Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-09-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Samaras: Primary surplus feasible

[02] SYRIZA on PM's interview: 'Someone inform him of actual salary levels'

[03] Gov't spokesman replies to SYRIZA criticism of PM

[04] KKE response to PM's interview: 'Better days for capital, not workers'

[05] Premier, foreign minister to meet Monday at 6:00 p.m.

[06] SYRIZA leader sees early general elections; attacks PM on foreign and interior policy

[07] Gov't spokesman on Tsipras' address

[08] PASOK : Tsipras undermines gov't efforts for growth

[09] Venizelos against new 'haircut'

[10] Greece-Egypt ties strong and a factor of stability, FM says ahead of visit to Cairo

[11] Defence Minister on Syria, chemical weapons

[12] Foreign Ministry chastises opposition parties over Syria-related statements

[13] SYRIZA on Syria conflict

[14] DIMAR requests gov't brief Parliament on Syria

[15] Independent Greeks leader: Gov't should brief parliament on Syria and Greece's involvement

[16] KKE on military intervention in Syria

[17] FinMin on TAIPED transfer abroad

[18] Homemade device bursts into flames at judge's house; no injuries reported

[19] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

[20] Super League results

[21] Cloudy on Monday

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

[01] PM Samaras: Primary surplus feasible

Samaras said that the primary surplus goal is feasible and that "even the harshest critics of our country in the past now accept that the Greek people's sacrifices were not in vain. Who are these who are attempting to demolish this picture and why?"

The prime minister reiterated that he was proven right when he had said that the first memorandum was wrong adding that mistakes can be corrected and brought as an example the reduction of VAT in restaurants.

"Those who do not see all that are only prisoners of their populism," adding that recovery will come next year.

On the thorny issue of unemployment, he said that the unemployment rate has slowed down but "if we do not have stability, investments will not come".

Referring to the government's course he noted that "this is a year of sweeping reforms that also stabilises the economy and brings us close to recovery and restores Greece's image abroad".

Samaras said that there will be no deregulation in first homes foreclosures adding that every layoff in public sector will be followed by a hiring.

The prime minister clarified that he does not seek early elections because "we must finish with that Greek peculiarity".

[02] SYRIZA on PM's interview: 'Someone inform him of actual salary levels'

"Samaras speak without shame about the government's results against unemployment and promises higher 'succeess' if, of course there are more layoffs in the public sector", SYRIZA said, adding that "we do not know whether he is a homeopathy fan, but at least he is more honest than his ministers when he admits that the putting people on reserve labour is a step before laying them off".

The main opposition also charged Samaras that "the defender of national interests, reassures us that state privatisation agency TAIPED will remain in Greek hands, because the European Commission is also denying it at the moment."

Referring to the minimun salaries, SYRIZA said that probably nobody has informed the prime minister on salary ranges in the market, while he doesn't seem to believe that the minimum salary is low - thus preparing us for its further reduction, in order to reach at some point Romania's levels and his work be completed."

However, said SYRIZA, because we want to be just "we must give the prime minister credit for recognising honestly that his antisocial reforms should have been done a long time ago and regardless of the memorandum." These words, it said, "summarized the memorandum's barbaric logic of layoffs and of poverty-level salaries and the real target of the government's policy that has nothing to do with the reduction of the public debt and the country's European course, but only with the banks' and the capital's profits."

[03] Gov't spokesman replies to SYRIZA criticism of PM

Moreover, Kedikoglou said that "the permanent misrepresenta-tion of the prime minister's and of the government's positions by SYRIZA has become comic; however, its persistence in wanting the country to fail in order to justify its delusion is tragic. Those who bet on the country's catastrophy have no shame".

[04] KKE response to PM's interview: 'Better days for capital, not workers'

"The road to capitalist recovery presupposes the people's harsh exloitation through the widening of anti-workers', anti-popular measures, the attack against salaries and pensions, layoffs, heavy taxation as well as new hardships emanating from Greece's involvement in imperialist wars and interventions," the KKE also added in a press release.

[05] Premier, foreign minister to meet Monday at 6:00 p.m.

[06] SYRIZA leader sees early general elections; attacks PM on foreign and interior policy

Tsipras said that when SYRIZA becomes government there will be no immunity and the responsible will be called to give account on Greece's economic genocide.

Referring to Syria conflict, he said that Greece must not get involved and sternly condemned the use of chemical weapons and expressed his opposition to Damascus regime, however, he sharply charged the countries of the West with hypocrisy. "The stance of the countries of the West are not at all persuasive" said Tsipras adding that it is unimaginable the powerful countries of the world to intervene without the approval and legalisation of the international community, adding that the real issue at stake are the new balances in the Middle East and the geopolitical interests of the powerful.

On government's stance, Tsipras said that it is surprising that when the military intervention in Syria finds no supporters in USA and Britain, it finds unexpected supporters in Greece with Government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos first in the line, who in the government's name, rushed to offer support before even requested. "SYRIZA's position is that our country should undertake international initiatives in the region in order a military intervention to be prevented and political solutions to be promoted and expressed his concern over a new wave of refugees that will further burden Greece.

Referring to the prevailing situation in Greece, Tsipras predicted that very soon, probably with our lenders' encouragement this time, we will have early elections and our people will be called to take crucial decisions. "The Greeks will be called to decide if they want a government that says yes to all and that is willing to mortgage everything or wants a government determined to defend the right and the self-evident" adding that Greece does not need new loans but a way out from the crisis clarifying that SYRIZA will not burden the people with the banks' debts.

Concluding, Tsipras said that the country needs a SYRIZA government immediately, otherwise the country will permanently turn into an economic colony of our lenders, without state property, social and public sector, without independence, an instrument for the profiteering capital and of the catastrophic neoliberal policies.

[07] Gov't spokesman on Tsipras' address

However, he underlined that "we have heard again the threats to investors and to political opponents as well as the threat that the economy will become a desert" adding that Tsipras now added and the opportunisms in foreign policy issues that threaten to lead the country to isolation and marginalisation".

"In a period of crucial developments, SYRIZA proves that the most dangerous of all is the populists and drachma gang" concluded Kedikoglou

[08] PASOK : Tsipras undermines gov't efforts for growth

In its announcement PASOK said that between his well known clich?s an incredible revulsion exists and calls our EU partners and the investors to save their money for a more secure investment".

PASOK said that "Tsipras is undermining the efforts for growth and the efforts against unemployment by characterising Greece an insecure investment because he and his party's leading team, unfortunately, invest on their cheap petty politics interest".

[09] Venizelos against new 'haircut'

On the economy, Venizelos said he supports actions as the extension of the deadline of the bonds and loans repayment along with a reduction in the interest rates, instead of a haircut.

He also sent a message to Greece's lenders that "what is important is the restart of the real economy, the protection of social cohesion and of the democratic institutions which must work with stability".

[10] Greece-Egypt ties strong and a factor of stability, FM says ahead of visit to Cairo

The protection and well-being of Greeks in Egypt is top priority, Venizelos said, and expressed Greece's desire to support Greek-language education in Egypt and its historic Greek schools, making special mention of the Alexandria and Cairo communities.

"We have a lot in common with Egypt - the Greek community of Egypt, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the long-term ties of friendship and our common desire for cooperation and peace in the Mediterranean," the FM said.

"As a result," he added, "Greece is interested in Egypt's stability and wants to keep open lines of communication with it at all times. Developing good bilateral relations is a joint desire of our peoples and contributes to peace, regional collaboration, and stability in the Mediterranean."

In Egypt, Venizelos is scheduled to meet with his Egyptian counterpart and Egyptian leaders, and to visit with Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa at the historical monastery of St. George in the old section of Cairo.

[11] Defence Minister on Syria, chemical weapons

Avramopoulos noted that "we stand by the people that are struggling for democracy, but we can't ignore barbarous actions like the use of chemical weapons which consists a war crime against humanity".

The responsible for the use of these weapons must be found immediately because the use of chemicals in Syria, contrary to Iraq conflict, is not disputed, said Avramopoulos and clarified "from the first moment we supported the political solution and we note that the same solution support our friends and allies".

[12] Foreign Ministry chastises opposition parties over Syria-related statements

In its announcement, the ministry especially castigated what it called "the deliberate distortion of official positions expressed by the foreign minister on behalf of the government, when he addresses the international community" and asserted that "Greece has condemned and continues to condemn in an explicit and absolute manner the crime of the use of chemical weapons. Greece insists on the need to protect the political process (Geneva II), in order to find a final and viable solution to the drama of Syria."

Greece's stances are formulated on the basis of international law, it said, respect of human rights, safeguarding of national strategic interests in an area with a lot of open fronts and the need to update its stance on other critical issues - like stability in Egypt, concern for and care of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, the whole Christian population and all peoples regardless of religion - and Greece's obligations in the UN, the EU, NATO and its bilateral agreements.

"Greece has not been asked either to participate in military action or to facilitate such action," the announcement said.

"During his recent briefing of the relevant permanent parliamentary committee on all foreign affairs issues, Government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos stressed his readiness to keep the committee constantly updated, while he also noted he is available for all parties for individual briefings, as often as requested," the announcement concluded.

[13] SYRIZA on Syria conflict

The government, said SYRIZA, has no moral authority and political legalisation to involve Greece to a military intervention in Syria. Specific initiatives on UN level should be undertaken with aim the peaceful solution of the issue and the safeguarding of the Syrian people's freedom and rights.

[14] DIMAR requests gov't brief Parliament on Syria

"On a possible military intervention in Syria, US President Barack Obama requested the Congress' approval, the British parliament rejected Britain's involvement and the Italian government decided not to take part while member-states of the UN Security Council oppose it. At the same time, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos appears in a role of accelerating the invasion of Syria through Greece's enabling it. This stance does not serve either the country's interest or the need to avoid adding fuel to a greater conflagration in the region", DIMAR noted.

It added, "Greece should support a political solution and implementation of international law and rule out any involvement. Parliament must be briefed immediately on the issue."

[15] Independent Greeks leader: Gov't should brief parliament on Syria and Greece's involvement

"We want an official information by the government as well as the convention of the Foreign Policy Committee" he said and noted that "Greece should be particularly concerned for the Christian populations in the area"

Finally, Kammenos said that Greece must face the developments in Syria with respect to the international law and with justice .

[16] KKE on military intervention in Syria

"The reasons for the military intervention in Syria are the promotion of USA, NATO and EU interests in the wider region, the relentless competitiveness between strong capitalistic countries and business groups over the control of the energy sources and the distribution routes", said KKE adding that "Greece's participation in this war, as in the previous ones, is held in order the Greek capital to claim share of the loot.

That's what the government and the other parties mean when they refer to the "upgrading of the geostrategic position of the country".

"The Greek people must uprise against the military intervention to Syria as well as on Greece's involvement.

Financial News

[17] FinMin on TAIPED transfer abroad

"Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED) and the Greek government are responsible for the development of the state's real estate and this is not going to change. "I sharply refute the possibility of TAIPED's transfer abroad" said Stournaras.

General News

[18] Homemade device bursts into flames at judge's house; no injuries reported

The homemade device was placed in a loose-leaf binder and it included the use of gunpowder.

[19] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

U.S. dollar 1.343

Pound sterling 0.866

Danish kroner 7.571

Swedish kroner 8.881

Japanese yen 131.96

Swiss franc 1.249

Norwegian kroner 8.211

Canadian dollar 1.414

Australian dollar 1.504

[20] Super League results

The results are as follows:

Xanthi-Ergotelis 0-0

Kalloni-PAS Yiannena 1-0

Panathinaikos-Veria 1-1

Asteras Tripolis-Apollon Smyrnis 2-0

PAOK-Panionios 4-1

Panthrakikos-Panetolikos 2-1

Levadiakos-Olympiakos 0-5

OFI-Platanias (playing Sept. 2)

Atromitos-Aris (playing Sept. 2)

Standings after 3 weeks of play:

Olympiakos 9

PAOK 6

AEL Kallonis 6

Ergotelis 5

Asteras Tripolis 5

Veria 5

PAS Yiannena 4

Panionios Athens 4

Xanthi 4

Panathinaikos 4

Panthrakikos 4

Panetolikos 3

Apollon Smyrnis (Athens) 3

Platanias Crete 2 (2 games)

Atromitos Athens 1 (2 games)

Levadiakos 1

OFI Crete 1 (2 games)

Aris Thessaloniki 0 (2 games)

Weather forecast

[21] Cloudy on Monday

Mostly fair in Athens, 21C-32C; Clouds and rain in Thessaloniki, 19C-28C.

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

EPOCHI: Syria: Beyond the red line.

ETHNOS: The final plan for home foreclosures.

KATHIMERINI: Military intervention in Syria with multiple targets.

KYRIAKATIKI ELEFTHEROTYPIA: Over-optimistic, adamant and remorseless. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras pins his hopes on the foreign investments.

KYRIAKATIKOS RIZOSPASTIS: Rise up and condemn the imperialistic war in Syria.

LOGOS: Week of mobilisations in Health sector.

PROTO THEMA: Europeans in amok, they want churches, hospitals and islets.

Realnews: Troika's (EC, ECB, IMF) five harsh conditions for the new loan.

TO ARTHRO: The constant minister - How the newcomer politician Adonis Georgiadis (Health Minister) outsmarted 'professional ministers' of the last decades.

TO PARON: Send away the Chinese.

TO VIMA: Reversal in Health sector.

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