Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-08-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Crisis dampens August exodus

[02] Athens newspaper headlines

[01] Crisis dampens August exodus

Partly on account of the economic crisis and the much higher price of petrol but also because of the truck owners' strike and the uncertainty about whether holiday-makers would be able to find fuel at their destination far fewer private cars were on the road.

Seats on inter-city buses or trains were fully booked, however, as were those on all domestic flights.

Those opting to travel to the Aegean islands and Crete by boat were fewer than last year, with both the number of routes and the number of passengers reduced by 8-9 percent relative to last year.

Specifically, the shipping ministry reported that 30 ships carrying a total of 35,814 passengers and 6,684 vehicles left Piraeus on Saturday while on the equivalent Saturday the previous year there had been 33 ships carrying 38,564 passengers and 6,675 vehicles.

A further 31 ships are scheduled to leave Piraeus on Sunday, and another 19 from Rafina.

[02] Athens newspaper headlines

The new economic measures demanded by European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF inspectors and the government's handling of the truck owners' strike dominated the front-page items in Athens' dailies on Sunday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Government like a....runaway truck! The first nightmarish 96 hours that dried out Greece and the next that will undo it...".

APOGEVMATINI: "New levy for civil servants. They'll have to dig deeper into their pockets from 2011 in order to pay obligations for retirement lump sums!".

ARTHRO: "New Memorandum at the gates. The government close to signing new document with the 'troika' (European Commission-ECB-IMF)"

AVGHI: "Wintertime in August..." (article criticising "government coups" to completely subjugate labour reactions, along the lines of the truck owners' strike).

AVRIANI: "After the truck owners it will be the turn of the public utilities".

CHORA: "The many forms of political violence and the government's 'papal infallibility'. The imposition of decisions on all classes is done without...an anaesthetic".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Fuel fiasco lights a fire under the government"

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Pensions: who gets away before 65. Two circulars clarify the scene created by the new pension law".

EPOHI: "The army was passing all night...but truckers did not start their engines".

ETHNOS: "One billion-worth in tax evasion through leisure craft discovered by SDOE (financial crimes squad). 'Big catches' at marinas after finance ministry inspections".

KATHIMERINI: "Open wounds and closed professions. First tough clash between the government and truck owners, more expected".

LOGOS: "Growth plan an immediate necessity for the prime minister! Griping over [Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister Dimitris Reppas]-[Finance Minister George Papanconstantinou] within PASOK".

NIKI: "10+1 useful tips before you retire. 'Don't rush into it', warns the legal advisor of ADEDY M. Tsipra".

PARON: "Politician's abduction among the plans of the 'Sect of Revolutionaries'".

PROTO THEMA: "Mega yacht fraud by seven 'Croesuses'. They are renting their luxury craft to themselves"

REAL NEWS: "Poisonous suspicion. They are seeking the author of the proclamation among the MEDIA".

RIZOSPASTIS: "New counter-insurance measures with an unending attack on workers".

VETO: "Petsalnikos...the Great! New grievous provocation for the sorely-tested (by the unbearable IMF measures) Greek people". [Accuses Parliament president of "two-speed" implementation of the cuts and austerity measures decided by the government]

TO VIMA: "Hard rock. Long-drawn-out conflict between George [PM George Papandreou] and trade groups. IMF demanding lay-offs at public utilities/state enterprises".

VRADYNI: "Mammoth plan to combat unemployment. The 150,000 new jobs through OAED (Manpower Employment Organisation). Labour ministry actions to start in September".

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