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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-06-15Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Eurogroup debates 2nd aid package to GreeceBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA) - Eurozone ministers met here on Tuesday to debate plans to make Greece's private creditors share in the costs of a second bailout package for the east Mediterranean country. Some steps forward were made during the meeting without however reaching agreement on important issues.No statements were made at the end of the ministers session. EU sources, however, said that the debate focused mainly on the form that the private secror's participation would take in the second aid package to Greece with the so-called "Vienna Initiative" prevailing in the discussions. The meeting confirmed a diversion of views between Germany and the European Central Bank. EU sources also said that during a special Eurogroup meeting next Sunday, an effort will be made for the finding of a formula that would dissociate the release of the fifth tranche of a 110-billion-euro loan agreed with the EU, the ECB and the IMF from a comprehensive decision for the second aid package which could be taken on Ecofin's meeting on July 12. (ANA-MPA) Caption: German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (front left) , French Minister for the Economy Christine Lagarde, (front right), Olli Rehn, the European Monetary Affairs Commissionner, (background left) the president of the Eurogroup, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker (C) and Finnish Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen (behind Lagarde) appear during a special Euro Group finance ministers' meeting at the European council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on 14 June 2011. ANA-MPA/ EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET © 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] Nationwide media strike suspended(ANA-MPA) -- A previously announced 24-hour media strike in Greece on Wednesday -- coinciding with a general strike called by the two largest unions in the country -- was suspended before noon the same day. A national media sector umbrella federation, POESY, referred to "ongoing developments" in the country in rescinding the industrial action.Amongst others, the eagerly watched Mid-term Fiscal Strategic Programme -- the second bundle of austerity measures, tax hikes and accelerated reforms and privatisations to meet EC-ECB-IMF Memorandum conditions -- will be tabled in Parliament for debate. Outside, tens of thousands of protesters were congregating in and around Syntagma Square, in front of Parliament. Moreover, President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias was set to receive Prime Minister George Papandreou for a last-minute meeting requested by the latter. (ANA-MPA) © 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] Government spokesman on struggle to save countryANA-MPA/Government spokesman George Petalotis commented on Tuesday night on the current economic and political developments in the country underlining the seriousness of the struggle being waged to save the country."We are all judged by our actions," Petalotis said. The spokesman also stressed that "all, just like the government, are before nationally crucial decisions to avoid a disastrous bankruptcy that will undermine the future of the country."ana-mpa He also underlined that "we take decisions brushing aside individual objections, disregarding the political cost" and "being aware of the great responsibility and a sense of reality and of the needs of the country and the people." More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [04] KKE to refrain from vote during mid-term programme debateANA-MPA/The opposition Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Tuesday announced that it will refrain from all Parliamentary procedures that concern the Mid-Term Fiscal Strategy, including participation in the competent committee and the Parliamentary plenary session.ana-mpaA statement issued underlined that "the anti-popular monstrosity is condemned and voted down because it serves the interests of plutocracy and levels off the rights of the workers and the people". More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [05] Protestors surround parliamentANA-MPA/Thousands of Athenians were flocking to central Syntagma Square and the surrounding streets in downtown Athens from early Wednesday morning in the 22nd consecutive day of protests by the Indignants' Movement, with the aim of encircling parliament.Quite a few of the protestors spent the night in Syntagma Square to be on the spot as a 24-hour nationwide general labor strike called by the country's two major umbrella federations GSEE and ADEDY, representing the private and public sector respectively, in protest of severe austerity measures already in place and a second wave of measures contained in the government's Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy Framework program covering up to 2015 that is slated for vote in the 300-member unicameral parliament on June 28.ana-mpa A strong police contingent was on the spot in Syntagma Square and surrounding streets, while fire engines have been deployed in the parliament's courtyard, and Vassilissis Sophias avenue, where the main entrance to parliament is, has been blocked off by high metal fencing and police vans for precautionary reasons. Chanting slogans and waving Greek flags, the Indignants are protesting the Medium-Term program, the Memorandum and the Greek government's policies. At about noon, a large protest demonstration organised separately by the Communist party-affiliated PAME labor organisation that set off from central Omonia Square also arrived at Syntagma Square, while a joint GSEE-ADEDY rally and march is due to arrive shortly afterwards and join the massive Indignants' demonstration.ana-mpa Earlier, prime minister George Papandreou asked for an extraordinary meeting with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, which has been scheduled for 1:00 p.m. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [06] Flights as usual on Wed.Flights to and from all Greek airports will be conducted on schedule on Wednesday, as the Union of Air Traffic Controllers decided on Tuesday to suspend the mobilisations it had called in the context of Wednesday's 24-hour nationwide general strike called by the country's two major umbrella unions GSEE and ADEDY, representing the private and public sector respectively.© 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 [07] ND denies meetingANA-MPA/Main opposition New Democracy categorically denied on Wednesday rumors appearing on several blogs and websites of a meeting on Tuesday between ND leader Antonis Samaras and a representative of prime minister George Papandreou.In an announcement, ND press officer Yiannis Michelakis called the rumors "absurd" and unworthy of denial.ana-mpa ND further denied any telephone contact whatsoever between Samaras and Papandreou. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [08] MP resigns from PASOKANA-MPA/Ruling PASOK deputy and former high-profile Cabinet minister Giorgos Lianis on Tuesday announced his decision to resign from the ruling party's Parliamentary group.In a letter to Prime Minister George Papandreou, which was released to the press late Tuesday afternoon, Lianis cited reasons of "conscience", adding that he "no longer believes in the economic policy implemented" by the government. ana-mpa Lianis is elected from the Florina precinct in northern Greece. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [09] ASE opening: PlungeEquity prices plunged at the opening of trade on Wednesday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index down 3.94 percent, standing at 1,216.95 points at 12:15 pm .Individual sector indices were moving downward across the board, with the heaviest losses in Raw Materials, down 5.58 percent; Banks, down 5.13 percent; and Financial Services, down 5.49 percent. The only gains were in Technology, up 0.91 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 4.32 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 3.71 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 2.12 percent. Of the stocks traded, 12 were up, 80 were down, and 10 were unchanged. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [10] Total lunar eclipse on Wed.ANA-MPA/The total lunar eclipse that will take place on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 will be visible completely over Greece.ana-mpaThe partial eclipse will start at 21:50 local time while the total eclepse will begin at 22:20 and will last for 100 minutes. 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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