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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-04-30Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Monday, 30 April 2012 Issue No: 4058CONTENTS
[01] Campaigning enters final week before electionPolitical parties leaders continued nationwide tours on Sunday, speaking to various audiences in different cities and towns, exactly a week before an early general election in the country."We commit, we guarantee, we can; now is the citizens' hours, the great democracy front," PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos said from Larissa in central Greece. He also opined that his socialist party will come in first because "it is located in the middle of the political spectrum and because it can ensure the national rally that the country needs. Speaking in Hania, Crete on Sunday, New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras told a rally of supporters that "elections will provide the results that the Greek people want, namely, a strong government, so that the country will be governed through difficult times," he said, adding: "I want to ask, in this difficult hour for Greece, that it must proceed and change page ... we have the opportunity to have a strong government, one with a strong popular mandate in order for certain things to proceed." On his part, Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) head Alexis Tsipras called on "leftists, communists, PASOK voters, ecologists and anyone that wants to change the course of things in the country" to back his party. He spoke during a press conference the Zappeion Hall in central Athens on Sunday. Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance party leader Dora Bakoyannis told supporters in Rethymno, Crete that both mainstream parties are "incorrigible". [02] Venizelos: Greece will exit from Memorandum in three yearsPASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos set as his goal Greece's permanent exit from the Memorandum in three years during the presentation of his party's platform at "Karatzas Hall" in Athens on Saturday.Venizelos stressed that 2/3 of the way has been covered adding that in three years Greece will be fiscally self sufficient and an equal member of the eurozone. However, PASOK leader noted in order for this to be achieved the national restructuring programme he proposes must be adopted by the Greek people who must give a clear mandate and as well as the creation of a national political and social rally must be forged. [03] PASOK party leader Venizelos addresses Thessaloniki rallyPASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos, addressing an open rally in the city of Thessaloniki on Sunday, stressed that the "key" to the May 6 elections lies with "those who voted for PASOK in 2009 and who are disappointed, sceptical, undecided and reserved today".Venizelos added that he was "appealing to them now, looking at them in the eyes, telling them the truth, calling on them to trust him, to vote for PASOK again, to support the national reconstruction plan" that he proposes for the country's disengagement from the memorandum in three years. Venizelos further said that the May 6 elections "are not Euroelections, they are not an opinion poll with ballot boxes, they are the most crucial elections that will not merely determine what the new Parliament shall be and what government will be formed, but they shall determine the fate of the country for many decades and for many generations." [04] ND party leader Samaras calls for strong mandate to stabilise country, unite peopleNew Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras, addressing a rally in an indoor stadium in the city of Iraklio on the island of Crete on Sunday evening, stressed that Greece shall succeed and called for a strong mandate to stabilise the country and unite the people.Samaras criticised the PASOK party, Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Parliamentary Group president Alexis Tsipras, Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos and the far-rightwingers and spoke of "new and old parties that are doing everything so that we shall not get a strong mandate." The ND leader further said that Greece needs a plan and consistency and pointed out that PASOK has neither of the two. "Who will believe them now, either inside or outside Greece," he wondered. [05] Samaras sents message for creativity and self-confidenceNew Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras on Saturday sent a message for creativity, work and self confidence as well a turn of the page in the Greek citizen's psychology, during his speech at the Labour Centre of Almyros, central Greece.Samaras stressed that all these can be fullfilled only by his party, which has as its flag and only hopes in one word "Development". Underlining that in Greece we are holding the world record of sending away the investors, Samaras noted that "we are obliged to set again the things in their place, to exonerate the enterpreneurship and to be close to the worker without doing extremities as the horizontal cutbacks in pensions. [06] SYRIZA leader speaks in Xanthi, visits minority communitiesSYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras reiterated on Friday evening his adamant position against the Memorandum, during his address in the northeastern Greek city of Xanthi.Tsipras sternly criticised the parties that supported Lucas Papademos' government (New Democracy, PASOK and LAOS) and presented his party's position for the country's exit from the crisis. Afterwards speaking to the press, Tsipras noted that the time for the people to speak is coming and the "ruling political establishment in Greece that supported with passion the memorandum and did not consider the society but only its own interest will be in a state of panic". Earlier, SYRIZA leader visited the local minority communities of Ehinos and Kentauros and talked with members of the muslim community of Xanthi . [07] US Democrats' global primary election next SundayAmerican citizens resident in Greece can participate in a US presidential global primary election conducted by the Democrats Abroad group next Sunday, May 6, a date that coincides with the Greek general election.Between May 1 and May 6, US citizens around the world will head to 91 voting centres in 33 countries to help select the Democratic nominee for president by electing overseas delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Voters can choose from a long list of delegates committed to renominating President Barack Obama and a shorter list of uncommitted delegates. The voting centre for Greece will be at the University of Indianapolis cultural centre -- 5, Markou Avriliou st. in Plaka, adjacent to the Tower of the Winds monument. Ballots can be cast in person at the centre from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on voting Sunday. Members can also vote by requesting an absentee ballot at [email protected] by April 30. Financial News [08] Foreign Exchange rates - MondayReference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:U.S. dollar 1.342 Pound sterling 0.827 Danish kroner 7.550 Swedish kroner 9.035 Japanese yen 108.35 Swiss franc 1.219 Norwegian kroner 7.701 Canadian dollar 1.319 Australian dollar 1.286 General News [09] Illegal migrants arrested in CorinthA 50 year-old truck driver was arrested on Friday evening at the port of Corinth for transporting illegal migrants.Coast Guard officers found in a secret compartment in the truck, fifty illegal migrants lacking official documents. The truck was confiscated and the illegal migrants were arrested. [10] 3 illegal migrants die after car overturns in Evros prefectureThree people identified as illegal immigrants were killed in the early morning hours of Sunday after a vehicle they were riding in overturned during a car chase in Evros prefecture, extreme NE Greece.According to reports issued by Greek Police and Frontex, another four would-be migrants in the vehicle were seriously injured. Authorities said the driver of the car failed to stop for an inspection along a rural roadway in the border prefecture. The four injured people, identified as two Chinese nationals and two Iranians, were hospitalised in the city of Alexandroupolis. In a related development, a Syrian national was arrested along the banks of the Evros River, separating Greece and Turkey in the Thrace province, on migrant smuggling charges. The suspect was apprehended in a boat along with six illegal immigrants that had just crossed the river from the Turkish side. No information was given on the identity of the illegal immigrants. The Evros region has sprung to the limelight of European attention of late as a main "route" for mostly Third World migrants trying to enter the European Union via Turkey. [11] New migrant detention facility opens north of AthensThe first of 30 recently announced illegal migrant detention centres was opened early Sunday afternoon in the Amygdaleza township, north of Athens, inside the perimeter of a police academy.According to initial reports, a total of 56 foreign nationals -- all identified as illegal immigrants -- were transferred to the new facility. Moreover, a team of Hellenic Center for Disease Control & Prevention (KEEL.PNO) staff members was dispatched to the site. The placement of the new detention centre has generated angry reactions by local residents, with another protest rally scheduled for later in the day. [12] Police give name, photo of HIV-infected woman charged with prostitutionGreek Police (EL.AS) on Sunday took the unprecedented decision to announce the name and photograph of an HIV-injected 22-year-old woman who allegedly worked as a prostitute.According to reports, the woman, a Russian national, was arrested in an illegal brothel in the centre of the city. A press release by police said publication of her name and photograph aims to protect public health, combat instances of HIV-infected individuals working in the sex trade and to dissuade similar behaviour. Additionally, authorities called on men who believe they may have had sex with the specific woman to immediately seek HIV testing. The suspect has been charged with felonious bodily injury and a handful of misdemeanors related to illegal prostitution. She was remanded in custody. Sports [13] Second annual 'Attica 3 Races' event held over weekendA bicycle race running past the Acropolis and the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion was held on Sunday for the second consecutive year, the two-day "Attica 3 Races".The start of Sunday's stamina race took place at 9 a.m. outside the New Acropolis Museum with the sounds of the Athens municipality's Philharmonic and with more than 200 cyclists attempting the 69-kilometre course ending at Cape Sounion. The weekend race was sponsored by the Bicycle Union of Veteran Athletes and the Athens municipality's organisation of culture, sport and youth. [14] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glanceThe upcoming May 6 general elections in Greece dominated the front pages of Athens' Sunday newspapers.AVGHI: "With the left leading we're changing page". DIMOKRATIA: "Samaras' gamble for protest vote to become positive vote". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Covert trends transforming the (upcoming election) results". EPOCHI: "We can without them," the slogan of leftist SYRIZA party. ETHNOS: "Lack of government a nightmare .. 50 percent wager for PASOK, ND". KATHIMERINI: "Scenarios for the next day (after elections)". L0GOS: "Desperate...households - Number of households unable to repay their loans on the rise". PROTO THEMA (weekly): "Panic from latest opinion polls". REAL NEWS (weekly): "10 party leaders provide answer to newspaper". RIZOSPASTIS: Banners a headline on the Communist Party's candidate tickets. TO PARON (weekly): "Hidden opinion poll results". VIMA: "Opinion polls of rage". VRADYNI: "Samaras plan for SMEs, pensioners". 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana-mpa.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ILIAS MATSIKAS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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