that, as of September, the government will present some plan," Papandreou said, adding that "the prime minister has been doing the same thing from the first day he took over the governance of the country".

"The people no longer believe that fairy tale, they're on to you," he said, in a statement directed at Karamanlis personally.

Papandreou attributed Karamanlis' appearance at Olympia to the "tragic impasse he is at, given that his government is steadily collapsing, the people are fed up, and he is engulfed by scandals and corruption", and that was why the premier "decided to bring polarization and revanchisme and to become himself an arsonist of political normality, at a time when we need to take serious decisions for the country".

He called the prime minister a true child of the "worst traditions of the Right", and of not having perceived that "he is the prime minister and has the obligation of giving account for his own term in office".

Instead of maligning PASOK, Karamanlis should be speaking about the franchise colleges, the high cost of living, the negotiations he was not conducting in Brussels for the farmers, the public hospitals, the problems faced by the low pension earners, combating bureaucracy and the problems of transparency, Papandreou said, adding that "he can't do that because his government is dealing exclusively with selling of the state wealth".

"It's time for the government of the clientelism to leave, and for a new, progressive government that respects the citizen to take its place," Papandreou concluded.

Government replies to Papandreou

In a reply to criticism against the government from main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou during PASOK's National Council meeting earlier that day, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Saturday accused the main opposition leader to employing unfair and abusive criticism in order to deal with internal problems within his own party.

"He remains tragically alone," Roussopoulos added.

[08] Nobel laureate in economics Stiglitz addresses PASOK National Council

Stiglitz, a former chief economist at the World Bank, said that Right governments believe in barren development and do not truly perceive the essence of the market.

"The American government cares only about increasing GDP, but that doesn't mean that all the citizens live better, only a few of them. It concedes exclusive contracts to big corporations, creating monopolies and, even when the corporations do not operate with transparency or present clear signs of mismanagement, it continues to back them," Professor Stiglitz said, and attributed most of the hardships of the US economy to the war on Iraq, on which billions of dollars are being spent, which are lacking from the country's society.

Stiglitz pointed to the insecurity created in the public as one of the most significant factors obstructing essential development in countries governed by right-wing forces, adding that due to the lack of systematic security, the public hesitated in taking risks.

"And without risk, there is no development," he stressed, adding that one of the most fundamental rights of people was the opportunity to exhaust his potential, chiefly through education. "Even in the US, however, access to high-level education is available mainly to those who can pay for it," Stigliz said.

The Nobel laureate further attributed the soaring oil prices to the war on Iraq, adding that he was not at all optimistic.

He reiterated that the Left agenda on the economy could achieve more in that area, and indeed with respect for the environment and the true needs of the people.

"The Left approach is not simply more successful because it leads to better economic results, but mainly because the benefits of these results reach more citizens," Stiglitz concluded.

Stiglitz, together with George Akerlof of the University of California, Berkeley, and A. Michael Spence of Stanford University, won the Nobel in Economics, officially named the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences, in 2001, for "their analyses of markets with asymmetric information".

Sunday's session of the PASOK Political Council was also addressed by high-profile MPs Evangelos Venizelos and Anna Diamantopoulou.

[09] Papandreou chairs party meeting in Thessaloniki

The meeting focused on the stance that the main opposition party should adopt in Parliament during the discussion of a draft bill to regulate so-called Liberal Studies Centres, or franchise colleges, and in a bid to ensure an identity of views by party officials on this issue.

The participants unanimously agreed on a text with five main points that would be outlined and discussed in Parliament. There was also a unanimous decision to vote against the draft bill on the grounds that the government legislation did not in any way restrict the foundation of private universities but, conversely, left the door wide open.

Participants in the meeting included Yiannis Ragoussis, Anna Diamantopoulou, Evangelos Venizelos, Dimitris Reppas, Thalia Dragona, Markos Bolaris, Mihalis Pantoulas, Nikos Athanassakis and George Elenopoulos.

Financial News

[10] 13th Trade Exhibition of Alexandroupolis

Five thousand people visited the exhibition during the first two days of its operation.

The inauguration of the exhibition took place on Friday evening by the Secretary General of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Dimitris Stamatis. He praised the initiative of the Evros Chamber for its successful projection of the local products and businesses as well as its organization which after 13 years has become an institution for the region.

"As we are entering the 13th organization, we are all obliged to admit the importance of this effort and to actively implement the desire of the institutional agencies of the broader trade and economic field, but also the region's citizens, for the further upgrading and effectiveness of this important trade exhibition, which was established at the initiative of the Evros Chamber," Stamatis said.

[11] Foreign Exchange rates: Monday

U.S. dollar 1.594

Pound sterling 0.799

Danish kroner 7.519

Swedish kroner 9.525

Japanese yen 170.38

Swiss franc 1.633

Norwegian kroner 8.123

Canadian dollar 1.602

Australian dollar 1.641

General News

[12] Routes of the Olive Tree motorcyclist killed in Georgia

A motorcyclist taking part in the "Routes of the Olive Tree" overland motorcycle ride from Greece to Beijing and then Moscow was killed in a tragic road accident that occurred just outside the city of Abasha in Georgia.

The victim of the accident on Saturday was 51-year-old Michalis Kalogeropoulos, one of the main organisers of the motorcycle ride for peace that began in the coastal town of Pylos in the Peloponnese on July 14.

The unlucky motorcyclist was hit by a truck about two hours after the convoy passed the Georgian border, when the truck's driver swung out into the opposite lane in order to overtake a car parked on the road and had a head-on collision with the oncoming motorcycle.

Another motorcyclist in the convoy that witnessed the accident said the truck need not have swung out so far into the opposite lane in order to overtake, while the driver from Azerbaijan was unable to explain how the accident occurred.

A second member of the convoy was also injured by shards of the victim's helmet which hit him during the accident and is being treated at a hospital in the area.

The body of the victim will be taken back to Greece by two motorcyclists in the convoy, while another 13 have also decided to drop out of the ride and return to Greece, devastated by the death of their friend and companion.

The remaining members of the mission will continue on their journey to Tbilisi.

Setting off from Pylos to follow the 'Olive Tree Routes' of antiquity, a group of 55 motorcyclists had originally embarked on a journey that would join the ancient Silk Road to China and carry the 'Flame of Peace' to the Olympic host-city Beijing, in an initiative launched after the 63rd International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) rally that was organised by the 'Routes of the Olive Tree' organisation in collaboration with FIM and ELPA.

[13] Athens mayor to launch revamped Avdi Square

This will be the second recreational oasis, following the square in Votanikos, to be handed over to citizens in the area within the past month as part of the "We're Taking Note and Taking Action" programme, which aims to solve everyday problems in the city's neighbourhoods.

The City of Athens remodelled Avdi Square, increased the amount of greenery, improved lighting and renewed tile surfaces.

[14] Lost hikers rescued in Hania

The two men had set off on Friday afternoon to cross the mountain range by going through the gorge, intending to arrive at the Profitis Ilias Church for a festival. They lost their way after entering the Tripiti Gorge on Saturday and alerted police via cell phone on Saturday night.

A search and rescue operation was set up within half an hour, with fire brigade officers boarding a boat to approach the gorge by sea around midnight. They located the two men, both safe and well, after a five-hour trek to the Katsaromoura location and returned them safely to Sougia.

The incident has prompted the Hania civil protection agency head to warn those hiking in the mountains to avoid entering the Tripiti Gorge, which is considered dangerous at several points.

[15] Fires reported in Nafplio, Lagonissi

The fire in Nafplion begun at around noon in an area of farm and shrub land, with nine fire-engines, 27 fire-fighters, two aircraft and one helicopter being used to put out the flames.

The fire at Galazia Akti in Lagonissi broke out later at 14:15, near a residential area, and was put out after burning through an area of dried grass and olive trees.

Ranged against the fire were 10 fire engines, 30 fire-fighters, one aircraft and one helicopter.

An earlier fire at Ano Liossia was also quickly put out, being reported under control in less than an hour after it began.

[16] Fire at Ano Liossia

The fire was burning dried grass and olive trees but was not threatening houses nearby, the fire brigade said.

Nine fire-engines manned by 27 fire-fighters and one helicopter responded to the call.

[17] Wildfire breaks out near Patras

A strong firefighting force has rushed to the area, where the fire broke out at 4:30 p.m.

A team of 30 firemen with 15 fire engines were battling the blaze, assisted by two scooping planes and a helicopter.

The fire was not threatening populated areas, according to firefighters, while the low-intensity winds were not obstructing the firefighting effort.

[18] Three arrested for cultivating cannabis

One 45-year-old man was caught in the act while tending a Grevena cannabis plantation, while he was also carrying a small quantity of cannabis of about 6.3 grammes. A search in his home revealed a box containing another 617 grammes of powdered cannabis.

The man was led before a Grevena misdemeanours court public prosecutor.

In Florina, two people were arrested after surveillance revealed they were cultivating seven cannabis plants. They will appear before a misdemeanours court public prosecutor in Florina.

Weather Forecast

[19] Hot, sunny on Monday

[20] The Sunday edition of Athens' newspapers at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Scams involving procurements and public works under the spotlight. Urgent orders to special 'Rambo' team (refers to orders for an in-depth investigation of property and assets belonging to state officials in charge of awarding state-sector contracts).

APOGEVMATINI: "Children of immigrants to become Greeks after they turn 18. Law being prepared by interior ministry".

AVGHI: "Look who's talking. Cries of bipartisan guilt" (points to rising tones in the accusations being traded by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and main opposition PASOK's leader George Papandreou regarding political and economic scandals).

AVRIANI: "Kickbacks pushed deficits and public debt to dizzy heights. Law calls for confiscating the property and assets of individual entities and parties that accepted slush fund money".

CHORA: "Line of defence for the critical Autumn. Karamanlis and [Finance Minister George] Alogoskoufis preparing new measures.

ETHNOS: "PASOK-SYN government with a leftist 'stamp'. Opinion poll: Citizens in despair, they look to cooperation for a solution".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "The 'Portugal Syndrome' hits the economy. Nightmare forecasts of losses greater than 7-8 billion euros from incomes over the next 18 months".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Six parties in the new Parliament. Opinion poll: upheaval: Ecologists in for the first time at 3.5 percent. Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) spreads its sails. Big boys at 64.5 percent, goodbye independent majority".

EPOCHI: "Fires beneath bipartisanism. Zorbas, Germanos, OSE and high prices 'burn' [ruling New Democracy]". (Refers to a series of scandals that have rocked public life in recent months).

FREE SUNDAY: "Aleka Papariga: The system is rotten".

KATHIMERINI: "OSE, a train of wastefulness and corruption. The confidential report of the transport minister. Voluntary retirement for 3,000, cut backs in investments".

LOGOS: "Political passions flare in the midst of summer. Karamanlis, Papandreou clash over Siemens".

NIKI: "Chinese torture for [Piraeus] port. Transfer to COSCO hits a dead end" (claims legal action by port unions is seriously threatening the deal with China's COSCO for the port's container terminal.

PARON: "Radical reshuffle. Now seriously being discussed with Karamanlis". (Claims ruling party considering ground-breaking overtures to politicians outside its ranks).

PROTO THEMA: "They have no shame. As the government throws out the 'irritating' Zorbas that dared talks about slush fund kickbacks.

RIZOSPASTIS: "With determination in the counter-attack against the sordid anti-KKE attack. Popular unity and action".

TO VIMA: "Black September. Fears of an economic 'blackout'. Government anxious over high prices and global crisis".

VRADYNI: "Pensions: all the crucial changes. Exclusive: How you can receive greater income. Ten ways to secure your insurance rights".

Cyprus Affairs

[21] Christofias: Erdogan's illegal visit does not help efforts for a solution

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's illegal visit to Cyprus Turkish occupied areas and his attachment to the military establishment and the principles of Kemalism do not help to the creation of the best possible conditions for a Cyprus solution, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said here on Sunday.

He was speaking after the official memorial service for the victims of the Turkish invasion in 1974.

He also stressed that the maximalistic views and ideas expressed by Erdogan are not going to make the Cyprus government change its position and stop defending its fundamental principles on the Cyprus question, determined by the UN, the international and European law.

"We continue the struggle", President Christofias said, adding that "we will not stop showing our good will and our readiness for a solution to the Cyprus question".

"We are extending our hand, waiting for a hand to shake ours," Christofias noted.

Christofias said that "today is a day of honour for those killed'' adding that a way must be found to overcome deadlocks and reach a settlement to the long-lasting question of Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

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