Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 14-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Samaras: Primary surplus exceeds 1.5 billion euros

[02] PM Samaras concludes visit to Mt. Athos

[03] Olli Rehn: Discussion of Greek debt viability, financing gap 'from summer onwards'

[04] Chancellor Merkel against the prospect of new support package to Greece before Euroelections

[05] Lagarde: IMF has pressed Greece very much

[06] Jean Claude Trichet on progress of Greek economy

[07] Venizelos: Government will not be judged in May's elections

[08] SYRIZA leader: Greece was a guinea pig

[09] Primary surplus not to alleviate the weakest, KKE's Koutsoumbas tells party event

[10] Independent Greeks leader at Kouloura farmers' roadblock

[11] Interior Minister: General elections in 2016

[12] Deputy FM in Mozambique on Sunday

[13] PASOK MEP expresses intention to join DIMAR

[14] EOPYY doctors escalate protest action

[15] Farmers continue their mobilisations

[16] Archimandrite found murdered at his home in Messinia, Peloponnese

[17] Light earthquake jolts Cephalonia

[18] Human trafficker arrested in NE Greece

[19] Super League results

[20] Fair on Monday

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

[01] PM Samaras: Primary surplus exceeds 1.5 billion euros

Samaras noted that the primary surplus is triple than initially predicted and reiterated that a large amount of it will be allocated to the society, to the low pensioners and to the armed forces. He also noted that in January the primary surplus was double that it was last year and that this tension continued in the first ten days of February "We left from the vicious circles and we are entering into a virtuous circle" he said.

The premier underlined that after the tackling of the unemployment rate, our next major priority is the tax reduction, however, we must be careful not to return to the deficits.

He referred to a reduction in VAT and in the tax rates as well as in the profits taxation adding that "this will be carried out gradually and only if we succeed to have surpluses and in the next years.

Samaras said the growth comes earlier than expected and noted that "until the end of 2014 the improvement will start to be felt in the majority of society".

The premier sternly attacked main opposition SYRIZA's proposal that it will tear the memorandums and will challenge the debt noting that this "is the announcement of a voluntarily bankruptcy...at the time we reached the river's bank they want to send us back in the river to drown...that's what they say. It is not only 'wrong' it is absurd'.

On the euroelections result, he said that it will not be negative for the government and he will not be tempted to declare early elections adding that "we are exiting from the crisis, why should we go to early elections now given that tomorrow things will be better and the day after tomorrow even better?"

On the local government elections that will be held in May, he said that his party (New Democracy) does not officially support any candidate " we want to show from the beginning our respect to the will of the local communities".

[02] PM Samaras concludes visit to Mt. Athos

"The spiritual radiance of your Monastery abroad contributes to regaining the country's dignity and credibility among friends, and respect from her enemies," Samaras told monks, adding: "We are going through tough times, but with God's help we stand on our feet."

Samaras with his visit to Simonos Petras monastery, concluded his two-day visit to the monastic community of Mt. Athos and left for Athens in the afternoon.

[03] Olli Rehn: Discussion of Greek debt viability, financing gap 'from summer onwards'

The Commissioner proposed that the World Bank be also involved in Greece at a future stage to offer help, saying that "Greece's economy at the start of the programme was in a condition that often made the World Bank more useful than the International Monetary Fund (IMF)."

Referring to the June 2012 elections, Rehn revealed that Europe was prepared even for the eventuality of an economic disaster, but, "Thank God, the catastrophe did not happen."

"In the case of Greece, we have to decide three things: First, we must complete the current troika mission, which began as of September. This relates to Greece's funding in 2014 and the state of reforms. This will be done soon. Secondly, the financing gaps for 2015 and 2016, and thirdly, the issue of debt sustainability," the Commissioner said.

Referring to the debt viability, Rehn stressed that the specific issue will be discussed "only after we know that Greece achieved a primary surplus in the past year."

[04] Chancellor Merkel against the prospect of new support package to Greece before Euroelections

Tension prevails between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble over the line of the European policy, claims the German magazine Der Spiegel. "Merkel stops Schaeuble" is the article's headline that will be published on Monday which claims that Merkel stopped Schaeuble's plans to offer to Greece a new support package before the Euroelections noting that the Chancellery "has informed the Greek government to not expect such a message".

According to Spiegel "Merkel is afraid that the critical, towards Europe, party "Alternative for Germany" could benefit in the elections by a discussion for a new support package to Greece, while on the other hand Schaeuble wants to send to the Greeks a message of support and solidarity and to clarify that they can expect further support after the euroelections since he fears that, without the support package prospect, the Greek radical parties may increase their forces.

[05] Lagarde: IMF has pressed Greece very much

International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde rejected the claims that the Fund is 'flexible' to the European countries, in an interview to the Australian magazine Good Weekend.

"IMF put a lot pressure to Greece and to other European countries that are facing economic problems in order to proceed in cutbacks and other reforms and demanded more changes that those in Asian countries that had faced economic problems in the 90s" said Lagarde adding "I am trying not to be French, not even European when I perform my duties and I think that I succeed it" she opined.

[06] Jean Claude Trichet on progress of Greek economy

Trichet opined that "probably they will extend the loans' maturity and will reduce the interest rates".

[07] Venizelos: Government will not be judged in May's elections

"What is mostly judged is the strength of a national strategy that PASOK guarantees" said Venizelos.

PASOK leader said that four years after the start of the economic crisis "we do not only speak of sacrifices but also for fiscal and restructuring achievements, in which Greece has made huge steps and now gives another picture.

He called the first six months of 2014 "the months of the major turn' towards the final exit from the crisis and from the memorandum and called unjust and groundless the talks on whether Greece has succeeded a primary surplus or not, whether Greece will leave from the memorandum or whether it needs a new programme "the figures are clear and strong" he noted adding that they consist the basis towards the completion of the current programme and towards the certification of the Greek public debt's sustainability".

Venizelos said that the main target is the return to normality and to the markets along with the release from the memorandum's symbolism "this is the major national political negotiation".

Attacking the main opposition SYRIZA he said that "they dispute the existence of a primary surplus saying that it is a statistical trick because they can't accept that we are exiting from the memorandum" and called first pylon of the main opposition rhetoric the dispute of the primary surplus and the request for a debt haircut "If we are offered an additional haircut in the debt that the European public institutions possess, then we will accept it" he said.

[08] SYRIZA leader: Greece was a guinea pig

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras in an interview to Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on Saturday referred to the need of a new deal for the Greek economy expressing the opinion that Greece played the role of a guinea pig.

"With the shock doctrine they wanted to see how much the people can bear" said Tsipras who predicted SYRIZA's broad victory in the imminent elections (Euroelections and local government elections) noting that the Left's criticism for the Europe has nothing to do with that of the 'Right populists".

Asked on government's claims of a major primary surplus of 1.5 billion euros in 2013, Tsipras said that according to his party's calculations it is only a numerical surplus because the government has to pay over 1.2 billion euros. "If EU accepts the figures, this will be a political decision, it will be an effort to support prime minister Antonis Samaras" he said.

At a press question why he wants to govern under so difficult conditions, the main opposition leader said "We want to govern because the conditions are so difficult. To change things. It has nothing to do with personal ambitions or with positions. We want this tragedy to end".

Tsipras also clarified that "We have a totally different philosophy from Mr. Samaras and from German Chancellor Angela Merkel. We believed from the start that the austerity programme will add fuel to the fire and we were right. The austerity measures created the need for more loans. Greece became a guinea pig. ".

At a question where they will find the money if they do not continue to implement the austerity measures, Tsipras said "Greece is only part of a greater problem. The crisis is European and the solution must also be European. We must find a solution that will not burden the other EU countries' budget. First we must put an end to the austerity programmes, then we must organise a European meeting for the debt as that of 1953 in London and finally, to make a new European deal, an agreement for the financing of growth and employment, particularly in the southern EU countries. Without economic boosting it is impossible to exit from the crisis. This European package will cost less than the new support packages to Greece that always ended to same vicious circle".

Asked on how his party wants to restart the growth and which is Greece's position in Europe, Tsipras noted that a country that is only based on its tourism or its services has no future. "Greece needs a radical economic restoration. We must invest in the renewable energy sources".

On when general election will be held in Greece's Tsipras said the it is difficult to answer this question, however he clarified that his party will not support any candidate in the presidential elections that will take place in spring 2015 and without the parliamentary majority nobody will be elected and that will lead the country to general elections.

[09] Primary surplus not to alleviate the weakest, KKE's Koutsoumbas tells party event

The KKE leader said that voting for the KKE can genuinely capture the people's discontent against the policy followed by the New Democracy-Pasok coalition government, the illusions nurtured by (Radical Left Coalition) SYRIZA and EU policy.

Referring to the primary surplus, Koutsoumbas doubted that it could have the slightest effect in relieving the weakest social groups, adding that competitiveness did not mean inexpensive products and services for the people, but "lower paid workers, with no social insurance and trade union rights."

Referring to the many problems facing Piraeus-based industrial production, the KKE leader said that it shrunk as a result of EU policy, with the Shipyards particularly being led to a reduction in size on the base of EU "Directive 7" of 1992, which was incorporated into Greece's legislation by PASOK and ND governments and provided for the privatisation or closure of shipyards in Greece and other EU member states, only to strengthen the shipyards operated by monopoly groups in Germany, France, Italy and Finland.

[10] Independent Greeks leader at Kouloura farmers' roadblock

Kammenos noted that last year, from the same roadblock, he had asked from the government to offer tax free petrol to the farmers and instead of this "we see a tax attack against the farmers".

Greece, said Kammenos "will resist against this new order that doesn't want Greece to produce agricultural products and wants Greeks to have 250 euros employees and 200 euros pensioners".

Concluding, he said that his party supports the farmers and will stand by them in all their mobilisations.

[11] Interior Minister: General elections in 2016

Referring to the upcoming local government elections and the euroelections he underlined that we should not forget the nature of these elections because some want to benefit.

[12] Deputy FM in Mozambique on Sunday

The Cathedral's inauguration will be held on Sunday in the presence of Patriarch of Alexandria Theodore II.

Gerontopoulos will meet with Patriarch of Alexandria Theodore and with members of the Greek community in Maputo.

The inauguration of the Greek Consulate will take place on Monday.

Moreover, Gerontopoulos will hold talks with the Foreign Minister of Mozambique Oldemiro Baloi and with Coordination and Development Minister Aiuba Cuereneia.

[13] PASOK MEP expresses intention to join DIMAR

Koppa opined that "DIMAR leader Fotis Kouvelis wants to rally the fragmented forces of the political space" adding that "PASOK with this leadership, this policy and these selections and because it has lost its distinctiveness from New Democracy can't do it"

Moreover PASOK MEP is against the government's decision for elections with cross preference.

[14] EOPYY doctors escalate protest action

Doctors are organising protest rallies outside EOPYY units, as a deadline by the Organisation's management for the completion of handing over the clinics expires on Monday.

The EOPPY clinics will remain closed for proximately one month and will then operate under their new scheme.

[15] Farmers continue their mobilisations

The farmers have blocked the road in both directions in protest for the changes in their taxation.

General News

[16] Archimandrite found murdered at his home in Messinia, Peloponnese

The 54-year old archimandrite was found murdered at his home on Sunday morning, after he did not show up at the church for the mass.

Police, alerted by neighbours, said the house where the victim lived on his own was in mess, but they found no signs of breaking in.

[17] Light earthquake jolts Cephalonia

According to the Geodynamics Institute of Athens the quake's epicentre was located 13km northwest of Argostoli and its depth was 5km.

Seismologists said that the tremor was part of the aftershocks activity.

[18] Human trafficker arrested in NE Greece

The trafficker picked up the undocumented migrants from the area of Evros in order to take them to Thessaloniki.

The suspect will be sent to Rodopi prosecutor.

Sports

[19] Super League results

In other action:

Xanthi - Kalloni 1-0

Levadiakos - Atromitos 1-0

Olympiakos - Platanias 4-2

Asteras Tripolis - PAOK 2-1

Aris - Veria 0-0

Panetolikos - Apollon Smyrnis 2-1

Panionios- PAS Yiannena 2-0

Panthrakikos - Panathinaikos 2-0

Ergotelis - OFI Crete 17/2/14

Standings after 25 weeks of play:

1. Olympiakos 71

2. PAOK 51

3. Atromitos Athens 49

4. Panathinaikos Athens 46

5. Asteras Tripoli 45

6. Panthrakikos 34

6. Panetolikos 34

8. PAS Yiannena 32

9. Ergotelis 30

9. OFI Crete 30

11. Xanthi 29

11. Kalloni Mytilini 29

13. Levadiakos 27

13. Panionios 27

15. Apollon Smyrnis 25

16. Platanias Hania 22

17. Veria 20

18. Aris Thessaloniki 18

Weather forecast

[20] Fair on Monday

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

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Electoral derbies, eurolists and own goals

EPOCHI: They are running out of time.

ETHNOS: Ballots' surprise - People want candidates with prestige.

KATHIMERINI: Over two million the overdue loans

KYRIAKATIKI ELEFTHEROTYPIA: Three scandalous cases reveal corruption contracts.

KYRIAKATIKOS RIZOSPASTIS: No recipe is of people interest on the road of monopolies and EU.

PROTO THEMA: 143 Tax Bureau officials have sent their money abroad.

TO ARTHRO: Back to "Greek statistics".

TO VIMA: Prime Minister Antonis Samaras pledges tax reduction.

VRADYNI: The secret arrangements for early retirement.

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