Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-07-14

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis reiterates Athens' support for Med Union

[02] Papandreou inaugurates Symi symposium events

[03] SYRIZA national conference concluded in Athens

[04] Summer sales period begin on July 15

[05] Greek director wins Best Documentary award at Rome Fiction Fest

[06] City of Athens Children's Choir takes the gold in Choir Olympiad in Austria

[07] Fire breaks out near Lamia, Skyros blaze still burning late Sunday

[08] Heroin bust, two arrested

[09] Olive branch from Crete for Beijing Olympic Games Marathon winner

[10] Hot, windy on Monday

[11] The Sunday edition of Athens' newspapers at a glance

[01] Karamanlis reiterates Athens' support for Med Union

Greece reiterated its support over the weekend for the nascent Mediterranean Union initiative being vigorously promoted by the French EU presidency, with visiting Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis saying Athens has from the first moment backed the idea by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Greek premier arrived in the French capital to participate in an inaugural summit of leaders of countries in a future Union of the Mediterranean, while on Monday he will observe the annual and grandiose military parade through Paris to celebrate Bastille Day.

In statements afterwards, Karamanlis told reporters that issues such as cleaning up the Mediterranean, sea transit, renewable forms of energy, education and even SMEs' development.

"Our country has expressed its active interest in the development of sea lanes in the eastern Mediterranean, so that the region becomes a hub for maritime transports," he said.

Additionally, the Greek PM said it was important that directions were set for returning the Mediterranean to the position it deserves in regional countries' priorities.

Karamanlis, who is accompanied by his spouse, will attend a dinner reception hosted by Sarkozy for attending leaders on Sunday evening.

The Greek PM is accompanied by a high-ranking Greek delegation, including Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.

[02] Papandreou inaugurates Symi symposium events

Prior to a closed-door address in the evening in the Ierissos township, which is hosting the four-day event, Papandreou also referred to internal party issues, charging that "enough of the self-flagellation and defeatism" within the party, "which is many times deliberately projected with constant opinion polls".

The four-day conference, which ends on Thursday and is entitled "Turning point: The courage of Change", will focus on the economic crisis and oil prices, the food crisis, climate change, growth, the global democratic deficit, international organizations and institutions, organized crime, and developments in the European continent.

The conference proper opens on Monday morning, with the discussion focussing on the topic "Oil at 200 dollars, Apples at 10 dollars, Credit, no: Answers to the global shortages and economic recession", while the afternoon session will deal with the topic of "Organised Crime Worldwide".

The annual event is sponsored by the Andreas Papandreou Foundation.

On Friday, delegates will visit nearby Mt. Athos.

Earlier, in addressing local officials, Papandreou launched a scathing attack on the New Democracy (ND) government at the commencement of his four-day stay in verdant Halkidiki prefecture, just hours before inaugurating the symposium.

Papandreou charged that the country was currently in the grips of the "biggest political and economic crisis" since the restoration of democracy, placing the blame on the ND government, which he described as "spineless and frightened".

The only thing the government was doing was to back some interests, instead of helping to solve the real problems faced by the citizens and the country, Papandreou charged.

He added, however, that hope existed for overturning this situation, and stressed his determination to wager the battle, together with the PASOK cadres, to reverse this "sick situation".

Newspaper interview

In a related development, in an interview with the newspaper "Axia", he said that politics retreat when citizens feel that politicians are not offering solutions for their problems, adding that this is currently the wager: finding new progressive solutions for society's past and new claims.

Referring to differences between his party and the ruling New Democracy party, Papandreou said that "conservatism, both here and internationally, is wearing the clothes of progressive slogans to conceal its real image, siding with the few and powerful that leads to the collection of power in the hands of a few and using the state to serve and support these interests."

[03] SYRIZA national conference concluded in Athens

The two-day discussions were attended by hundreds of cadres from SYRIZA-leader Coalition of the Left, varius leftist movements and organizations from the wider left, and representatives of local and branch committees.

Speakers at Saturday's first session included SYRIZA parliamentary group leader Alekos Alavanos and Synaspismos leader Alexis Tsipras.

Tsipras addresses

Synaspismos president Alexis Tsipras on Saturday criticised both mainstream parties, as well as the justice system.

Tsipras said that the two major parties no longer have the apparatuses to absorb increasing dissatisfaction and cannot convince anyone that this political system can provide an outlet and prospects, adding that the citizens cannot trust anyone any more and for this reason they are turning to the Left en masse.

The Coalition leader also wondered "should one trust Greek Justice that is competing with the government in a race on how revelations will be covered up," while stressing that SYRIZA is an original and pioneering venture that requires the widest possible consensus, inspiration and boldness.

On his part, Alavanos said that the two until recently mainstream parties have led Greece to a morass, adding that the political system is in a deep crisis and what is necessary is radical transformation.

"What has characterised our actions in all these past years has been boldness. The ability to detect even small possibilities for the Left and the country and to utilise them," he said, adding that "we used to say that SYRIZA can become 'the' opposition and in the conscience of more and more citizens it has."

Alavanos further said that "today, we are capable of taking the big step forward. To promote and to struggle for an alternative solution, a radical one, one involving a movement, that will provide answers to the big problems of citizens regarding high prices, unemployment, education and health."

Financial News

[04] Summer sales period begin on July 15

The Greek Consumers Centre (ELKEPA) warned consumers, however, to think well before making purchases and not to create artificial needs, not to purchase products cheaply if they do not actually need them and before purchasing they should make a survey of the market, compare prices and select correctly, while shopkeepers are obliged to change defective products purchased during the sales period.

Lastly, each item should have two prices, the one that was valid before the sales period began and the reduced price being offered during the sales period.

General News

[05] Greek director wins Best Documentary award at Rome Fiction Fest

Greek director Anneta Papathanassiou won the Best Documentary Award at the 2008 Roma Fiction Fest on Saturday night in Rome, in the competitive section, for her documentary "Qadir, Enas Afghanos Odysseas" (Qadir, an Afghani Odysseus/Ulysses).

The awarded documentary is a co-production with the Greek Radio/Television Foundation (ERT), the foreign ministry and the production company Orizontas, with the support of the Hellenic Cinema Center and Al-Jazeera.

Papathanassiou's entry in the second edition of the Roma Fiction Fest presents the story of an immigrant from Afghanistan, Qadir, who after nine years in Greece manages to get his "green card" (residency/working permit) and decides to temporarily return to his homeland to search for his parents.

The documentary follows Qadir's journey seeking his parents, to find whether they are still alive after the oppression of the Taliban rule, Papathanassiou told ANA-MPA after receiving the award.

On her professional experience regarding the documentary, Papathanassiou said, adding that "we found an Afghanistan quite different from what we expected...a country with a deep culture that must definitely be helped, a country in which the women are beginning to regain their deserved place".

"It is no coincidence that we also met a woman governor," she continued.

Papathanassiou also revealed that her next documentary will focus on a tribe in Pakistan, the Kalash, who are considered descendents of Alexander the Great.

The 2nd Roma Fiction Fest hosted a total of 194 documentaries, series' and films producted with the participation of television stations in different countries.

Papathanassiou's "Qadir" took top place among 33 other competing documentaries.

[06] City of Athens Children's Choir takes the gold in Choir Olympiad in Austria

The municipal children's choir, which comprises 60 children taught and conducted by Rosie Mastrosavva, took first pace among 66 children's choirs from all over the world competing in the event.

[07] Fire breaks out near Lamia, Skyros blaze still burning late Sunday

The fire in Viotia was developing on three fronts, approximately half a kilometer wide, and two of the fronts, which were moving towards the village, have been partially contained through drops conducted by fire-fighting planes, while the third front was burning out of control in a pine-tree forest, combated by ground and airborne forces.

Immense firefighting forces from central Greece have rushed to the Plataies fire, assisted by 2 Canadair scooping planes and two smaller aircraft.

Meanwhile, an extensive wildfire that broke out in a forested area at Trachy-Mavri Kantilia on Skyros, near the island's airport was still raging on Sunday, and according to initial estimates it had already burned 6,000 stemmas of pine-forest, but without endangering populated areas. A 75-strong force of firefighters with 29 fire engines from all over the country, as well as another foot force of 65 firemen from Athens and Thessaloniki, were taking part in the operation to extinguish the blaze, assisted by eight scooping aircraft and five firefighting helicopters, but efforts were hampered by strong winds in the area.

Four more fires broke out on Sunday in the prefectures of Corinth and Xanthi.

In Corinth, two fires broke out at noon on Sunday in the villages of Athikia and Kalentzi, within 10 minutes of each other.

Both blazes were abating several hours later, while a strong firefighting force was battling to place the flames under control, with land forces aided by Canadair scooping planes.

In Xanthi, two fires broke out on Sunday near the villages of Melissa and Simantra. The Melissa blaze, which was abating, has burned more than 80,000 stemmas of brush, while the Simantra fire has been contained. Firefighters were being assisted by two firefighting planes, water trucks and municipal landfill trucks, while firefighters from nearby prefectures also rushed to their assistance. No populated areas were threatened by either of the two blazes, according to officials.

Further, a fire broke out in the mountainous area of Kerameion on Saturday afternoon near Chania, on the island of Crete. The fire broke out in a sheep pen located a short distance from a populated area. Six fire engines, manned by a team of 15 firefighters, rushed to the site and managed to quickly extinguish the blaze. But the flames had quickly engulfed the sheep pen, before help arrived, burning a dozen sheep and goats, and several olive oil and cypress trees.

The cause of the fire was being investigated.

[08] Heroin bust, two arrested

The two were arrested after the drug was found in their posession, while police also confiscated 95 euros resulting from drug sales, and three cell phones used for communication in drug trafficking.

Beijing Olympic Games

[09] Olive branch from Crete for Beijing Olympic Games Marathon winner

The Mayor of Kolymvari, to which the village belongs administratively, Polychronis Polychronidis said during the relevant ceremony that "the life of the olive tree is assessed as being since the era that the Olympic Games had been established in ancient times."

Weather Forecast

[10] Hot, windy on Monday

[11] The Sunday edition of Athens' newspapers at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "I gazed in wonder on Greece twice from Space - The Greek 'Gagarin' (Yuri, Russian cosmonaut), Dr. Theodore Yurchikhin (Greek-Russian cosmonaut from the Black Sea area) the person of honor this past week in Athens".

APOGEVMATINI: "Simitis' (PASOK former prime minister and former party leader) three accusations against George (PASOK leader Papandreou)".

AVGHI: "Alogoskoufis (economy and finance minister) issue arises - Obvious political responsibilities in Cosmote-Germanos deal".

AVRIANI: "SDOE (financial crimes squad) and prosecutor's swoop on OTE - Government-PASOK clash over the 'Germanos' acquisition".

CHORA: "They set up bogus companies for the C4I (Athens 2004 Olympics security system) - They divided the kickbacks amongst themselves and then disappeared - Who took the 20 million euros, and how", adding that all-night secret meetings were taking place at a building near the public order ministry between (then) PASOK ministers and party cadres with executives of SAIC-Siemens even before the tender for the Olympiad's security system was announced, between mid-2002 and early-2003.

ETHNOS: "The magic trick that vanished the kickbacks".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "From the Germans to 'Germanos' - The scandals pendulum".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "From 'Germanos' (also the Greek word for German) to Germanos - Siemens and Cosmote-Germanos nearing sideways the government, which is now facing fire from inside the ruling party".

KATHIMERINI: "Political storm forecast due to Siemens affair and economy - Quandaries for Karamanlis and Papandreou".

LOGOS: "Catharsis of political life is mandatory - The Siemens affair 'cracking' the two-party scenery".

NIKI: "Immense looting with 'Germanos' - Its acquisition by Cosmote a high-calibre scandal".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The burdens on the working mother and the working-class family must be ameliorated - KKE (Communist Party of Greece) positions on protection of motherhood".

TO VIMA: "They fear...new party, and are not mulling more expulsions - The European Parliament elections a nightmare for ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK".

VRADYNI: "60,200 new jobs - And subsidies for creation of new businesses".

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