Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Heavy snow brings Greece to standstill

[02] PM: 'New breath' to meaning of social state

[01] Heavy snow brings Greece to standstill

Attica, Evia, the Cyclades islands and Crete were the most hard hit by the continuing snow storm on Monday, while snow chains were required throughout most of the National Highway network and in most parts of Attica prefecture. Problems were also caused by a blanket of ice that has formed from partially-melted snow beneath the new snowfall.

In Attica, the "blue" (urban) buses, trolley buses and the tram lines were not operating.

The Athens Metro was running normally up to the Doukissis Plakentias terminal, and from there by suburban railway (Proastiakos) to Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport with some difficulties, while the ISAP railway announced early in the morning that was running from the Piraeus terminal only up to the Attikis Square station.

Although the airport reopened at 3:00 a.m., and snow plows were working continuously to keep runways open, scores of flights were cancelled due to low visibility and hazardous conditions at other domestic destination airports. According to the AIA, 461 flights (incoming and outgoing) are scheduled for Monday, but airlines had already cancelled 64 flights as of 10:00 a.m., and passengers are advised to contact their airline.

The state machine kicked into action immediately on Saturday at the outset of the storm, working round-the-clock to keep highways and central streets snow-free, and remained on alert on Monday.

According to the Civil Protection General Secretariat, assistance for citizens was required in only a few isolated instances, while citizens were requested to refrain from commuting if not necessary.

Meanwhile, more than 100 villages were snowed-in on the island of Crete -- 54 in Chania prefecture, 26 in Iraklion prefecture, 19 in Lasithi prefecture, and 5 in Rethymno prefecture -- as wel as 25 villages in Evia, 15 in Argolida, 3 in Arcadia, 9 in Lakonia, 2 in Viotia, and 4 in the Cyclades prefecture.

Temperatures in Athens dropped to -6C before dawn, while the coldest temperatures were recorded in Kozani, Grevena, Kastoria and Florina, where they plunged to -12C.

Caption: Children enjoying the snow in the National Gardens, off Syntagma Square in downtown Athens. (ANA-MPA/M. Marogianni)

[02] PM: 'New breath' to meaning of social state

At the same time, he announced that funding of a newly instituted "social security solidarity account" would come from 10 percent of the total annual revenues from the privatisation of public utilities and various state-owned enterprises and organisations (known by the Greek acronym "DEKO"), 4 percent of the annual VAT revenues, and 10 percent of monies collected by social security agencies from social resources.

Stressing that the above funding would be forthcoming from social resources and not social security funds' reserves, Karamanlis said "it is the minimum contribution to the weaker members of the (social security) system and the young generation", and "a fundamental expression of social solidarity".

Outlining the government's proposals for resolving problems faced by Greece's social security system, Karamanlis said relevant decisions "exceed the boundaries of the governmental term in office", and that the goal of the bill on reforming the system that will be tabled in parliament is to set immediately into motion the necessary and urgent changes.

"It is our obligation to not allow the conservatism of the few to become a dam to the interests of the many," Karamanlis said, adding that his government's choice was to build an increasingly just system that will not be at risk of collapse, that will not impose on some others in the near future to cut back benefits from the many, nor to detract services from the young generation.

"The strategy of reforms cannot be disrupted, suspended or stopped," he said.

Karamanlis said the reform strategy, for his government, was non-negotiable, and that he would not compromise with the reactionism of the few and "accommodated", nor would he allow the interest of the many to be sacrificed to petty-partisan or guild-mentality expediencies.

"We will not overlook the risks that young people will be called on to face in a few years' time, if we do not take measures immediately," he stressed.

Criticising the opposition and certain social agencies, Karamanlis said the deliberate downgrading of existing problems was a "hypocritical attitude", that inertia was, in essence, shirking one's responsibility, and that reaction to necessary reforms was a choice of social indifference, stressing that "we will not become party to that".

He further stressed that no transient political cost could take precedence over or outweigh the cost that society will pay if weaknesses of the social security system are not tackled immediately.

"I am determined to carry on, at any cost necessary, on the road that guarantees security and certainty for the many; on the road that leads to a more cohesive and more just society, the road that the youth deserve, the road that we agreed on with the citizens," Karamanlis said, adding that reform was an imperative obligation and need arising from the reality of the past and the forecasts on the demographic challenges.

The prime minister further said a fundamental priority of his government was the responsible confrontation of the multi-fragmented state of the social security system, with its 155 social security funds, overseen by five different ministries. "In a healthy, redistributed system, the ratio of working people and pensioners will be 4:1, against the current ratio of 1.75:1," he explained.

Karamanlis also assured that the primary parameters of the social security system would not be changed

"The general retirement ages are not being increased. Contributions will not increase. Pensions will not be reduced. Matured pension rights will not be touched in any instance. Most of the changes will commence after long transition periods, to be completed gradually over a lengthy period of time".

"It is our duty to dare, to agree, to carry out the reforms, in a moderate and just manner, for the interests of the many," the prime minister said, stressing that the social security reforms were society's demand but also the obligation of all the political forces and agencies, "a duty to the many, to the financially weaker, to the youth and, in the bottom line, to the country".

Caption: File photo of Greek PM Costas Karamanlis. (ANA-MPA/A. Beltes)

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