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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-11-10Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Gov't: No further cuts to wages, pensionsANA-MPA/Government spokesman George Petalotis on Tuesday said that any additional measures taken by the government to meet deficit targets will not involve wages, pensions and additional direct taxation. The spokesman was replying to questions about the statements made on Monday by Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker, who urged Athens to take additional measures to meet targets for 2011."There is no chance that wages and pensions will be cut further, nor additional tax burdens imposed beyond what is foreseen in the agreement we made with our partners," he underlined, echoing statements made by Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou in London. The government continues to believe that the Stability Programme it has set in motion and implementation of the decisions under this programme will be stringently followed, and that if they are stringently followed there will be no cause for concern, Petalotis said.ANA-MPA According to Petalotis, the government's economic team was now focusing its efforts on further cuts in public spending: "however much we may have tidied up the public sector, there is a need for further restraint," he said. The spokesman also pointed out that Juncker had appeared confident that Greece would be able to rectify the deficit and meet 2011 targets, saying that the Greek government's programme "continues to be reliable and will prove so in the future". More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [02] ND on Memorandum renegotiatingANA-MPA/The main opposition New Democracy (ND) party has criticised the government over statements by officials of the ruling PASOK party on the renegotiation of the memorandum's terms.The ND party spoke of "dramatic deadlocks" in government policy and calls on the citizens to send "an even more resounding message to Prime Minister George Papandreou this coming Sunday."ANa-MPa "When the government itself, even though delayed, ascertains the dramatic deadlocks of the policy of the Memorandum, why is it accusing ND, that called on the Greek people to send a message for the condemnation of this policy and on the need for us to change course immediately," said ND spokesman Panos Panayiotopoulos, who also called on citizens to send a message on policy change. "In any case, the correct message was sent by the Greek people and the government has a duty to understand it and change policy immediately," the spokesman added. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [03] Greek representation at Londonās WTM 2010Greece was represented at the World Travel Market 2010 conference in London this week by Deputy Culture & Tourism Minister Giorgos Nikitiadis, who spoke to local and international media covering the event.In a press conference, he focused on the new tourism strategy adopted by the country, one aimed at the tourist promotion of all parts of Greece and the long-sought and highly coveted extension of the annual tourism season year round. Nikitiadis also met with the tourism ministers of Bulgaria and Israel and with representatives of low-cost airlines. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [04] Greek authorities arrest man wanted under European warrantANa-MPA/A 46-year-old Albanian man wanted for murder under a European arrest warrant was arrested by Greek authorities in the Peloponnese on Tuesday. The man was caught by Kalamata police in the town of Leuktros in Messinia and will be turned over to Albanian authorities.The fugitive was convicted for murder in 1997 and received a final sentence of 23 years imprisonment that is still outstanding. A Kalamata Appeals Court Prosecutor has been placed in charge of the case and has issued a temporary arrest and detention order so that the fugitive can be extradited to Albania. The man had been illegally resident in Greece and displayed a passport in another name and a fake residence permit to police. He is also being investigated for other criminal acts. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [05] FinMin on banking systemANA-MPA/Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou termed an announcement by the National Bank that it now possesses approved financing lines amounting to 4.7 billion euros from international banks with Hellenic state bonds as a guarantee, "an extremely important step for the Greek banking system's reacquisition of access to international capital markets."Also according to the minister's statement, "the Greek banking system is getting stronger every day, so that it will be able to continue to provide the necessary liquidity for the development of the Greek economy." More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [06] NĀG 4.7-bln-euros credit lineANA-MPA/National Bank of Greece on Tuesday announced that it was offered repo lines worth 4.7 billion euros from eight international banks with state securities as guarantee, following the successful completion of a share capital increase plan, worth 1.8 billion euros.The repos have a duration of up to 12 months with very competitive terms, based on current market conditions.ANA-MPA The bank said, in a statement, that this development was a significant step in the Greek banking system's effort to gradually regain access to international capital markets, such benefiting the Greek economy in general. National Bank will continue its efforts to expanding its funding sources from international markets. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [07] FM meets German counterpartBERLIN (ANA-MPA/G. Pappas) - Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas met here on Tuesday with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle who provided political support for the Greek government's effort to handle the crisis.Speaking during a joint press conference that followed the two ministers' meeting and a working lunch, Westerwelle stressed that the "determination and the discipline with which the Greek government is promoting structural reforms" is appreciated. Westerwelle considered the reforms "necessary, as is also shown by the recently publicised fiscal data, but in any case we hail the fact that the reforms of the Greek government are bold and substantive and that evidently the Greek citizens also desire them."ANA-MPA At this point, the German minister also referred to the local government elections in Greece, assessing that "they confirmed that the Greek people are also convinced on the necessity of these reforms. We hail this fact, which constitutes our concern and interest as well and we are pleased that in the rest of Europe as well we see similar tough, but necessary decisions being taken," Westerwelle added. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [08] 79kg of cocaine seizedANA-MPA/One of the biggest quantities of cocaine to be found and confiscated by harbour officials over the past five years has been discovered in the port of Patra in the Peloponnese.A truck driving off the ship "Super Fast", that had come to Patra from Bari, was found to be carrying 32 kilos and 481 grams of cocaine, while one person has been arrested in the case.ANA-MPa The case is linked to the discovery of cocaine having a mixed weight of 47 kilos and 69.8 grams that was found on Tuesday morning by harbour officials of the Patra port in the cabin of a truck, while in this case three people have been arrested, two Greeks and a person of Albanian nationality. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [09] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe deficit and deliberations ahead of the second round of local government elections, the EU-ECB-IMF troika's pressure to put aside the collective labor agreements and the markets' overture to Greek banks, mostly dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "More austerity measures to come". AVGHI: "Third round of measures with lay-offs and cutbacks". AVRIANI: "4.5 billion euros black hole in deficit brings new snap elections scenarios". ELEFTHEROS: "Ministers and PASOK cadres pull the carpet from under Papandreou's feet". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Troika threatens salaries in private sector". ESTIA: "Tragic decisions for the economy". ETHNOS: "Prime Minister George Papandreou's rage over his ministers' and cadres' wrong handlings". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "The defeat in elections brings in-party clashes, and the day after the elections additional measures". IMERISSIA: "Deficit off target". KATHIMERINI: "The measures divide the government". LOGOS: "In the vise of the troika and rating firms". NAFTEMPORIKI: "National Bank of Greece and Eurobank offer 8.7 billion euros liquidity to market". TA NEA: "Government 'sees' unholy alliances between ND and Communist Party in the second round of local government elections". RIZOSPASTIS: "Government is lying that it will not harm salary and pension earners". TO VIMA: "Nagging in ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy over the local government elections result". VRADYNI: "Troika wants more blood". More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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