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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-05-29Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Samaras expresses optimism in address to EU envoysAMNA / New Democracy president Antonis Samaras on Tuesday appeared confident of the future, despite whatever severe difficulties plaguing the country at present, speaking at a reception for the ambassadors of EU member-states accredited to Athens."As the responsible political party (New Democracy) we are in contact with a Europe that is changing. I briefed EU envoys over the course of the Greek economy, results of the EPP summit and the safeguarding of our membership in the eurozone. I must say that I am optimistic despite the difficulties," he said afterwards.amna [02] Defending country a priority, SYRIZA leader says after visiting DMAMNA / Defending the country's territorial integrity and national independence is an non-negotiable priority for the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), the party's leader Alexis Tsipras stressed on Tuesday. In statements after visiting the defence ministry and meeting the leadership of the Greek armed forces, he underlined that the economic crisis did not mean the country could be negligent on other issues or ignore other dangers that required constant alertness.Leading a SYRIZA delegation, Tsipras had a three-hour meeting with the political and military leadership of the national defence ministry and was briefed on the combat capability of the armed forces, as well as the problems, difficulties and capacity that exists. In comments concerning military spending on arms procurements, SYRIZA's leader pointed out that in spite of exorbitant sums spent there had been a failure to create the necessary infrastructure in terms of the maintenance and spare parts needed by defence systems. He blamed this weakness on a "military-brokerage web, a web of graft between political and economic power" that he stressed could not continue. "The situation must be reversed without, however, undermining national defence," he emphasised. Tsipras said that a drastic reduction in defence spending would be correct but at the same time stressed that the defence industry had to come under Greek national control, be restructured and used to enhance the combat capacity of the Greek armed forces.amna [03] Demarche to Syrian envoy for massacre in HoulaAMNA/The Political Affairs General Director, Amb. P. Zografos, on Tuesday summoned the ambassador of Syria to Greece to express "the abhorrence and strict condemnation" of the Greek for the recent massacre of civilians, including dozens of children, in the village of Houla.The Foreign Ministry's official stressed that Greece "condemns unequivocally the executions and calls on the Syrian regime to stop the use of force immediately." He added that Syria must comply with the relevant resolutions and the unanimous statement by the Security Council of last Sunday. He further said that the Syrian regime "is continuing not to have fulfilled basic commitments emanating from the Plan of six points of the Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League, Kofi Annan," underlining that it must proceed with the immediate and undeviating implementation of the Plan. [04] PPC reports 1.4-mln-euro loss in Q1The Public Power Corp. (PPC) on Tuesday reported net losses totaling 1.4 million euros in the first quarter of 2012, despite a 17.4 pct increase in revenue from electricity power sales -for the first time in three years- as household consumers turned to air conditioning systems during the winter months avoiding the high cost of heating oil. However, increased revenue was counterbalanced by higher cost of fuel and natural gas during the same period.Payroll spending fell by 17.4 pct in the January-March period. Turnover totaled 1.54 billion euros, up from 1.37 billion euros last year, while PPC's debt rose slightly to 4.85 billion euros, from 4.7 billion euros in 2011. Public Power Corp. said its bad debt provisions jumped 118 pct to 54.1 million euros.amna Arthuros Zervos, chairman and chief executive of PPC, commenting on the results said he expected this year's results to move according to budget provisions on the precondition that a macroeconomic environment will not deteriorate further. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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