Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 14-09-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Samaras: Greece does not need additional loans

[02] PM Samaras to meet Gov't Vice-President Venizelos on Monday

[03] Gov't Vice-President and FM Venizelos to address the Athens Forum 2014 on Monday

[04] SYRIZA leader Tsipras: General elections immediately

[05] SYRIZA leader on NATO, troika and elections

[06] Gov't spokeswoman Voultepsi comments on Tsipras' press conference

[07] SYRIZA leader Tsipras visits TIF

[08] Tsipras presents SYRIZA's national reconstruction plan

[09] Gov't spokesperson: SYRIZA believes that has a magician for leader

[10] 'SYRIZA's government programme does not restore the people's losses,' communist party KKE says

[11] SYRIZA leads over ND in general elections, says opinion poll

[12] Tsipras on NERIT's decision not to broadcast his speech at TIF

[13] Tsipras on investment in Skouries

[14] PASOK leader Venizelos' speech at a party meeting

[15] New president appointed in NERIT

[16] Development Minister to meet with German MPs on Monday

[17] Archaeologists return to Zakynthos for Philip II of Spain shipwreck

[18] Six undocumented migrants rescued; one child in critical condition

[19] Fireman and woman die in burning building

[20] Body of French climber that was missing over the last four years found on Mt. Olympus

[21] Central Athens traffic restrictions back on Monday

[22] Super League results

[23] Greek junior women's water polo team takes gold in European championship

[24] PM Samaras congratulates junior women's water polo team for European gold in Water Polo Championship

[25] Rain on Monday

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

[01] PM Samaras: Greece does not need additional loans

Samaras stated that the country does not want additional loans and that the troika will leave after the end of the current programme adding that all the above are the result of the debt restructuring and the good course of the plan to exit to the markets and of the fiscal consolidation which will allow tax reliefs to start from this year as well as the increase of the arrangements for the loans.

The prime minister said "Greece does not need additional loans! And would not sign a 'new memorandum' for money it does not need. After the end of the programme the troika will leave, as it happened in Ireland and in Portugal. What matters is the programme to end and to become again a 'normal country".

Samaras charged main opposition SYRIZA that the policies it announces lead automatically to a new memorandum with more burdensome conditions "Mr. Tsipras returns to "money exist" that brought us in this condition. These are populist pledges that lead us to a new memorandum! Now that we are exiting from the memorandum and we will not need additional loans. That's our basic difference from SYRIZA..."

Referring to the Uniform Real Estate Ownership Taxation (ENFIA), Samaras noted that the mistakes in the specific law are not Yannis Stournaras' (former Finance Minister) fault and said that the cacophonies and the instant outbreaks in parliament, as he called them, were of minor importance and that he totally supported Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis.

Samaras appeared optimistic over the debt restructuring saying that will boost the investments and the economic recovery "Greece will receive 'certification' for the debt sustainability. Unofficially, many believe that the debt is sustainable, the international markets recognise it, the international rating agencies recognise it and very soon an official certification will exist".

Regarding the presidential elections, Samaras refused to give names but he said that he respects Fotis Kouvelis (DIMAR leader).

He called the possibility of early elections a political suicide because, as he noted, it would provoke a political disturbance and instability that will destroy whatever was built in the last years.

On his cooperation with PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, Samaras said that despite their disagreements they have managed to get along and to do a great deal for the country. New Democracy and PASOK are two different parties. A future cooperation with SYRIZA would not be possible because it would look like a circus.

He also called Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos' appointment as EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs a great success because it links the internal security in Europe with the control of the migration flows.

[02] PM Samaras to meet Gov't Vice-President Venizelos on Monday

Samaras and Venizelos will discuss the economic and political developments as well as issues related to the government's agenda.

The meeting is expected to take place at 1.45 pm, at Maximos Mansion.

[03] Gov't Vice-President and FM Venizelos to address the Athens Forum 2014 on Monday

"Athens Forum 2014: Democracy under pressure" is a series of events being hosted on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy by the "International Herald Tribune" and "Kathimerini" newspapers and the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).

[04] SYRIZA leader Tsipras: General elections immediately

"The negotiation is of key importance, the country should negotiate and not leave the others to decide without us. With Samaras' (Antonis, prime minister) government our partners will decide for us and that's why we call for elections." he said

On government's criticism for the measures he presented on Saturday in Thessaloniki he said "It is insulting for the people that suffer some to speak of benefits" adding that "ENFIA (Uniform Real Estate Ownership Tax) is a madhouse that has driven the people crazy because they do not have to pay. Is it a benefit to cancel this tax? " asked Tsipras.

Moreover, Tsipras stated that SYRIZA's realistic and costed programme against the humanitarian crisis in Greece "can't become a negotiation issue with any lender".

[05] SYRIZA leader on NATO, troika and elections

Tsipras referred to those who criticise him saying that "our opponents must choose for what they charge us. They call us terrorists, that we want to dissolve Europe and the NATO and at the same time they call us compromised, that we have cut a deal with the international elite and with the profiteers. Both are not possible to exist".

The main opposition leader said that is not among SYRIZA's priorities, under the current conditions, Greece's exit from the NATO and underlined that his party does not change positions every day adding that his opinion is that NATO's existence in meaningless under the new balances and should be replaced by other institutions.

He charged the government that it plays games of public relations regarding what is said on SYRIZA's position towards NATO. He pledged that his party will safeguard Greece's national interests and sternly attacked the government for its stance "we are the fifth wheel and nobody gives us any credit".

Referring to the general elections, Tsipras clarified that his party will seek to cooperate with other political forces in order to have the parliamentary majority but he ruled out the possibility to cooperate with "those that led us to the cliff. We will not co-govern with Samaras and Venizelos" he said.

Tsipras stated that if he becomes prime minister he will not sit at the same table with the troika's employees "What troika? There is no troika" he said and called the troika of Greece lenders a formation that has no legitimacy in the European institutions.

At a query on his first meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel when and if he becomes prime minister he said that he does not know who will be charmed by whom and clarified "I will not play Mr. Samaras' role, I will not ask for mercy. I will go the EU Summit where all the leaders are equal. I will not offer her (Merkel) the chance to show pity or mercy for Greece. We do not believe that we have owners and tenants in EU that will evict us. It will not be a match between Greece and Germany at the National Stadium of Berlin with rigged referee Mr. Schaeuble (Wolfgang, German Finance Minister)".

Asked on what will happen if our EU partners do not agree, he said "I say the same things everywhere and nobody showed me the exit door".

[06] Gov't spokeswoman Voultepsi comments on Tsipras' press conference

Voultepsi noted, however, that Tsipras declined to clarify whether he would opt for unilateral actions. When asked what they would do in difficult situations, he replied: "What we would do? We will see."

She also accused him of avoiding to mention the danger of exiting the euro while wishing the breakup of the eurozone. He also avoided to say, Voultepsi noted, where he will find the necessary funds and he was constantly referring to the EU funds which will not exist if we are not EU and eurozone member states any more.

He also refused to talk about tax reductions on households and businesses on the pretext of having a secret agenda, she said.

"The only thing that Mr.Tsipras did was to promise successive elections that will destabilize the country," Voultepsi underlined.

[07] SYRIZA leader Tsipras visits TIF

Tsipras met with TIF-Helexpo management and the president Tasos Tzikas briefed him on the profile of this year's TIF. SYRIZA leader also met with representatives of the worker's association that informed him on their problems.

Later, the main opposition leader was toured to TIF's pavilions.

[08] Tsipras presents SYRIZA's national reconstruction plan

"We undertake the responsibility and we commit before the Greek people for a National Reconstruction Plan through which we will replace the memorandum, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations with the troika of Greece's lenders" said Tsipras adding that the plan is based on four pylons.

The programme's first pylon refers to the immediate facing of the humanitarian crisis estimated at 2 billion euros and foresees among others, free electricity to households below the poverty line, food to 300,000 destitute families and free medical care for all, housing programmes and support to the low pensioners.

The second pylon includes measures for the restart of the economy with priority the lifting of the tax suppression on the real economy, the support of liquidity and demand and the Seisachtheia of burdens ( Seisachtheia was a set of laws instituted by the Athenian lawmaker Solon (c. 638 BC-558 BC) . The seisachtheia laws immediately cancelled all outstanding debts, retroactively emancipated all previously enslaved debtors, reinstated all confiscated serf property, and forbade the use of personal freedom as collateral in all future debts. The laws instituted a ceiling to maximum property size - regardless of the legality of its acquisition, meant to prevent excessive accumulation of land by powerful families).

"Government's persistence to put more burdens on those that have already collapsed is an impasse. Very simply, you can't take from someone that has nothing to give". said Tsipras.

Other measures included in the second pylon are: The immediate cancellation of ENFIA (Uniform Real Estate Ownership Tax), restoration of the tax free at 12,000 euros, the new Seisachtheia which will arrange the so-called 'bad loans' which is the prerequisite for the restoration of the liquidity, for the restart of the economy, along with the consolidation of the banks' portfolios and the establishment of a development bank of special purpose.

The third pylon refers to the employment and foresees the immediate restoration of the labour legislation and labour rights, a 300,000 job positions programme in public and private sector.

Finally, the fourth pylon is the one that refers to the huge changes, the reforms that SYRIZA will bring to the institutions and to the State's operation.

The programme foresees the promoting of the regional re-establishment of the State, the enhancing of the institution of the representative democracy and the introduction of new institutional applications of direct democracy in the operation of the political system as well as a new operation map for the mass media in Greece.

[09] Gov't spokesperson: SYRIZA believes that has a magician for leader

Voultepsi noted that Tsipras offered free electricity, food coupons, houses, salaries, pensions, benefits, Christmas bonuses, bus tickets, cancelled the loans, founded banks, invented thousands of job positions and at the end he ...re-established the democracy in Greece "Billions of euros have fallen from Thessaloniki's sky" said Voultepsi adding that "Mr. Tsipras promised 9 billion euros in the first year of his governance when it is certain that with his elusive programme we will be out of the eurozone".

The government spokeswoman said that "by undermining the memory and the people's intelligence, SYRIZA believes that has a magician for leader. But it is clear that this magician will turn the euros into drachmas!" she concluded.

[10] 'SYRIZA's government programme does not restore the people's losses,' communist party KKE says

"Hundreds of thousands of unemployed people and part-time employees will continue to live in poverty and insecurity," KKE noted and added: "Any crumbs announced that will be given to the extreme poor will be offset by the entirely unpopular policies on tax, social security, and the commercialization of health and education."

KKE concluded that a SYRIZA government will also be bound in the EU memoranda and the capitalist growth, where the criterion is the capital gains rather than the needs of the people.

[11] SYRIZA leads over ND in general elections, says opinion poll

According to the poll results, SYRIZA leads among those questioned with 23 percent, followed by New Democracy (ND) with 20.4 percent, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 5.6 percent, Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) with 5.3 percent, To Potami with 4.8 percent, ELIA with 4.6 percent and Independent Greeks with 3 percent.

11.6 percent of the respondents said they have not decided yet while 6.8 percent said they will not vote.

[12] Tsipras on NERIT's decision not to broadcast his speech at TIF

"The popular interest for my speech has increased and I believe that a large number of alternative sources will broadcast it" said Tsipras.

[13] Tsipras on investment in Skouries

Tsipras presented his party's position against the investment and referred to the different growth model that he wants to promote in Northern Halkidiki, which as he claimed, will have no repercussions to the environment.

[14] PASOK leader Venizelos' speech at a party meeting

Venizelos also accused SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras that his speech at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) was a "profound disrespect to the sacrifices, the hardships and the anxieties of the Greek people."

More specifically, he attacked Tsipras on his positions regarding the debt, arguing that what he said during his speech puts everything at risk. Venizelos claimed that the leader of the main opposition what essentially proposes is to be dependent for decades on the IMF and the troika, become a country without independence, emancipation and equality.

Venizelos called on all party members, citizens and other parties that agree with the principles of the democratic faction to embrace this new effort.

[15] New president appointed in NERIT

Mais' tenure will last until the formation of the company's new Managing Board.

The Supervisory Board had accepted the resignation of former president and managing director of NERIT professor Antonis Makrydimitris and alternate president of the board Rodolfos Moronis.

According to a company's announcement, the Supervisory Board also decided to extend the application period for the president and the board members' position until Friday 19 September at 17.00

[16] Development Minister to meet with German MPs on Monday

The meeting will focus on the course of the reforms in Greece, the new NSRF as well as the developments on the establishment of the Greek Investment Fund in which participates the German Development Bank (KfW) with initial capital 100 million euros .

The six-member delegation is composed by Bernhard SCHULTE-DRUGGELTE (head of CDU/CSU), Alois KARL (CDU/CSU), Helmut HEIDERICH (CDU/CSU), Ewald SCHURER (SPD), Sonja STEFFEN (SPD) and Manuel SARRAZIN (BU90/GR), all members of the sub-committee of European Affairs of the German parliament Budget Committee.

General News

[17] Archaeologists return to Zakynthos for Philip II of Spain shipwreck

The 20-meter-long, vessel that shipwrecked near the port of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea most likely participated in the 1571 Naval Battle of Nafpaktos, one of the most important sea battles in world history.

The shipwreck, the only one discovered in Greece that dates back to the era of Philip II of Spain, was found in the 1980s by local speargun fishermen and in the 1990s it was studied by Greek archeologists in cooperation with Oxford University scientists.

The part of its hull that was pulled out of the sea has been covered by geotextile to protect it from being eaten away by worms within the framework of an innovative method created by the Athens' technological educational institutes (TEI).

However, the research has been interrupted four years ago. The archaeologists will stay on Zakynthos for approximately a month while in the research team participate divers that will dive in the area of the shipwreck in order to find and reveal the other part of the ship that is still under tons of mud.

[18] Six undocumented migrants rescued; one child in critical condition

The undocumented migrants, that were possibly with other migrants on board a vessel that sank, needed medical care and were sent to Hania general hospital.

According to initial information the child is in critical condition.

The two merchant ships, British flagged CPO JAPAN and Liberian-flagged CMA CGM VERDI, also collected two more migrants that died and their bodies were sent to Malta.

Malta Coast Guard is conducting a search in the area.

[19] Fireman and woman die in burning building

Forty three firemen and sixteen fire-engines rushed to put out a fire that broke out at approximately 9 in the evening at a shop housed at the ground floor of an apartment building. The blaze took dimensions due to flammable materials that were stored in the shop.

The mother of the shop owner and his 44 year-old wife were trapped in the first and the second floor of the building.

33 year-old fireman Mattheos Mantzios along with a colleague got inside the building and rescued the elderly woman. Afterwards, Mantzios went to the second floor to rescue the owner's wife but the smoke prevented their descent and the other firemen approach.

Two hours later the fire was set under partial control and the fireman was found next to the 44 year-old woman at the apartment's balcony.

Both died of smoke inhalation.

[20] Body of French climber that was missing over the last four years found on Mt. Olympus

According to the documents found, the body belongs to a French woman aged 37 when she was declared missing on September 30 2010. A huge operation had been launched that lasted for several days with the participation of over sixty rescuers and climbers to locate her. The day of her disappearance heavy snow fell over Mt. Olympus.

[21] Central Athens traffic restrictions back on Monday

The restriction ring is delineated by Alexandras Avenue, Zacharof Street, Mesogeion Avenue, Pheidipidou, Michalakopoulou, Spyrou Merkouri, Vraxidos, Ymittou, Ilia Iliou, Frantzi, the start of Syngrou Avenue, Hamosternas, Pireos, Iera Odos, Constantinoupoleos, Achileos, Karaiskaki Square, Karoulou, Patission Street, and Alexandras street.

According to the restrictions, cars with number plates ending in an odd number can enter the restricted ring on odd days and cars with plates ending in an even number can enter on even days.

Soccer

[22] Super League results

Veria-Kerkyra 2-1

PAOK-Niki Volou 3-0

Olympiakos-OFI Crete 3-0

Panionios-Asteras Tripolis 2-1

PAS Yiannena-Xanthi 2-2

Atromitos Athens-Panetolikos 0-0

Levadiakos-Panthrakikos 1-1

Kalloni Mytilini-Panathinaikos 20:30

Ergotelis-Platanias 15/9

Final standings (after 3 weeks of play):

1. Veria 9

2. PAOK 7

Olympiakos 7

Atromitos 7

5. Panionios 6

6. PAS Yiannena 5

7. Panathinaikos 4 (2nd round)

8. Kalloni Mytilini 4 (2nd round)

9. Kerkyra

10. Asteras Tripolis 3

11. OFI Crete 3

12. Xanthi 2

13. Panetolikos 2

14. Levadiakos 2

15. Panthrakikos 2

16. Ergotelis 0 (2nd round)

17. Platanias 0 (2nd round)

18. Niki Volou 0

Sports

[23] Greek junior women's water polo team takes gold in European championship

The girls coached by Giorgos Morfesis and Stefanos Leandros dominated the game from the start, maintaining a strong lead over the Italian team.

[24] PM Samaras congratulates junior women's water polo team for European gold in Water Polo Championship

"You have made us proud", Samaras said and congratulated both the team and the coaches Giorgos Morfesis and Stefanos Leandros.

Earlier on Sunday, Greece's national junior women's team in water polo beat Italy 7-6 in the final.

Weather forecast

[25] Rain on Monday

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

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: The total plan for the new pensions.

EPOCHI: Government in panic...the Left with proposals.

ETHNOS: The universities' drama and the tragedy of the new generation.

KATHIMERINI: In search of a touchstone to reverse the climate.

KYRIAKATIKI ELEFTHEROTYPIA: ENFIA (Uniform Real Estate Ownership Tax) a nightmare for firsthome. Government is hiding the truth for seizures and 'bad loans'.

KYRIAKATIKOS RIZOSPASTIS: 'Health prevention' beats hasty retreat.

PROTO THEMA: Government shows and presses former prime minister Costas Karamanlis to be candidate for President of Republic.

Realnews: SYRIZA's terrorism over the presidential elections does not pass.

TO ARTHRO: Judges lead the country to a new memorandum.

TO PARON: They blocked the inspections in 6,230 offshore companies.

TO VIMA: Games of authority under the... shadow of ancient Amphipolis

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