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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-06Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Sarkozy arrives in AthensFrench president Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in Athens on Friday for talks with the state and political leadership of Greece.Alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, asked during a press briefing on Thursday whether Sarkozy's agenda of talks also included armaments issues, replied that the meetings would focus on bilateral and regional issues, as well as the entire range of European matters, given that France takes over the rotating EU presidency on July 1 for the second half of the year. He added that detailed statements would be made on Friday by Sarkozy and prime minister Costas Karamanlis after their meeting. Sarkozy, who will be greeted by foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis at the airport, will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier shortly after his arrival, before delivering an address in parliament. Afterwards, Sarkozy will head to the Presidential Mansion for talks with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, followed by a luncheon in his honor to be hosted by his Greek counterpart. In the afternoon, Sarkozy will have talks with Karamanlis at the Maximos Mansion (government headquarters), after which two texts will be signed: a joint declaration by Sarkozy and Karamanlis on defence and security, and a joint declaration by the Greek and French defence ministers in the area of flight training. Karamanlis and Sarkozy are due to make statements after their meeting. Bakoyannis is also scheduled to meet in the afternoon with her French counterpart Bernard Kuchner, during which they will sign an additional protocol to the Greek-French agreement on intellectual and cultural relations. President Sarkozy and the French delegation are due to depart from Athens early on Saturday morning. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of French President Nicolas Sarkozy [02] PASOK tables draft bill for fire-ravaged regionsMain opposition PASOK party on Friday tabled in parliament its own draft law on the reconstruction of the fire-stricken regions.The draft law foresees State assumption of the cost of repair or reconstruction of the fire-ravaged houses, the repair cost for professional premises and equipment, and the dispensation of State reinforcements to ensure a minimun guaranteed income of 1,000 euros per month for every farming family in the fire-ravaged regions up until the end of 2012, and for oil producers in particular until the end of 2014 Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou [03] Prime Minister to visit AustriaPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis will be holding talks with Austrian Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauerin Vienna on Monday, focusing on the future of Europe, the Lisbon Treaty, European Union enlargement with Turkey's accession course and the European prospects of the Western Balkans, developments on the issue of Cyprus and other current issues of interest.Similar issues will also be discussed during the Greek prime minister's meetings in the Austrian capital with Austrian Vice Chancellor Wilhelm Molterer and with the leader of the Parliamentary group of the jointly ruling People's Party and former chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel. [04] Greek-Turkish FestivalThe 7th Greek-Turkish Friendship Festival will open in Aydin, Turkey on Saturday with participations from Turkey, Greece and other European countries, and will be continued on the Greek island of Fourni, eastern Aegean, on June 9-10. Scholars, artists, students, journalists and businessmen will beparticipating in the event, held under the auspices of the local governments and co-organized by the associations Nea Dafni and DEFNE in Athens and Istanbul respectively. This year's theme is "Water and Light" featuring activities relative to the problems of wildfires, marine pollution and the destruction of natural wealth, while environmentalists will address participants and present their views. DEFNE and Nea Dafni is the first notable non governmental organization based on both sides of the Aegean established to create a new functional model promoting peace between the two countries. It was founded in 2002 by prominent Greeks and Turks and since then it has hosted numerous significant joint programmes bringing the two peoples closer.Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Fourni island,eastern Aegean [05] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Friday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Athens on Friday, spiralling prices and the government's steps to contain them, the ongoing unrest in the country's universities, and an interest rate increase next month being examined by the European Central Bank (ECB) were the main front-page items in Athens' newspapers on Friday. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Chaos reigns in the Universities, as the State remains a simple spectator". APOGEVMATINI: "Greece-France Alliance no. 2 - Athens today welcomes French President Sarkozy". AVGHI: "What took place at the University of Macedonia". AVRIANI: "Shipowners once again blackmailing for fare increases, threatening discontinuation of routes and change of flag (shipping registry)". CHORA: "Mon ami, Costas - Important agreements to be signed by Sarkozy" with prime minister Costas Karamanlis in Athens on Friday. ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Explosion over Siemens ('black funds') case - Invoices and checks 'up in the air' - (New Democracy MP) Kyriakos and Katerina Mitsotakis, and close associate of (foreign minister) Dora Bakoyannis clients of Siemens". ELEFTHEROTYIA: "Mitsotakis procurements from Siemens - Uproar and questions over the implication of the MP's name". ESTIA: "Barack Obama the next (US) president - His victory over McCain (the Republican candidate) believed certain". ETHNOS: "Siemens invoices in Kyriakos' (Mitsotakis) name - Major political and ethical issue for ND". KATHIMERINI: "Signs of collusion with Siemens - Names of Greek politicians indicated, as the investigation into the case is teetering". LOGOS: "The price reductions (in products agreed by supermarket chains and other commercial businesses) do not 'reach' the consumers" since price increases have been more than double. NIKI: "Voulgarakis (merchant marine, Aegean and island policy minister) messed up - Uproar in China too over the price for the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP)" container terminal concession, with Cosco claiming that it had offered 500 million euros in the tender, whereas Voulgarakis quoted the offer at 4.3 billion euros. PARASKEVI+13 (weekly): "PASOK seeking its pace - Main opposition party at ideological crossroads". RIZOSPASTIS: "Uniform plan for management of water as a social good, and not a commodity". TA NEA: "Siemens shadow over Kyriakos Mitsotakis - Invoices in his name had remained unpaid for several months". TO VIMA: "Athens in Siemens' net - Kyriakos Mitsotakis explains about the invoices - Surprise turn in the scandal, which 'touches' politicians for the first time". VRADYNI: "My expensive Greece - EBEA (Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry) survy on large price deviations in the EU". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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