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Friday, 22 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-01-30Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] 'Repayment extension, not debt restructure'Vienna (ANA-MPA/D. Dimitrakoudis) -- Prime minister George Papandreou stressed his government's determination to implement its program for the needed reforms and changes in Greece, as well as its efforts to achieve an extension for repayment of the country's EU-IMF support mechanism loan, while at the same time ruling out a restructuring of the Greek debt, in an interview with the Austrian newspaper Die Presse appearing Saturday.Papandreou further ruled out early general elections in Greece, stressing that elections will be held in 2013 at the end of the present term of office. (ANA-MPA) Noting that the government's program needs to be implemented, the premier clarified that even if Greece had a zero debt, the reforms and changes would have been needed, since the system was not sustainable and competitive, there was a lack of transparency, and little had been invested in the sectors in which Greece has a competitive edge such as tourism, green technologies and innovation.(ANA-MPA) More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [02] Athens decides evacuation of Greeks wishing to leave EgyptGreece's foreign ministry on Sunday decided to send military aircraft to evacuate all Greeks from Egypt who desire to return home, as tens of thousands of demonstrators defied curfews and remained on the streets demanding the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and the death toll reaching 102 and thousands injured, according to reports by the international media.According to available information, all the Greeks in Egypt are well in health. The foreign ministry made the decision in cooperation with the Greek defence ministry, and is in constant contact with other countries also planning evacuation operations. According to a foreign ministry announcement, "activation of the repatriation plan for Greek citizens in Egypt desiring to return to Greece was decided this morning (Sunday) at a meeting chaired by deputy foreign minister (for overseas Greeks affairs) Dimitris Dollis". "The relevant planning provides for the dispatch of military planes, in a follow-up to agreement reached with the national defence ministry at the outbreak of the crisis" in Egypt, the announcement said. "Due to the situation prevailing in Egypt, the departure of the aircraft will take place when the necessary conditions for the safety of the Greek citizens who have expressed desire to be repatriated are ensured," it added. The ministry further said that Greece's Consular authorities in Egypt are in constant contact with the Greek communities in Egypt, as well as with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, adding that according to information that has been received, all the Greeks in Egypt are well in health. It said that the Greeks in Egypt have been instructed to remain in their residences, due to the conditions prevailing in the streets. The ministry also said that it is in constant coordination with the other European and non-European countries that are also planning repatriation operations. Caption: Protesters carry flags as they face a battle tank during continous protests in the streets of Cairo, Egypt. (EPA/H. Hanschke) More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [03] No cause for reservationsThere is no cause for the European Statistical Service (Eurostat) to have reservations on the Greek statistics, Eurostat director general Walter Radermacher said in a statement to an Athens newspaper appearing on Sunday.Radermacher, in a statement to Kathimerini newspaper, added that just as with every other EU member, Eurostat remains vigilant. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [04] Transport strikes this weekCommuters in Athens are in for more hassle this week, as public bus employees have called a 48-hour strike on Tuesday and Wednesday in protest of a draft law restructuring urban transports.Also, Athens Metro and ISAP train employees have called a 24-hour strike for Monday. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [05] Visit to IsraelGreek Greek Agriculture Development and Foods Minister Costas Skandalidis begins on Sunday an official visit to Israel at the invitation of his counterpart Orit Noked.Apart from his official talks, Skandalidis will also meet with Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [06] Battle of CreteA large number of Greek Australians and Australians plan to visit Greece in May to attend events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Crete.According to reports, the Cretans of Australia are planning a "mass incursion" on Crete to attend the 70th anniversary commemorations, as well as a large number of Australians whose ancestors fought in the strategic battle during WWII. A series of commemorative events will be held on Crete in May with the customary participation of war veterans from Greece, Australia, New Zealand and Britain. The Battle of Crete began on the morning of May 20, 1941 when German forces launched an unprecedented airborne invasion of Crete, code-named "Merkur". The operation was successful in that it wrested control of the island from Allied forces, although the victory was so costly in terms of paratrooper casualties that the Wehrmacht never again attempted a major airborne operation. The stiff resistance by ANZAC troops and local Cretans is also credited, by many historians, with delaying the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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