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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-06-11Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM: 'No doubts, only determination'Just hours after announcing the measures of the Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy, Prime Minister George Papandreou underlined in an interview with the local newspaper "To Vima" on Saturday that he had no doubts or dilemma about making the necessary changes, "only determination that Greek families will never have to live with the consequences of default".He also stressed that if there had been any other choice, he would have taken it. "I wouldn't wish what I am going through on my worst enemy. In war you also make mistakes. You are wounded, you bleed, you may lose battles. But the requirement is that you win the war for saving and changing the country. But we will win the war," he stated. Anyone claiming that the country could escape such a crisis in an easy, painless manner was probably unaware of its size and depth, he added. Questioned about the attacks on Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou, Papandreou underlined that decisions were taken by the government collectively. To those criticising the premier for his choice of people to work with, he replied that his only criteria were how to best promote the public interest. Defending the government's work, the prime minister said some people seem not to have understood that in the past months he had been striving to impose a new culture of dialogue and debate on all levels. "I do not like collective organs such as the cabinet to be sidelined with 'operetta-style' meetings lasting a few minutes, as was the case with the previous government. I want to listen to everyone and for them to listen to me. In the end we take well founded decisions, historic decisions," he replied. In yet another overture to the opposition parties for consensus, he noted that he had not ruled out putting persons of broad acceptance, or even came from other parties, in crucial positions. Papandreou rejected the idea of seeking an enhanced majority vote of 180 MPs for the Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy and repeated his invitation to the opposition for national consensus. "We political forces must send a message that we have understood what is at stake for our country," he said, while expressing understanding for those that joined the daily protests outside Parliament. According to the prime minister, they were right to be angry since they could not tolerate a political system that had led to waste and corruption. © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [02] ND takes lead over ruling PASOK in latest pollMain opposition New Democracy (ND) has overtaken the ruling PASOK party in voter preference, according to a 'Public Issue' opinion poll published by the newspaper "Kathimerini" on Saturday.Based on its findings, ND is now in the lead with 31 percent, PASOK follows with 27 percent, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has 11 percent, the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) 8 percent, the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) 6.5 percent, the Ecologists-Greens with 3.5 percent, the Democratic Left with 3 percent and the Democratic Alliance with 2.5 percent. The 'winner' is actually abstention, with 38 percent of those asked saying they would not turn out for the next elections. Only one if four people believe the government will reach the end of its four-year term while the popularity of Prime Minister George Papandreou is in decline. Asked who was most suitable for premier, both Papandreou and main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras received 23 percent of the vote and 55 percent of those asked voted for neither. Nearly three quarters (74 percent) believe that neither PASOK nor ND are capable of governing the country properly and 59 percent believe that snap elections are unnecessary at the present time. An overwhelming majority of 82 percent said they were not satisfied with their lives and an even larger majority of 87 percent believes the country is moving in the wrong direction. © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [03] Exports up in AprilANA-MPA/Exports continued to rise and imports continued to decline in April this year, according to initial estimates released by the independent Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) on Thursday.The total value of exports-dispatches, excluding oil products, reached 1,293.0 million euros in April, marking a 9.6 percent rise over the 1,180.1 million euros figure in April 2010.ana-mpa Conversely, the total value of imports-arrivals, excluding oil products, fell to 2,522.6 million euros in April, down 14.5 percent from 2,950.8 million euros in the same month last year. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [04] Exports up in AprilANA-MPA/Exports continued to rise and imports continued to decline in April this year, according to initial estimates released by the independent Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) on Thursday.The total value of exports-dispatches, excluding oil products, reached 1,293.0 million euros in April, marking a 9.6 percent rise over the 1,180.1 million euros figure in April 2010.ana-mpa Conversely, the total value of imports-arrivals, excluding oil products, fell to 2,522.6 million euros in April, down 14.5 percent from 2,950.8 million euros in the same month last year. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [05] Commission on Greek debtThe European Commission on Friday reiterated its position that any plan to restructuring the Greek debt should include a voluntary consensus by private creditors and on the precondition that it will not become a credit event.Speaking to reporters, here, Amadeu Altafaj, a spokesman for EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn, said that European officials were currently discussing something similar with the "Vienna Initiative". Commenting on a Eurogroup finance ministersā teleconference, held on Wednesday, Altafaj said ministers exchanged views over the Greek debt, based on the conclusions of a fourth assessment by the troika over implementation of an economic adjustment programe by Greece. The EU spokesman noted that the European Commission was examining ways under which private holders of Greek bonds could accept, voluntarily, to hold these assets. He added, however, that it was a "technically difficult" project, as it could be characterized as a credit event by markets and "thatās what we want to avoid". Altafaj said at this particular period, "bridges were build between interested parties and the Eurozone member-states". © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. 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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