Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-10-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] FinMin: No political solutions, only negotiations with troika

[02] Officials: Progress in gov't-troika talks

[03] Tsipras: Merkel comes to support gov't

[04] Tsipras: Europe remains our strategic selection

[05] Gov't spokesman on SYRIZA leader's comments

[06] Kouvelis addresses party cadres

[07] EU Commissioner Malstrom to inspect migrant detention centres in Thrace on Mon.

[08] Heightened police, security measures for Merkel visit

[09] Greek recession worse than expected; falls 7.1pct in 2011

[10] Unionists take-over PPC data processing centre

[11] Explosion aboard tourism craft; skipper dies

[12] Protests on Samos related to migrant reception centre

[13] Antiquities smuggling arrest

[14] Trafficker, illegal migrants arrested in stolen car

[15] Third world nat'ls arrested with fake travel documents at airport

[16] The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[01] FinMin: No political solutions, only negotiations with troika

Stournaras expressed guarded optimism that a troika report to be submitted at the upcoming Eurogroup summit will be positive for Greece.

Referring to the negotiations, he said efforts for a compromise centre squarely on the economy's best interests, while he clarified that there are no political solutions, only negotiations with the troika. "

[02] Officials: Progress in gov't-troika talks

Officials said there was progress on all the fronts during the nearly four-hour-long meeting, although "work will continue next week as well".

The main issue discussed on Saturday was the domestic banking and credit situation, as well as domestic banks' recapitalisation, given that 24 billion euros out of the 31.6 bln euros in the next bailout tranche will be funneled to banks via the Financial Stability Fund.

The troika delegation will depart from Greece on Sunday, while Stournaras will attend a Eurogroup Summit during the week.

[03] Tsipras: Merkel comes to support gov't

"Ms Merkel, whose obsession with the memorandum's austerity has led (Greece) to the cliff's edge, is not coming (to Athens) to support Greece; she comes to rescue the corrupt, unreliable subordinates to her interests."

He also told participants at the political fair that the "answer" to the crisis is "mass social struggles", which he defined as "the prospect of a major popular uprising against austerity..."

[04] Tsipras: Europe remains our strategic selection

In an interview with the Athens weekly "Vima", Tsipras accused the government for its austerity policy, noting that even if the package passes it will not be implemented.

"You can't receive taxes from someone who has no income," he said.

"The issue for us is a possible political change in Greece, which will signal wider changes in Europe as well," clarifying that SYRIZA's proposal is friendlier to the euro than the current policies, which jeopardise a united Europe.

[05] Gov't spokesman on SYRIZA leader's comments

"It is outrageous for Mr.Tsipras to charge that the German Chancellor is coming to Greece to rescue the country of corruption ... It is a shame that Mr. Tsipras does not understand that by insulting the German Chancellor at this crucial hour, he does major damage to the country's interests".

[06] Kouvelis addresses party cadres

"If the country today faces heightened pressure, and we as a leftist party participating in the government receive a portion of this pressure, you can image what would have happened if we had not provided a after the second general elections."

[07] EU Commissioner Malstrom to inspect migrant detention centres in Thrace on Mon.

Dendias and Malstrom are scheduled to tour facilities in the city of Komotini, near the town of Venna and Ferres, Evros prefecture, while they will also be briefed on efforts to combat the flow of illegal immigration by Greek Police (EL.AS) officers and Frontex officials.

[08] Heightened police, security measures for Merkel visit

According to reports, 7,000 police officers will be on duty in the city's centre, with heightened security measures at the Athens airport and the downtown hotel with the German chancellor will stay.

Several main thoroughfares will also be closed to traffic periodically in the centre.

Financial News

[09] Greek recession worse than expected; falls 7.1pct in 2011

Total final consumption expenditures recorded a decrease of 7.2 percent.

Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) decreased by 16.4 percent.

Exports of goods and services increased by 0.3 percent.

Imports of goods and services decreased by 7.3 percent

[10] Unionists take-over PPC data processing centre

The head of the union representing PPC employees, Nikos Fotopoulos, said the take-over will continue until the "specific data is confirmed", while promising a news conference to outcome his claims.

He also said the action occurred to prevent a "cover-up".

General News

[11] Explosion aboard tourism craft; skipper dies

The injured passengers were identified as two Dutch nationals, a 52 year-old man and 47 year-old woman; a 30-year-old Belgian man, as well as two minors from Germany, nine and seven.

The explosion occurred as the vessel was entering into Kos harbour, and possibly when passengers attempted to launch fireworks on the occasion of a celebration.

The skipper died on the spot.

All of the injured parties were transferred to a nearby hospital and are out of danger.

[12] Protests on Samos related to migrant reception centre

The backdrop to both protests was local opposition to the operation of a migrants' reception centre on the verdant island, one of the closest Greek territories to the Turkish coast, and thus a "favourite destination" for migrant smugglers ferrying illegal migrants into Greece.

Meanwhile, in northern Greece, residents in the Drama prefecture town of Paranesti announced that they were establishing an 11-member committee (five elected officials and six citizens) to consider proposals related to the temporary operation of a migrant detention centre in an abandoned army camp in the town.

Local residents protested last week over the operation of a such a facility, with televised footage showing at least one man attempting to fire a shotgun as riot police moved into the main square.

In an unrelated development, an attack was reported against the Chryssi Avghi offices in the southern Athens coastal district of Alimos. Damages to a glass pane in the entrance of an apartment building housing the offices as well as vandalism on the second floor.

[13] Antiquities smuggling arrest

A search in his residence reportedly revealed artifacts dated to the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras, whereas cannabis plants were also located.

[14] Trafficker, illegal migrants arrested in stolen car

The suspect was arrested when police stopped the vehicle during a routine traffic stop on the Egnatia motorway in northern Greece.

Three of the illegals said they were Iranian; two claimed to be Palestinian, another two from strife-plagued Syria and one from Eritrea.

The vehicle was stolen from Athens on Sept. 4.

All suspects were led before a Kavala prosecutor.

[15] Third world nat'ls arrested with fake travel documents at airport

The suspects were in possession of a fake Finnish identity card, a forged French passport and a forged Ghana passport.

Migrant smugglers and illegal migrants, mostly from Third World countries, have targetted provincial airports in Greece of late in a bid to reach west European destinations.

Following the abolition by the Turkish government of a visa requirement for citizens of several countries, such as Yemen, for instance, would-be migrants land at Istanbul airport and then head to the nearest Greek border by bus. Smuggling gangs subsequently ferry illegal immigrants across the land border in Thrace or by boat to one of many Aegean islands.

Illegal migration over the past several years has led to hundreds of thousands of migrants congregating in Greece, as border points to other countries from Greece are better protected.

[16] The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

AVGHI: "Merkel coming, government leaving".

DIMOKRATIA: "What Frau Merkel will not ... see in Greece".

ETHNOS: "Ten days of agony for last solution at EU Summit".

KATHIMERINI: "What brings Ms. Merkel to Athens".

PROTO THEMA: "Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Merkel's total rescue package".

Realnews: "Last chance for negotiation".

RIZOSPASTIS: "All at rally in Athens on Tuesday".

TO PARON: "What does Merkel want?"

TO VIMA: "The lists of shame and agony".

TYPOS: "Merkel, Samaras' plan for tranche and extension".

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