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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-06-25Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Tuesday, 25 June 2013 Issue No: 4389CONTENTS
[01] New government announcedGovernment spokesman Simos Kedikoglou on Mon-day evening announced the composition of the new government, following the end of a meeting between Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, whose party is now the sole junior partner in the coalition government.The new government, which includes a number of newcomers, has as follows: Prime Minister: Antonis Samaras Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister: Evangelos Venizelos Deputy: Dimitris Kourkoulas Deputy: Akis Gerontopoulos Finance Minister: Yannis Stournaras Alternate: Christos Staikouras Deputy: Giorgos Mavraganis Administrative Reform and E-Governance Minister: Kyriakos Mitsotakis Deputy: Evi Christophilopoulou Interior Minister: Yiannis Michelakis Alternate: Leonidas Grigorakos National Defence Minister: Dimitris Avramopoulos Alternate: Fofi Genimata Deputy: Athanasios Davakis Development and Competitiveness Minister: Costis Hatzidakis Deputy: Athanasios Skordas Deputy: Notis Mitarakis Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister: Michalis Chrysochoidis Deputy: Michalis Papadopoulos Environment, Energy & Climate Change Minister: Yiannis Maniatis Alternate: Stavros Kalafatis Deputy: Asimakis Papageorgiou Education and Religious Affairs Minister: Constantinos Arvanitopoulos Deputy: Kostas Gioulekas Deputy: Symeon Kedikoglou Culture and Sports Minister: Panos Panayiotopoulos Deputy Minister for Sports: Yiannis Adrianou Labour, Social Security and Welfare Minister: Yiannis Vroutsis Deputy: Vasilis Kegeroglou Health Minister: Adonis Georgiadis Deputy: Antonis Bezas Deputy: Zeta Makri Rural Development and Food Minister: Athanasios Tsaftaris Deputy: Maximos Charakopoulos Justice, Transparency and Human Rights Minister: Charalambos Athanasiou Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister: Nikos Dendias Tourism Minister: Olga Kefalogianni Merchant Marine Minister: Miltiadis Varvitsiotis Macedonia-Thrace Minister: Theodoros Karaoglou State Minister: Dimitris Stamatis Deputy Minister for Public Radio and Television: Pantelis Kapsis Government spokesman and Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister: Simos Kedikoglou [02] SYRIZA: New cabinet custom-made to memorandum measures"The new cabinet is custom-made to fit the measures enforced by the memorandum (rescue loan contract), as well as to the corresponding government plans for escalating the policy of looting incomes and selling off of public assets," the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) said in a statement on Monday evening following the announcement of the new cabinet.It added that "the recycling in persons, not only cannot conceal the disastrous failure of the memorandum nor save the government from collapsing, but it also marks the beginning of its end." [03] ANEL leader says new government to last unit OctoberIndependent Greeks (ANEL) party president Panos Kammenos told the ANA-MPA on Monday that the new government "will last until October."Kammenos spoke of what he called the "absurdity of the memorandums (loan agreements) and of (Prime Minister Antonis) Samaras' success story." "This government has only one goal: the statutory limitation of offences and the writing off of the debts of the political parties, which forced the country to sign the memorandum and still keep it under it," Kammenos added. [04] PM Samaras says government continuing with new determinationPrime Minister Antonis Samaras said in an interview with the newspaper Vima tis Kyriakis, following the pullout of the Democratic Left (DIM.AR) party from the government, that we are continuing with new determination."The government indeed suffered in the past days but it remained standing and is continuing with new determination. And I wish to hope with much greater consensus. We must learn to come to an understanding. We are also aware of the risk," he said. Referring to DIM.AR leader Fotis Kouvelis, the prime minister said :"I do not know why he changed stance. I do not wish to formulate suppositions publicly. I know however that an agreement had been reached on Wednesday night. Of course the stance of Mr. Kouvelis on Thursday night annoyed me. But I shall not change my view of his person". Samaras, referring to PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos, stressed that "both I, as well as Mr. Venizelos in any case, wanted DIM.AR in as well" and that "Mr. Venizelos is a partner of full responsibility. Not according to the occasion. And I admit this for him 100%". Asked whether Venizelos will have a role in light of the reshuffle, he said "of course, an important role. In any case PASOK participated in the government until today more 'discreetly' by its own choice. I cannot say more, because it is better for us to wait for the discussion to be completed". Samaras sharply criticised main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras, saying "what does Mr. Tsipras want exactly? Does he want elections? I do not think so...Does he possibly want the lack of governance and stagnation? What does he wish for indeed. And his problem is there. That he wishes the country to fail. But we shall not do him the favour". On the question of the broadcaster ERT, the prime minister said "black" was not the government's option but "happened because the employees of ERT took over the building and continued to broadcast piratically". He added that when the new Radio and Television Organisation begins to function 1,500 redundant posts will be freed that will be covered elsewhere on merit, meaning in hospitals, Citizens Service Centres, etc. [05] PASOK party leader says national interest comes before every party objectivePASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos, speaking in an interview with the newspaper "Ethnos tis Kyriakis", said that the main lesson from the crisis is that "there is no ground in our country anymore for small, party or personal options".Venizelos stressed that PASOK was called on once again to safeguard the stable and smooth course of the government and the country and did so. "National interest comes before every party objective. The Democratic Party in both the past and now exists for the sake of the people and the nation," Venizelos said, adding that a new phase was beginning now during which "guarantees of seriousness, unity, effectiveness and success are necessary. Policy, organising and personal guarantees". [06] PASOK leader explains why he remained in gov'tPASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos explained the reasons that made him decide to remain in the government after Democratic Left's (DIMAR) exit from the coalition government, in an article published in Sunday newspaper VIMA entitled "The democratic party is here"."PASOK is aware of the difficulties and the danger of a cooperation with the conservative party that has its own principles and practices. However, we are not doing something strange in comparison with the European standards. We are doing something which is nationally necessary. The national interest may and can operate as a strong, just and honest base of cooperation" said Venizelos noting that after the recent political developments, the co-governance is being re-founded "The national strategy must take the form of a complete, in detail, national restructure plan that will be able to persuade and to motivate all the creative forces of the country. Venizelos underlined that the democratic party (PASOK) is again the guarantor of stability. "A 'plan B' never existed" he said adding that "the European field is difficult, shortsighted, conservative and persistent, but it is the best and the only one that exists for our country" said PASOK leader in his article. [07] SYRIZA speaks of resounding failure of memorandum's success storyThe main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA), in an announcement on Monday referring to the latest political developments, said that "the new PASOK-New Democracy government, with the a la carte support of DIM.AR (the Democratic Left party), is coming to confirm the resounding failure of the memorandum's success story and the plans for the taking of new memorandum measures".It added that from talk of investments and growth, the memorandum forces passed to the effort to dissolve public television and then to spread to all the public organisations. The announcement further says that from assurances for recovery, they will go ahead with new taxes and salary and pension reductions for the fiscal vacuum to be covered and the failure of the previous measures to be remedied. In light of the government reshuffle, SYRIZA underlined that "there is no illusion that the new cabinet and the government's new policy agreement will move in an even more authoritarian logic of implementing the memorandum programme and shrinking democracy, closing its eyes before the dramatic repercusisons they have for the economy and society". [08] KKE on government's reshuffleThe government's reshuffle will only serve the effectiveness of the implementation of the antisocial measures agreed between the government, EU and IMF, said Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in an announcement on Sunday."The people that are suffering have no reason to give to the new government an extra time. Now it's the right time for the people to intensify their struggle against the even worse measures that are coming and to strengthen the Popular Alliance and to rally with KKE on the course of rift and reversal of the corrupted system" concluded KKE announcement. [09] KKE party on political developmentsThe Communist Party of Greece (KKE), in an announcement on Monday, referring to political developments, stressed that "the New Democracy-PASOK coalition government will take new harsh antipopular measures and implement past ones, with the tolerance of DIM.AR (the Democratic Left party). For this reason its parties are renewing their policy agreement, they are proceeding with a reshuffle with the main aim of managing the crisis for the benefit of capital".It added that "they are continuing with new determination, as the prime minister says in an interview, for the reactionary reforms to go ahead and to bring capitalist recovery closer" and that there should be no waiting and no period of grace for the government. [10] Kourkoulas at EU General Affairs meetingBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M.Spinthourakis)Relations between the European Union and the Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaidjan and Belarus were at the focus of an EU General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday. The meeting was held in view of an EU Summit to take place in Vilnius next November. The meeting, at which Greece was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas, also examined developments in EU relations with countries of the Southern Neighbourhood including Syria, as well as ways in which the Union could contribute to the Middle East process. On the sidelines of the meeting, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen took part in a working lunch which discussed the new phase of the international presence in Afghanistan. In this framework the Greek deputy minister underlined the importance of effective controls in Afghanistan's external borders to stop the flow of refugees and illegal immigrants to the EU. Regarding Western Balkan countries, Kourkoulas expressed support, in the relative discussions, to the immediate start of EU accession talks with Serbia. [11] DM Panayiotopoulos holds talks in Paris with Libyan counterpart, German Vice ChancellorDefence Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos held talks in Paris, on the sidelines of the International Defence Equipment Exhibition in Le Bourges, with his Libyan counterpart Mohamet Al-Bargati and German Vice Chancellor and Finance and Development Minister Filippe Roessler.Issues Panayiotopoulos discussed with the Libyan Defence minister concerned the training of Libyan Armed Forces cadres, their joint training with the Greek Armed Forces and cooperation in the defence industry sector for the building of warships for the Libyan Navy. In this framework, joint committees between the two countries will be created for further strengthening existing bilateral military relations, while Panayiotopoulos extended an invitation to Al-Bargati to visit Greece. Talks with the German Vice Chancellor focused on issues concerning prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the defence-shipbuilding sector to boost growth and employment in Greece. [12] ERT broadcaster employees refusing to evacuate buildingERT broadcaster employees stressed in an announcement that "we shall not stop the struggle unless all of ERT opens as if it did not close for even a day, without any layoff, without the circumvention of labour rights" and are refusing to evacuate the broadcaster building in the northern Athens suburb of Aghia Paraskevi.The announcement added: "We reply to the Finance Ministry: Come and get us. The orders for the evacuation of the broadcaster building by those who are acting illegally are violating every meaning of constitutional law, who are afraid of democracy, who are afraid of legality, it is force for us to give up. It is force to bring us to our knees. It is force to intimidate us. We are replying, faithful to the mandates of our conscience and with a great feeling of duty, we are continuing our struggle unwaveringly, we are defending democracy", while stressing that the Legal Service will exhaust all the legal means. [13] Optimism reigns in SYRIZA ranksOptimism reigns in the ranks of the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party, regarding both the managing of political developments in the past days and people's increased participation in pre-congress procedures in light of its inaugural congress scheduled to take place in Athens on July 10-14.According to an analysis carried out by SYRIZA, a new transitional period has been created on the country's political scene since the creation of a new government with the participation of New Democracy and PASOK signals politically "the beginning of the end" of the scene shaped with the June 2012 elections. Referring to the Democratic Left (DIM.AR), SYRIZA believes that it could not stand the pressure and the historical responsibilities it shouldered and disengaged itself from the government formation probably too late. [14] ND party leading SYRIZA by 1.1 pct, poll showsAn opinion poll carried out by the Rass company for the newspaper "Typos tis Kyriakis" shows the New Democracy party leading the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) by 1.1 percent.According to the poll, ND garners 24.8 percent, SYRIZA 23.7, Golden Dawn 8.1, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 4.7, Independent Greeks 4.1, PASOK 4 and Democratic Left (DIM.AR) 3. ND is ahead of SYRIZA by 54.4 percent to 38.6 on the question of which party is expected to win the next elections, while Prime Minister and ND leader Antonis Samaras leads SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras by 46.8 percent to 33.4 on the question of who is most suitable to be prime minister. Lastly, 61.8 want the government to last out its tenure and 54.4 agree with layoffs in the public sector. As regards the broadcaster ERT, 72.7 percent want it to open after staff reduction takes place and its operation is rationalised. [15] PASOK leader on anniversary of death of party founder Andreas PapandreouPASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos, speaking on Monday's anniversary of the death of late prime minister and PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou, said among other things that "Andreas Papandreou as a great leader belongs to history being shaped in the nation's collective conscience, apart from whatever party limits".He added that "Andreas Papandreou did not wish to create his own memory. He wished to be left to the judgement of the people after his death as well on what changed in our country in the years of Andreas. What changed in the social state, the democratic institutions, foreign policy and the country's international position". Financial News [16] Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft lands in CreteThe new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft landed at Nikos Kazantzakis airport on the island of Crete on Sunday, with a Thomson flight of the Tui Group, coming from Britain. Airport officials organised a special event on its arrival that was also attended by Crete regional governor Stavros Arnaoutakis.General News [17] Police combing mountainous areas in search of Trikala jailbreakersPolice are combing mountainous areas in the prefectures of Nafpaktia, Fokida and Viotia to detect the Trikala jailbreakers who are accused, among other things, of the slaying of a policeman in Distomo.According to reports, evidence in the hands of the police, such as the G-3 weapon that they took from the police in Distomo, as well as a stolen car that were found in Fokida and Viotia respectively, lead them to the conclusion that the five are to be found in these regions. They believe that the jailbreakers evidently know these regions well and are able to move with greater ease, while the environment enables them to find places to hide, such as gorges, forests and caves. Police also do not rule out the possibility of the jailbreakers having split into two groups to facilitate their movements. [18] Police dismantle gang deceiving elderly womenPolice in the city of Corinth have solved four cases of fraud against elderly women in the wider region. Charges have been filed against a 36-year-old Greek for creating a criminal gang and fraud that includes at least two of his accomplices.The 36-year-old, together with at least two more persons, used to approach elderly women, posing as tax officials or accountants and using the pretext of debts supposedly owed by relatives of theirs persuaded them to hand over amounts of money and jewellery to them. Police discovered that from January to June this year, they had deceived four elderly women in Corinth and the city of Assos, in the prefecture of Corinth, extracting benefits that exceeded 10,000 euros in value. [19] Wildfires in Dilesi and Kryoneri under controlA wildfire broke out in a forested area in Dilesi, in the Viotia prefecture, at 16:00 on Monday, was put under control later in the vening. According to the Fire Brigade, the blaze did not threaten residential areas and firemen were assisted in their efforts by two firefighting aircraft and a firefighting helicopter.Another wildfire which broke out at about the same time in Kryoneri, in the Attica prefecture, was also put under control in the evening. [20] Police seize 635 kg of hashish near VonitsaPolice discovered 635 kilos of hashish in a forested area in the village of Agios Nikolaos, near Vonitsa, and have arrested an Albanian drug trafficker. Acting on information received, police found the hashish that had been concealed with nylon wrapping and arrested the trafficker when he appeared to collect it. Investigations are taking place for the arrest of his accomplices.[21] Hashish plantation found in ArtemidaPolice found a hashish tree plantation in an improvised greenhouse in Artemida in the Attica prefecture. A 44-year-old man of Greek nationality was arrested on Saturday morning as he was watering the trees. A total of 119 cannabis trees (73 trees having a height of between 0.7 and 2 metres and 46 smaller ones that had been planted in flower pots) were found and uprooted. A hunting rifle and 28 cartridges were also found in the arrested man's possession and confiscated.[22] Five killed in traffic accidentFour 16-year-old girls and the mother of one of them were killed in a traffic accident occurring in the Athens suburb of Aghios Stefanos at 3 in the morning on Saturday.The car that the 41-year-old mother of one of the girls was driving swerved off its course, through unspecified reasons, in Trapezountos street and crashed into a parked car and then hit a wall. The car then overturned, resulting in the driver, her daughter and her three 16-year-old friends being killed. [23] Illegal immigrant hangs himself in Grevena police stationAn Ivory Coast national was found hanged in the police station in the northern city of Grevena, on Monday afternoon.The 20-year old man was being detained in the Grevena prison accused of illegal entry to the country and had been transferred to the police station in order to be deported. He was found hung in restroom of the police using as rope pieces of cloth cut from his uniform. Police said an investigation will be carried out. [24] Fire on boat with illegal migrants; eight injuredEight illegal migrants were injured when the fishing boat they were on board caught fire late Saturday.The incident occurred 12 nautical miles southwest of Ierapetra, Crete island. According to information, the fishing boat had left from Egypt and transferred 23 illegal migrants (20 men and 3 women) from Somalia, Egypt and Syria, to Greece. The injured were transferred to Heraklio University Hospital with burns. Six of them are being hospitalised while the other two were released after receiving medical care. [25] Soldier arrested on Kos for child pornThe Electronic Crime Squad arrested a 31-year-old soldier on the island of Kos on Thursday morning, who is accused of child pornography through the internet and the possession of drugs.Investigations began when a 44-year-old foreign woman reported that an unidentified person was communicating with her 11-year-old daughter through the "Facebook" and with a mobile phone, making obscene proposals and using foul language. A search of his home in Kos on Friday morning revealed a small quantity of cannabis, cannabis seeds, two internal electronic computer hard discs, a USB, a mobile phone and other evidence. A nude photograph of an under age girl was also found stored in his electronic computer. [26] Two arrested for stealing bicycles and selling them abroadPolice in the northern Athens suburb of Marousi have arrested two Georgian nationals, aged 33 and 53, following reports of bicycles being stolen in the area lately.Investigations revealed that the accused used to steal bicycles outside Metro stations and large malls, that they then sent to Georgia with transport companies where they sold them. The investigations also revealed that 65 such missions were carried out and 11 bicycle thefts taking place in Marousi over the past six months were solved. Weather forecast [27] Fair on TuesdayFair weather and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the country on Tuesday. Winds 2-7 beaufort. Temperatures between 18C and 38C. Fair in Athens with northerly 3-5 beaufort winds and temperatures between 22C and 38C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures between 22C and 35C.[28] The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceAVGHI: Midsummer night's government- Prime Minister Antonis Samaras,PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos exhaust their last reserves. EPOCHI: Collapse in installments - Agreement to keep the people away from ballots. KYRIAKATIKI ELEFTHEROTYPIA: Happy life for the two-party government - New Democracy (ND),PASOK avoided elections. ETHNOS: The behind the scenes of the huge reversal. KATHIMERINI: The new persons and wagers - The government's shuffle puzzle. KYRIAKATIKI DIMOKRATIA: Dancing with wolves. KYRIAKATIKOS RIZOSPASTIS: Struggle to reverse the reason that generates wars. PROTO THEMA: Last roll of the dice - Battle to the very end. Realnews: What Democratic Left (DIMAR) leader Fotis Kouvelis was afraid of - The behind the scenes of the leaders' clash. TO PARON: Diarchy - ERT's bomb exploded in Samaras' hands and made Venizelos co-governor... TO VIMA: Antonis Samaras to newspaper: Venizelos a partner of total responsibility. 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ANTONIS SKYLLAKOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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