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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-02-13Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Karamanlis confers with Culture MinisterPrime minister Costas Karamanlis met Friday with culture minister Antonis Samaras, in their first meeting since the latter's assumption of the ministry helm after the January 7, government reshuffle.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Samaras said he had a "substantive and fruitful" discussion with the prime miniser. Greek culture was a source of wealth for the country, Samaras said, adding that, in the present difficult and critical hours for the economy, it was necessary to further highlight this aspect. Samaras also announced that the New Acropolis Museum would be inaugurated on June 20. To a question on whether funds existed for culture, Samaras said that the ministry was naturally making the necessary cutbacks wherever it could, but the basic needs would all be fully met. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis [02] Papandreou chairs PASOK council meetingMain opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou said that the issue at hand was not who would manage the present crisis, but who would pay the cost of the crisis and who would gain from it, addressing a meeting on Friday of his party's political council, adding that PASOK did not want the financially weaker strata and the middle class to be the ones to pay.He also said that the foundations should be laid, in the midst of the crisis, for the Greek society to exist the crisis stronger, and expressed concern over the risk of extreme forms of marginalization, poverty and violence would arise. Papandreou questioned the reasons why the prime minister had instigated Thursday's off-the-agenda discussion in parliament on the economy, adding that premier Costas Karamanlis was constantly seeking "co-culprits" for the failure of his government's policy, but also consensus in order to remain in power, instead of for the country. The opposition leader charged that the premier had failed again, in Thursday's discussion, to present a plan for the economy, adding that, conversely, PASOK has submitted guideline proposals, which would be made more specific, for fortification of the financially weaker, rebuilding of the social state, a new developmental model which aimed at green growth, and for the existence and function of a just state. During a special event next Sunday, PASOK is scheduled to unveil its plan for the country, while similar events will be held to present the party's positions on green development and the restructuring of the social state. Also, within the next few days, PASOK will announce the establishment of an electoral campaign committee for the June 7 European Parliament elections. Friday's meeting was the last to be held at the party's historic building at 50 Harilaou Trikoupi street in central Athens since 1977, as the PASOK headquarters are relocating to a new premise on nearby Ippokratous street. The move, Papandreou told the political council earlier, also marked the party's renewal, but would always be a point of reference of PASOK's principles and values which the party 'honors today as the opposition, and tomorrow as the government", noting that the Harilaou Trikoupi building was filled with memories of the struggles and great changes in the country. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou [03] Man arrested on illicit trade in antiquities chargesA 47-year-old man was arrested in Polygyros, Halkidiki Prefecture in northern Greece, accused of illicit trade in antiquities. Police, after searching his house, workplace and car, seized 1,520 coins dating back to the 4th century BC as well as Roman coins and 682 objects, among them fragments and parts of statuettes, vases, arrowheads and bronze belt buckles. They also found a handgun, a metal detector and various tools used in excavations. According to archaeologists, the confiscated objects are of major archaeological and commercial value.[04] President receives Chile parliament speakerPresident of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on Friday received the president of Chile's House of Representatives, Francisco Encina Moriamez, who is visiting Greece at the invitation of the Hellenic Parliament.Greeting Moriamez on arrival at the Presidential Mansion, Papoulias referred to the struggles of the peoples of Greece and Chile against the colonels' junta and Pinochet dictatorship in the two countries, respectively. "Both our peoples fought dictatorships. You paid a heavier toll for the return of democracy, with thousands of dead and missing persons. We, with fewer sacrifices, but nevertheless it was a struggle that lasted many years and made us wiser," Papoulias noted. Moriamez referred to the ties of friendship between the peoples of Greece and Chile. "We have many schools and squares in Chile with the name 'Greece', and this is in tribute to all that your country has given global culture, and even more so because we very much love the Greeks who came to Chile," he said, and expressed appreciation for the Greek people's solidarity during the difficult moment's in Chile's history. Moriamez was accompanied by parliament president Dimitris Sioufas and Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary group leader Alekos Alavanos, who is also, chairman of the parliament's Greece-Chile Friendship Group. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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