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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-10-07Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Monday, 7 October 2013 Issue No: 4479CONTENTS
[01] PM Samaras heads large gov't mission in official visit to IsraelPrime Minister Antonis Samaras is scheduled to leave Athens for Israel on Monday afternoon, for an official visit starting Tuesday. He is heading a large delegation of Greek government members.The Greek premier will travel to Jerusalem, to attend the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council of Greece-Israel Cooperation, with the participation of 12 ministers from both countries. The meeting will discuss issues of bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on energy, while a number of bilateral agreements are to be signed for closer economic cooperation on many sectors, such as tourism and new technologies. Samaras is scheduled to meet with President of Israel Shimon Peres and Patriarch Theophilos, while he is also to declare open a Tel Aviv Greek-Israeli Business Conference bringing together more than 100 Greek entrepreneurs interested in doing business in Israel. The Greek premier will be accompanied by government vice president and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, Development Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias, Environment and Energy Minister Yiannis Maniatis, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogiannis, Culture Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos, Merchant Marine Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Education Minister Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos and Deputy Development Minister Notis Mitarakis. [02] PM chairs mini cabinet meeting ahead of his visit to IsraelPrime Minister Antonis Samaras chaired a mini cabinet meeting on Saturday focused on his official visit to Israel on October 7-9.Ministers that will accompany Samaras in this visit were present at the meeting which examined energy issues as well as Greece-Israel's relations. [03] SYRIZA criticises PM's visit to Israel, Foreign ministry repliesThe main opposition Radical Left Coalition's (SYRIZA) foreign policy department, in an announcement on Sunday and referring to the visit to Israel by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, said that "after the haste by (Foreign Minister Evangelos) Venizelos in the case of Syria to involve the country in a war that ultimately...did not take place and after the recent announcements on the opening of the Cyprus issue in accordance with the desires of the US, the prime minister's visit to Israel is preparing new adventurisms"."On the days that Mr. Samaras will be in Israel, the two countries will be carrying out joint military exercises," the announcement said, adding that at the same time "a multi-member group of ministers as well as the special adviser Andreas Taprantzis, from the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) will be holding a series of meetings with Israeli officials on the intensification of the two countries' strategic cooperation. Military cooperation that entails dangers for our country." "It is the first time that a prime minister of our country will be in Israel and will not be having a meeting with the Palestinian authority in Ramallah, a practice that is followed by the overwhelming majority of heads of state when they visit the country," the SYRIZA statement said, noting that the Palestinian issue was always important on the agenda of the country's foreign policy. "The prime minister, with this action of his, is downgrading our country's relations with the Arab world," it added. "Greece's course in its foreign policy is turning it speedily into a 'guardpost' of the dangerous, for peace, American-Israeli pursuits in the region, a fact reserving unpredictable consequences for our country," the announcement concluded. [04] Foreign ministry responseThe Foreign ministry, replying to SYRIZA, expressed regret "because SYRIZA's announcement totally ignores or distorts deliberately not assessments but facts and information regarding foreign policy. Facts to which the government Vice President and Foreign minister referred to very recently, both before the relevant Parliamentary Committee and at a press conference following his return from the UN's General Assembly.""The basis, in any case, of SYRIZA's announcement is the mistaken impression of its editors that the intergovernmental Greece-Israel meeting, on 8/10, is not accompanied by a meeting with the Palestinian Authority, while what is accurate is that the government Vice President and Foreign minister will be visiting Ramallah on 9/10, where he will be received by President (Mahmud) Abbas and the prime minister and will be holding talks with the Palestinian Authority's Foreign minister," the ministry's press release also said. "The Foreign ministry reiterates, once again, that the field of foreign policy is not suitable for petty party approaches," it concluded. [05] Investigation into Golden Dawn to be expanded, Dendias tells Kathimerini newspaperPublic Order Minister Nikos Dendias announced that police and judicial authorities are to expand their investigations on the ultra-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) party case. In a interview with Sunday's edition of the "Kathimerini" newspaper, Dendias promises to fully clean up the Greek Police (EL.AS)."Investigations will not be limited to the specific cases that recently resulted to detainments," Dendias stresses, adding that "investigations will cover everything that can be investigated, and nothing will go unchecked." As far as EL.AS is concerned, the minister noted that "the mandate is to achieve a full clean-up so that no suspicion can cloud the vast majority of honest police." He confirmed that "there have been cases of corrupt police officers collaborating with the Golden Dawn." The minister also emphasised that "it is an insult to the New Democracy party and its track record to even think that the party would be a parliamentary partner with the Golden Dawn party or even to discuss with it. Apart from its repulsive ideology, this is party that is addicted to underworld practices..." Dendias said that henceforth he will not answer questions concerning his ministry by that party in parliament, given the fact that justice has judged that there is an issue of forming a criminal organisation. [06] Venizelos: Handling of GD case 'a radical implementing of institutions'Government vice president and PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos described the government's handling of the ultra-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) party case as a "radical implementing of institutions in the name of democracy and the rule of law." In an interview with Sunday's edition of the "Vima" newspaper, Venizelos welcomed what he called "the activation of the reflexes of the state and justice."Asked whether he was startled or annoyed by the handling of the GD case, Venizelos said: "It's the first time after the restoration of democracy in 1974 that members of the Greek parliament are arrested for flagrant crimes under a procedure that is purely judicial, without any involvement of the parliament." "What should really have surprised us is that the activation of the Constitution and of Justice came late," he added. Asked whether Prime Minister Antonis Samaras really means it when he says that he will 'uproot' the Golden Dawn party, Venizelos replied that "that the government and the parliamentary majority have made a choice, even though belated, which is deeply radical. What is happening now in relation to the Golden Dawn is a radical application -in the best possible sense of the term- of institutions in the name of democracy and the rule of law." [07] Counter-terrorism squad searches home of Golden Dawn party leader's daughterEvidence concerning six deputies of the far-right Golden Dawn (GD) party, two of whom are not included in the file of proceedings regarding the "criminal organisation" charge, was given, according to reports, to the investigator responsible for the case by two witnesses who requested to be placed under a protection status.The witnesses, who are now referred to in the file of proceedings as "Witness C" and "Witness D", given that two testimonies by protected witnesses have already been given to the Supreme court with reference to "Witness A" and "Witness B", appeared and testified under extreme secrecy before the investigator on facts they are aware of as being GD members-cadres. According to reports, the investigator has another testimony by a protected witness in his hands with reference to "Witness E" in the file of proceedings. According to judicial sources, the testimonies provide "involvement evidence" for two deputies who are not defendants in the file of proceedings on the "criminal organisation" charge, that will be evaluated by the investigators in the case. One of the two witnesses also stresses that there was an order to "get rid of Fyssas". Pavlos Fyssas was murdered mid-September in the Piraeus district of Keratsini. "Witness C" who testified that he belonged to "the organisation's hard core since he had served in the armed forces", reportedly claimed before the judicial functionary that the Fyssas slaying had been "decided" with the approval of the party's leader as well. In another development, the counter-terrorism squad carried out a search of the apartment of Golden Dawn party leader Nikos Michaloliakos's daughter Ourania in the Athens district of Ambelokipi on Sunday morning and in another apartment in the Athens district of Vyronas following an order by the investigator. According to what was revealed by police, Ourania was in her home with three other people. Findings during the search were, among other things, a metal flicknife, a pair of handcuffs, portable electronic computers with their accessories and digital cameras and videocameras. The three people who were in the home were taken for questioning and one was arrested because, as he said, the metal flickname was his. Ourania Michaloliakou was not taken for questioning but merely made a testimony. Investsigations at the home in Vyronas were continuing on Sunday evening. Findings so far were a shotgun lacking a licence, six shotguns and double-barrelled shotguns possessing licences, five hunting rifles, one inoperative revolover, two gas pistols, 15 knives and a laptop. The house in Vyronas is a two-storey one and a father and son who are Golden Dawn members live in it. They were both taken for questioning. According to reports, they claimed that they are hunters. [08] Suspect alleged to be involved in Pavlos Fyssas' murder remanded in custody37 years-old Yannis Aggos alleged to be involved in Golden Dawn's case and particularly to have played a key-role in Pavlos Fyssas' murder was remanded in custody pending trial after his testimony to the investigating magistrate.Aggos, who was wanted, turned himself in on Friday. According to the case file the suspect who was at same cafeteria with Pavlos Fyssas the night of the murder was the one who called other Golden Dawn members the time of the incident. [09] Three suspects alleged to be involved in Golden Dawn case releasedThree suspects alleged to be involved in Golden Dawn case were released on Friday evening after their testimony to the investigating magistrate.The first suspect, the wife of Giorgos Roupakias who is charged for the murder of Pavlos Fyssas was released on the prohibition from leaving the country, the second, Roupakias mother in law, was released without conditions and the third suspect, a former officer who turned himself in on Friday morning, was released on prohibition from leaving the country. A fourth suspect considered to be head of a Golden Dawn 'cell' in Perama, for whom an arrest warrant had been issued by the Supreme Court last Saturday and turned himself in to the police on Thursday asked for extension until Monday to prepare his testimony. [10] DIMAR on new revelations in Golden Dawn caseThe photographs with the Nazi uniform, the oath of loyalty to the supreme race, the nazi salutes and the despicable references to Jews and of course their criminal activities, reaffirm that Golden Dawn ( Chryssi Avghi) is the follow up of Hitler's Nazis, said Democratic Left (DIMAR) in an announcement on Saturday.DIMAR reiterates that all the democratic forces must form a new united front against Golden Dawn, adding that "now the whole society known what Golden Dawn is. The time has come to finish with the neonazis and their criminal formation". [11] Athens Mayor Kaminis to ANA-MPA: Golden Dawn's prosecution assists our missionNEW YORK (ANA-MPA/ P. Panagiotou)The recent events with Golden Dawn's prosecution 'assist our mission' said to ANA-MPA, Athens mayor Giorgos Kaminis who delivered an address on Friday at the United Nations within the framework of High Dialogue on the International Migration and the Development. Referring to his speech, Kaminis noted "Fortunately we did not only touch Golden Dawn's issue. Of course, I made a reference because it is one of the most important parametres of the migration issue in general. We mostly discussed the positive measures regarding the migrants' intergration. I told them what we do in Athens and how the whole issue emerged, I told them what measures Athens municipality has imposed to prevent whatever discrimination against immigrants. I made a special reference to the Chinese migrants who as we all know, activate in the import trade from China. We now help them to export Greek products to China ". Kaminis underlined that the migrants with legal documents in Athens are 20 percent of the city's population and the number of undocumented migrants has declined substantially. At a query on the latest developments on Golden Dawn, Kaminis said that "if a criminal organisation exists that its aim is to persecute migrants and to have criminal activity, of course the latest developments assist our mission and we support them. Whatever is done towards this direction and always within the law, is welcomed by the municipality of Athens. [12] KKE leader: Our only hope the reorganisation of working classes movementPAME (labour union affiliated to Communist Party) organised on Saturday an anti-memorandum and anti-fascist rally in downtown Athens Omonia square.Communist party (KKE) leader Dimitris Koutsoumbas said in his address said that "our only hope and prospect is the reorganisation of the working classes movement, the organisation of the people's struggle and the promotion of the popular alliance within the working classes, the employees, the unemployed and self employed, the poor farmers, the young and the women." Koutsoumbas reiterated that "The socialisation of the monopolies, the disengagement from the European Union and the unilateral cancellation of the debt is a prerequisite for the people to really take the authority. It is reminded that PAME has called all the labour unions and federations to meet and decide on a 24 hour general strike on October 23 as a first action-response to the barbarous measures. [13] ND's exit door wide open to those flirting with the far-right, Mitsotakis tells EthnosThere is "a clear-cut and non-negotiable" dividing line between the New Democracy party and the far right in all its guises, Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said in interview with Sunday's edition of the "Ethnos" newspaper. He added that the party's exit door was "wide open" for those "who flirted seriously with such ideas.""We are against all those who question the parliamentary democracy. We are opposed to the 'extremes', especially the (ultra-right) Golden Dawn (GD), which is not a mere 'extreme' but a criminal construct outside of our political system," Mitsotakis stresses. He adds he has complete confidence in justice, which is now dealing with the GD case. "Beyond that, it is the voters who should really put an end to this 'black parenthesis' in Greece's parliamentary history, and never ever allow a neo-Nazi construct with underworld attitudes cross the Greek Parliament's doors." As far as matters specific to his ministry are concerned, especially the so-called mobility scheme for employees in the public sector, Mitsotakis reiterates that "the mobility scheme does not necessarily mean layoffs" and that "above all, it is a tool for better management of public sector human resources." He cites as a characteristic example the men and women of the Municipal Police who are to be moved to the Greek Police (EL.AS), as well as to other understaffed services, such as prisons. "The goal of 12,500 (employees to be place under the mobility scheme) has essentially been attained and all that remains is to take care of the pending issue of university administrative staff, which is expected to resolved very soon," Mitsotakis underlines in the interview. [14] Interior minister discusses Greek-German cooperation with German deputy Labour ministerThe Interior ministry's political leadership on Sunday discussed Greek-German cooperation issues at local administration level with German Labour and Social Affairs Deputy Minister Hans Joachim Fuchtel.Speaking after the meeting, Interior Minister Yiannis Michelakis said "we have jointly ascertained that cooperation at local administration level can provide mutual benefits, particularly through the exchange of know-how, good practices and experiences, the attraction of investments and consultation between local societies and citizens. Opportunities exist for both sides and we must promote and utilise them". Michelakis and Alternate Interior Minister Leonidas Grigorakos discussed details with Fuchtel in light of the preparation of the 4th Greek-German Assembly that will be held in Nuremberg on October 22-23. Culture minister says effort for Parthenon Marbles' return an ecumenical effort with a deep humanitarian character Culture Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos, addressing the presidents and members of the national committees for the return of the Parthenon Marbles of Cyprus, Germany, Sweden, Britain, Switzerland and Australia, in the framework of the International Conference held at the Acropolis Museum on Sunday, stressed that "our effort for the return of the Parthenon Marbles does not begin from a need to strenghen our national egoism. It is an effort with global extensions, since it aims at the restoration of the unity of a paramount cultural monument that constitutes common reference for the entire humanity. It is an ecumenical effort with a deep humanitarian character". The committees' representatives, after visiting the Acropolis, where they were briefed on restoration work that is continuing at the monument, met with Panayiotopoulos at the Acropolis Museum. The members of the Greek Advisory Committee for the Parthenon Marbles also attended the meeting. The Culture minister referred to the late Melina Mercouri who was the first, as culture minister, to start the struggle for the return of the Parthenon Marbles and spoke of the Greek Advisory Committee's contribution and provided a briefing on UNESCO's letter to the Foreign and Culture ministers of Britain William Hague and Maria Miller respectively, as well as the British Museum's Director Robert Neal McGregor with which the British officials are notified officially of the Greek side's request for the Mediation procedure to go ahead to enable an arrangement on the difference concerning the Parthenon Marbles to be achieved. The minister stressed that, if the British side agrees to the carrying out of this procedure, it will be the first time that UNESCO will activate it for resolving a cultural difference between two countries. He also pointed out that this development is becoming even more important in light of UNESCO's international Intergovernmental Conference that will be held in Paris in this coming November. [15] PM Samaras attends relative's funeral in ThessalonikiPrime Minister Antonis Samaras on Sunday traveled to the northern city of Thessaloniki to attend the funeral service of Dimitrios Zannas, a relative on his mother's side (Zannas was Samaras' grandfather's brother).Zannas died last Thursday at the age of 93. During the German occupation, he was imprisoned, while during the 1967-73 junta had been banned from leaving Greece. In 1974 with the restoration of democracy he was elected mayor of Thessaloniki. He had been awarded the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix by the President of the Hellenic Republic, as well as by the State of Israel for his contribution to saving Jews during the German occupation. The funeral service was scheduled for 2.30 p.m. [16] Foreign Exchange rates - MondayReference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:U.S. dollar 1.379 Pound sterling 0.859 Danish kroner 7.571 Swedish kroner 8.803 Japanese yen 134.01 Swiss franc 1.245 Norwegian kroner 8.236 Canadian dollar 1.425 Australian dollar 1.462 Sports [17] Super League resultsOlympiakos Piraeus beat 6-0 Veria in a match played at home over the weekend for the Greek soccer Super League and retained its lead in the standings.In other action: Asteras Tripoli-Atromitos Athens 2-2 Ergotelis Crete-Platanias Crete 3-1 Panionios Athens-Aris Thessaloniki 1-2 Xanthi-Apollon Smyrnis (Athens) 3-2 Levadiakos-Kalloni Mytilini 1-0 Panthrakikos Xanthi-OFI Crete 1-1 PAOK Thessaloniki-Panathinaikos 2-1 Panetolikos-PAS Yiannena (7/10/2013) Standings after 7 weeks of play: 1.Olympiakos 19 2.PAOK 16 3. Ergotelis 13 4. Panathinaikos 11 5. Atromitos Athens 11 6. PAS Yiannena 10 (6 matches played) 7 Asteras Tripoli 10 8. Panthrakikos Xanthi 10 9. Xanthi 10 10. Kalloni 9 11. Levadiakos 8 12 Panionios Athens 6 13. Panetolikos 6 (6 matches played) 14. Apollon Smyrnis (Athens) 6 15. Aris Thessaloniki 5 16. Veria 5 17. Platanias Crete 5 18. OFI Crete 5 Weather Forecast [18] Cloudy on MondayCloudy weather and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the country on Monday. Winds 2-8 beaufort. Temperatures between 4C and 24C. Slightly cloudy in Athens with northerly 3-6 beaufort winds and temperatures between 12C and 22C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures between 10C and 19C.[19] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glanceELEFTHERI ORA: "Three businessmen provide aid to Golden Dawn"ETHNOS: "The Golden Dawn's black funds" AVGI: "Extreme opportunism by the Samaras system" VRADINI: "Settle your public debts and win" EPOCHI: "Nothing has finished, nothing is what it used to be" KATHIMERINI: "N. Dendias: Everything will be unchecked" NIKI TIS DEMOKRATIAS: "Mothers of underage children to get full pension up to 57" DEMOKRATIA: "90+1 felonies by the 'criminal organisation' PASOK" RIZOSPASTIS: "Confrontation with the power of monopolies and the EU" LOGOS: "Shops' goodwill gone" PROTO THEMA: "122,000 foreclosures by Tax Offices" TO ARTHRO: "Back to the rationale of tax avoidance" TO VIMA: "50 years for the debt!" TO PARON TIS KYRIAKIS: "New austerity measures would result in elections" TYPOS TIS KYRIAKIS: "We crush all enemies by all means" FREE SUNDAY: "Economy-Politics: Everything and everyone to the extremes" REAL NEWS: "The police did not help us". 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: ANTONIS SKYLLAKOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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