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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-08-20Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Monday, 20 August 2012 Issue No: 4152CONTENTS
[01] FM in Berlin ahead of Samaras visit on FridayBERLIN (AMNA)Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, who is paying a working visit here ahead of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras visit on Friday, will meet on Monday with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle. Additionally, Avramopoulos will host a reception in honour of former vice-chancellor and foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher on Sunday, at the Berlin residence of the Greek ambassador to Germany. The veteran Liberal Democratic Party of Germany cadre is actively promoting a Westerwelle initative to showcase the idea of Europe, while he has consistently referrred to the ongoing eurozone crisis. Moreover, he has recently criticised high-profile statements by current Vice-Chancellor Philipp Roesler as well as Bavarian state Finance Minister and CSU member Markus Soeder, referring to "neo-nationalistic nonsense", while calling on the pair not to underestimate the efforts of other countries facing economic problems, including Greece. [02] SYRIZA on PM's meeting with European officialsMain opposition SYRIZA spokesman Panos Skourletis on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Antonis Samaras ahead of the premier's visit to Berlin and Paris, stressing that "the head of the internal troika will meet the higher European political authority as a suppliant and not as the individual who expresses the interests of Greek society."Skourletis forecast that any extension of the Memorandum means an extension of the recession and the disastrous repercussions to Greece society. "It is certain that Mr. Samaras does not have a different plan for the crisis than that of our lenders," he charged. Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, in response to Skourletis' statements, said that "after his deputies, who wish for the country's bankruptcy, it is now clear and official that SYRIZA wants the failure of the Prime Minister's talks with our European partners. Let the people judge them." [03] Top SYRIZA MP flatly denies charges of 'wishing for default'Main opposition SYRIZA Parliamentary spokesman Panayiotis Lafazanis, whose controversial comments this past week over a possible Greek sovereign default shook the otherwise dull August political landscape, on Sunday shot back at his worst critics, namely, the ruling New Democracy (ND) party.The outspoken Lafazanis charged that ND has targetted him in an "operation of lies, disinformation and slander", speaking to a local radio station. "I never said that the political answer to the Greek problem is default, and moreover, I never wished for such a default. This is clear from my statements," he said. [04] Turkish Deputy PM concludes visit to ThraceTurkish deputy prime minister Bekir Bozdag on Sunday concluded his three day informal visit to Thrace province on the occasion of the Ramadan Byram Muslim holiday. Bozdag, a Muslim theologian and attorney by training, visited the prefectures of Rhodopi and Xanthi to celebrate the Ramadan Bayram Muslim holiday with members of the Muslim minority in the region.On Sunday, Bozdag participated in Muslim prayers at a mosque in the village of Ehinos and afterwards left for Turkey. General News [05] ID of Paros bank robbery, homicide suspect releasedA 30-year-old man was charged on Sunday with involvement in a recent high-profile bank robbery on the popular holiday island of Paros, which led to the fatal shooting death of a local taxi driver who tried to intervened.Authorities later in the day identified the man -- following a decision by a relevant prosecutor -- as Anastasios Theofilou, who was born in 1982 in Thessaloniki. A picture of the suspect was also provided to the media. Additionally, CCTV footage from the bank robbery was released, a more-or-less rare occurrence for Greek law enforcement, ostensibly aiming at identifying the suspects. The footage shows more than one of the gunmen during the incident. Theofilou was arrested on Saturday in Athens following the matching of his DNA on objects linked to the robbery, police said. Moreover, authorities have charged that the suspect allegedly belongs to the so-called "anti-state", "anti-establishment" political movement in Greece. Along those lines, police said they are investigating whether Theofilou is linked with the ultra-left urban terror gang "Nuclei of Fire". The robbery took place on Aug. 10 when three gunmen stormed an Alpha Bank branch in the resort village of Naoussa, on Paros, while a fourth kept watch. During the course of the robbery, a 53-year-old taxi driver noticed the robbery and tried to stop one of the gunmen, who opened fire, fatally wounding him. [06] Hios wildfire rages for second dayA major wildfire that erupted at the Karyes site on the island of Hios early Saturday raged for a second consecutive day on Sunday. The wildfire's front decreased but the danger of rekindling was deemed as significant, due to strong winds that continued in the area.According to officials, no damages of residences were reported. The blaze has already burned thousands of acres of mastic and pine trees. A large force of firefighters and vehicles were dispatched to the scene. [07] Body found in Evros riverThe body of a man, possibly an illegal migrant, was found on Friday in Evros River, in the northeast of the country.The body was transferred to Alexandroupolis University Hospital and according to police, there is no indication suggesting that he was the victim of a crime. [08] Series of wildfires in southern GreeceTwo new wildfires broke out on Sunday on in the prefecture of Heraklio on Crete island. The first in the area of Smari and the second in Galifa.A strong force of firefighters are currently battling the blaze. A fire that broke out on Saturday in the same prefecture in Gerokambos on Sunday was set under control. In progress are two other wildfires that broke out in Mani, southern Greece. The first is burning brushland and the other forest and farmland. The blaze does not threaten residential areas. Finally, a fire that broke out on Saturday in Kehries near Corinth, on Sunday was under partial control. [09] Two more wildfires reportedA wildfire is in progress at a forest expanse in the area of Aghios Ioannis near Mandra, south of Athens. Ten fire engines with a 30 member crew assisted by 16 firemen on foot and seven firefighting aicrafts are battling the blaze.Another fire broke out earlier at a farming area in Gerokambos near Heraklio on Crete island. Four fire engines with an eight member crew and a water dropping helicopter are operating in the area [10] Wildfire near CorinthA wildfire that broke out on Saturday in Kehries, Corinth prefecture, is in progress.Eleven fire engines with a 24 member crew assisted by two firefighting aircrafts are battling the blaze. [11] Suspect in wildfire on Rhodos island arrestedA 37-year-old local man was arrested on Friday on Rhodos island on charges of setting a series of fires on the island.The man is allegedly facing psychological problems and will be remanded in custody until Monday when he will testify before the local prosecutor. [12] Woman wanted on international warrant arrested at Athens airportA Croatian national wanted on an international warrant was arrested at Athens' 'Eleftherios Venizelos' International Airport on Thursday afternoon.The 47-year-old woman was arrested as she arrived in Greece by airplane from Zagreb, Croatia. The woman is wanted by Italy on an Interpol arrest warrant for drug dealing. [13] More than a dozen Georgian nationals charged in burglary ringFifteen Georgian nationals, aged between 17-38, were arrested over the past two days and charged with a string of burglaries in the greater Athens area and in the southern Messinia prefecture.According to police, the suspects are responsible for no less than 238 break-ins. Members of the ring allegedly broke into apartments, shops and warehouses to take cash, electronic devices and other valuables. The suspects were be sent to the prosecutor. [14] Major heroin arrest nets 62 kilos in drugsAn Albanian national was arrested early Sunday when police discovered approximately 62 kilos of heroin in his vehicle. The suspect was travelling on a highway in the NE Evros prefecture when he was pulled over by police for a traffic stop.Police reportedly found 122 packages containing 61.93 grams of heroin and three gas cylinders. [15] 165 kilos of hashish seizedA couple, aged 55 and 33, were arrested on Saturday on the Patras-Athens highway and charged with drug trafficking after police, acting on a tip-off, found and confiscated approximately 165 kilos of cannabis in their vehicle.Both suspects were sent before a Patras prosecutor. [16] The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glancePrime Minister Antonis Samaras' crucial meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Holland and the government's new harsh measures, dominated the headlines on Sunday in Athens' newspapers.AVGHI: "A campaign of bankruptcy". AVRIANI: "Merkel's black front shoots Greece". ETHNOS: "They were giving a pension to man who ... died in 1992". KATHIMERINI: "Plan for cutbacks in salaries". RIZOSPASTIS: "No port or marina privatisation should pass". PROTO THEMA: "Financial Crime Squad: 1,727 have taken out of Greece more than 500,000 euros without having money declared". REALNEWS: "PM to close associates: I will implement measures even if I'll will be overthrown..." TO PARON: "Samaras' wager - In October's summit will officially ask for an extension". TO VIMA: "Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras sends out SOS: We must stay alive under umbrella, crisis shaking euro". 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana-mpa.gr/ * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ILIAS MATSIKAS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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