[ana-dist] Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-12-03

[HR-Net News Distribution Manager]

Monday,  3  December  2012          Issue No: 4237

CONTENTS
[01] PM: With reforms implemented, no more pension, wage cuts
[02] Venizelos: PASOK against elimination of tax break for children;
      attack on SYRIZA
[03] DI.MAR leader against tax changes
[04] SYRIZA leader again calls for early elections
[05] Gov't spokesman on Tsipras statements
[06] Tsipras on renegotiation of 'memorandum'
[07] Dep.FM completes high-profile visit to China
[08] Former PM condemns press report claiming he's on so-called
      'Lagarde list'
[09] 'Greek Day' on Wall Street
[10] Gov't dismisses press reports of PPC rate hikes
[11] Stolen items returned to ancient Olympia museum
[12] Homeless man critically injured in fire
[13] Rain on Monday
[14] The Sunday edition of Athens' papers at a glance
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Politics

[01] PM: With reforms implemented, no more pension, wage cuts

The agreement is viable," Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was quoted
as saying in an interview published on Saturday by an Athens weekly,
in reference to the recent Eurogroup decisions.

He also noted that if the country implements necessary reforms, no more
cutbacks in salaries and pension will be taken.

Samaras added that a bonds buy-back process does not concern pension
funds and that the money channeled into the market in 2013 is greater
than austerity measures.

He pointed out that greater liquidity is the goal in order to reverse
the vicious circle of recession.

Moreover, Samaras again indirectly attacked the so-called "drachma lobby"
in Greece and abroad, saying that if the country exited the eurozone
the situation would worsen, with even harsher measures then necessary.

Referring to his political opponents, the prime minister said he feels
ashamed that certain politicians clearly demonstrated that they would
have preferred a failure last week in Brussels, terming as "malicious"
the criticism that the eurogroup solution is not final.

"Those claiming that the country will be turned into a debt colony are
ridiculous," he concluded.

His interview was published in the Sunday weekly "Proto Thema".

[02] Venizelos: PASOK against elimination of tax break for children;
attack on SYRIZA

A framework that will boost the real economy and lead to an exit from
the crisis in the wake of recent Eurogroup decisions was emphasised on
Saturday by PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, who addressed a conference
of his party's organising committee in downtown Athens.

Venizelos noted that changes in the tax regime should not include an
abolition of tax breaks for children, adding that "we will heal" the
injustices in the law regarding disability pensions and the payment of
the civil servants retirement lump sums.

The PASOK leader sternly attacked main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis
Tsipras, saying the latter 'is ignorant of the danger" and that with
his statements undermine investment prospects in the country, something
Venizelos called "suspicious and deplorable".

Referring to PASOK's initiatives in the coming weeks, Venizelos said that
on Monday PASOK will present its proposal to declare the ultra-nationalist
Chryssi Avghi (Golden Dawn) party unconstitutional".

Moreover, he added that a prerequisite for national recovery is that the
current government completes its four-year tenure, while in the meantime
operating with coordination, stability and with clear rules regarding
not only the three-party majority but also within the government, in
statements carried by the Saturday edition of "Ta Nea

[03] DI.MAR leader against tax changes

Democratic Left (DI.MAR) leader Fotis Kouvelis on Saturday expressed his
disagreement over tax hikes and elimination of tax breaks, particularly
the abolition of breaks for families with children, noting however,
that a final decision has not been taken.

Moreover, he said that in the next days a draft law for over-indebted
households will be completed, explaining that "the target is for no one
to have to pay more that 30 percent of his total income".

Kouvelis' statements were published in the Saturday edition of
"Imerissia". .

[04] SYRIZA leader again calls for early elections

Main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras on Sunday, during his
closing remarks at the party's nationwide conference, again aimed his
criticism at the government, stressing that "the only service left for
you to offer the country and democracy is not to accept the 'no solution'
that Eurogroup offered you, but to open the way to the people to give
a solution with their verdict."

Tsipras called the government to "smoothly lead" the country to general
elections.

Greece held repeat general elections in 2012, in both May and June.

Moreover, the SYRIZA leder expressed a certainty that the recent
Eurogroup's decisions cannot lead the country out of the crisis, adding
that very soon the government will face increased pressure and will
unveil new austerity measures.

[05] Gov't spokesman on Tsipras statements

Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, commenting on Sunday in response
to main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras' address at a party
conference, charged that "it is the first time that the head of the
main opposition officially wished for Greece's bankruptcy and exit
from Europe".

[06] Tsipras on renegotiation of 'memorandum'

"The minimum patriotic duty of a coalition government with mandate for
the renegotiation and disengagement from the Memorandum is not to accept
a repetition of the same disastrous choices," main opposition SYRIZA
leader Alexis Tsipras was quoted by the Athens daily "Ta Nea" on Saturday.

Tsipras said the government should not accept the "looting" of social
security funds in order to buy back bonds and use it as a pre-election
campaign "gift" to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The SYRIZA leader also opined that as long as the recession escalates
"semi- measures" for the debt will last for only three months.

[07] Dep.FM completes high-profile visit to China

SHANGHAI (AMNA)

Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas on Sunday completed an
official visit to China with an address at a business forum here.

In his address, Kourkoulas reiterated Athens' message to international
investors, stressing that "now is the right time to invest in Greece,"
with discussions, on both the official and business level, pointing to
additional Chinese investments in the east Mediterranean country. The
talks come in light of Chinese multinational Cosco's successful investment
at the port of Piraeus, something that Cosco's leadership confirmed.

Speaking to AMNA, Kourkoulas expressed satisfaction with the organisation
of his visits and contacts, as well as the noteworthy promotion of the
business forum in the Chinese media.

Reviewing the results of his contacts, the Greek official stressed that
the maritime shipping sector remains the main pylon of Greece-China
bilateral cooperation, given that 120 Greek-owned vessels are currently
being constructed in Chinese shipyards, while a whopping 30 percent of
China's foreign trade is carried by Greek-owned vessels.

Another growing and important sector is exports of Greek agricultural
products to China, with the goal being to expand the market beyond
Shanghai and Beijing.

Moreover, a report that the China Development Bank is considering a
mission to Athens was warmly received by the Chinese and the Greek sides,
given that beyond funding large-scale Chinese investors, such a prospect
would be positive for the Greek economy.

Finally, Cosco's leadership also welcomed Kourkoulas, with the
multinational's president, Capt. Wei Jiafu, reminding that Cosco's
managers that the company aims to turn Piraeus into a "regional centre
of distribution".

[08] Former PM condemns press report claiming he's on so-called
'Lagarde list'

Press reports in at least one mass weekly on Sunday, claiming that
ex-premier George Papandreou and his mother, Margaret, are amongst the
depositors on the so-called "Lagarde list", generated a harsh reaction
by the former.

In a statement late Saturday, Papandreou said "it is obvious that the
articles target me and the policy I applied against all political and
self-serving expidiences".

Additionally, a statement issued by Margaret Papandreou stated that
"from now on justice (court system) will have the first say".

Financial News

[09] 'Greek Day' on Wall Street

NEW YORK(AMNA-P.Panagiotou)

Friday was "Greek Day" on Wall Street, with Development Minister Costis
Hatzidakis sounding the "closing bell" at Friday's session.

This special event is organised every year within the framework of the
investment forum, "Capital Link", which features Greece , the Greek
delegation and companies that participate in the event as well as
companies with a Greece link that are listed in the NYSE.

Hatzidakis was accompanied by Environment, Energy & Climate Change Deputy
Minister Assimakis Papageorgiou

[10] Gov't dismisses press reports of PPC rate hikes

Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou on Sunday evening issued a statement
flatly denying weekend press reports claiming that the Public Power
Corp. (PPC) is eying significant increases in electricity rates.

"Claims of increases in PPC rates are not based in reality. These are
clearly journalistic scenarios," a statement read. The spokesman said
he asked for and was briefed on the matter by the relevant deputy energy
minister.

General News

[11] Stolen items returned to ancient Olympia museum

A brief but special ceremony was held at the Museum of Olympic Games
History at the ancient Olympia archaeological site on Sunday to unveil
the artifacts that were stolen from the same museum last February,
generating an international furor over lax security at the facility.

Alternate Culture Minister Costas Tzavaras thanked the law enforcement
authorities who recovered the priceless items. Several suspects, in
Patras and Athens, were arrested and charged with the audacious early
morning robbery at the museum.

[12] Homeless man critically injured in fire

A homeless man, believed to be a foreign national, was in critical
condition on Saturday after suffering serious burns when his makeshift
shelter under a bridge in central Athens caught fire in the early
morning hours.

The blaze spread rapidly to a pile of old clothes and papers, while
initial reports cited that an antiquated oil burner was found in the
makeshift shelter.

Firefighters rescued the man from the blaze. He was taken to an Athens
area hospital. An investigation was launched into the incident.

Weather forecast

[13] Rain on Monday

Rain and northerly winds are forecast for Monday. Wind velocity will
reach 9 on the Beaufort scale. Rainy weather in the northern parts, with
temperatures ranging from 7C-15C. Same weather in central and southern
Greece, 9C-17C; rain on the islands, 16C-20C. Overcast in Athens, 11C-17C;
rain in Thessaloniki, 8C-13C.

[14] The Sunday edition of Athens' papers at a glance

AVGHI: SYRIZA nationwide conference's message: Ready for government of
social salvation".

ELETHEROS TYPOS: "New landscape in government, political parties".

ETHNOS: "Church Metropolitans' suspicious bank deposits".

KATHIMERINI: "PM Antonis Samaras' direct aims: Privatisations, overdue
debt and infrastructure works in progress".

PROTO THEMA: "Antonis Samaras' across-the-board interview: Opportunity
will not be lost- Pension funds excluded from bonds buy back".

REAL NEWS: "German FinMin Wolfgang Schauble's document a 'bomb' for
Greek debt".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Call for struggle to all workers in all labour unions".

TO PARON: "Banks' rebellion - Halt to bonds' buy-back".

VIMA: "A Europe of accountants and ... 'gifts' ".

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