Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM meets Transport, Communications Min.

[02] Papandreou to meet with Spanish official

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM meets Transport, Communications Min.

Karamanlis on Friday dismissed rumors, mostly aired in the opposition press, of early elections, speaking to reporters after a meeting with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias.

The government has a "fresh and strong" popular mandate, Karamanlis said, adding that "we have much work ahead of us, and are moving forward with consistency in the materialisation of the reforms".

The purpose of his meeting with Papoulias was to brief the president on his recent visit to Turkey, Karamanlis explained, adding that Greece steadfastly supports Turkey's European course, although the neighbouring country is obliged to maneuver within the framework of (EU) principles and reforms it itself has accpted. He also stressed that the issues of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Halki School of Theology are included this framework.

On his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Karamanlis said that "we reaffirmed our volition for, and are working in the direction of, full normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations".

"For Greece, the sole criterion is respect of International Law and the international treaties," Karamanlis stressed.

With respect to the Cyprus issue, Karamanlis said "we are prepared for discussion on finding a just and viable solution", adding that "the government knows that the effort for normalising Greek-Turkish relations is a long and difficult one".

Karamanlis was also due to meet afterwards with Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis.

Caption: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis leaving the Presidential mansion on Friday 1 February 2008 ANA-MPA/ALEXANDROS BELTES

[02] Papandreou to meet with Spanish official

In the afternoon, Papandreou will chair a meeting of his party's Political Coordinating Body.

He is also scheduled to meet in the afternoon with a visiting delegation of the European Jewish Congress.

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The clashes between leftist and extreme-right groups on Saturday in downtown Athens, the judicial investigation into the Siemens case and developments in the Zachopoulos affair dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Greece a hell - After the Zachopoulos and Siemens scandals, now we have to face extremists".

APOGEVMATINI: "Extremists burn Athens and its cultural institutions - Athenians hostage to extremist groups that destroy whatever is in front of them".

AVRIANI: "The leaders of the major unions rule, while the government remains an idle bystander to the chaos prevailing in Public Utilities - Is that how you will proceed with the changes and reforms, Mr. Karamanlis?".

CHORA: "Frenzy over the super-week - Seven days of burning developments ahead".

ELEFTHEROS: "The official state is behind the clashes - Operation to divert the people's attention away from the Zachopoulos serial".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Citizens and shops unprotected - 45 million euros the daily cost of Athens' shops shutting down due to clashes and protests".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Saturday's clashes were a result of police incapability, or were they intentional?"

ESTIA: "Dramatic political mistakes - Karamanlis did not take advantage of his power".

ETHNOS: "Changes in the agenda via...violence- Athens in state of chaos for ten hours due to police's 'mistakes' ".

TA NEA : "People livid over the 12 hours of destruction".

VRADYNI: "New real estate objective values in developing areas that are not yet in the Town Plans - In which areas the increases will reach 60 per cent".

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