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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-03-20Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM: Greece will pay its own debtsANA-MPA/Prime Minister George Papandreou on Saturday again reiterated, this time during an address to his ruling PASOK party's national council in Athens , that the country will not default on its debt. "Today is a historic point, a point that appears only once every 30 or 40 years for countries," he said, adding that the first target is the rescue of the country, which is also a prerequisite for PASOK to be able to serve the Greek citizen. Turning to the internal political scene, he also sternly attacked main opposition New Democracy for its policy over the past few years, charging it that left the country on the verge of collapse. Referring to the government's recent and closely watched austerity measures, he termed them as extremely urgent. "We do not abandon the battle when things get tough and we will do whatever is necessary, however tough and painful it is, even at our own cost. The situation we are facing today is difficult; these are 'war conditions' and that's why our decisions are difficult ⦠If we did not impose these measures the consequences would be unimaginable. We took the right decisions and that's why we are exiting the crisis ⦠Greece has a strong and determined government that does what is necessary."[02] Samaras: Gov't 'flirt' with IMF dangerousANA-MPA/Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras on Saturday charged that the ruling PASOK government is "persistently and dangerously" flirting with the opting of seeking recourse to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) amid the ongoing debt crisis facing Greece .Samaras' comments came during an address to party cadres at a ND party pre-congress meeting held in Thessaloniki . Moreover, the opposition reminded, as he said, that PASOK "pledged everything to everyone" before last October's general elections. These election claims were subsequently succeeded by a "Titanic psychology" in the markets regarding Greece 's economy. [03] New exhibits in Hania Maritime MuseumThe Hania Maritime (or Naval) Museum on the island of Crete, which was inaugurated nearly 35 years ago, has enriched its exhibits with items just received from old lighthouses throughout Greece dating as far back as 1890.The Maritime Museum, located at the entrance of Hania's outer harbour on the site of the Firka Fortress, was built originally by the Venetians as a guard house, naval garrison and prison for those condemned to death, and later taken over by the Ottomans for much the same purposes. The museum is well worth a visit for people of all ages, as it provides a brief visual introduction to Crete's history from the Bronze Age to the World War II. It was on the harbour front, adjacent to the Museum, that the Greek Flag was raised on 1 December 1913 by then King Constantine and Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, to commemorate the "Enossis", the Union of Crete with Greece. [04] Barroso on Greek economyBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/V. Demiris) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso appealed on Friday to the European Union member-states to come to an agreement during Thursday's Summit on the creation of a financing apparatus that could be used to tackle the economic problems which Greece is facing. He said that it will be a system of coordinated bilateral loans that will be compatible with EU legislation and the legislations of member-states.The Commission president also mentioned that the creation of this apparatus does not mean that it will be activated automatically and that its management will be taking place by the eurozone. He did not desire to make guesses, as he said, as to possible participation by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and concluded by saying that "the present situation cannot continue" and that an agreement must be achieved next week. [05] Tourism Minister in RussiaMOSCOW (ANA-MPA/Th. Avgerinos) - Greece has decided to be present with all its force in Russia's tourist exhibitions and activerly promote its decision to facilitate as much as possible the issuing of multiple entry and long duration visas for Russian citizens, according to Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos, who visited Moscow's MITT-2010 tourist exhibition on Friday."More and more Russian tourists are deciding to combine their holidays with cultural events and visits to monuments and archaeological sites, a fact that serves our strategy and the combination of our ministry's two directions, that must not only be achieved at leadership level, but in the entire pyramid of actions," Geroulanos told Greek correspondents in Moscow, summing up his initial assessments on his contacts with tourist agencies. Earlier, Geroulanos met with his Russian counterpart, Aleksandr Avdeyev, who showed special interest in the European Europeana digitalisation programmes, in which Greece leads in experiences, planning the extension of relevant cooperation with Microsoft as well. Gereoulanos said that the Russian side also found interesting the carrying out of the merger between the culture and tourism ministries, as well as the possibility of developing cooperation between the two countries in the sector of sport and the hosting of Russian teams during the period of their preparation. The Culture and Tourism minister also visited the famous Puskin Visual Arts Museum and met with its director Irina Antonova who, among other things, remembered with emotion her cooperation and meetings with late actress Melina Merkouri and expressed the desire to host some exhibition or even some excellent examples of classical sculpture art. [06] New Cyprus embassy buildingThe President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, in the presence of President of Greek Republic Karolos Papoulias and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, on Saturday inaugurated the new building of the Cypriot embassy in Athens . Christofias referred to the most modern Cypriot diplomatic delegation in the world. The new building is ready to welcome and offer its services to all Cypriots living in Greece and to accommodate Greek citizens and citizen of third countries that are interested in Cyprus , he said, adding that a total of 70,000 of Cypriot citizens are currently living in Greece . The Cyprus president particularly thanked Papoulias and Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas.[07] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Saturday edition of Athens ' dailies at a glanceThe eagerly watched unveiling of a draft tax bill and developments in Europe ahead of next week's EU Summit mostly dominated the headlines on Saturday in Athens ' newspapers. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Final tax bill a shock". APOGEVMATINI: "Social contract - Main opposition leader Samaras proposes economic policy in combination with social security". AVRIANI: "Bankruptcy rumours paralyse country, devastate economy and panic people". AVGHI: "Taxes for the 'dupes' for tax evaders' sake". ELEFTHEROS: "Tax robbery against incomes and properties". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "They're abolishing 14th salary in private sector". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "All the changes in taxes for incomes, properties". ESTIA: "168 pages full of taxes! - New tax bill extremely complicated". ETHNOS: "New tax bill has many traps". IMERISSIA: "Taxes and standards of living burning - Tax evaders will be sent to jail". KATHIMERINI: "IMF and EU common plan for Greece - Restructuring mandatory". NAFTEMPORIKI: "New taxation status with proof of standard of living and receipts". NIKI: "Telephone contacts amongst Prime Minister George Papandreou, EU President Jose Manuel Barroso and the president of European Council Herman Van Rompuy". RIZOSPASTIS: "Massacre in pensions and healthcare provisions". TA NEA: "Tax Calvary ". VIMA: " Battle against tax evasion based on wealth". VRADYNI: "Unemployment skyrockets". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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