Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 09-04-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis tours Pella; refers to fYRoM's Euro-Atlantic prospects

[02] PM criticises 'lack of proposals' by main opposition

[03] FM, PASOK leader on foreign policy developments

[04] PASOK lead over ND, poll

[05] Papandreou, Christofias amongst the honorees for lIia restoration

[06] Alavanos addresses SYRIZA party con'f

[07] Former minister Kouloumbis dies

[08] FinMin: Gov't reforms aided economy's defence against int'l crisis

[09] Papoulias attends Messolonghi exodus anniversary ceremonies

[10] Polish hikers located on Crete mountain, airlifted to safety

[11] Foreign national arrested in shocking chainsaw attack on estranged wife

[12] Vendetta suspected in shooting death

[13] Super League results

[14] Cloudy, rainy on Monday

[15] The Sunday editions of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] Karamanlis tours Pella; refers to fYRoM's Euro-Atlantic prospects

The Greek prime minister, who earlier toured the nearby Pella prefecture's new archaeological museum and an adjacent archaeological site, spoke to an audience in the town of Aridea, where he underlined that resolution of the "name issue" is a key for the neighbouring country to achieve its coveted accession into the NATO alliance and to continue on the road towards eventual EU membership.

"The path for European and Euro-Atlantic participation passes, unavoidably, through good-neighbourly relations with all the members of the European family. Additionally, a primary prerequisite on this path is a mutually acceptable solution to the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM)," Karamanlis said, reminding that this position is now the joint position of the European Union.

"This is also the clear and unanimous decision taken at the NATO summit in Bucharest (April 2008)," he added.

Less than a week after presidential elections in the neighbouring country, Karamanlis again detailed the Greek government's positions on mutually resolving the thorny 19-year-old "name issue", stressing that "there are no alternate routes; the passport for Euro-Atlantic institutions mandates a composite name with a geographical determinant, erga omnes.

"And the responsibility for this passport belongs to Skopje. They (the Skopje government's leadership) should abandon evasions and obstructions based on dead-end obsessions with the past. Now is the time for choices far removed from nationalisms and intolerance; history cannot be falsified, it cannot be rewritten or expunged. As a Macedonian myself I can assure you that this is impossible," the Greek prime minister, whose family hails from the Serres district in eastern Macedonia, told the audience in Aridea, referring to Greece's largest province of Macedonia.

Conversely, in again reiterating Athens' volition to fully normalise relations and to boost cooperation with the landlocked nation directly to Greece's north, Karamanlis said "our message to Skopje is crystal clear. Our proposal for cooperation is open; our message of friendship is sincere; Greece is moving ahead with national self-confidence, it is responsibly and effectively defending its fair interests; the conclusions from my last meetings with international leaders are optimistic."

Earlier, in a brief statement during his visit to the ancient site of Pella, one of the most significant urban centres of ancient Macedon, Karamanlis was asked about efforts by certain circles in the neighbouring former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) to "falsify historical truth", to which the Greek prime minister laconically replied:

"It is with work and not talk that we demonstrate our respect, our history and the cultural heritage of Macedonia. With this project our country provides an answer to those attempting to fabricate historical truth."

[02] PM criticises 'lack of proposals' by main opposition

In referring to his political rival, PASOK president and former foreign minister George Papandreou, Karamanlis charged that the former is not interested in contributing the least bit to efforts at dealing with the global economic crisis.

Karamanlis, speaking days after an official visit to Paris and talks with French leadership, said the crisis cannot be met with mere "pleasantries".

"There will be some unfortunate proposals, however, the leader of the main opposition, with supposed proposals without a hint of unpleasant proposals to deal with the crisis, only recommends easy, pleasant and painless measures. He wants to remain pleasing to all ... He is not interested in formulating serious proposals. The main opposition's seriousness is absent amid the crisis," he said.

"This government has chosen responsibility; the main opposition has chose irresponsibility and populism. I am not interested in being pleasant, I am only interested in being useful for the country," Karamanlis said, adding that the crisis will not impede the Athens government's efforts to boost development in the provinces," he added.

[03] FM, PASOK leader on foreign policy developments

Bakoyannis, in an interview carried by the Sunday edition of an Athens daily, called such views a "short-sighted and simplistic analysis" as well as an "impressive wretchedness with which some people deal with international developments".

In echoing Athens' standing policy, she noted that "Greece's interest lies in the long term, if this is possible, for Turkey to be transformed into a modern, European democracy."

Regarding relations with the new Obama administration, Bakoyannis merely noted that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her support for last year's Bucharest NATO summit decision vis-à-vis the fYRoM "name issue", while the US administration was again briefed on the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations.

Bakoyannis' comments were carried in the "Eleftherotypia" newspaper

Papandreou

In diametrically differing statements, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou referred to "absence and inactivity" in the country's foreign policy front, blaming the government for this development, as he said.

Papandreou cited what he called an "upgrading" of Turkey's role due to a "multi-level and flexible foreign policy it has followed over the past few years".

Papandreou, the former foreign minister in two Simitis governments, said Greece's absence is evident over the past five years, while also charging that the government is "unable to interpret developments" or "comprehend what the country's current position is in the world".

His interview was also published in "Eleftherotypia".

[04] PASOK lead over ND, poll

According to the poll, PASOK garnered 41.5 percent of respondents' preferences, followed by ND with 34 percent; the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) 8.5; the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 7; the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) 5 percent and a grouping identified as "Ecologists-Greens" with 3 percent.

At the same time, however, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis widened his lead over PASOK leader George Papandreou as to who is most suitable to be prime minister, leading by 42 percent to 33 percent.

The poll was carried out by the Public Issue firm for "Kathimerini" and the Skai television channel.

[05] Papandreou, Christofias amongst the honorees for lIia restoration

The event was held on the sidelines of the third annual olive and olive oil festival at the Peace & Friendship Stadium in coastal southern Athens.

Others honorees were the Orthodox Christians of America organisation, the Athens-based radio station SKAI, the Latsis Foundation and Eurobank EFG, noted benefactor and UN Goodwill ambassador Marianna Vardinogianni and the Marfin Investment Group (MIG).

Additionally, the government of Australia was cited and commended for its support, while former foreign minister Petros Molyviatis was honored as the head of the state-run Fund for restoration of the devastated areas. Molyviatis was not in attendance due to an unforeseen personal matter.

"In 2007 Ilia suffered its worst devastation in the modern times, and is still being affected today by the consequences of the catastrophe," Ilia prefect Haralambos Kafiras said in his opening address.

"I am here to convey the brotherly greetings of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots," Christofias said, adding that "the greatest portion of the award belongs to Tassos Papadopoulos" -- a reference to the late Cyprus Republic president and Christofias' predecessor.

On his part, Papandreou referred to the 30 percent allocated by his party's state funding towards the needs of wildfire-stricken residents in the southwest Greece prefecture.

[06] Alavanos addresses SYRIZA party con'f

Alavanos focused on the party's goals, particularly in light of the upcoming Euro-elections, saying that "whatever difficulties have appeared before us can be overcome" and stressed that the Euro-elections are a turning point for SYRIZA as well as a "turning point upwards."

He went on to say that SYRIZA "is a great achievement. A great achievement that we do not have the right to allow to turn grey. We do not have the right to become used to it."

Alavanos also spoke of a crisis of the system and, referring to his party's apparent decline, said that "we tell them that if we have learnt a small skill all these years it is to overturn opinion polls."

[07] Former minister Kouloumbis dies

A funeral service will take place at the Aghios Dionysios Cathedral in the Kolonaki district on Tuesday, with the burial taking place at a cemetery in his birthplace, the east Athens district of Kesariani.

Financial News

[08] FinMin: Gov't reforms aided economy's defence against int'l crisis

Papathanassiou said his generation was responsible for those economic and structural problems, while underlining that the Greek economy's defences against the international crisis were significantly aided by the reforms undertaken by the Karamanlis government over the past five years.

Moreover, he promised stepped up efforts to supervise the tax-collecting mechanisms in the finance ministry as well as a more effective receipt of confirmed debts to the state.

ONNED president Giorgos Papanikolaou also addressed delegates at the conference, which is taking place in Tripolis, the capital city of Arcadia prefecture in the central Peloponnese.

General News

[09] Papoulias attends Messolonghi exodus anniversary ceremonies

"The historic anniversary of the national uprising continues to move and to inspire. The uprising of the Greeks and their struggle for freedom, national dignity and justice constitutes the paramount moment of struggles for our people, a new starting point for Hellenism," Papoulias said in his address to Messolonghi Mayor Yiannis Anagnostopoulos.

Papoulias further noted that the heroic Messolonghi exodus is probably the ultimate moment of the 1821 revolution, adding that the values of persistence, heroism and self-sacrifice of the fighters of 1821 are incarnated in Messolonghi, "and they are values that our country had to resort to during the hard times reserved for us in the 20th century as well."

[10] Polish hikers located on Crete mountain, airlifted to safety

The pair had gone missing on Friday and was only discovered by a search-&-rescue team just before midnight. A Super Puma helicopter was dispatched at dawn to the retrieve the couple from the remote mountain range.

The Polish couple was in the city of Hania for a vacation, including hiking on the mountain range.

An emergency call via a cell phone by the couple led to the rescue operation.

The woman was transferred to a hospital in Hania.

[11] Foreign national arrested in shocking chainsaw attack on estranged wife

According to reports on the particularly gruesome incident, the suspect, an Albanian national residing in the north-central Greek town of Veria, arrived in Kalamata roughly a week ago to meet with his 30-year-old wife, also an Albanian guest worker.

An ensuing domestic dispute on Friday subsequently turned into a bloody crime scene when the alleged perpetrator used a chainsaw he had purchased several days ago to slash at the victim's limbs. The suspect waved down a police patrol car later on Friday evening and informed police officers that he had severely injured his wife.

The man was accompanied to Kalamata, a port city in southwestern Peloponnese, by the couple's two children, 9 and 11. The children had reportedly arrived in Greece from Albania recently to visit their mother.

The victim was airlifted to a specialised Athens hospital via military transport late Friday. The Messinia prefecture arranged for the temporary hosting of the couple's children as well as psychological support.

[12] Vendetta suspected in shooting death

Police said that the assailant stopped his car in front of the couple and, after emerging from the car, shot the elderly man at least four times in the head and then fled the scene.

According to initial reports, the victim had served a long prison sentence for a murder he committed in Rethymno, Crete in the late 1970s.

Soccer

[13] Super League results

In other action:

Xanthi-PAOK Thessaloniki 1-2

OFI Crete-Ergotelis Crete 0-0

Panthrakikos Komotini-Levadiakos Livadia 1-3

Iraklis Thessaloniki-Asteras Tripolis 2-1

Panionios Athens-Thrasyvoulos Athens 4-1

Standings after 29 weeks of play:

1. Olympiakos 68 points champions

2. PAOK 60

3. Panathinaikos 58

4. AEK 54

5. Larissa 46

6. Aris 44

7. Xanthi 35

8. Ergotelis 35

9. Panionios 34

10. Asteras 33

11. Panthrakikos 33

12. Iraklis 33

13. Levadiakos 32

14. Panserraikos 24 relegated

15. OFI 24 relegated

16. Thrasyvoulos 13 relegated

Weather Forecast

[14] Cloudy, rainy on Monday

[15] The Sunday editions of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Bombshell by former PM Simitis against PASOK: He's backing former aide (Theodoros Tsoukatos) and doesn't sign petition to establish Parliamentary inquiry committee for Siemens kickback furor".

APOGEVMATINI: "Tax break for real estate, vehicles".

AVGI: "2nd nationwide SYRIZA conference for upcoming European Parliament elections".

AVRIANI: "Bogus opinion poll gives 7.5-percent lead (by PASOK over ND) by Alafouzos (the Kathimerini media group). He's blackmailing Karamanlis and trying to disrupt government with fixed polls".

CHORA: "Alarm over Greece's seismic chart".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "A Russian Ecumenical Patriarch is mandatory to save and preserve the Ecumenical Patriarchate".

ELETHEROS TYPOS: "60-day plan for election readiness and in the distance a party congress".

EPOCHI: "Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) debates, listens and acts".

ETHNOS: "Desperation plan based on scandal-mongering and barrage of small-time benefits".

KATHIMERINI: "The Obama doctrine: Turkey in the new geopolitical game. US president has the rapprochement with Islam as a main priority".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Interview with French FinMin Christine Lagard: 'Greece has chosen to follow the path of Ireland".

LOGOS: "Double front in terms of scandals, political clash gets rougher amid the shadow of Pavlidis, Siemens affairs".

NIKI: "Pavlidis indictments sinking ND".

PARON: "Hold elections but stay, top ministers and officials recommend. Karamanlis determined to for battle".

PROTO THEMA (weekly): "Stylianidis couple (the transport minister) in Paris with 2,500-euro per day hotel room".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The people will turn the page with a powerful communist party. We'll give a strong rapping to the 'Euro one-way street'."

VIMA: "Courts to decide over government's emergency tax measures".

VRADYNI: "New provisions for borrowing from SMEs Fund".

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