Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Services for Cyprus fallen

[02] Fires reported in Nafplio, Lagonissi

[03] Startling opinion poll results

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Services for Cyprus fallen

In statements afterward, Stylianidis said that he had conveyed the support of the Greek government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and that there had been an "interesting exchange of views" that had also focused on Cyprus' reforms to its higher education system.

"We are in a similar phase of reforms in Greece and it is worth while looking at models that have been tried and are starting to yield results," the minister said, while he also pointed to a gigantic effort underway in Greece to improve the quality of academic papers and exchange of knowhow.

Stylianidis, who is representing the Greek government at events in Cyprus for the anniversary of the Turkish invasion, had earlier stated that the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the occupied territories of Cyprus "provoked and did not assist in the direction of finding an agreed solution to the Cyprus issue".

He also stressed that the events helped remind the international community of the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of the north part of the island.

"We honour the memory of the people from Greece and of Cyprus that lost their lives in order to defend freedom and express the undivided support of the Greek people and the Greek government for Cyprus' efforts to arrive at an agreed solution for a bizonal, bicommunal federation whose operation will be based on the principles of the European Union and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, thus preserving a single character, national sovereignty, a single nationality," the minister stressed.

Stylianidis and delegation of Greek MPs representing all parties in Parliament laid wreaths at Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, where a memorial service for the fallen during the Turkish invasion was carried out in the presence of Christofias.

A memorial service to mark the 34th invasion of Cyprus' invasion by Turkey in 1974 and those who fell in defence of the island was held at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday morning, in the presence of Cyprus' Justice and Public Order Minister Kypros Chrysostomides and representatives of the Greek political parties.

"The best memorial for the dead of great struggles is to continue the struggle. Our own debt remains unpaid," Chrysostomides said in his address during the service.

Among those attending was Parliament President Dimitris Sioufias, who stressed that sacrifices of the fallen would not be forgotten and pointed out that Cyprus, despite being a member of the European family for the past four years, still had foreign occupation troops and a wall on its territory.

"The troops must go and the wall must fall. This is our duty," he underlined.

Bakoyannis on Cyprus invasion anniversary

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis repeated a call for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, during a statement on Saturday to mark the anniversary.

"The coming day reminds everyone, not just of the Turkish military invasion of Cyprus but also of the continued illegal occupation for 34 years of the territory of a European state, a member of the European Union, in violation of the relevant resolutions and decision of the United Nations Security Council," Bakoyannis said in statements on Saturday.

She stressed the need for an end to the "unacceptable situation by achieving a just, viable and functional solution that will lead to a bizonal, bi-communal federation with a single sovereignty, a single nationality and one international identity. A solution based on the decisions of the Security Council and the European acquis".

Bakoyannis also underlined Greece's support for efforts in this direction by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the country's leadership.

Regarding Turkey, she called on its leadership not to encourage intransigency but, instead, to encourage a moderate and level-headed stance that would allow a new, well-prepared and substantive negotiating effort to commence under UN auspices.

The minister underlined, however, that "the current status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable" and needed to change so that both communities, Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot, would be able to enjoy the benefits of Cyprus' membership of the EU.

Caption: A memorial service was held at the Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia on Sunday to mark the 34th anniversary since the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey on July 20, 1974. The service was attended by Cyprus' leadership, while National Education Minister Evripides Stylianides represented the Greek government (ANA-MPA - KATIA CHRISTODOULOU).

[02] Fires reported in Nafplio, Lagonissi

The fire in Nafplion begun at around noon in an area of farm and shrub land, with nine fire-engines, 27 fire-fighters, two aircraft and one helicopter being used to put out the flames.

The fire at Galazia Akti in Lagonissi broke out later at 14:15, near a residential area, and was put out after burning through an area of dried grass and olive trees.

Ranged against the fire were 10 fire engines, 30 fire-fighters, one aircraft and one helicopter.

An earlier fire at Ano Liossia was also quickly put out, being reported under control in less than an hour after it began.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of fire-fighting aircraft in action

[03] Startling opinion poll results

The estimated election result gives ND 34 percent of the vote, PASOK receives 30.5 percent, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 8 percent, the Coalition of the Radical Left gets 16 percent, the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party 5 percent and the Ecologists/Greens enter Parliament with 3.5 percent.

Roughly 60 percent of those questioned reported that the biggest problem faced by the country was high prices, while 42 percent cited unemploymen and nearly eight in 10 people questioned believed there would be a cover up of the Siemens scandal and that no more evidence would come to light.

A second opinion poll carried out by MARC for the Sunday issue of Ethnos, meanwhile, predicted that a hypothetical coalition between main opposition PASOK and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party in elections would gather 42 percent of the vote.

In this poll, ND was seen as receiving 28.1 percent of the vote, PASOK 24.9 percent, SYRIZA 15 percent, KKE 7.3 percent and LAOS 4.6 percent.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photograph of woman casting her vote in a ballot box.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The latest worrying developments concerning the economy, two new opinion polls, a scandal involving the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE), the removal of George Zorbas from the head of the 'revamped' authority against money-laundering and the granting of Greek nationality to the children of immigrants dominated the front pages of Athens' newspapers on Sunday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Scams involving procurements and public works under the spotlight. Urgent orders to special 'Rambo' team (refers to orders for an in-depth investigation of property and assets belonging to state officials in charge of awarding state-sector contracts).

APOGEVMATINI: "Children of immigrants to become Greeks after they turn 18. Law being prepared by interior ministry".

AVGHI: "Look who's talking. Cries of bipartisan guilt" (points to rising tones in the accusations being traded by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and main opposition PASOK's leader George Papandreou regarding political and economic scandals).

AVRIANI: "Kickbacks pushed deficits and public debt to dizzy heights. Law calls for confiscating the property and assets of individual entities and parties that accepted slush fund money".

CHORA: "Line of defence for the critical Autumn. Karamanlis and [Finance Minister George] Alogoskoufis preparing new measures.

ETHNOS: "PASOK-SYN government with a leftist 'stamp'. Opinion poll: Citizens in despair, they look to cooperation for a solution".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "The 'Portugal Syndrome' hits the economy. Nightmare forecasts of losses greater than 7-8 billion euros from incomes over the next 18 months".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Six parties in the new Parliament. Opinion poll: upheaval: Ecologists in for the first time at 3.5 percent. Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) spreads its sails. Big boys at 64.5 percent, goodbye independent majority".

EPOCHI: "Fires beneath bipartisanism. Zorbas, Germanos, OSE and high prices 'burn' [ruling New Democracy]". (Refers to a series of scandals that have rocked public life in recent months).

FREE SUNDAY: "Aleka Papariga: The system is rotten".

KATHIMERINI: "OSE, a train of wastefulness and corruption. The confidential report of the transport minister. Voluntary retirement for 3,000, cut backs in investments".

LOGOS: "Political passions flare in the midst of summer. Karamanlis, Papandreou clash over Siemens".

NIKI: "Chinese torture for [Piraeus] port. Transfer to COSCO hits a dead end" (claims legal action by port unions is seriously threatening the deal with China's COSCO for the port's container terminal.

PARON: "Radical reshuffle. Now seriously being discussed with Karamanlis". (Claims ruling party considering ground-breaking overtures to politicians outside its ranks).

PROTO THEMA: "They have no shame. As the government throws out the 'irritating' Zorbas that dared talks about slush fund kickbacks.

RIZOSPASTIS: "With determination in the counter-attack against the sordid anti-KKE attack. Popular unity and action".

TO VIMA: "Black September. Fears of an economic 'blackout'. Government anxious over high prices and global crisis".

VRADYNI: "Pensions: all the crucial changes. Exclusive: How you can receive greater income. Ten ways to secure your insurance rights".

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