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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-03-23Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM: Greece will not exit eurozoneANA-MPA/Prime Minister George Papandreou, speaking in Parliament on Monday during an off-the-agenda debate on the Stability and Growth Programme, noted that the emphasis has now turned to international markets and the country's future, while calling for cooperation of all Parliament parties.Papandreou described what he called the "dramatic moments" that the country experienced, following a significant downgrading of its international profile and credit-worthiness. He explained that with the international economic crisis, combined with the lack of credibility on the part of the country, allowed Greece to be singled out as the "black sheep, the guinea pig in the new phase of the international crisis." The prime minister further said that "unfortunately, some politicians and some mass media wanted, by toying with populism and the prejudices of their voters, Greece to become the scapegoat for the ills of all the rest". [02] Samaras: We will not allow Greece to go bankruptANA-MPA/Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras cautioned the government that "we shall not allow you to dissolve society in order to 'restructure' the economy.""Low wage-earners and low pensioners are not to blame for the extravagance of the state, or for the heavy debt of the public sector or for tax evasion," Samaras stressed. Nevertheless, the ND leader expressed his readiness to contribute to the prevention of the country's default, noting that he will not attempt to dismantle, a few days before the EU summit, the government's economic policy, but "neither will I let you place the blame elsewhere for responsibilities that are exclusively yours." Speaking in general on the repercussions of the government's measures, Samaras reiterated that what constitutes the "red line" for the economy is the purchasing power of the low wage-earners and pensioners. [03] Draft law on juvenile delinquencyANA-MPA/Justice, Transparency and Human Rights Minister Haris Kastanidis on Monday presented a draft law concerning the improvement of juvenile delinquency legislation, including the establishment of a legal entity assigned the task of preventing minors' victimisation and their involvement in criminal acts.[04] KKE attacks government policyCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga expressed her party's strenuous opposition not only to, as she said, the "barbaric measures" but to the government's entire policy, one she claimed "borders on the limits of political perversion."Papariga also sharply criticised the two major parties for implementing, as she said, a "disorientation campaign" as to who will better manage the anti-popular policies, and not the implementation of fair measures in support of low wage-earners, pensioners and farmers. The communist leader further said that ruling PASOK is observing, to the letter, its pre-election programme, namely, to serve big business interests and not the interests of working people, "who will be the only people who'll pay for the crisis once again." [05] Interference with Frontex patrolsBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA) - Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, speaking in Brussels at Monday's EU foreign ministers' council, pointed directly at what he called continued Turkish military provocations in the eastern Aegean, especially interference aimed at harassing patrols by the EU agency (Frontex) assigned the task of protecting against illegal immigration on the Union's frontiers.[06] BoG monetary policy reportANA-MPA/The Greek economy is expected to shrink by 2.0 pct this year, the Bank of Greece announced in a report on monetary policy released on Monday. The report was tabled in Parliament by George Provopoulos, the central bank's governor.The inflation rate is projected to rise to 3.0 pct in 2010 and the country's gross domestic product shrank by 2.0 pct last year. The central bank, in its report, expects credit expansion growth in the private sector to slow further, falling to very low levels by the end of the year. [07] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe increase in the Greek spreads, the economy and the Prime Minister George Papandreou's plea to opposition parties for consensus during Monday's debate in parliament on the Stability and Development plan, dominated the headlines on Tuesday in Athens' newspapers. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Conditions change for disability pensions, too". APOGEVMATINI: "Main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras in parliament: "I have given support in order for Greece to avoid the worse". AVGHI: "Plebeians in the front and patricians in the rear". AVRIANI: "Cyprus banks loaded with Greeks' money - The bankruptcy rumour sends capital out of Greece". ELEFTHEROS : "Ministers compete for the title of the most unsuccessful - Unbelievable turmoil in government ahead of the hour of the major crisis". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "ND leader gives clear message - 'We will not allow Greece to go bankrupt' - He rejects IMF and insists on a European solution". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "'Alliance of the willing' for help - EU Summit: Towards a decision for a support mechanism". ESTIA: "The new tax bill brings more bureaucracy". ETHNOS: "Last-minute patches - They are rewriting amendments of the new tax bill". IMERISSIA: "In the vise of the spreads and the EU". KATHIMERINI: "The jabbering hinders the borrowing". LOGOS: "Speculations of Greece exiting the eurozone are preposterous". NAFTEMPORIKI: "Prime Minister asks for support ahead of the new battle - Papandreou's plea to parliamentary parties". NIKI: "The Church of Greece 'excommunicates' the crisis and refuses to pay taxes". RIZOSPASTIS: "Public Health services insufficient". TA NEA: "Euro-axis against Merkel - Front for Greece's support in markets". TO VIMA: "German Chancellor Angela Merkel blackmails Greece and Europe". VRADYNI: "Samaras sternly criticised the government on the economy - You're giving ground for social outburst". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |