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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 14-05-05Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Monday, 5 May 2014 Issue No: 4648CONTENTS
[01] PM Samaras: Greece is breaking its chains with the pastPrime Minister Antonis Samaras has said in an article published in Sunday's edition "To Vima" newspaper that a new Greece is emerging by breaking its "shell" and its chains with the past.The premier refers to inherent problems of the past which kept Greece back to "old-fashioned mentalities and distortions, which maintained a false growth on borrowed money," adding that a "shell" had been obstructing the country to move forward. "This shell is now breaking. And the country and people's great abilities are being released," the premier stresses, launching an attack on those forces which, as he puts it, are still fiercely resisting because they do not want Greece to move ahead to the future. Samaras said that the main opposition SYRIZA party wanted Greece to return to the crisis that is now being left behind, and to see the country in an instable condition, internationally isolated and divided. The premier charged SYRIZA of making efforts to exert ideological terrorism and divide the society, as "they are trying to ethically castigate as 'extreme right' or 'neo-liberal' all views which are opposed to theirs." [02] President Papoulias visits CERN installations in GenevaPresident Karolos Papoulias visited the installations of the European Nuclear Research Organisation (CERN) in Geneva on Saturday. President Papoulias was given a guided tour of the underground ATLAS research premises and met with the Greek scientists comprising CERN's Greek Research Group.President Papoulias said "as you know, Greece is a founder member of CERN since 1954 with the poor economic means that it has, but with the rich human potential. This moved me being a Greek, to be seeing the potential that my country has. And I think that at some moment we shall be bringing this potential within the walls as well". He further stressed that "Europe is showing its potential, its scientific potential. It can compete with whatever great power, it is a great power and it must contribute to global developments and in the scientific sector in particular, where it has great potential". [03] NERIT broadcaster starting programme as of 18:00 on SundayThe New Greek Radio, Internet and Television (NERIT) broadcaster started its programme as of 18:00 on Sunday with a new news bulletin, a Greek and a foreign film and a sports programme.According to NERIT's president, about 11 months after the closure of the ERT broadcaster and the transitional Public Television channel the countdown will begin shortly before 18:00 with a "modest ceremony". [04] Shipping Minister Varvitsiotis inaugurates Mediterranean Yacht ShowShipping Minister Miltiades Varvitsiotis, inaugurating the 1st international Mediterranean Yacht Show exhibition on Saturday evening, said that "our country's sea tourism begins from Nafplio".The minister said in his address, among other things, that the government has specific logics and targets against the misery of the crisis, with which it aspires that we shall overcome it and one of the main targets is the development of sea tourism. The event was attended, among others, by Environment Minister Yiannis Maniatis, Deputy Culture Minister Yiannis Andrianos, Nafplio mayor Dimitris Kostouros and Greek Sea Tourism Federation president Mihalis Skoulikidis. [05] Deputy FM to attend Council of Europe meeting in ViennaDeputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas is scheduled to participate in the meeting of the committee of ministers of the Council of Europe in Vienna, Monday and Tuesday, representing under the Greek Presidency the EU High Representative for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.On the sidelines of the meeting, which coincides with the 65th anniversary of the foundation of the Council of Europe, Kourkoulas will be having a series of bilateral contacts. The main theme of the meeting, held under the presidency of Austria to the CoE this semester and expected to be attended by 30 foreign ministers of the 47 member states, will be "Council of Europe values and stability in Europe: Current challenges." The meeting will be chaired by Sebastian Kurz, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, who said that talks will focus primarily on the situation in the Ukraine and the potential to deescalate tensions in the country's east, as well as on human rights in Europe. [06] Administrative Reform minister proposes next Parliament to have 200 deputiesAdministrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking in an interview with the newspaper "Realnews", proposed that in the next Parliament the number of deputies be reduced to 200 from 300 that they are today."Years ago, when the entire political system whistled with indifference, I had submitted a series of proposals for immediate implementation that do not require constitutional revision, with the main one being the reduction of deputies from 300 to 200. It is something that can take place now with the change in the election law with a 2/3 majority from the present Parliament". Mitsotakis links, however, the reduction of deputies with both the change in the election law on the pattern of the German model and legislation on the parties' operation. [07] Venizelos says government stability problem if PASOK falls below 10 pctGovernment Vice President, Foreign Minister and PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos, speaking in an interview with Mega television channel and replying to a question on what it will mean if PASOK falls below 10 percent in the Euroelections, said that what is important is what it will mean for the country, clarifying that in this case there shall be a problem of government stability and government orientation.Venizelos, also replying to a question regarding opinion polls published on Sunday and showing once again that the Greeks do not want early elections, said that the citizen must think how he shall secure what he wants in the Euroelections, government stability. He further said that the government does not exist in absentia of the people and was elected in 2012 when all the issues were known to all, unlike 2009. Lastly, he pointed out that if the people want to be in danger, the government will be in danger, while stressing that at some time burdens must be distributed fairly between the political forces. [08] PASOK leader Venizelos terms May 25 elections 'Easter'Government Vice President, Foreign Minister and PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos sent a clear message from the city of Lamia to those bringing about scenarios for the election night, terming the May 25 elections "Easter"."They want PASOK to be ruined, ELIA to be ruined, the government to fall, the country to be led to early elections without strategy, without an aim, because some wish to doubt me", he stressed. Venizelos also underlined repeatedly that "PASOK is present, it is fighting and struggling for the country and not for the cadres and for himself". Also referring to the Euroelections, Venizelos determined the May 25 result as a "denial of the attack strategy". [09] Venizelos says May 25 election result must not be subject to ambiguous readingsGovernment Vice President, Foreign Minister and PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos, speaking in an interview with the newspaper "Ta Nea", stressed that "if one believes that government stability must not be upset, if one believes that the country is a step before the completion of the effort and the exit from the memorandum and the crisis, he must support the progressive pole that is very specific, that is being expressed in Parliament with PASOK's Parliamentary Group and of Elia more widely".He also criticised the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) and other opposition parties, saying that "those who are supposedly 'anti-memorandum' are those who are lashing out in favour of the memorandum now, because they have nothing to say, they have nothing to propose" and are "losing their political bread". Referring to SYRIZA and the opposition in general, Venizelos said that because on the night of the May 25 elections they will attempt to make a combined interpretation of the result "with the aim of undermining the government and national policy" for this reason "a result is necessary that will not be subject to ambiguous readings and not cast into doubt government stability as a basic precondition for the completion of the great national target that is the country's exit from the crisis and the memorandum and the return to the normalcy of a self-sufficient, in essence equal member-state of the European Union and of the eurozone". [10] SYRIZA's Skourletis comments on PM Samaras's interviewCommenting on Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's interview with Sunday's To Vima newspaper, main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) press spokesman Panos Skourletis said in a press release that "Mr. Samaras, the man tasked with completing the work of previous pro-bailout memorandum governments by snatching the Greek people's vote, is now being unmasked as he maintains that for him stability means preserving the memorandum and extreme austerity policies."Skourletis added that "the time of judgment is approaching and it will be damnatory to Mr. Samaras and his policy, a policy that is against to a redistribution in favour of the weak and catapults joblessness, a policy that robbed social security funds and closed down small- and medium-sized enterprises..." Gov't spokesman's reply "We are not going to ask SYRIZA for a certificate of modesty," said the government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou in reply to Skourletis' comment on the article by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in "To Vima" newspaper. Kedikoglou further said that "the party that defends convicted terrorists and hooded rioters and is in favour of Greece's exit from the euro and NATO - the party that swears and divides, now has the audacity to talk about extremes." The spokesman added that SYRIZA "should probably hide itself, as it is being exposed in also in Europe, where it is being disapproved by everyone, even by the radical (Daniel) Cohn-Bendit." [11] SYRIZA's Tsipras renews call for debate with PM Samaras"The people's patience is running out and on May 18 and 25 they would send out a message of change and overturning its 'terrorists,'" main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) president Alexis Tsipras said during his speech in an open election rally in the central square in Kozani, western Macedonia.Tsipras attacked the prime minister Antonis Samaras, charging that the premier "is hiding behind the curtains of Maximou Building" and refuses to sit at a debate with him. The SYRIZA leader added that Samaras "does not dare to come out to talk with the people, with his political opponents... He exists only in articles in Sunday newspapers, proclamations, television channels and opinion polls carried out by vested interests." Tsipras renewed his invitation to Samaras for a televised pre-election debate. [12] Kedikoglou comments on SYRIZA leader's speechCommenting on a speech by main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras in Kozani on Sunday evening, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said "it is not worth answering to an uncontrollable tirade."The spokesman said that Tsipras drifted to characterize neo-Nazis all European Union leaders who met with the new prime minister of the Ukraine in Brussels. [13] KKE party leader says KKE present in governance with people in powerCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) Central Committee Secretary General Dimitris Koutsoumbas, speaking in an interview with the Alpha television channel on Sunday morning, said KKE will be present in a governance with the people really in power, that will go ahead with disengagement from the EU, the unilateral write-off of the debt and the socialisation of the monopolies.Asked about citizens, radicals and leftists who are currently sceptical, Koutsoumbas said "we are thinking about these people", adding that KKE has decided, at whatever cost, to tell the truth. [14] Firebomb hurled at KKE party election centre in ThessalonikiA firebomb was hurled at an election centre of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in downtown Thessaloniki, causing limited damage.An announcement by KKE's Central Macedonia Party Organisation denounced the incident and spoke of a "cowardly attack". [15] DIMAR's Kouvelis tours Tripolis, KalamataThe European elections should send out a message of policy change in order to address the major issue of unemployment, Democratic Left (DIMAR) party leader Fotis Kouvelis said on Sunday in the central Peloponnese city of Tripolis.Kouvelis walked through central streets together with accompanying Eurodeputy candidates and party officials and participated in a flower planting activity. The DIMAR leader visited the offices of the regional ticket "Democratic Peloponnesian Cooperation," backed by his party, as well as the regional exhibition "Arcadian Panorama" in Tripolis's industrial park, and conversed with exhibitors and entrepreneurs. Kouvelis also met various regional candidates Kouvelis noted that "the European elections should send out a double message in both Europe and Greece. A message of policy change towards a progressive policy, to ensure social cohesion, to tackle unemployment which has driven 30 percent of the Greek population to live below the poverty line." Later in the afternoon Kouvelis toured the city of Kalamata, southwestern Peloponnese. [16] ND ahead of SYRIZA, poll showsAn opinion poll carried out by the Metron Analysis company and published in the newspaper "Ethnos tis Kyriakis" shows the New Democracy party leading the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA).Three weeks ahead of the Euroelections, ND garnered 20.6 percent of respondents' preferences, SYRIZA 20, Potami 7.8, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 4.8, Golden Dawn 4.3, Elia 4.2, Independent Greeks 3.7 and Democratic Left 1.6. Furthermore, 40 percent believe that ND will be the first party in the Euroelections with a narrow margin from SYRIZA, while 31 percent believe that SYRIZA will win with a small difference. Prime Minister and ND leader Antonis Samaras is considered most suitable to be prime minister, receiving 42 percent of preferences as against 25 percent for SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras. Lastly, 61 percent are against early elections and 79 percent favour the country staying in the euro. Financial News [17] Deputy FinMin says tax rate reduction in government agendaDeputy Finance Minister George Mavraganis, speaking during a meeting with representatives of production agencies from northern Greece in Thessaloniki, stressed that the reduction of tax rates from 26 percent that they are currently to 20 percent and to even 15 percent in the future is in the government's intentions.Mavraganis added that the new VAT payment system, that will begin being implemented as of this coming autumn, will "give a deep breath of liquidity to enterprises", while also referring to steps already taken on the front of modernising tax legislation. [18] Considerable increase in tourist arrivals on RhodesEvaluations made by tourist officials on the island of Rhodes are being confirmed regarding a good tourist season expected this year, that is considered almost certain to surpass last year's that was the best season in the history of the island's tourism in tourist arrivals.According to data announced by the "Diagoras" airport, tourists arriving on the island last month were 23.69 percent more compared to April 2013. Similar high rates are also expected in the coming months on both Rhodes and the rest of the Dodecannese islands, according to evaluations and bookings. Data announced reveals that a total of 59,386 people arrived on Rhodes with charter flights compared to 48,012 in April 2013. [19] Street Market Federations continuing nationwide strikeStreet Market Federations are continuing their nationwide strike and decided to distribute free food in the Athens district of Perissos on Saturday.The Federations will be holding a rally in front of Parliament at 18:00 on Monday. Producers intend to block streets around Parliament in the framework of their action, while local unions will be taking multiform action in every city. General News [20] Name of Christodoulos Xiros linked to sending of parcel bomb to Itea police stationWanted fugitive and member of the November 17 group Christodoulos Xiros is linked, according to the police from laboratory investigation evidence and DNA control, with the sending of a parcel bomb to the Itea police station.According to a Greek Police (EL.AS) announcement, on the explosive device sent and neutralised "a genetic type of a man was detected, that is identical with the same genetic type of a man, that was detected in items that were found and confiscated in a car that Christodoulos Xiros used for his transfer-escape from Thessaloniki to Athens on 05-01-2014". The "Conspiracy of Cells of Fire" group assumed responsibility for the sending of the parcel in a proclamation posted on the internet on Friday. [21] Aircraft returns to Hania airport after birds sucked into engineAn aircraft carrying Polish tourists back to their country was forced to return to Hania airport, on the island of Crete, shortly after taking off on Sunday when it was ascertained that birds had been sucked into its engine.The aircraft had taken off from Daskaloyiannis airport in the morning. However, shortly after take-off the development was ascertained but without any problem being created for its flight capacity. The pilots notified the control tower immediately and received the instructions anticipated by regulations. The aircraft remained in the air for a short while for fuel to be consumed and landed safely at the airport where the necessary check was carried out that revealed that a part of the engine had to be changed. The 179 passengers and 11 babies, less than two years old, that were on board went to a hotel in Hania where they will be staying. [22] Man arrested at Krystallopighi for carrying 100 kg of cannabisA 40-year-old foreign national was arrested at Krystallopighi in Florina, northern Greece, at dawn on Sunday while another five accomplices of his are being sought after they had all attempted to bring about 100 kilos of cannabis into the country.Police, using a thermal camera, detected a group of six people in an inaccessible mountainous region of Krystallopighi, who had entered the country illegally on foot. They arrested the 40-year-old, but the rest managed to escape, taking advantage of the region's inaccessibility. [23] Super market, confectionery robbed in Durako of AlepohoriFour people carried out two robberies in Durako of Alepohori on Saturday evening. The perpetrators robbed a super market first, seizing an amount of money. Shortly afterwards they robbed a confectionery in the same area.After firing in the air, they stole a car belonging to a foreign national and made their getaway. The vehicle was found in the Violetta region later on. [24] Special guard arrested for petrol station robberyA special guard was arrested by colleagues of his and was being interrogated after robbing a petrol station on the Thessaloniki-Moudania motorway on Friday evening. He threatened the petrol station's owner at gunpoint and seized an unspecified amount of cash. However, he was arrested shortly afterwards by colleagues, who were notified of the robbery.[25] Fourth 'Pink Panther' member arrestedA fourth member of the "Pink Panthers" criminal gang was arrested in the Athens district of Kypseli on Friday afternoon, who is involved in a host of robberies and burglaries at jewellery stores. The 26-year-old is a Serb just like the rest of the gang's arrested members.Among other things, a forged Bulgarian authority identity card, a forged Bulgarian authority driving licence, a replica type pistol and a full face hood were found in his possession and home and confiscated. [26] The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceETHNOS: The derbies of elections.VRADYNI: Rescue Guide for the mature insurance rights. AVGHI: Samaras seeking defeat management. EPOHI: ND, Elia with different king. KATHIMERINI: Greek debt reduction formula. DIMOKRATIA: Labyrinth of May 25. RIZOSPASTIS: What are you waiting for? Strong KKE everywhere because it is strength and hope of people. LOGOS: Double SYRIZA lead. Potami deflating, Elia and DIMAR collapsing. TO ARTHRO: The crisis is leaving, the (past) mentality is staying. FREE SUNDAY: The riddle of May. The parties with their gaze on the day after Euroelections. 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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