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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-04Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Gov't presses PASOK over SiemensReplying to charges made by the main opposition PASOK leader on Friday regarding the government's handling of the ongoing Siemens affair, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos challenged George Papandreou to explain to Greek voters what happened to one million German Deutschmarks that Siemens purportedly donated to PASOK campaign coffers prior to the 2000 elections."The truth needs courage," Roussopoulos stressed, calling on the main opposition to say "what deal (this money) sealed and what down payment it served". He was referring to revelations that Siemens had made arrangements for one million D-marks to be given to the party as a campaign contribution prior to the April 2000 elections, going through high-ranking PASOK cadre Theodoros Tsoukatos -- then a senior advisor to prime minister Costas Simitis. The party has denied ever receiving the funds, saying it has no record of such a donation, while Tsoukatos vociferously denies taking the money and says that he made arrangements for its transfer into PASOK treasury via a bank account of an acquaintance, and in instalments via cash deliveries. The spokesman went on to say that Papandreou was asking for things already announced on Thursday, which was the order given by the government to mobilise the special audits service in the affair, while also pointing out that Papandreou had turned down the prime minister's proposal for a cross-party committee to look into issues of transparency and party finances last Friday. "Nobody forgets PASOK's blank page during the revision of the relevant article of the Constitution. With his statement today, Mr. Papandreou did not address the citizens, he was trying to regain power within PASOK," Roussopoulos charged. He also called on the one-time foreign minister in two Simitis governments to participate in a cross-party committee and to stop violently attacking the justice system every time it reveals evidence against PASOK. According to the spokesman, the main opposition's claims about "delays" in the case concerning trial-fixing and judicial corruption had been triumphantly disproved by the facts, as they would be in the case under investigation at this time. Caption: An ANA-MPA exterior view of the prime minister's official office in Athens, known as the Maximos Mansion. [02] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Friday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance The simmering Siemens affair, alleged implication of Culture Minister Michalis Liapis and invoices backing his denial of any involvement, as well as the increase in the European Central Bank (ECB) benchmark interest rates were the main front-page items in Friday's dailies. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Minister's resignation on the horizon - Rapid developments expected". APOGEVMATINI: "Proven innocent⦠- Response to the slander with eight vouchers from the trip to Germany and Austria - Culture Minister Liapis' smart move dissolves groundless rumours". AVGHI: "Interest rates go up, households go down - Crisis mostly threatens lower incomes". AVRIANI: "Siemens files lawsuits to take back the kickbacks paid to Greek political parties, politicians, public utility governors, senior state officials and union leaders". CHORA: "Nineteen invoices under the special magistrate's microscope". ELEFTHERI ORA: "Siemens' bribes were political, but there is no proof implicating politicians". ELEFTHEROS: "Law lessons to (PASOK leader) George Papandreou by former Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis on the Siemens case". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Liapis is covered for now - Liapis' socializing with Siemens' Christoforakos casts heavy clouds over government - Political cover by (government spokesman Theodoros) Roussopoulos". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Step-by-step with the Siemens Tours - Liapis provides delayed proof and admissionâ¦". ESTIA: "Political damage to the government - Prime Minister Karamanlis undertakes initiatives". ETHNOS: "Liapis opened the drawer with the vouchers - Maximos Mansion takes cover behind the minister's alibi". KATHIMERINI: "Spineless state before Siemens as opposed to the USA, Norway, Germany where sanctions are being imposed". LOGOS: "Backing from a distance to Liapis - Discreet distance kept by the government spokesman - Vouchers given to publicity by the culture minister". NIKI: "Everything swept under the carpet - Karamanlis' government covers up the scandal". RIZOSPASTIS: "European Commission: Worse life for the working family planned". TA NEA: "Booking No2 for the minister - PASOK and ND MPs call for Liapis' resignation". TO VIMA: "Scandal boomerangs for the 'incorrupt' of ND - Siemens official and the government minister stayed in the same hotels - Government is exposed following revelations on Liapis' trip". VRADYNI: "Here are the proofs - Liapis presented the vouchers proving that he paid himself for his trip - Where is (economic advisor to the prime minister during the PASOK government of premier Costas Simitis) Tsoukatos' 1 million DM?".Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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