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Sunday, 22 December 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 12-01-27Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM to meet again with IIF chief on Fri.AMNA--Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and Government Vice President and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos held a meeting at the Maximos Mansion on Thursday evening with Institute of International Finance (IIF) chief Charles Dallara for talks over a voluntary PSI to reduce Greece's debt. According to government sources, the discussion between the two sides will be continued on Friday at legal and technical level.[02] Papandreou to meet party officialsAMNA--Following his return from a Socialist International meeting in Puerto Rico, PASOK party president George Papandreou will hold a succession of meetings with party officials and ministers on Friday.Among the scheduled meetings are that with Parliament President Philippos Petsalnikos, PASOK Parliamentary group secretary Vassilis Exarhos and Parliamentary spokesmen Petros Efthymiou and Christos Protopappas. It is surmised that these meetings will focus mainly on the fragmented image presented by PASOK during the vote on the finance ministry omnibus bill on Tuesday, where several articles were voted down.amna Papandreou is expected to demand that the Parliamentary group's cohesion should not be cast into doubt and, especially, that the government's work is not jeopardised. PASOK's president will later chair a meeting on the progress of PSI talks and the new loan agreement for Greece, in which government vice-president and finance minister Evangelos Venizelos is expected to participate. According to sources, meanwhile, Papandreou is very annoyed by recent statements made by development minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis and the minister's stance, which PASOK press spokesman Panos Beglitis described as "offensive" and a "major political issue" that needed to be immediately resolved and would be resolved by Papandreou. [03] Greece, Cyprus ministers discuss energy issuesNICOSIA (AMNA/A.Viketos/CNA) - Cyprus Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Praxoula Antoniadou held a meeting here on Thursday with Greek Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Yiannis Maniatis on the occasion of his visit to Cyprus at the invitation of the Institute of Energy for Southeastern Europe (IENE).Speaking to the media after the meeting which was held at the Ministry of commerce, Maniatis noted that the energy sector and particularly the exploitation of hydrocarbons offer the opportunity to develop a new strategic cooperation between Greece and Cyprus. He said the discovery of hydrocarbons creates new prospects for both countries adding that it is essential to take advantage of natural gas opportunities. He also said that this is an historic opportunity to overcome many of the problems of the past. Maniatis said that groups of experts on the natural gas issue of Cyprus and Greece could exchange expertise and exchange views "to help us in achieving our common purpose which is to upgrade the role of both countries in Europe's energy security.''amna On her part Antoniadou said that they had briefed each other on the course and planning of the two countries regarding issues of exploitation of each country's natural wealth. She said that they both expressed the need to exchange knowledge and experiences on these issues more systematically, adding that ''we had an interesting and productive discussion.'' The Cypriot minister of commerce noted that the hydrocarbon sector "is an area of particular importance for the entire Eastern Mediterranean region and offers the prospect to the countries of the region to become a new source of energy, particularly for the EU, enhancing Europe's energy security''.amna During his stay in Cyprus, Maniatis addressed the 1st Energy Symposium on Cyprus' energy sources and the new facts in the Eastern Mediterranean. Maniatis will be departing for Athens on Friday. [04] New 5.2 R quake jolts Santorini and CreteAMNA--Another moderate earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was recorded at 3:33 early Friday in the sea region between the islands of Santorini and Crete. The quake's epicentre was the same as the one recorded for the 5.3 Richter quake on Thursday morning at a distance of 247 kilometers south of Athens, 46km southwest of Santorini and with a shallow depth of approximately 30km.No damage has been reported [05] Athens Newspaper Headlinesิhe Friday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe new measures demanded by the troika (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) ahead of the signing of the new loan agreement and the developments in PASOK party, mostly dominated the headlines on Friday in Athens' newspapers. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "PASOK president George Papandreou confers with his 'gardeners'." AVGHI: "Beheading with PSI? No, thanks...". AVRIANI: "The new memorandum a slaughterhouse for salary earners, pensioners and professionals". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Citizens in state of asphyxiation ...in order for the country to be saved". ESTIA: "George Papandreou: The begetter of the catastrophe". ETHNOS: "Troika's letter to the three party leaders that support Papademos' government". IMERISSIA: "Crucial 48 hours for the new loan agreement". KATHIMERINI: "All the measures of the new Memorandum". LOGOS: "Government will support the 13th and 14th salaries and the minimum wage". NAFTEMPORIKI: "German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble: Take measures now, otherwise forget the loan". NIKI: "Common stance towards the troika on salaries and auxiliary pensions". RIZOSPASTIS: "Proposal for 24-hour strike on February 9". TA NEA: "Troika's orders - Bonuses, minimum wage targeted". VRADYNI: "Ten ways to retire earlier". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |