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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 10-04-06Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Tuesday, 6 April 2010 Issue No: 3460CONTENTS
[01] Political leaders' Easter holidayPresident of the Republic Karolos Papoulias celebrated Easter Sunday with the officers and airmen of the 135th combat wing based on the central Aegean island of Skyros.Prime Minister George Papandreou spent his Easter holidays on Hydra island and in a statement referred to today's difficult times for the country and wished "the Ressurection of Christ to give us strenght, happiness and fellow feelings" expressing his optimism that the country will surpass the difficulties and gave his best wishes to all Greeks. Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras visited the 6th regiment in Corinth from where he sent a message of unity. "Ressurection means I struggle for the best, but today the Greek people is climbing its own Calvary, at a time that the country's economic model of development has gone bankrupt. The crisis demands bold and responsible solutions and rifts," he noted. Samaras attended the mass of the ressurection in the city of Nafplio, northeastern Peloponnese expressing afterwards his optimism that the country will manage to surpass the difficulties it encounters. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left (SYRIZA) leader stayed in Athens for the Easter holiday while Popular Orthodox Party (LAOS) president George Karatzaferis was in Atalanti, central Greece. [02] PM message for EasterPrime Minister George Papandreou issued a message for Easter, noting that "the ressurection is closely connected with the hope, power of joy and the beginning of the spring. Despite whatever difficulties, I know we will succeed. We will succeed together to make a creative Greece. Allow me to wish everyone good health, happiness and strength".[03] Alternate FM on Greek-Turkish relationsAlternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, quoted during an interview for a Sunday newspaper, stressed on Saturday that "we are working to give Greece the position it deserves, therefore, a major priority towards this effort is relations with Turkey.""Escalating Turkish provocations do not faze us. But we must be ready for any possibility ... We want to believe in Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's positive messages. Now is the right time to show that he means them, with actions," Droutsas, who is due to visit Ankara next week, said. Turning to another issue, Droutsas said the "North Macedonia" option falls within the framework of a solution Athens desires for the fYRoM "name issue". His comments were carried by the Athens weekly "Real News". [04] Employment minister hospitalised for testsEmployment Minister Andreas Loverdos has been admitted to the "Nimits" hospital in Athens for tests.Loverdos was admitted shortly before 11 on Sunday night and while he was in the prefecture of Imathia he was taken to a hospital in the city of Veria suffering from stomach pain and left for Athens at about 4 in the morning to be taken to the "Nimits" hospital. [05] Tsipras: PM responsible if IMF option finally chosenCoalition of the Left (SYRIZA) Parliamentary group leader Alexis Tsipras opined on Saturday that the government's austerity measures prove that ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy's plans to deal with the crisis converge, in comments carried in an interview for the 'Real News" weekly.Tsipras also charged that the government is "co-governing" with the Popular Orthodox Party (LA.OS) party. Referring to the possibility of recourse to the IMF, he stressed "Prime Minister George Papandreou will be entirely responsible if we, in the end, seek recourse to the IMF". [06] Former PM passes awayFormer prime minister Tzannis Tzannetakis passed away on Thursday at the age of 82, at a hospital in Athens. Tzannetakis had briefly served as premier between July and October 1989, as head of a coalition government formed by New Democracy and a coalition of left-wing parties that included the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).The following announcement was issued by his office: "Former prime minister Tzannis Tzannetakis passed away at the 'Errikos Dynan' Hospital at 16.44 today. His funeral will talke place next week on a day and at a time that will be communicated with another announcement." The funeral will take place at 15:00 next Wednesday, April 7, at the Metamorfoseos tou Sotiros church in Kefalari, Kifissia. The president, prime minister and several Greek politicians and parties made statements on Friday concerning the passing of Tzannetakis, who also served as minister and was a senior member of the New Democracy party. President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias issued a statement saying that Tzannetakis had linked his life with the history of the country, consistently fighting for his beliefs and for democracy, and offering his condolences to the late premier's family. Prime Minister George Papandreou said that his death marked the loss of a politician that had faithfully served his principles and had been a devoted champion of democracy. Honorary ND president Constantine Mitsotakis stressed in a statement that Tzannetakis had served Greece and democracy with faith and devotion, from whatever 'battlement' he had manned, always avoiding pointless conflict and seeking synthesis and cooperation. Statements regarding his death were also issued on Friday by Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis, ND MP Dora Bakoyannis, Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis and the Central Political Committee of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party, which praised him as a "sincere and mannerly politician that served his views with moderation". They were preceded by statements issued on Thursday night by main opposition ND leader Antonis Samaras, who had described Tzannetakis as a 'patrician' of politics, former ND leader Costas Karamanlis and Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis. General News [07] Tempi intersection open until SundayThe Tempi section of the country's main north-south highway, which has been closed since mid-December following a massive landslide, reopened at noon on Thursday to Easter holidaymakers, and will reclose for completion of repairs after the holiday. Cars passing through Tempi will not able to stop or park and all parking areas are closed.Tempi has been closed to traffic since December 17, 2009 following a landslide that claimed the life of an Italian engineer, who was project director of a tunnel being constructed at the site, while arriving to inspect damage caused by falling rocks, opened temporarily to facilitate the Easter holidaymakers. The Tempi intersection will remain in operation until the Sunday after Easter (April 11). Infrastructures, Transports and Networks minister Dimitris Reppas on Monday expressed satisfaction with the progress in the restoration works, noting that it is a complex project that, according to the relevant study, required interventions at 12 points. Of those, he added, the nine interventions have been completed, while the remaining three points do not present risk to motorists and their completion requires material that the contractor carrying out the project will take delivery of in 10-15 days. [08] Two explosive devices set on CretePolice on the island of Crete have reported two incidents involving explosive devices set between Thursday night and Friday morning, one of which exploded and caused minor damage to premises also used as a place of worship.The device that exploded had been placed at the entrance of a building that housed the offices of the "Spiritual and Cultural Association of Arab Solidarity and Peace" in Kaminia. Police retrieved a gas canister and the remains of a plastic container that had contained of petrol. Late on Thursday night, authorities found and neutralised a makeshift bomb left on the stairs of the Arkalohori village hall, acting on a warning call made to an Athens-based television station. The device consisted of a 10-litre barrel filled with stones, 5.5 kilos of explosives collected from old shells, two common detonators with slow-burning fuses and a digital watch without a battery. In the same telephone call, the unknown caller said that a proclamation had been left on a bench at Eleftherias Square in the Cretan city of Iraklio. This was recovered and found to contain abuse and threats against a family living in the area. [09] Two dead from fireworks mishapsA 21-year-old man was killed on Saturday night and another man was seriously injured in the village of Karterado on the island Santorini island while attempting to construct fireworks for the celebration of the midnight Easter Saturday Mass. In a separate incident at Firostefani, also on Santorini, a 28-years-old man was seriously injured under the same circumstances.Finally, a 25-year-old man died in a car explosion in the southern Peloponnese prefecture of Messinia on Saturday after oxygen-filled balloons he was transporting ignited under unknown circumstances. The man's body was found charred. [10] Teenager killed by handmade fireworkA 17 years old teenager was killed on Monday in Vorous village at Heraklion, Crete when a handmade firework exploded in his hands.[11] Foreign national arrested for mugging of elderly ItalianPolice in Orestiada on Friday reported the arrest of a 38-year-old Bulgarian national, who was charged with mugging a 73-year-old Italian man.The 73-year-old, barefoot and with injuries to his face and head, was later picked up by a passing driver at the 10th kilometre of the Ormenio-Alexandroupolis national road. The elderly man said that he had been attacked by an unknown assailant that had taken his car, a large sum of money and his personal effects. Police launched a search and found the 38-year-old Bulgarian in a taxi, wearing the shoes and jacket of the victim. Also in his possession at the time were the keys to the stolen car and the stolen money. The 73-year-old was taken to Didimotichos hospital for first aid and the suspect will be led before a public prosecutor to be charged. [12] Woman wanted in Italy arrested in ThessalonikiA 58 years-old Albanian woman wanted by Italian authorities on drug smuggling charges was arrested on Saturday in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. The suspect will be sent before a Thessaloniki prosecutor in order to start extradition proceedingsWeather Forecast [13] Cloudy, rainy on TuesdayCloudy and rainy weather and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the country on Tuesday, with wind velocity reaching 3-8 beaufort. Temperatures will range between 6C and 20C. Cloudy with possible showers in Athens, with northerly 4-6 beaufort winds and temperatures ranging from 8C to 19C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures ranging from 9C to 18C.[14] The Saturday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe economy, looming changes in the tax system and long-standing problems dealing with tax evasion and social security reforms mostly dominated the headlines on Saturday in Athens' newspapers.ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Kallikratis (local administration reforms and mergers) plan at risk". APOGEVMATINI: "Up to 30 percent cuts in pensions". AVGHI: "The passion (of tax, income cuts) will continue after Easter". AVRIANI: "All the changes in pensions and taxation". CHORA: "Government's measures freeze market - Dramatic SOS by thousands of enterprises". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Undercover police for tax evaders". ETHNOS : "Interior Ministry to announce Kallikratis plan during Easter". KATHIMERINI: "Auditors to supervise all expenses in all ministries". LOGOS: "Government in a rush to catch up with developments". NIKI: "Terror prevails in ruling party PASOK and main opposition New Democracy over changes Kallikratis plan will bring". PROTO THEMA: "Tax bureau opening bank accounts for tax evasion". RIZOSPASTIS: "Response to people's tax looting with demonstrations on April 8". TO PARON: "Opinion poll: "Hey, George (Papandreou, the prime minister) we 'lost' in Brussels". TO VIMA: "Finance Ministry opens war on 1.251 owners of offshore companies - 15 percent tax penalty every year". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Government recourse to IMF in May". VETO: "George prepares prison cells - He's decided to send even ministers to jail". VRADYNI: "The new regulations in social security - Which is the best time to retire". 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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