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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-06-27Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Weekend News BulletinMonday June 27, 2016 CONTENTS
[01] FM Kotzias to attend emergency EU ministers meeting in Warsaw on MondayForeign Minister Nikos Kotzias will attend a working lunch of the EU's foreign ministers in Warsaw on Monday, which will discuss the future of the Union after the result of the British referendum.The meeting is an initiative of his Polish counterpart, Witold Waszczykowski. Brexit will further hamper efforts to relocate refugees to EU, says migration minister Britain's exit from the European Union will curve an already minimal appetite among member-states to push ahead with the relocation of refugees from Greece to other countries, Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas said in an interview with Avghi newspaper, published on Sunday. "Before the Brexit, I'd say the EU's will - and especially that of some countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands - was, at least on a bilateral level, to relocate at least 15,000 to 20,000 refugees. But after the Brexit, I cannot say how things will develop," Mouzalas was quoted as telling the paper. He also said the ministry is initiating a short-term plan that includes closing down a significant number of informal camps by September. "The government's plan is for these camps to be transformed and for refugees and migrants to be distributed equally throughout Greece, near large cities, in camps and apartments with less than 1,000 people by region, so as to avoid creating ghettos and to start a process of gradual integration, for as long as they remain in the country," he said. [02] FinMin Tsakalotos says there's no Grexit fear after Britain's vote to leave EUThe impact of Britain's vote to leave the European Union on the Greek economy will have to be examined carefully, but there's no issue of a Greek exit from the Union, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos said on Sunday, during a speech at SYRIZA's central party committee.Commenting on the results of the UK vote, the minister said it will "create ambiguities and uncertainties for the European economy", but may also open a debate on centrifugal forces. He said he agreed with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, that on the question of more or less Europe, the response is "we need a better and more democratic Europe". [03] Brexit vote is the result of a democratic deficit and arrogant behavior in the EU, says gov't spoxBritain's vote to leave the European Union is the result of the arrogant behavior of a bureaucratic decision-making center, as well as of a democratic deficit in the Union and a bad handling of the economic and refugee crisis, government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said in an interview with local Thessaloniki newspaper "Thess News" on Sunday."The decision of the British people to leave the European Union may not be pleasant, but it is wholly respected. I consider it the strongest alarm bell on the EU's path we've had to date," she said. "These are the results of the democratic deficit, the bad handlings in the economic and refugee crisis, but mainly of the arrogant behavior of a bureaucratic decision-making centers," she added. [04] State minister: 'Two solutions in Europe -Right and extreme-right, or the Left'Europe has to choose between two options - the Right and the extreme-right, which have divided people, or the Left which unites them, State Minister Nikos Pappas said on Sunday, speaking at SYRIZA's central committee meeting.Commenting on the adjustment program being implemented, Pappas said asking whether the government owns the reforms is "the wrong question". "The issue is whether we were right or wrong to sign this deal. And the answer is we were right to do it because we managed to protect the lower incomes," he said. [05] SYRIZA's central committee approves proposal on 3-year strategy, electoral systemSYRIZA's central committee approved on Sunday with a resounding majority a party decision which will be published in the coming days and concerns the party's strategy for the next three years, the proposal for a proportional representation, constitutional revision and others for modernizing the state.The committee also approved an amendment tabled by the Group of 53, a faction within Syriza known as 53+, which says that the government's program is not exhausted with the agreement signed with the country's creditors last summer. The committee however removed a sentence that described the deal as a result "of a ruthless blackmail and a coup". [06] Majority of Greeks in favour of proportional representation in elections - pollThe majority of Greeks support changing the country's electoral system to proportional representation shows a new poll by Public Issue, conducted on behalf of "Avghi newspaper" and published on its Sunday edition.According to the survey, 58 pct of those asked are in favour of this electoral system, 32 pct are against and 10 pct didn't respond. Seven out of 10 respondents (71 pct) also said they prefer coalition governments (versus 46 pct in 1996), while only 25 pct said they prefer majority governments (versus 51 pct in 1996). Asked about the election of the President, 73 pct said they want the candidate to be directly elected by the people, with the highest percentages found in the voters of the government coalition parties (SYRIZA and ANEL). Twenty-three percent of those questioned said they disagree with this system. Another 62 pct of respondents said they want the people to be allowed to initiate a referendum after collecting a certain number of signatures, while 34 pct disagrees. On other important reforms, those questioned answered as follows: - 63 pct of respondents want to abolish the permanency of civil servants versus 36 pct who want the current status to remain > By party preference: Potami voters: 89 pct, Centrists Union voters: 77 pct, PASOK voters: 69 pct, SYRIZA voters: 63 pct, ANEL voters: 62 pct, ND voters: 61 pct, Golden dawn voters: 42 pct, Communist Party voters: 36 pct. - 59 pct of respondents are in favour of setting up private universities while 39 pct are against > By party preference: Potami voters: 86 pct, ND voters: 80 pct, versus SYRIZA voters: 54 pct against. - 53 pct want separation of Church and State versus 44 pct which are against > By party preference: Potami voters: 89 pct, Communist Party: 83 pct, PASOK voters: 64 pct, SYRIZA voters 61 pct, ND voters: 36 pct. Asked to state whether they believe the country is on the right path, 86 pct said "No", while only 10 pct answered positively. Another 69 pct says they're pessimistic, as they believe the country's economic situation will worsen in the next 12 months, compared with a mere 19 pct who said things will remain the same and 11 pct who said things will improve. Another 85 pct said they have a negative opinion of the bailout program and only 9 pct has a positive view. Asked to give their answer as to what they identify as the country's biggest problem, 61 pct said the economy, 34 pct said unemployment and 24 pct said the operation of the government and the political and party system. General News [07] Canadair aircraft battling wildfire in Boeotia forced to landA Canadair water bomber participating in a fire-fighting operation over Dervenohoria, in the region of Boeotia, was forced to make an emergency landing northwest of the wildfire for an unknown reason on Sunday.According to the fire department, the two pilots are safe and were picked up by an ambulance near the Monastery of Zoodohos Pigi for precautionary reasons. It also said an Air Force crew will investigate the reasons for the emergency landing. The Canadair CL-215 is one of the old aircraft used in aerial firefighting for which numerous reports have been filed. The fire, which started last night near the village of Stefani, is still underway. Seven more aircraft are participating in the operation along with five helicopters and a large ground team. [08] Major blaze burning pinewood in Boeotia, winds hampering effortsA large wildfire burning forestland in Dervenohoria, a region of Boeotia in central Greece, is near the village of Stefani but it is not threatened at the moment, the fire department said on Sunday evening as firefighters continued to battle the flames that started on Saturday night.The blaze, which started from unknown reasons, was initially raging inside a ravine but the strong winds blowing in the area quickly spread the flames and divided the front into several new ones. They fire department said they have deployed eight aircraft and five helicopters, 115 firefighters with 56 water vehicles and a unit of 38 firefighters. Several nearby municipalities are also contributing with water vehicles. Earlier, a Canadair water bomber participating in the operation was forced to make an emergency landing northwest of the wildfire for an unknown reason. The fire department said the two pilots are safe and were picked up by an ambulance near the Monastery of Zoodohos Pigi for precautionary reasons. It also said an Air Force crew will investigate the reasons for the emergency landing. The Canadair CL-215 is one of the old aircraft used in aerial firefighting for which numerous reports have been filed. [09] Great and Holy Council declares unity of the Orthodox ChurchThe main priority of the Great and Holy Council was to declare the unity of the Orthodox Churches, the Council said in a message published after the end of its six-day work in Kolymvari, Crete."Our Church, responding to its obligation to testify the true and apostolic faith, attaches great importance to dialogue mainly with heterodox Christians. In this way, the rest of the Christendom understands accurately the authenticity of the Orthodox tradition, the value of patristic teaching, the experience of the mass and the faith of the Orthodox," the message says. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made the same call for unity in a speech at the Agios Apostolos and Pavlos Church earlier in Chania. "The Great and Holy Council showed that the one holy catholic and apostolic church united in faith in the world, embodies and expresses authentically the central ecclesiological authority and truth of conciliarity; that it lives as a council." [10] LGBTI community concludes four-day 'Thessaloniki Pride' festivities with paradeRepresentatives of the LGBTI communities in Greece, Croatia, Albania, Kosovo, FYROM, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey, Bulgaria, Montenegro participated in the main "Pride" parade in the center of Thessaloniki on Saturday evening, which ended the four-day "Thessaloniki Pride Festival".The march started from the city's hallmark White Tower, with participants chanting "Love each other" and slogans against hate speech and homophobia. In the head of the parade, volunteers of the event held a rainbow flag and were joined by members of the NGO "Positive Voice" which defends the rights of HIV-positive people and promotes ways to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS. The parade was attended by city mayor Yiannis Boutaris, ambassadors and representatives of foreign delegations from the U.S., Finland, Canada, Romania, and Britain. When the march reached the American embassy, volunteers who organized the event laid a wreath in memory of the Orlando shooting victims, formed the words "Orlando rest in peace" and lit candles. [11] Weather ForecastScattered clouds and rain are forecast on Monday. Wind velocity will reach 5 on the Beaufort scale. Mostly fair in the northern parts of the country in the morning and scattered rain expected in the afternoon, with temperatures ranging from 20C-34C. Mostly sunny in the western parts with temperatures between 22C-34C. Scattered clouds in eastern parts and temperatures between 23C-33C. Rain over the Aegean islands and Crete, 23C-33C. Mostly fair in Athens with some rain in the afternoon, 21C-35C; the same for Thessaloniki, 19C-34C.[12] Athens Headlines at a glanceKATHIMERINI: The EU in unchartered watersTO VIMA: Europe's worst ghosts return ETHNOS: Greece in the shadow of the Brexit AVGHI: Change of landscape with proportional representation RISOZPASTIS: Neither the EU, nor the path of the capital can be fixed in favour of the peoples ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Brexit syndrome threatens the EU REAL NEWS: [EU] Changes or it is dissolved! VRATHINI: Employees and pensioners loose everywhere PROTO THEMA: England, Spain and the euro in the air KONTRA NEWS: The Right searching for the Greek Farage TO PARON: Merkel and Schaeuble murdered the EU O LOGOS: Spanish elections in the shadow of the Brexit FREE SUNDAY: Difficult meta-Brexit era EPOCHI: Europe, look what you've done PRIN: Movement for popular exit from the EU DEMOKRATIA: This is the opportunity 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: Michalis Psilos Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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