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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-06-09Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM insists on need for national consensusPrime Minister George Papandreou, addressing a cabinet meeting on Thursday, said that the government's handling of the Medium-Term fiscal strategy programme and the Memorandum "are not combined with a referendum".Papandreou added that self-evident dilemmas are never provided for a referendum, but reminded that he has committed himself on the tabling of a law governing referendums so that it will be ready whenever needed. He told ministers that it is his steadfast position for the citizen to be given a say "whenever necessary" and in any case he implemented it in 2004 with the election of PASOK president by the grassroots. He also told ministers that for this reason he has requested from Interior Minister Yiannis Ragoussis to proceed with the preparation of the law, a draft plan of which will be given to the ministers for discussion. Papandreou further said that the coming days and weeks are crucial, adding "we shall do our duty," while stressing that sending a strong message of unity is of a determining character. "For this reason," the prime minister went on to say, "I insist on the need for national consensus", adding that he will insist on the ratification of the Memorandum by a broader parliamentary majority. From the tabling of the plan until its ratification there shall be a dialogue and coooperation invitation to the forces that have the will, in the framework of the parliamentary dialogue process, he added. Papandreou said that provided there is agreement with main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras on the targets, then on his part there is no taboo on finding ways of achieving the targets. The prime minister said the citizens are expressing justified indignation with all that they have experienced for 35 years and stressed that they want to see something better. Papandreou further pointed out that there must be a discussion with the citizens and an explanation of the government's effort "far from populism and the disinformation of the media." © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [02] Closely watched mid-term programme tabledANA-MPA / The Greek government's eagerly expected mid-term fiscal strategy programme was tabled in Parliament on Thursday afternoon and unveiled on the legislature's website. Debate will reportedly begin on Tuesday, according to reports late Wednesday evening and before a ruling PASOK party political council meeting lasted until the early morning hours.A vote is tentatively scheduled on June 28, according to reports ascribed to Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou. ana-mpa Ratification of the programme -- which will reportedly include new austerity measures, creation of a state property fund and privatisations -- is imperative for the continued funding of the country via the 110-billion-euro EC-ECB-IMF bailout package. © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [03] State-run Hellenic Defence Systems posts 142.3mln euros net losses in 2010(ANA-MPA) -- The state Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS) S.A. posted net losses of 142.3 million euros in 2010, compared with a net loss of 168.4 million euros, it was announced on Thursday.Pre-tax losses stood at 138.7 million euros in 2010, compared with corresponding losses of ... million euros in 2009. ANA-MPA © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [04] Thessaloniki mayor invites Theodorakis to address city council meeting(ANA-MPA) -- Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris invited noted music composer Mikis Theodorakis, a fervent supporter of the "indignados movement" in Greece, to address a city council meeting on Thursday and through it the people of the northern port city.Speaking at a council meeting earlier in the day, Boutaris said he had contacted Theodorakis' associates who had told him that the octogenarian composer, a leading Greek artist over the past 50 years, was unavailable and that he would be represented by an associate. A symbolic protest was staged by Theodorakis in Thessaloniki's Aristotelous Square on Wednesday in response to Boutaris' refusal to allow him to use the specific square for an anti-austerity address, scheduled for Thursday evening. Theodorakis, who spoke at a rally in Athens on May 31, has expressed outrage and defiance at the first-term mayor's decision, stating that he will deliver his speech in Aristotelous Square no matter what. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [05] Parthenon pediment removed for restoration(ANA-MPA) -- The eponymous Lion's Head pediment from the Parthenon's northeast side is removed on Thursday morning from atop the celebrated Classical Era ancient temple for restoration. The Parthenon, dedicated during antiquity to the goddess Athena, is the most important structure atop the Acropolis in central Athens.A specialised crew conducted the operation to remove and lower the marble ornament. The entire operation was supervised by the culture ministry's leadership, including Minister Pavlos Geroulanos and top archaeologists. ANA-MPA / ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [06] Qatar PM on Greek investment(ANA-MPA) -- Statements by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad al-Thani underline that the Gulf State is still considering major investments in Greece, government officials said in Athens on Thursday.The same officials linked the statements made by Qatar's prime minister with a presentation by Spanish architect Josep Acebillo in Athens on Wednesday of a plan for developing the site of the former Athens airport at the coastal Helliniko site, in which Qatar had expressed an interest. The government intends to base its final plan for exploiting the property on the proposals made by Acebillo and other proposals for the former airport, after which there will be an international tender where potential investors can submit non-biding offers. According to the officials, the government plan will set out a fixed framework concerning ways in which the expanse of the former airport can be exploited or developed but this will also allow potential investors a certain amount of freedom. (ANA-MPA) In statements during a joint press conference with Luxembourg Prime Minister and Eurogroup chair Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday, as reported by the Dow-Jones Newswires, Al-Thani said Qatar remains committed to the investment plan announced for Greece last year, which could total as much as 5 billion dollars. "We will fulfill the agreement we did between us and Greece," he said, adding that a joint committee with officials from both countries is studying legal details on investments. (ANA-MPA) The agreement signed by Greece and Qatar in the autumn of 2010 provides for investments of up to five billion dollars in real estate, tourism, transport and other sectors. Caption: An ANA-MPA file photo dated May 23, 2011 shows an aerial view of the part of the Helliniko site. ANA-MPA / P. SAITAS © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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