Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-02-01

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

Monday February 1, 2016

CONTENTS

[01] We are moving to the restructuring of our country, PM Tsipras says

[02] Refugee issue dominates interministerial meeting

[03] State Minister Flambouraris rules out the withdrawal of pension reforms bill

[04] New Democracy leader Mitsotakis stresses need for reforms to the benefit of many

[05] Greek islanders to be nominated for Nobel peace prize

[06] Two Greek islanders and actress Susan Sarandon to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

[07] Refugees to travel from Mytilene to Piraeus after seamen's strike suspended

[08] Weather Forecast

[09] Athens Headlines at a glance Politics

[01] We are moving to the restructuring of our country, PM Tsipras says

"Greece will make the big step forward. It will win the battle of democracy, restructuring, social justice and solidarity, paving the way for Europe to follow suit," he underlined.

The prime minister described January 25 as a historic day. "It is the day when the Greek people proudly decided to change course and made the left party responsible for leading that long, difficult and hopeful course. A course of economic, productive and social restructuring based on the establishment of a credible and socially fair state, the strengthening of democratic institutions and a more efficient public administration on the side of the citizens," he stated.

"We knew that this would be a painful effort and that we would have to conflict with powerful vested interests and pathogenies that led the country to the brink of destruction," he said adding that "we are proud we can continue the battle from better positions, aimed at ending the crisis with justice and democracy."

Tsipras underlined that this struggle that started in Greece was a struggle for all of Europe. "But we are not alone in Europe any more. We are moving ahead with alliances that are continuously strengthened, changing the correlations," he noted.

Tsipras said that the second year of governance "will mark the rupture with the old regime," adding that the program review will be successfully concluded and the procedure for debt relief is being accelerated. "We proceed to the restructuring of our country overcoming our crisis and regaining sovereignty," said the prime minister.

"With faith in our strength and support to the Greek people, we will succeed. Greece will make the great step forward. It will win the battle of democracy, reconstruction, social justice and solidarity, paving the way for all Europe," he concluded.

[02] Refugee issue dominates interministerial meeting

The ministers participating in the meeting decided to speed up the construction of hotspots on Samos, Lesvos, Chios, Kos and Leros as well as the two relocation centres.

Greece will have met its commitments by the next EU summit, according to the prime minister's press office which also stressed the importance of the EU and the European institutions to show the same responsibility.

[03] State Minister Flambouraris rules out the withdrawal of pension reforms bill

Flambouraris underlined that the social security reforms are "absolutely necessary and urgent."

"Unless reforms are made, funds will not be in a position to grant pensions in the next few years," he said and added: "The government is discussing any proposal that can really improve the social security system."

Regarding the reactions of the society, the State Minister cleared out that the government does not need polarization and expressed the view that the society is not against the government, because it recognizes that the government policy seeks "to defend the interests of the overwhelming majority of the Greek people, especially of low incomers."

[04] New Democracy leader Mitsotakis stresses need for reforms to the benefit of many

"I do not want to produce wealth for wealth, but to create social solidarity reserve. Our goal should be the welfare of citizens," he underlined.

Referring to pension reforms, he said that the government's plan promotes social automation and the fragmentation of the society, as it offers privileges to specific parts of the population at the expense of others.

He also leveled criticism against the government on the refugee issue saying that "we have a three-month deadline to meet our commitments and if we do not do so, we are facing the risk of a de facto two-year exclusion from the treaty."

Finally, he stressed that the refugee issue is above all a security issue.

General News

[05] Greek islanders to be nominated for Nobel peace prize

Greek islanders who have been on the frontline of the refugee crisis are among those to be nominated for the Nobel Prize.

A petition on the website in favour of the nomination has amassed more than 500,000 signatures.

"We are asking the Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded to the residents and volunteers of the Aegean islands that have opened their arms to refugees and sent a message of humanity and solidarity that has touched the whole planet," the petition noted.

The president of the Greek parliament Nikos Voutsis has expressed his support to the Greek islanders. "The citizens of the Aegean islands, and especially Lesvos, constitute an example for the European civilization," Voutsis underlined.

Online voting is available at https://secure.avaaz.org/el/nobel_to_greek_islanders/?slideshow

[06] Two Greek islanders and actress Susan Sarandon to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

The deadline for the nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize will expire at Sunday midnight.

A petition on the website in favour of the nomination of Greek islanders has amassed more than 500,000 signatures.

"We are asking the Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded to the residents and volunteers of the Aegean islands that have opened their arms to refugees and sent a message of humanity and solidarity that has touched the whole planet," the petition noted.

The president of the Greek parliament Nikos Voutsis has expressed his support to the Greek islanders. "The citizens of the Aegean islands, and especially Lesvos, constitute an example for the European civilization," Voutsis underlined.

Online voting is available at https://secure.avaaz.org/el/nobel_to_greek_islanders/?slideshow

[07] Refugees to travel from Mytilene to Piraeus after seamen's strike suspended

Meanwhile, the refugee flows from the Turkish coasts continue unabated. A wooden vessel with at least 200 refugees on board ran aground north of Mytilene late on Saturday. The Greek Coast Guard and the Frontex rescued the refugees and transferred them to the port of Mytilene.

In another incident, a body in advanced decomposition was recovered by a fishing boat in western Lesvos.

[08] Weather Forecast

[09] Athens Headlines at a glance

PROTO THEMA: The quartet's VETO on new hirings

TO VIMA: Tsipras is a hostage of Alexis

ETHNOS: The IMF blocks the negotiation

REAL NEWS: Zero hour for the country and the government

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Businesses migrate because of taxes and capital controls

RIZOSPASTIS: A mass labour response is needed

TO PARON: 35 SYRIZA deputies against changes on farmers

AVGHI: Cornerstone. One-year of a left government

VRADYNI: Panic over pensions

EPOCHI: Radical proposals feed the far right

TO ARTHRO: Cut expenses instead of imposing taxes

LOGOS: The collapse of the pension funds

ΚΥRIAKATIKI DIMOKRATIA: A call to humanist Europeans

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