Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 15-05-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Negotiations between Greece and its creditors are entering the final phase

[02] Jean-Luc Melenchon: Greece used as an example to show 'how those who resist are treated'

[03] Melenchon added that Greece is used as an example to show "how those who resist are treated."

[04] Director Costas Gavras to ANAMPA: 'Some people don't want Tsipras to succeed'

[05] 'The government is in tune with people's needs,' SYRIZA secretary tells ANA-MPA

[06] The agreement must be realistic and implementable, State Min Pappas says

[07] EU Commission Vice-President Dombrovskis asks for a comprehensive and credible list of reforms

[08] SYRIZA: Cancelling the unveiling of Holocaust memorial in Kavala insults historic memory

[09] Kavala mayor apologises to Greek Jews after cancelling unveiling of Holocaust memorial

[10] Tourism Min. Kountoura rejects reports tourists in Greece will 'face problems'

[11] Greece does not need elections or referendum, ANEL leader says

[12] New Democracy lashes out at PM Tsipras after Economist conference

[13] New Democracy accuses government of unreliability after report on alleged letter to IMF

[14] New Democracy ready to help provided SYRIZA leaves obsessions behind-Samaras

[15] Potami leader Theodorakis: 'We will support a deal if it's beneficial for the people'

[16] KKE's statement on PM Tsipras' speech at Economist

[17] 4.2-magnitude tremor hits off northeastern Crete, no injuries

[18] International Day Against Homophobia: LGBTQ people face discrimination, exclusion

[19] Four foreign nationals arrested in Thessaloniki on migranttrafficking charges

[20] Albanian national on European arrest warrant issued by Greek Police arrested

[21] INHESJ students visiting Greece is a sign of good cooperation between France- Greece, French embassy says

[22] Athens Headlines SPECIAL EDITION

[01] Negotiations between Greece and its creditors are entering the final phase

The government will continue through the weekend to specify Greek proposals.

Ahead of the Summit meeting in Riga, Latvia, the government will also intensify political processes and consultations with a view to reaching a single, four-year agreement that will provide solutions and will not perpetuate recession. The summit and an emergency Eurogroup meeting could play an important role in achieving a deal and resolving the problem of liquidity.

Speaking at the Economist Conference in Athens on Friday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said: "Our government's negotiating plan is realistic and viable. We call on the other side to become more realistic, after five continuous years of unrealistic targets and continued failures."

[02] Jean-Luc Melenchon: Greece used as an example to show 'how those who resist are treated'

The candidate of the Left Front in the 2012 presidential elections said that he took the decision to write this book as he was outraged by the behaviour of the German government and by the fact that the French president Francois Hollande does not react.

"It is a serious political mistake against the European ideal to allow such a treatment towards an EU member state," he noted.

[03] Melenchon added that Greece is used as an example to show "how those who resist are treated."

[04] Director Costas Gavras to ANAMPA: 'Some people don't want Tsipras to succeed'

"There's a new movement in Greece and some people don't want it to succeed," Gavras told journalist Ninos Mikelidis from Cannes, France, where he has been invited as guest of honor at Cannes Classics, a selection dedicated to heritage films.

Commenting on the ongoing negotiations between Greek authorities and its partners, the director, who is known for his political films, said the country's lenders "want the previous government to come to power and do what they want them to do. Not to have any resistance."

He also said he agrees with the tactic followed by Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. "Varoufakis spoke to them as an equal and they don't want that. They want a yes-man."

The director said things in Greece can and should change and people must support the government of Alexis Tsipras. "He's young, he has no past. Everyone should find the courage to vote for him to see what he'll do. To change things."

Asked about the issue of war reparations, he referred to statements made recently by the German President and added that "this money must at some point be paid. No one else before Tsipras asked for it (war reparations). It was Greece's old problem, the yes-men imposed by foreigners."

Gavras has appeared in Cannes many times in the past to promote his movies, most famously in 1969 when he won the Jury Price and Best Actor award for Jean-Louis Trintignant with the movie "Z". The film also won the Oscar for Best foreign film.

This year, the noted film festival has scheduled for Monday a viewing of his classic movie "Z", in a restored version.

[05] 'The government is in tune with people's needs,' SYRIZA secretary tells ANA-MPA

"We have reached a point where there should be an overall settlement of the Greek issue within the eurozone rather than agreements that address the liquidity issue month to month," Koronakis said in an interview to the agency, adding that the government is "completely in tune with the needs of the people".

Commenting on the pressures placed on the government by Greece's lenders, he said that that no one can step outside the lines established at the February 20 agreement.

"That is, the Greek government must respect the laws of the eurozone, even if it disagrees with them, and our partners must respect the mandate of the Greek people to end austerity."

[06] The agreement must be realistic and implementable, State Min Pappas says

Asked what the government will do in case some deputies do not vote for the new agreement, he replied: "Everyone can have his own view. But we all have a historical responsibility right now. And we will be judged by our actions in the Parliament and not by what we say."

He underlined that Greece has proved its willingness to find a solution and added:

"The solution of the Greek problem is primarily a political one. The technical staff cannot operate autonomised but must respect the rules of negotiation, democratic legitimacy and a common European course and targeting. They will be held accountable to the institutions for all these and as a result they will be held accountable to the Greek government too," Pappas noted.

[07] EU Commission Vice-President Dombrovskis asks for a comprehensive and credible list of reforms

"The Greek government must prepare a comprehensive and credible list of reforms. We have lost a lot of time. Negotiations are underway, but we must speed up. Only if Greece completes the next step of the reform programme, can the last loan tranches be disbursed," Dombrovskis told German newspaper Bild and stressed that progress has been made, but Greece "must do more in the area of fiscal consolidation as well as in the issues of pensions and labour market."

"Greece must propose reforms and not just reject those proposed," the Vice-President of the European Commission said and warned that every day without an agreement makes the situation for citizens even harder and called on those responsible to hurry.

[08] SYRIZA: Cancelling the unveiling of Holocaust memorial in Kavala insults historic memory

Kavala Mayor Dimitra Tsanaka, backed by the majority of the city's municipal council, stopped the unveiling of a memorial to the city's 1,484 Jews that were killed by Nazi troops, because it featured the Star of David.

"The cancellation of the unveiling of the Holocaust memorial in Kavala offends the historic memory, the democratic and anti-Nazi struggles of the Greek people," SYRIZA said in a press release published on Saturday evening. "It is an action that incites anti- Semitism and intolerance and as such cannot be tolerated," the party added.

[09] Kavala mayor apologises to Greek Jews after cancelling unveiling of Holocaust memorial

Dimitra Tsanaka, backed by the majority of the municipal council, stopped on Friday the unveiling of a memorial to the city's 1,484 Jews killed by Nazi troops, because it featured the Star of David.

Speaking on Saturday to about 100 people who had gathered at the city hall, among which were Jewish visitors from Israel who had traveled to Kavala for the unveiling, Tsanaka recognized "errors and omissions were made by the administration" of the municipality of Kavala.

After apologizing, she said that her reaction to the monument is "due solely to her efforts to protect the monument from possible reactions and vandalism," adding that she respects the religious symbols and honors the memory of fellow citizens who perished by the Nazis.

Tsanaka also said she was "convinced that all misunderstandings have been resolved with the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece" adding that the unveiling of the monument will take place "very soon", as a very small tribute to the Jewish citizens of Kavala who were victims of Nazi atrocities.

[10] Tourism Min. Kountoura rejects reports tourists in Greece will 'face problems'

"These reports in the foreign press which aim at preventing tourists from travelling to Greece lack seriousness and substantiation and do not reflect reality," Elena Kountoura told ANA-MPA. "Greece always welcomes visitors in the best possible conditions and offers them traditional Greek hospitality," the minister said.

Commenting on tourist bookings at a recent Economist Conference, Kountoura said major international tour operators have extended the holiday packages offered for Greece to 210 days from 185 days previously.

Speaking to ANA-MPA, the Deputy Head of Tourism Promotion for the Ionian Islands, Spyros Galiatsatos, said that June is expected to be a very good month for tourist arrivals and that any losses observed in May will not influence the overall performance of the sector at the end of the year.

[11] Greece does not need elections or referendum, ANEL leader says

Kammenos sent a message to Greece's creditors that they also have to meet their obligations towards Greece which has shown great consistency in its own obligations, while reiterating that the government aim is to find a solution, but without violating the "red lines."

"It is not possible that the Greek state pays its creditors, but it does not receive what it is entitled to," Kammenos noted, adding that "the country's priority is not to pay the creditors, but to pay the necessary money in order for the state to run smoothly. Salaries and pensions, education, health defence. That is what we will do from now on."

On the negotiations, he said that "Greece will continue its efforts to find a solution within the framework of the mandate and the red lines set so as not to surrender the sovereignty of the country and not to accept alteration of the Constitution and the Democracy."

He underlined that the government has made great efforts so as to avoid a rift with the creditors, adding that several concessions have also been made, but not in issues considered red lines.

[12] New Democracy lashes out at PM Tsipras after Economist conference

More specifically, it accused him of "lying" for the situation of the economy when he took power as well as for the activities of his government.

"Mr Tsipras' anxiety to persuade his party members is great. He said he was trapped by the previous government. But who trapped him when he dragged the country to elections and when he proved unprepared to govern?" according to the ND announcement.

It also accused him of risking every month not to pay salaries and pensions while speaking of red lines and advised him not to speak of growth as the first recession signs have already appeared in the market.

"We doubt if he himself believes his lies," the announcement concluded.

[13] New Democracy accuses government of unreliability after report on alleged letter to IMF

"This recital of unreliability, by which [the government] went from 'I will pay' to 'I won't pay' and eventually 'I'll pay' cancels out our negotiating position, proves the sloppiness and lack of planning with which Mr. Tsipras operates," party spokesman Costas Karagounis said on Saturday.

He also called on the government to "publish immediately" the letter Tsipras allegedly sent to Greece's creditors. Along with any replied the government received.

"Initially, the government didn't want the loan tranche because, as it said, it didn't need it; then it wanted the installment without a memorandum and then it accepted a memorandum without any money" Karagounis added.

[14] New Democracy ready to help provided SYRIZA leaves obsessions behind-Samaras

He underlined that if the government needs help, New Democracy is ready to give it. However, he clarified that it will not give a 'carte blanche' to destroy the country.

Samaras is ready to take political initiatives provided that: first the government understands the impasses where it has been self-trapped and secondly stop the horrible lies they have been telling. "In order to communicate, as parties ought to do in periods of crisis, they have to stop telling lies and we should all agree whether we want Europe. The proper climate and acceptance by everyone are needed for political initiatives to succeed," he stressed.

"What they really want," he estimated, "leads to a rift with the country's creditors" adding that the government will be forced to take rather hard tax and social security measures.

The leader of the main opposition underlined that what New Democracy wants is "an agreement that will keep recovery alive."

"We all want an agreement. We all want to avoid a rift with our partners. But nobody wants the imposition of taxes in order for SYRIZA to finance a partisan state," he noted.

Finally, Samaras expressed optimism that Greece can exit memoranda and the crisis if it changes policy.

New Democracy will support an agreement that meets even the minimum criteria, parliam. spokesman Mitsotakis says

New Democracy will support an agreement that meets even the minimum criteria, party parliamentary spokesman Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with 'Agora' newspaper on Saturday.

"Any agreement is better that no agreement," Mitsotakis stated, adding that the adoption of an agreement with the partners "is a matter of national responsibility now."

Moreover, he expressed his concern over the situation within the party. "New Democracy has not made the criticism I would like to (...) New Democracy has to change its foundations to be able to connect to the powerful layers of the Greek society that have turned their back on it," he added.

[15] Potami leader Theodorakis: 'We will support a deal if it's beneficial for the people'

Asked by the paper what he would do if some SYRIZA MPs didn't support a possible agreement achieved between the government and its lenders, Stavros Theodorakis said:

"Everything depends on the deal. If it's beneficial for the people we'll vote for it without asking for anything in return." He added however that he believes the possibility of achieving a good deal with our lenders has been wiped out.

Theodorakis also said that, if asked, he's willing to cooperate with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in the ongoing negotiations and even went as far as to suggest he would also support him if the premier was forced by developments to form a new government.

"If [Tsipras] realized the need to select centrist, open-minded figures without fixations and if he made the necessary reforms a top priority of his government then, yes, I would not refuse my support," the leader of Potami was quoted as saying.

He also reiterated his view that whenever elections are held, they should be held under a proportional voting system.

[16] KKE's statement on PM Tsipras' speech at Economist

[17] 4.2-magnitude tremor hits off northeastern Crete, no injuries

The underwater quake struck 57 klm off of the coast of Zakros, in the region of Lasithi, at 07.08 a.m. local time at a focal depth of 10 klm. It was also felt in the town of Ierapetra.

[18] International Day Against Homophobia: LGBTQ people face discrimination, exclusion

"All people are different from one another and accepting these differences unite us," Giorgos Kourogiorgas told ANA-MPA.

He said that for transgender people, mundane issues like receiving a package in the mail, opening a bank account or - even more so - submitting a job application can be a source of problems and exclusion if the exterior appearance doesn't fit the gender written on the identity card.

The President of the Transgender Association, Maria Galanou, told ANA-MPA that the main demand of the trans community is the legal recognition of gender identity, meaning the ability of trans people to alter their private documents without the need for medical pre conditions, psychiatric diagnoses, or - as the law states - after sterilization or gender reassignment surgery.

[19] Four foreign nationals arrested in Thessaloniki on migranttrafficking charges

A case file was formed against them for the offenses of criminal organization, transportation of undocumented migrants, illegal entry into the country and forgery. The men were caught in Egnatia Odos when the police stopped the car for check.

According to the police, migrants had each one paid 1,800-2,000 euros in order to be transported from Turkey to Athens.

[20] Albanian national on European arrest warrant issued by Greek Police arrested

The Albanian faces charges for manslaughter with intent, attempted murder with intent, attempted robbery and violation of the law on weapons.

On June 2, 2012, the Albanian along with the other co-defendants, tried to steal a car, but were noticed by the owner of the car and his brother. In their effort to escape, they shot the two brothers repeatedly with Kalashnikovs, fatally injuring one of them and seriously injuring the second one.

[21] INHESJ students visiting Greece is a sign of good cooperation between France- Greece, French embassy says

The students will visit Greece in May 17-21 and will meet with representatives of public and private organisations in the fields of internal security and administration of justice.

INHESJ is a national public administrative institution under the supervision of the French prime minister which focuses on the areas of training, study, research, intelligence and strategic analysis related to national, sanitary, environmental and economic security and also in matters related to justice and legal affairs.

In the areas falling within its scope, the Institute may conduct studies and research, alone or in cooperation with other French or foreign organisations. It may offer its expertise to ministries and higher education and research establishments.

...at a glance

[22] Athens Headlines

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Tough memorandum or rupture and bankruptcy

VRATHINI: Old insured. Who are targeted, on which points will the government back

down

AVGHI: The new university. The Education ministry's omnibus bill

EPOHI: Insistence on red lines

KATHIMERINI: Athens' letters and threats to the IMF and EU

DEMOKRATIA: Hours of suspense

RIZOSPASTIS: People on alert against the new anti-popular agreement!

LOGOS: Countdown. University entry exams open tomorrow

PROTO THEMA: Schaeuble to Varoufakis: Get out of the euro

TO VIMA: Tsipras calls Washington

TO PARON: War between IMF-Germany with Greece as the victim

KONTRANEWS: They want to promote (Bank of Greece Governor Yiannis) Stournaras as prime minister. Dangerous games to undermine Tsipras by known interests and the media

REALNEWS: A vast "madhouse"!

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