Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-09-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Country facing great challenges

[02] Every vote is decisive for country's future

[03] KKE rally in Thessaloniki

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM: Country facing great challenges

Karamanlis underlined that ND's economic policy is the only realistic one to enable the country to emerge from the crisis, adding that the main opposition PASOK party is keeping its cards closed and refers only to benefits and wellwishing.

The prime minister also made special reference to tourism, pointing out that for ND tourism was and shall be among its top priorities and assessing that things will be much better in the coming year.

Karamanlis mentioned the problem of illegal immigration as well, that the islands of the Aegean are faced with, saying that it was the ND government that had raised the issue with the European Union, calling for necessary measures to be taken since the issue did not concern Greece alone.

He also referred to projects completed in the Dodecannese in recent years, emphasising the Gadoura dam that had been budgeted at 100 million euros.

Earlier Karamanlis addressed a rally in the city of Mytilene, on the Aegean island of Lesvos stressing that the country is facing great challenges and that the coming period is crucial for national issues.

Elaborating on his statement, the prime minister referred to the "pending issue concerning the name of Skopje (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia -FYROM), Greek-Turkish relations and the issue of Cyprus."

Karamanlis also underlined the development of the economy, stressing that "our possibility of restricting the consequences of the international crisis is at stake."

The prime minister further noted that "difficulties cannot be handled with pleasant decisions. They are not tackled without a plan. They are not handled with wellwishing. And PASOK (the main opposition party) is not seeking real solutions to the problems of the country. The only thing they care about is power. What they are promising cannot be done. What is being heard from PASOK does not lead to solutions. It leads to deadlocks. Deadlocks for the economy. Deadlocks that will cost the country dearly."

Sending a message to Turkey, Karamanlis indicated support for the neighbouring country's European orientation, but stressed that "our position is steadfast and clear. It is condensed in one phrase alone: 'Complete compliance-complete accession'. We want a country on our eastern borders that adopts the acquis communautaire. This is in the interests of both its people and of the wider region in its entirety."

Focusing on the issue of relations with the neighbouring country, Karamanlis pointed out that "the status quo in the Aegean is not changing. And it will not change. Neither with infringements nor with violations, nor with any other provocations. We do not bargain over sovereign rights. We do not abandon our just causes. We do not back down and we do not grant anything."

Lastly, the prime minister referred to the economy, proposing three axes to overcome the economic crisis: The strict control of public expenditures. The tackling of tax evasion and the promotion of radical structural changes.

"I told the entire truth and I outlined the difficult policies, the difficult measures that are necessary. I knew and I am very well aware that the path that I have chosen is an uphill one. It is difficult. However, I did not have and I do not have any dilemma absolutely. This is my option. An option of responsibility," he concluded.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis

[02] Every vote is decisive for country's future

Papandreou stressed that on October 5, the day after the elections, he intends to call on all of the country's political and social forces to discuss what is self-evident and that has to be turned into practice.

Focusing on Sunday's general elections, Papandreou said that every vote is decisive for the country's present and future, adding that on October 5 Greece will need a government that will work hard.

Papandreou further said that on Sunday one must decide in which Greece he wishes to live. He underlined that all countries go through a crisis, but what is important is whether they will choose to hide behind the crisis and do nothing or turn the crisis into a decision to change the course towards the future.

He also noted that his party is proposing radical changes and an integrated plan and it has also submitted integrated proposals on which public dialogue has been based all this time.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou

[03] KKE rally in Thessaloniki

Papariga added that New Democracy and PASOK "not only harmed your pocket, not only did they inconvenience you with their policy regarding social security, education, health and foreign policy. They dealt blows at you relentlessly. Trying to impose the conviction everywhere that there is no other path."

The KKE leader further said that the only difference between ND and PASOK is the struggle for governance, also claiming that ND has currently lost the favour of businessmen that PASOK now has.

Papariga lastly outlined her party's positions for working people and stressed that a strong KKE is currently the people's realistic response.

Caption: Communist Party of Greece Secretary General Aleka Papariga speaks at a campaign rally in Thessaloniki,northern Greece on Monday 28 September 2009. ANA-MPA/Lefteris Damianidis

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The final stretch to Sunday's general elections and the state of the Greek economy were the main front-page items in Athens' dailies on Tuesday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Greece the most corrupt country in Europe under the (preceding) PASOK government, Transparency International revealed in 2002".

APOGEVMATINI: "We can win - Prime minister Karamanlis' reply to all those who hastened to anticipate a New Democracy (ruling ND) defeat in the elections".

AVGHI: "SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left parliamentary alliance) for a strong Left opposition - Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN, which heads the SYRIZA alliance) party leader Alexis Tsipras campaign rally tonight (Tuesday night) in Dimarchiou Square (formerly Kotzias Square in central Athens)".

AVRIANI: "Mammoth fine of 32.5 million euros imposed on four insurance companies by the Competition Commission".

CHORA: "The raid by the hackers - In just one day, successive 'explosions' (in the political and social life of the country) reported on the internet", adding that hackers spread panic on the internet by uploading fake statements by politicians as well as personal data of politicians, causing confusion, insecurity and bizarre situations just five days before the elections.

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Zagoritis (ND party secretary) calls on the voters to 'clear' the ND ballots from the 'barons'."

ESTIA: "What a return of PASOK to power will mean: Big state, taxes and debt".

ETHNOS: "Games with black propaganda - ND launches mud-slinging and disinformation operation".

KATHIMERINI: "4 billion euros 'secret' loan - Papathanassiou (economy and finance minister): The state deficit could possibly reach 8 percentage points of GDP".

LOGOS: "Hackers set fire to the political climate - Heavy clash between ND and PASOK over a 'statement' on terrorism", referring to a statement on the recent terrorist arrests appearing on the website of PASOK shadow economy minister and MP candidate Louka Katseli, which PASOK attributed to hackers.

NIKI: "The people returning to power - Invitation of unity by George (main opposition PASOK leader Papandreou) to the Greek people".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Strong KKE (Communist Party of Greece) and strong people go together".

TA NEA: "Vote them (those who disgruntled the party supporters) out, says the ND secretary - Unprecedented exhortation by Zagoritis to the voters".

TO VIMA: "They (government) secretly borrowed 20 billion euros, PASOK charges".

VRADYNI: "Karamanlis, five days before the elections: Not a single vote must be lost".

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