Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 11-02-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM Droutsas participates in debate on 'The fight for the euro and the future of the European Union'

[02] UN spokesman on meeting between FM Droutsas, UN SG

[03] Strong gov't reaction to article on Papandreou, IMF

[04] ND spokesman on newspaper report

[05] ND leader Samaras addresses Political Committee

[06] Government spokesman on ND leader's Political Committee address

[07] ND leader Samaras gives interview to 'Imerisia' newspaper

[08] KKE leader addresses event on women fighting with Communists in Greek civil war

[09] KKE SG gives interview to 'Typos tis Kyriakis' newspaper

[10] Tsipras addresses European Left party women's network meeting

[11] Rectors, education minister agree on range of issues

[12] Citizen's Protection minister gives interview to 'Real News' newspaper

[13] Opinion polls see PASOK ahead but with low percentage

[14] President Papoulias attending Ioannina liberation events

[15] President Papoulias on public property

[16] President deplores violence in sport

[17] Finmin announces end of 'troika' press conferences, announces target of 1 bln from privatisations in 2011

[18] New wave of strikes next week

[19] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

[20] Work stoppages at ANA-MPA on Monday, Tuesday

[21] Protest action at toll posts on Sunday

[22] Protest in Thessaloniki against bus ticket hikes

[23] Olympiacos increases Super League lead

[24] 17 arrests at Olympiakos-Panathinaikos game on Saturday

[25] Rainy on Monday

[26] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance

[01] FM Droutsas participates in debate on 'The fight for the euro and the future of the European Union'

Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, speaking during a debate in Vienna on "The fight for the euro and the future of the European Union", referred to the great structural reforms that the Greek government has promoted and "which, with many sacrifices by the Greek people, have already produced initial positive results meeting with great international recognition."

The Greek foreign minister's interlocutors, in the presence of many representatives of Austria's public life and a large congregation, were European Commission vice-president Viviane Reding, Austrian vice-Chancellor and finance minister Josef Proll and well-known Professor Dennis J. Snower, president of the Institute for the Global Economy in Kiel and a professor of theoretical economics at Kiel University, while Slovakia's Prime Minister Iveta Radicova was absent due to illness.

Droutsas stressed that the government will implement its programme with the structural changes "which are necessary despite the crisis, to enable the country to be competitive, while the mistakes of the past must be remedied and this is linked to sacrifices by the citizens who are doing their best but are saddened by unfair criticism by the media abroad."

He reassured that the loan Greece is receiving will be returned "up to the very last Euro" as he said characteristically, adding that the crisis constitutes an opportunity for change, for the building of a different Greece.

Referring to the issue of the event, the foreign minister stressed that the Euro can, must and will continue to live and it is important that the Eurozone's political will exists for its support and strengthening. "The Euro constitutes enrichment of the policy for Europe", he added.

As Droutsas said, the EU's relevant message so far to the international monetary markets was not convincing enough, for this reason it is necessary for a clear message to be sent to them as soon as possible that there has been a serious and adequate discussion so that the Permanent Support Apparatus can be decided at the European Council on March 24 and 25.

As regards competitiveness, he stressed the need for investments in knowledge and quality, he backed the coordination of economic institutions and a gradual transition to Economic Governance, as being a great opportunity for Europe and its citizens and he rejected as being incorrect isolated actions and as counterproductive sanction policies, such as the denial of a vote for countries, as this had been proposed by the German side months ago.

Droutsas's interlocutors, who hailed the great efforts by Greece and its citizens to tackling the crisis, supported in their addresses the need for supporting and strengthening the Euro, as well as the Support Apparatus.

The Greek Foreign minister left Vienna for Brussels in the afternoon.

[02] UN spokesman on meeting between FM Droutsas, UN SG

A spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, referring to Friday's meeting between Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas with the Secretary General at the international organisation's headquarters, said "they discussed the continuing negotiations in Cyprus and exchanged views on the continuing negotiations under the auspices of the UN, between Athens and Skopje (FYROM), on solving the issue of the name."

Droutsas, apart from the meeting with the UN Secretary General that had been attended by officials from "both sides", also held a 15-minute private meeting with the UN's chief without the presence of any of their associates.

FM Droutsas gives interview to CNN

Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, speaking in an interview with CNN International, referred to Greece's desire to contribute constructively to the process of the Arab World's democratisa-tion and outlined the idea of the creation in Greece of a "Democracy Centre" that could provide training and know-how to young politicians emerging in the Arab countries.

The idea, that had been presented in the past by Prime Minister George Papandreou, will be discussed by the Foreign minister on Sunday night with his counterparts from the European Union in the frameweork of the Council being convened in Brussels by the EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton on developments in the wider region of the Middle East. Droutsas told the international television network "all our partners are welcome to cooperate in this effort."

The Foreign minister will have the opportunity during Sunday's dinner to brief his counterparts on the results of the recent, on February 16 and 17, contacts held in Egypt by the Foreign ministry's secretary general ambassador I.-A. Zepos.

The situation in the Middle East will also be preoccupying on February 21 the EU's Foreign ministers in the framework of the Foreign Affairs Council in which Droutsas and Alternate Foreign Minister Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou will be participating.

The General Affairs Council's agenda includes the preparation for the European Council on March 24 and 25 and the discussion on the Future of Cohesion Policy.

[03] Strong gov't reaction to article on Papandreou, IMF

"We all remember the Greek government's immense efforts, especially those of Prime Minister George Papandreou, to deal directly with the prospect of bankruptcy for the country that was revealed after the elections of 2009," Petalotis stressed in response to the article.

According to the spokesman, the previous New Democracy government had carefully hidden the extent of Greece's debt and deficit, which were revealed immediately after the elections were held and led to violent reactions from international markets.

"With delicate handling, with calmness and with great determination at times very difficult for our country, we succeeded in creating the solution of the trilateral mechanism for loans and support and its application to us," Petalotis pointed out.

He also underlined that the government's efforts had led Europe to adopt a permanent European Financial Stability Facility, despite the very negative climate toward Greece that the years of ND government had delivered, and given the country a temporary respite from its loan obligations so that it might plan and carry out the major changes that needed to be made.

"This course was neither self-evident nor easy," Petalotis underlined, stressing that this result was achieved through hard work and "concentrated understanding" by both Greek people and the government.

The Kathimerini article cited as its source a documentary filmed by the French television network Canal+ that is due to be broadcast next month. This apparently contains footage in which IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn refers to being approached by Papandreou and asked whether Greece might seek the aid of the IMF, which Strauss-Kahn took as an expression of Papandreou's confidence in his abilities.

The article says that Strauss-Kahn warned that European leaders would not agree to unilateral IMF intervention in a eurozone country, something that was confirmed at the EU summit in

December 2009 when Papandreou raised the issue and received a negative reply his EU counterparts.

[04] ND spokesman on newspaper report

That firstly: Mr. Papandreou and his government deliberately led the country to the Memorandum, swelling in the beginning the deficit and then degrading the Greek economy, with the statements about the 'Titanic', a 'corrupt country'. etc.

And that secondly: Mr. Papandreou was deliberately disorienta-ting the Greek people, while in the backstages he had chosen to lead the country to the IMF."

[05] ND leader Samaras addresses Political Committee

"The government has entered a state of semidissolution and semiparalysis," Samaras said, adding "it is not merely certain arythmias in government work, it is a question of massed and consecutive cases of confusion and palinodes."

Referering to all that has followed the press conference by the troika, he spoke of a drama with denunciations by the government spokesman, denials by the Finance minister, denials by the prime minister himself and denials of the prime minister's denials.

He also mentioned as being indicative of the "government's confusion" the circular on semioutdoor premises that was withdrawn before circulating, the public disagreements on the tax bill and the role of the economic crime prosecutor, as well as the disagreements between the Environment minister and the Infrastructures minister.

Samaras further said that while the government is presenting a picture of dissolution, ND has a plan and added "every day we are signing a contract of dignity with the Greek people."

The ND leader referred to his proposal since last July on the utilisation of real estate. "We said last year that the memorandum is not succeeding, and also that the memorandum is not stopping but is strengthening and refuelling the momentum of the deficits and of the debt," he stressed and concluded by saying "we had been criticised at the time while now they are agreeing with us. When PASOK had requested consensus in reality it had wanted complicity."

[06] Government spokesman on ND leader's Political Committee address

Petalotis further said that "Mr. Samaras in his address today as well, repeated once again the now known recipe of his nonexistent political proposal:'ND has said everything, it had warned in time about everything, but the governmet did not listen to them'," while stressing that "what is worse, of course, for ND and Mr. Samaras is that, as it is being proved, they are not even following developments and what is taking place in the country."

[07] ND leader Samaras gives interview to 'Imerisia' newspaper

Samaras reiterated that soon he will be presenting his updated plan on an exit from the crisis and added that his proposal on the utilisation of the public sector's real estate is compatible with measures to boost growth, and indeed at no cost, as well as a decrease in tax rates.

The ND leader further said that Greece must become more competitive to enable convergence with other economies and stressed that ND is prepared in the event that Prime Minister George Papandreou decides to lead the country to early elections.

"Early elections are up to the prime minister to decide. In any case, we are prepared," Samaras said.

[08] KKE leader addresses event on women fighting with Communists in Greek civil war

"It is our duty to honour the struggles of the people and one of those struggles was that of the Democratic Army of Greece. They call it civil war, but in reality it was a struggle between the radical forces expressed by KKE on the one hand and, on the other hand, the bourgeois classes, the bourgeois political parties and their allies, the foreigners, those that during the Occupation were the great absentees and traitors," she said.

The event was held in the Florina cultural centre on Sunday morning, alongside an exhibition of photographs and books referring to the action of the Democratic Army of Greece.

Replying to reporters' questions after the event, Papariga said the KKE strenuously objected to the government's plans to raise 50 billion euro by exploiting state-owned assets.

[09] KKE SG gives interview to 'Typos tis Kyriakis' newspaper

Papariga also believes that these two parties and the Popular Orthodox Rally party (LAOS) were not taken by surprise by the troika's proposals.

The KKE leader called on the people "to put an end to the plans of the big parties" since, as she says, "if the people do not stop them, they shall leave nothing standing, it will not only be a big crime of looting public wealth but also of the destruction of the country's production potential and of the environment."

[10] Tsipras addresses European Left party women's network meeting

Tsipras spoke of the severe blows that neoliberalism has dealt at the modern-day woman, saying "never in the past has an economic system and a social culture used, abused and disdained in so many ways the woman, from Afghanistan to Hollywood and from Europe to Africa."

According to the Coalition's leader, "with the recent economic crisis, an unprecedented social collapse has begun for Greece, during which insecure employment, part-time work, that constitutes the harshest form of exploitation, concerns women to a considerable degree."

[11] Rectors, education minister agree on range of issues

In statements afterward, Diamantopoulou said that dialogue had highlighted several areas of agreement between the ministry and the academic community regarding ways to improve academic and teaching processes in Greek universities and produce "degrees that have value".

During their meeting with the minister, rectors also conveyed concern over drastic funding cuts that had reduced university budgets by 35 percent, which they said was also jeopardising research. They pointed out, also, that universities currently accounted for 70 percent of the research being carried out in Greece.

They also objected to ministry proposals that university administrative boards should include non-academics, or measures allowing rectors to appoint individuals from institutions abroad.

Among others, the meeting also discussed the issue of university asylum and rectors agreed to the foundation of a committee with the participation of all universities to deal with crises concerning this, such as the recent occupation of an Athens university law school building by illegal migrants to hold a hunger strike.

Other points of agreement between the two sides were the use of quality and efficiency indicators for a percentage of university funding, that education institutes be fully in charge of their own financial management, establishing ways to make financial use of bequests to universities and a transitional period until 2013 until the changes are fully implemented.

[12] Citizen's Protection minister gives interview to 'Real News' newspaper

Papoutsis criticised the troika's members, calling on them "to realise what their role is at last," while stressing that the government's aim is the speedy remedying of injustices in the lower social classes, but without the next day being jeopardised.

[13] Opinion polls see PASOK ahead but with low percentage

An opinion poll conducted by the firm 'Pulse' and published by the "Eleftheros Typos" Sunday paper saw the ruling party's share of the vote decline to 23.5 percent, 3.5 points ahead of ND with just 20 percent.

The 'Pulse' poll placed the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) third at 9 percent, followed by the right-wing Popular Orthodox Rally with 5 percent and the left-wing Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) with 3 percent. The remaining political forces now represented in Parliament, the Democratic Left led by Fotis Kouvelis and the 'Democratic Alliance' led by independent MP Dora Bakoyannis both 'tied' at 2 percent (lower than the ceiling for getting into Parliament), along with the Ecologists-Greens. A further 3 percent of voters expressed support for 'other' parties and 22 percent said they would either abstain or cast a blank vote, while 8 percent were undecided.

An opinion poll conducted by 'Rass' for the newspaper "Paron" gave PASOK a slightly higher percentage of 26.1 percent, compared with 22.7 percent for ND, giving the ruling party a 3.4 percent lead.

In this poll, 8 percent of voters said they would cast their vote for KKE, 5.1 percent of LAOS, 3.2 percent for SYRIZA, 3 percent for the Ecologists-Greens, 1.8 percent for the Democratic Alliance and 1.7 percent for the Democratic Left.

Another 2.8 percent declared a preference for 'other' parties, 2.6 percent said they would cast a blank or spoiled vote and 23 percent did not specify how they intend to vote.

[14] President Papoulias attending Ioannina liberation events

"A message for all of us. A sincere patriotism places us in the struggle to enable us to overcome every crisis and every difficulty. And we shall succeed," President Papoulias said, referring to the struggle of Epirus women who carried the cannons of the Greek army in 1913 for the siege of Bizani and the liberation of Ioannina.

President Papoulias laid a wreath after a memorial service and watched a video-documentary of the period.

The event opened three-day celebrations marking the 98th anniversary of the liberation of Ioannina. The events will be continued on Sunday and concluded on Monday with a big parade in the centre of the city.

[15] President Papoulias on public property

President Papoulias also referred to the issue of the public sector's property, stressing that "Grek public property is not registered to a considerable degree and trespassed to a criminal degree. Its utilisation, as well as that of real estate to be found abroad is an imperative need. We are pretending to be blind when we exhaust ourselves on theoritical discussions, danger talk, slogan-making, witchhunts and barren confrontations. We lose valuable time and powers."

[16] President deplores violence in sport

"All of us that love sport, who love the virtues and ideals of sport, must range ourselves against violence in stadiums. It is unacceptable that a small minority can cause incidents that blacken sports as a whole. We say 'no' to violence in stadiums," he emphasised.

Papoulias was speaking at a ceremony held to honour his contribution to sport on the sidelines of the game, in which the Greek side emerged victorious with a score of 77-70. Referees in the game were Health and Social Solidarity Minister Andreas Loverdos and Deputy Health Minister Christos Aidonis.

Both ministers also condemned violence linked to sports during statements at the event and encouraged young people to exercise.

Financial News

[17] Finmin announces end of 'troika' press conferences, announces target of 1 bln from privatisations in 2011

According to the minister, that particular "model of communication" had proved problematic after the intense row sparked by the statements of 'troika' experts during their latest press conference, which drew an angry response from the government.

Papaconstantinou again emphasised that the revised privatisation programme target of 50 billion euros was decided by the government and would take place over a space of five years, extending beyond the term of the Memorandum for the financial support to Greece and was not, therefore, a 'memorandum target'.

He also clarified that apart from the sale of real estate, there was also the possibility of a long-term lease of real estate that many investors preferred.

The finance minister noted that the government's target for 2011 was to raise more than one billion euro from privatisations in 2011 and to fight tax evasion.

He also noted that the government was starting to see results from its work against tax evasion while admitting that much still remained to be done in this area.

Concerning the debate currently underway in Europe for the economy, the finance minister said that Greece was seeking to buy back its debt while also striving for decisions linked to better terms for borrowing and managing public debt.

He once again ruled out all possibility of a restructuring of Greece's debt.

[18] New wave of strikes next week

Athens buses will kick off the week with work stoppages starting at 11:00 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. On Tuesday they will also be joined by staff in the ISAP electric railway, who will strike for four hours from noon until 4:00 p.m., while buses and trolleys will pull up their parking brakes from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in order to hold a general meeting and decide on their next course of action.

Wednesday will see all public transport except the ISAP electric railway grind to a halt for the 24-hour nationwide strike declared by the country's two main union federations, the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) and the civil servants' union federation ADEDY. The ISAP railway will operate from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in order to carry people wanting to take part in a march that will be held in the centre of Athens.

Buses will hold yet another work stoppage next Friday, between 11:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. while all means of public transport will hold a work stoppage at those hours on the following Monday, February 28 so that public transport employees can attend a joint general assembly at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Faliro.

[19] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

U.S. dollar 1.373

Pound sterling 0.846

Danish kroner 7.514

Swedish kroner 8.802

Japanese yen 114.53

Swiss franc 1.307

Norwegian kroner 7.817

Canadian dollar 1.350

Australian dollar 1.358

General News

[20] Work stoppages at ANA-MPA on Monday, Tuesday

During the work stoppages news items and informatioon will not be broadcast by the Agency and the ANA-MPA's website will not be updated.

[21] Protest action at toll posts on Sunday

The planned protests are outlined at the movement's site www.diodiastop.gr and stress that Sunday's action is a message against the government's efforts to criminalise the refusal to pay.

[22] Protest in Thessaloniki against bus ticket hikes

"Government and OASTH, take back the tax," "free transport, free education" wrote banners held by the protesters.

The rally began at the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos and reached the New Town Hall in Thessaloniki, where hundreds of pedestrians were waiting for the cyclists.

Sports

[23] Olympiacos increases Super League lead

In other action:

Asteras Tripolis-Kerkyra 0-2

Kavala-Panseraikos Serres 0-0

Olympiacos Volos-Iraklis Thessaloniki 1-1

Atromitos Athens-Aris Thessaloniki 0-0

Xanthi-Larissa 1-1

Standings after 23 weeks of play:

1. Olympiacos Piraeus 60 points

2. Panathinaikos 50

3. PAOK 34 (22 games)

4. AEK 34

5. Kavala 32

6. Olympiacos V. 32

7. Ergotelis 31 (22 games)

8. Kerkyra 30

9. Aris 29

10. Iraklis 28

11. Xanthi 28

12. Atromitos 27

13. Panionios 25

14. Asteras 22

15. Larissa 19

16. Panseraikos 17

NOTE: The game between PAOK Thessaloniki and Ergotelis Crete was postponed due to PAOK's commitments in the Europa League.

[24] 17 arrests at Olympiakos-Panathinaikos game on Saturday

Of these, sixteen were arrested for breaking into the stadium and causing damage and one for throwing objects at police.

All 17 were led before a public prosecutor on Sunday.

Weather Forecast

[25] Rainy on Monday

[26] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance

APOCALYPSES: "Elections in April with a 'rainbow' government".

ARTHRO: "Mergers a solution (for banking sector)".

AVGHI: "Storm warning for the government, economy".

AVRIANI: "Qatar knew about the government's plan for a merger between Alpha and NBG".

CHORA: "In prison for one euro".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Electoral collapse for 'memorandum' PASOK".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "List of 20,000 tax evaders".

EPOCHI: "We should flood the streets".

ETHNOS: "Alpha-NBG's 'Blood Wedding' and the thriller between the banks".

KATHIMERINI: "Government amidst the Symplegades".

LOGOS: "Pay cuts in the public and private sectors".

NIKI tis DIMOKRATIAS: "We are selling off state land with...Papaconstantinou's seal of approval".

PARON (weekly): "The 'troika' is governing. 'Slap' from 80.5 pct of the public".

PROTO THEMA (weekly): "SDOE (financial crimes investigation unit) freezes 75 accounts for submarine kickbacks".

REALNEWS (weekly): "The bank accounts that 'hog-tie' Akis Tsohatzopoulos!".

RIZOSPASTIS: "With all our strength for the success of the strike".

TO VIMA: "Bankers play poker, anxious government looks on".

VRADYNI: "The new supplementary pensions. Which insurance funds are affected, which are saved".

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