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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 11-08-22Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Monday, 22 August 2011 Issue No: 3869CONTENTS
[01] PM: Citizens want changes, not electionsPrime Minister George Papandreou again dismissed speculation of snap elections, in an interview carried by an Athens weekly over the weekend, emphasising that "citizens want changes and not elections."In published statements carried in the weekly "Realnews", Papandreou clarified that he will honour the mandate given by a majority of voters, adding that there is no reason for early elections. He also more-or-less guaranteed a referendum in 2011, while calling on ministers to proceed with changes and reforms immediately since, as he said, society detests half measures and is "thirsty for really fair changes." "This is our target, real, fair changes everywhere," he said. Papandreou dismissed scenarios of Greece's exit from the Eurozone, stressing that "if we all do our job, not only will new measures not be necessary, but we shall be able to remedy whatever injustices were caused by the urgency of our decisions." ND Meanwhile, main opposition New Democracy party Parliamentary representative Constantine Markopoulos said his party is ready for elections whenever they are called. Quoted in an interview published by the Athens daily "Eleftheros Typos", he said whatever upcoming elections will, in essence, mean the exit of Prime Minister George Papandreou, and with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos' seal on the collapse of the economy. [02] FinMin: Full, immediate implementation of Eurozone decisions necessaryFinance Minister Evangelos Venizelos reiterated the need for an "immediate and full implementation of decisions taken at the Eurozone summit of July 21", in a letter addressed to Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker and counterparts of Eurozone member-states, amongst others.The letter was released on Sunday. "Decisions do not only affect or deal mainly with Greece; they affect the capability and readiness of the Eurozone to manage the current and extreme phase of the international economic crisis, an issue that greatly exceeds the (support) programmes for Greece, Ireland and Portugal; one and affects other countries with greater economic dimensions and the Eurozone as a whole," Venizelos states in his letter. Moreover, the Greek FinMin, who is also a government vice-president, emphasises that "Greece ... has demonstrated the best of good intentions and flexibility in order to achieve an immediate and complete implementation of the July 21 Eurozone summit decisions." He added: "Technical solutions are easy to find, under the condition that the programme's reliability and effectiveness is not affected. The issue, of course, is pre-eminently political, and as such, must be dealt with so that clear and positive messages are sent towards international markets and European societies," Venizelos concluded. The letter was also addressed to EU Commissioner Olli Rehn and ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet. [03] Finance ministry circular on extraordinary tax contributionsThe finance ministry is reportedly accelerating the mailing of returns for all extraordinary tax contributions anticipated in the medium-term programme.The returns will include the special "solidarity contribution", a profession duty for self-employed professionals, an extra burden for the owners of cars with more than a 1,929cc engine and an extra duty on taxpayers with certain pleasure craft and swimming pools. [04] Gov't: Tourism arrivals, revenue upCulture & Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos, who visited the eponymous archaeological site of Cape Sounion on Sunday morning for a briefing on restoration works, emphasised that both Sounion and the Acropolis are destinations that must be promoted even more.Referring to recent figures from the Bank of Greece's report on the tourism sector, he said they show an increase of 13 percent in arrivals and a considerable increase in revenues. The upgrading of the archaeological site of Sounion, which hosts the classical-era Temple of Poseidon, has been earmarked for upgrading via Community and national funding to the tune of 1.65 million euros. General News [05] Singer assumes presidency of local football clubPop singer Lefteris Pantazis is the new president of the Vyzas Megara soccer club. Following his administrative term with the Panionios Athens soccer club, Pantazis is returning to football, assuming the presidency of Vyzas.[06] Burglary ring arrest in eastern AtticaA 23-year-old Georgian national has been arrested in Lavrio and charged with a series of burglaries in homes in the regions of Lavrio, Keratea and Marathonas, eastern Attica prefecture.The arrested man, together with alleged accomplices who are being sought, reportedly established a criminal gang that entered homes in the specific regions. [07] Man arrested for patricide in LarissaPolice in Larissa, central Greece, have arrested the 41-year-old who killed his 73-year-old father on Sunday morning by hitting him over the head with a hammer, while also slightly injuring his 68-year-old mother in the legs.The perpetrator, who reportedly suffers from emotional severe problems and who had been treated in psychiatric wards in the past, was arrested by police near his home immediately after the incident. [08] Police ID suspects in thefts in Corinth prefectureThe Vrahati police precinct, in the southern prefecture of Corinth, has reportedly solved 11 cases of theft, perpetrated from mid-July to mid-August in residences in the wider region.Police the break-ins were the work of a trio of foreign nationals, and specifically a 32-year-old and 30-year-old Romanian as well as a 30-year-old Italian woman. [09] Wildfires reported in Peloponnese, greater Athens area, CreteA wildfire was reported in Neapoli, in Ilia prefecture, western Peloponnese, which burned grassland but was not threatening residential areas.Meanwhile, wildfires near the Lagonissi resort in extreme southeastern Athens and in Magoula, west of Athens, were placed under control, with firefighters continuing efforts to extinguish them completely. Lastly, wildfires in Skepasti, Evia and near Rethymno, Crete, were still raging, while in the latter case strong winds and the remoteness of the affected region hampered firefighters' efforts. [10] Police intercept stolen truck carrying illegal immigrantsA local migrant smuggler driving a stolen truck containing 31 illegal immigrants was intercepted by police, who had been notified previously of the vehicle's theft, on the Ioannina-Athens national motorway at 2 after midnight on Friday. The driver as well as the illegal immigrants were arrested.[11] Two arrested for breaking into 34 carsPolice arrested two Algerian nationals, aged 26 and 24, in the region of Hania, on the island of Crete, on Friday for damaging 34 cars. The perpetrators broke the cars' windows and seized whatever they could find inside. The two also had in their possession a gadget causing electroshocks.[12] Three arrested in Hersonissos accused of robberyThree Britons have been arrested in the region of Hersonissos, on the island of Crete, accused of robbery.The three, aged 50, 26 and 24 respectively entered a car rentals shop with the 50-year-old claiming that the car he had rented had broken down and for this reason he wanted his money back. The two others, urged by him, began to remove various items from the shop while he prevented the owner from reacting and calling for help. The presence of passers-by, however, who noticed that something was wrong made the three panic and leave the scene after stealing 140 euros. [13] Earth tremor south of PatraAn earth tremor measuring 4.9 points on the Richter scale occurred at dawn on Saturday, with its epicentre located south of the city of Patra in the Peloponnese, according to the Geodynamic Institute. No damage or casualties were reported.Weather forecast [14] Fair on MondayFair weather and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the country on Monday, with wind velocity reaching 3-8 beaufort. Temperatures will range between 18C and 37C. Fair in Athens, with northerly 5-8 beaufort winds and temperatures ranging from 24C to 35C. Slightly cloudy in Thessaloniki, with temperatures ranging from 22C to 33C.[15] The Sunday edition of Athens dailies at a glanceThe economy, speculation over new measures and political developments ahead of the coming end of the summer season mostly dominated the headlines on Sunday in Athens' newspapers.AVRIANI: "(PM George) Papandreou skipping (upcoming) Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF)". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Rudderless amid the storm". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Government sets up 'pyramid scheme' via NGO to hire 55,000 civil servants throughout Greece". ETHNOS: "Black September: New fronts opening in education, civil service and economy sectors". KATHIMERINI: "Recession and timidity bringing new (austerity) measures". PROTO THEMA (weekly): "They're not paying back loans, legally". REALNEWS (weekly): "Papandreou in interview: 'Citizens want changes, not snap elections'." RIZOSPASTIS: "Organisation and popular alliance against blackmail and pseudo-dilemmas". TO PARON (weekly): "They're cooking up snap elections". TO VIMA (weekly): " 'No more pressure', government's message to 'troika'." VRADYNI: "Shocking changes for those retiring in 2012". 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana-mpa.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ILIAS MATSIKAS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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