Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-08-22

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Nimetz talks on 'name issue'

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Nimetz talks on 'name issue'

Nimetz, who had similar talks in Skopje on Thursday in separate meetings with FYROM president Branko Crvenkovski and prime minister Nikola Gruevski, told reporters after his Thessaloniki talks that both countries were serious, with respect to their disposition for a solution of the name issue.

Asked whether he had submitted a new proposal, Nimetz said that things have not been particularized, adding that when does make a proposal, he wants it to be specific.

"More time is needed to see where we are," he said.

Nimetz explained that both sides had specific views on what was acceptable and what was not, adding that the solution would be found when both sides feel comfortable with a solution proposed.

Asked whether additional issues beyond that of the name have been put forward in the talks, Nimetz replied that "a series of matters have been put forward, which I would describe as peripheral to the central issue of the name, of which some are more relevant and others less, to the central issue of the name".

Those matters, he added, prospectively comprised an issue, "but they are not the core". He said that the name issue was quite difficult in itself, and there was no need to burden it with other matters. "I would propose that we put those (matters) aside and deal with the name issue, and try to find a solution," Nimetz stressed.

Asked whether talks would be held at a higher level, Nimetz said that he could not make predictions, noting that the UN General Assembly would be held in September and that this was a year of great interest.

To a question on whether a timetable existed for resolution of the name issue, Nimetz replied that "personally, I don't believe in timetables".

"Resolving the issue is necessary, but we will not set a timetable," he added.

Ambassador Vassilakis, in turn, said in reply to questions that prime minister Costas Karamanlis' letter of reply to his FYROM counterpart was on public record, as were foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis' statements, and therefore known to all, so "consequently, we are proceeding slowly on this basis, and will see what will happen".

Asked if there has been any progress in the talks, Vassilakis noted: "I am an optimistic person, and say that, if there is patience, a solution can be found".

"It is necessary to be patient, and to take things slowly," he added.

Caption: UN special mediator on FYROM name issue in Thessaloniki on Friday 22 August. ANA-MPA/NIKOS ARVANITIDIS

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The arrest of northern Greece industrial chief George Mylonas' abductors, among them notorious escaped convict Vassilis Paleokostas, and the increase in the state debt were the main front-page items in Friday's dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Millions of euros to the 'labor fathers' (trade unions) - The big looting was revealed with the tabling of an amendment by (agricultural development minister) Kontos" providing for scholarships for children of farming families, the money for which will arise from a 66 percent cutback in the subsidies to the country's two largest agricultural trade union organizations GESASE and SYDASE.

APOGEVMATINI: "Abductors (Paleokostas and accomplices) and victim (industrialist George Mylonas, who resigned from the helm of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece-SBBE shortly after his release from captivity) t?te-?-t?te - The public impressed by the police's big success (in solving the case)".

AVGHI: "Government covers former (merchant marine) minister (Aristotelis Pavlidis), as more and more ND cadres showing him the exit".

AVRIANI: "Dirty tricks by the managers of Siemens' slush funds".

CHORA: "What betrayed the industrialistās abductors - Olympic medal to ELAS (Greek Police) for arrest of Paleokostas", who had escaped from Korydallos high security prison two years ago in a spectacular helicopter operation.

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "They're now searching for the 'deep throat' in the abduction - ELAS, after solving the Mylonas abduction case, now investigating the industrialist's circle of (personal and business) acquaintances to find the abductors' informant".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "SME merchants and professionals blackmailing with the prices (warning that all new taxes and expenditures to be imposed on them will be immediately passed on to the consumers), after their meeting with the development minister (Christos Folias)".

ESTIA: "Ambiguous donation by PASOK (main opposition party) - Audit of political parties' finances is necessary", referring to a check for 1.2 million euros, amounting to a third of the party's election campaign subsidy from the state budget, which PASOK leader George Papandreou presented to the local government in Ancient Olympia in the wildfire-ravaged prefecture of Ilia. The newspaper said that "in a well-governed state, PASOK's gesture would have attracted the attention of the Prosecutor's Office because, on the one hand the main opposition party was using a sum of money dispensed to it by the state for a specific purpose, for a different purpose, and on the other hand the move indicates an abundance of money in PASOK that is obviously far beyond that on official record".

ETHNOS: "Sweeping changes for police - New regulations in transfers system, reduction of proportion of officers servicing in precincts close to place of residence, and cuts in sick leaves".

KATHIMERINI: "Front against the state-subsidized trade unionists - State funds to agricultural unions' officials being cut (by one million euros), and channeled instead to scholarships" for children of farming families.

LOGOS: "Cost of living out of control - Development ministry once again calls on the market for containment of prices".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Unacceptable draft law of hypocrisy and barbarity", referring to a bill on Special Education, which it claims 'reproduces' the impasses created by the previous PASOK and current ND governments for families having children with special needs, while it doesn't solve the problem of finding Special Education slots for the 185,000 children in Greece requiring such education.

TA NEA: "The money and the nightlife betrayed them (Mylonas' abductors) - The Paleokostas gang's fatal mistakes".

TO VIMA: "The state debt a noose - It jumped to a record 231.9 billion euros - Pressure on government increases for tax-collection measures".

VRADYNI: "When it is to your advantage to retire - All the secrets, and the traps".

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