Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece's new government sworn in

[02] BoG chief at IMF conf'

[03] New leader for SYRIZA

[04] Miro exhibition in Thessaloniki

[05] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Greece's new government sworn in

Papandreou was sworn in as prime minister on Tuesday morning, and in the afternoon he announced the composition of the new 36-member streamlined government comprising 14 ministries,

The new streamlined government comprises 14 ministries with an equal number of ministers and 22 deputy ministers, and introduces the new posts of Government Vice-President (deputy prime minister), assigned to veteran politician Theodoros Pangalos, and Minister of State, assigned to newcomer Haris Pampoukis, while the prime minister has retained the Foreign Ministry portfolio himself.

Of the total 36-member Cabinet, 24 are first-time government members while 12 have served in previous governments. The Cabinet also includes nine women, of which five are ministers and four are deputy ministers, while another five are non-parliamentarians.

Two deputy ministries will be headquartered in Thessaloniki: the interior deputy ministry and the economy and competitiveness deputy ministry.

Seasoned PASOK former minister Filippos Petsalnikos will be nominated for parliament president, while former minister ex MEP Christos Papoutsis will take over as secretary of the ruling party's parliamentary group. Papoutsis, together with another former minister, Petros Efthymiou, will also be PASOK's parliamentary spokesman.

Sotiris Lytras will take up the post of Cabinet secretary.

[02] BoG chief at IMF conf'

Speaking in Istanbul on Tuesday during the annual session of the International Monetary Fund, the Governor appeared reservedly optimistic over the recovery of the international economy. He said that the recovery of the international economy is still at its initial stage. Consequently, he stressed, it is still very early for the gradual lifting of measures to boost the economy to begin.

Provopoulos further said that the economic recession was less intense in Greece, compared to many other European countries. However, as he said, the factors that restrained the drop in economic activitiy constitute, at the same time, a stumbling block for its recovery.

Moreoever, he said that the performances of the Greek economy during the crisis reflect its relatively low level of extroversion and the worsening of public finances which, before the crisis broke out, were in an alarming condition.

Provopoulos also reassured the health of the banking system, adding that it constituted one of the factors that supported the Greek economy.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Bank of Greece governor George Provopoulos

[03] New leader for SYRIZA

This was announced after a meeting on Tuesday by SYRIZA's Political Bureau, which made a first assessment of the election results and judged that these were satisfactory and "opened the way for SYRIZA's action in the new Parliament".

The discussion on the election result will be completed at a further meeting set for Thursday.

[04] Miro exhibition in Thessaloniki

The exhibition, "Miro of Majorca", a collaboration between the Teloglion Foundation and the Foundation Pilar i Joan Miro of Majorca, presents one of the artist's greatest exhibitions in the country that includes a significant number of his works and documents featuring paintings, sculptures, etchings, drawings, sketches etc.

The works date back to 1908 (his only salvaged early landscape painting) until his death in 1983. However, the exhibition mainly presents mature Miro in Majorca and the works he created in the workshop designed by his architect friend Josep Lluis Sert in 1956.

The exhibition, that opened for the public on Sept. 6, 2009, has already been visited by roughly 2,000 people, art lovers and pupils, and will run until Feb. 5, 2010. It is held under the auspices of the President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and the Spanish embassy in Athens.

The Queen of Spain arrived in Thessaloniki from Athens where she was on a private visit since Monday. After visiting the exhibition she will return to Athens and on Wednesday she will tour the New Acropolis Museum.

[05] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The new government cabinet announced on Tuesday by prime minister George Papandreou, the major changes in ministries and the succession in the main opposition New Democracy leadership, dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Papandreou abolished the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry".

APOGEVMATINI: "Two major ministries abolished - Major reactions on Macedonia -Thrace ministry abolishment".

AVGHI: "George and Co. government - New cabinet composed by Papandreou's close associates".

AVRIANI: "Government's mission is very difficult".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Thessaloniki prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis announced his candidacy for ND's leadership".

ELEFTHEROS: "Papandreou clashes with PASOK's 'old guard'."

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Close associates, experienced, new young faces and women constitute the new cabinet - Papandreou kept for himself the Foreign Ministry".

ESTIA: "Bold changes in government structure".

ETHNOS: "Strong team with vision and experience - George presented a flexible government with reversals and surprises".

KATHIMERINI: "Government of renewals and surprises".

NIKI: "Difficult missions - George's and his government's major wagers".

RIZOSPASTIS: "No expectations or delusions from the new government ".

TA NEA: "Government ready for battle - George's staff in the front line".

TO VIMA: "Cabinet of surprises and ready for work - Mergers, abolitions and new ministries".

VRADYNI: "New Democracy MPs demand resignation of former Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos."

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