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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 11-10-10Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>This message is in MIME format. The first part should be readable text, while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools.--1427249692-1451502485-1318371843=:11667 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=X-UNKNOWN; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT Monday, 10 October 2011 Issue No: 3910 CONTENTS
[01] PM on Mt. Athos for event commemorating Bartholomew's 20 years as PatriarchPrime Minister George Papandreou travelled to the monastic community of Mount Athos on Sunday for ecclesiastical celebrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of the enthronement of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.Papandreou, along with Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis, will attend a Patriarchal service at the cathedral in the monastic capital of Karyes. In statements on Saturday, Lambrinidis reiterated the Greek state's support and appreciation for the presence of the semi-autonomous region on Greek territory, while noting that Athens is aware of the problems facing the Orthodox monasteries on Mount Athos. On his part, Εcumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Sunday sent a message of solidarity and unity in order to overcome the ongoing economic crisis in Greece, speaking during a liturgy in the monastic community of Mount Athos, and in the presence of Prime Minister George Papandreou. Bartholomew expressed a wish for an end to the crisis everywhere, especially in Greece, with the least possible repercussions, while he called the mission of the Greek prime minister and other world leaders as "difficult and arduous". The Ecumenical Patriarch pointed out that the reasons for the crisis are not only economic but also spiritual; while he underlined that the solution is a return to God and the Orthodox Christianity's virtues. The Ecumenical Patriarch is visiting Mount Athos in the framework of the ecclesiastical celebrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of his enthronement. In later comments, Papandreou called Bartholomew "an inspiring example" for the latter's efforts to promote the virtues of Eastern Orthodoxy, peace and environmental sensitivity. "Bartholomew's struggle is an example that inspires us and gives us strength in a very difficult period for our country, during which we have been weighed down with responsibilities and burdens ... You give, with your example, strength and power to continue and overcome in the best possible way these difficulties, in order for our country to become stronger, with greater viability and prosperity." Moreover, the Patriarch expressed a hope that a long-standing demand by the Patriarchate for the re-opening of the theological seminary of Halki will soon be fulfilled, speaking during a reception with monastic leaders on Mount Athos. He noted that the issue has again been brought to the attention of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, during a recent meeting with representatives of Turkey's minorities. Finally, he reminded that the issue lies beyond the narrow scope of Greek-Turkish relations, but is one of religious freedom and human rights. [02] Gov't, 'troika' talks to resume on MondayA meeting between the leadership of the finance ministry and representatives of the EC-ECB-IMF "troika" over "outstanding" issues related to the Memorandum was concluded on Sunday evening in Athens, with a major portion of discussions reportedly dealing with the budgets of 2013 and 2014.Discussions are expected to continue on Monday. [03] KKE leader : 'Haircut' prearrangedCommunist Party (KKE) head Aleka Papariga on Sunday stressed that a "haircut" of Greece's debt was already decided two years ago.The communist leader said the haircut is bankruptcy, "this is how the capitalism crisis ends up." Papariga said her party is ready for elections, underling however, that with snap elections "they aim to create a consensus government against the people". [04] Belgian FinMin: Urgent measures to avoid a 'Lehman Bros. 2'"Europe's aim should not be for Greece to die healed," Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders was quoted as saying in an interview appearing in an Athens weekly paper.Reynders noted that the EU must support Greece in order for a "Lehmann Brothers No. 2"to be avoided, adding that "Europe must urgently implement measures decided on July 21 and to accelerate actions for Greece, especially a long-delayed privatisation programme. Regarding the French-Belgian bank Dexia, he said cooperation between the central bankers of the two countries is underway to take necessary measures for depositors and creditors. [05] Maritime violation recorded by Turkish warshipHellenic Navy sources over the weekend pointed to a maritime provocation by a Turkish frigate on Saturday afternoon, noting that that the warship "Kemal Reis" sailed west of the Dodecanese island of Rhodes into international waters off the isles of Santorini, Milos and Serifos before entering Greek territorial waters.The violation was recorded in the sea region between the west Cyclades islands of Kea and Kythnos, before the vessel returned to international waters via the strait of Kafireas, in southern Evia island. The incident generated a sharp reaction by both the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party and the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.O.S) party. Amongst others, ND sector head and MP Panos Panayiotopoulos on Sunday referred to "yieldingness and lack of a clear-cut strategy" by the government towards Turkey. Financial News [06] Greek minister elected president of WTO com't for EuropeGreek Culture & Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos has been elected to the two-year position of president of the UN World Tourism Organisation's committee for Europe, during a WTO congress held in Korea on Sunday.Geroulanos thanked WTO members for his election, before citing the priorities and targets to be set by the Greek presidency, particularly in the development of tourism within the European Union. "If we want to bring people closer we must not be arrogant and raise walls but, instead, to build bridges," he said. On the sidelines of the congress, Geroulanos signed a cooperation agreement in the tourism sector with his Belarus counterpart Oleg Kachan and afterwards he had a meeting with Korean Tourism, Sports and Culture Minister Choe Kwang Shik, with whom he discussed the possibility to further cooperation between the two countries. Geroulanos on Monday will visit Abu Dhabi in order to participate in World's Economic Forum held there. General News [07] Two more suspects detained in Athens Airport bank robberyAnother two individuals were detained for questioning on Saturday in relation to the spectacular robbery of a bank inside the Athens International Airport last Sunday, which saw 1.43 million euros vanish.According to reports, one of the individuals is a 25 year-old employee of the specific Alpha bank branch. The man's father also works in the bank network's security department. Authorities are reportedly examining whether 25-year-old provided details about the premises security and the safe. The second man is identified only as a bar owner. Police discovered 293,880 euros in cash in the two suspects' possession and also recovered a replica handgun. A day earlier, police arrested three suspects, a couple and an Albanian national, the latter allegedly the mastermind of the caper. A search of the foreign national's residence in central Athens and the couple's home netted 739,530 euros, 8,990 UK pounds, 31,000 US dollars, two handguns, 802 cartridges, a bullet-proof vest and 50 banknote tapes. [08] Trio of foreign nat'ls arrested in 'home invasion' caseThree Albanian nationals, two 25-year-olds and a 24-year-old, were arrested on Sunday during a coordinated police raid in the Neos Kosmos district of Athens, a day after the trio and another man allegedly committed a "home invasion" in the eastern Attica prefecture.The suspects are accused of armed robbery and grand auto theft. An investigation is underway on whether the suspects are implicated in a string of recent home invasions in various upscale Athens neighbourhoods. Two handguns, ammunition, burglary tools and masks were found in two residences. According to reports, the 25-year-old was released from a prison in Grevena in December 2010 after serving a seven-year sentence for thefts and other crimes. Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, a Georgian national was charged with no less than 73 break-ins of vehicles, mostly in southern coastal Athens. The man, 28, had also been previously arrested but released on bail. [09] Fifty one illegal migrants rescuedA Lebanon-flagged vessel dropped off 51 illegal migrants in Irakleio, Crete early Saturday after rescuing the group when a small boat carrying them to an unknown destination was left adrift some 50 nautical miles north of Crete on Friday.The 51 illegal migrants, including eight women and four minors, were housed in a port facility as a temporary shelter. [10] Passing train kills two in NE GreeceTwo unidentified individuals, possibly illegal migrants, were struck and killed on Friday evening by train on the 41st kilometre of the Alexandroupolis-Dikaion line in extreme northeastern Greece.Weather forecast [11] Rain on MondayRain and northeasterly winds is forecast for Monday. Wind velocity will reach 8 on the Beaufort scale. Storms in the northern parts with temperatures ranging from 7C-13C. Showers in the south and the islands, 10C-24C. Clouds and rain in Athens, 14C-19C; the same for Thessaloniki, 9C-12C.[12] The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceContinuing speculation over an imminent 'haircut' of the Greek debt mostly dominated the headlines on Sunday in Athens' newspapers.AVRIANI: "Prime Minister George Papandreou resigning, blackmails for co-governance". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Straightforward towards debt and prime minister's 'haircut'." ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "To the barber (for a haircut) immediately ". EPOCHI: "They're trimming the people not the debt!" ETHNOS: "Greeks lose 5.5 billion euros in one night!" KATHIMERINI: "Greece in unfamiliar waters". PARON: "They're leading Greece to 'credit event'." PROTO THEMA: "One-day labour contracts". RIZOSPASTIS: "Popular uprising now against criminal omnibus bill". TO VIMA: "Towards a 'final resolution' - Alarm in European banks". VRADYNI: "Lock in bigger pension - Secret arrangements increase incomes". 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ILIAS MATSIKAS --1427249692-1451502485-1318371843=:11667-- Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |