Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-10-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou bashes government policy

[02] Greek journalists in China

[03] ASE: Decline

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Papandreou bashes government policy

He also said that a "wind-swept" Greece was heading into the eye of the hurricane. Papandreou also spoke of an "establishment that holds the state captive", while immense authorities have been concentrated in the hands of a few, powerful 'friends'.

"Today is a day of responsibility for all of us. The Greek citizen demands that we speak to him responsible and frankly, to give him prospects an outlet to hope. The crisis is unprecedented, but also unprecedented is New Democracy's hypocrisy at a time when the Greek families are exhausted by the continuing depreciation of the public health and the public education" said Papandreou.

Referring to the medium and small enterprises, Papandreou said that competition has reached "a nadir", emphasizing that the crisis has a clear political stamp.

The PASOK leader also spoke of a democratic state that will guarantee the autonomy of politics, one that puts rules in the market and which places the public interest above all else.

By selling off state property and strategic organisations, the government has succeeded in depriving the country of substantial tools of national planning, Papandreou charged.

Caption: Main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou address in parliament on Friday 31 October 2008. ANA-MPA/MARIA MAROYANNI

[02] Greek journalists in China

The journalists will have the opportunity to be informed thoroughly on the developments taking place in China, the widening bilateral relations and the post-Olympic Games image of the country.

In the framework of mutual hosting of journalists from the two countries, the Greek Communication and Information general secretariat last May hosted 12 Chinese journalists.

[03] ASE: Decline

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest losses in Travel and Recreation, down 3.58 percent;Banks, down 2.56 percent; and Media down 0.23 percent .

The biggest gains were in Health, up 5.34 percent; Insurance, up 3.14 percent; and Raw Materials, up 2.85 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 1.63 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 1.98 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.95 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 128 were up, 60 were down, and 45 were unchanged.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The government's plans to ameliorate the impact of the global financial to be announced on Friday in parliament dominated the headlines on Friday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The relief measures for medium and small enterprises to be announced in parliament"

APOGEVMATINI: "(Former general director of the ompetition Committee Pangiotis) Adamopoulos, who was remanded in custody for involvement with the dairy companies cartel, was one of the organisers of a main opposition PASOK party event on the issue of the milk companies' cartel actions in Greece".

AVGHI: "Focus on economic policy - Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis supports FinMin George Alogoskoufis' policy line".

AVRIANI: "Half the Greek citizens are victims of loan sharks".

CHORA: "The government gives billions to the bankers while the people are suffering".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Miracle! In record time and without major obstacles ...the government re-established PASOK".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Hidden tax on first homes - Extra burdens for parking spaces and storage areas".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: " 'Colpo grosso' in real estate taxes - The Economy and Finance Ministry deceives the tax payers".

ESTIA: "Catastrophic state intervention - The future of the economy is endangered".

ETHNOS: " There is a trap in the taxes on first homes".

KATHIMERINI: "Ministers take distances from FinMin's choices ".

LOGOS : "The duration of the economic crisis is unpredictable".

NIKI: "The crisis strangles the households".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Ruling party New Democracy and PASOK are feeding the crisis and burdening the people".

TA NEA "Tax- robbery on first homes - Sur-tax on mutually-owned properties".

TO VIMA: "The banks under supervision- They will be checked for the loans and the salaries".

VRADYNI: "The crisis devastated the medium and small enterprises".

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