Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-10-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Thessaloniki liberation anniversary

[02] Papandreou on economy

[03] DM on peace in SE Europe

[04] Super League soccer results

[01] Thessaloniki liberation anniversary

The celebrations commenced with a doxology, after which national defence minister Evangelos Meimarakis, who represented the government, noted that the anniversary "reminds us of one of the most glorious pages or our history".

Main opposition PASOK MP Haris Katanidis said that the anniversary of the liberation of Thessaloniki posed an opportunity to think again of the need for liberation of the people's expectations, in other words the advent of a better future for the citizens and the country, while fellow PASOK MP Yiannis Magriotis said that the citizens demand change, and an exit from the crisis to which ruling New Democracy government's policy was leading.

Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis stressed that this was a great day for Thessaloniki and Macedonia, adding that 'we must all take care to safeguard the grandness of this celebration in the future".

[02] Papandreou on economy

Addressing Parliament on Friday during the discussion on the proposal for the creation of an Investigatory Committee to probe the Vatopedi issue, the main opposition leader spoke of "the collapse of the government's credibility" as a result of the ruling New Democracy party's absence from the discussion.

Referring to the economic crisis that is now also touching Greece, Papandreou warned of a possible "new and huge crime against the Greek people" and proposed the "partial nationalisation of tottering banks".

"When the government cannot manipulate, it hides and escapes. It could not control the result in Parliament and fled, seeking a hideout in parapolitics and in the backstage," he said.

"We are before a new, intentional and conscious downgrading of institutions. There is no precedent in our history of the absence of the majority from the Parliamentary procedure. Just like they adulterated the results in the voting for the revision of the constitution, today they are not allowing the colleagues of New Democracy to express themselves freely, according to conscience, in a secret vote. They are manipulating their vote and their conscience with their withdrawal in order to make them accomplices," Papandreou added.

[03] DM on peace in SE Europe

Meimarakis placed particular emphasis on the fact that this year, for the first time, defence ministers and deputy ministers would be attending the military parade (on Tuesday) marking the anniversary of the October 28 national holiday.

He said the presence of the defence ministers in Thessaloniki to attend the main military parade was a message to all the citizens of the region that the times of turbulence were in the past, "those pages that were written don't change, and we honor all those fighters in history", but, at the same time, "we are sending a message that we want to live in this region peacefully, and we want stability, security and good attitude and rules of good neighborhood amongst us all in order to be able to proceed with the growth necessar".

"And at the same time we are sending a message to all the others that we, at regional level, can reach understanding amongst ourselves, discuss with each other and can, despite the different assessments and views, overcome these issues and find the climate of confidence and the solutions necessary in order to move forward with our eyes turned to the future," Meimarakis continued.

The minister said that although the older generations may have some reservations about this visit, "it is equally a fact that the younger generations, with their eyes to the future, see it as positive", adding that this was why "we must look at the future of the Balkans not with the Balkan perception and attitude of the past, but with the European perception, the European advancement, with our eyes turned to the future".

"Wirh these thoughts, we will welcome all the official guests on Tuesday to send a message of peace, fraternity and understanding to this region," Meimarakis concluded.

The defence ministers of Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and deputy defence ministers of Bulgaria, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Croatia have accepted Meimarakis' invitation to attend the October 28 parade in Thessaloniki and other anniversary events.

Meimarakis will hold a luncheon in honor of his guests on Monday, while in the afternoon the foreign dignitaries will meet with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias.

[04] Super League soccer results

In other action:

Larissa-Panthrakikos Komotini 1-2

Asteras Tripoli-OFI Crete 2-2

PAOK Thessaloniki-Levadiakos Livadia 3-1

Xanthi-Panseraikos Serres 2-1

Ergotelis Crete-Panionios Athens 2-5

Standings after seven weeks of play:

1. Olympiakos 16 points

2. PAOK 15

3. Xanthi 14

4. Panionios 11

5. Panathinaikos 11

6. Larissa 11

7. AEK 10

8. Aris 9

9. Ergotelis 9

10. Levadiakos 8

11. Panseraikos 7

12. Panthrakikos 7

13. Asteras 7

14. OFI 4

15. Iraklis 4

16. Thrasyvoulos 4

NOTE: Panathinaikos and Ergotelis each have a game less.

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