Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 15-07-05

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

Sunday, june 21, 2015

CONTENTS

[01] Official results of Greek referendum released by the Interior Ministry ( 95.63 pct of votes counted)

[02] President Pavlopoulos casts his vote, urges Greeks to remain united

[03] Greek President says Greece will remain in eurozone, calls political leaders' council meeting

[04] PM Tsipras: Tomorrow we return to the negotiating table

[05] PM Tsipras speaks on phone with French President Hollande

[06] French President Hollande to meet Chancellor Merkel on Monday

[07] Merkel, Hollande call for EU summit on Greece on Tuesday

[08] EC chief Juncker says Commission takes note, respects Greek vote

[09] European Parliament head Schulz says Greece will need humanitarian aid

[10] Russian official says Athens strengthened negotiating position after referendum

[11] Podemos leader says "Democracy won in Greece"

[12] FinMin Varoufakis: 'Tomorrow we extend hand of cooperation to our partners'

[13] SYRIZA will abstain from SKAI TV shows

[14] Main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras resigns

[15] Parliament president Konstantopoulou: Greek people's strong No to the blackmails and the ultimatums

[16] Gov't spokesman Sakellaridis optimistic over referendum result

[17] FinMin Varoufakis rejects press reports on agreement with lenders in 24 hours

[18] FM Kotzias on the referendum

[19] Greek top negotiator Tsakalotos says government will negotiate economically sustainable agreement

[20] This is a historical day for the Greek people and Europe, Interior Min Voutsis says

[21] Greek citizens are proud, Labour Min Skourletis says

[22] Greek bank branches to open on Monday for some transactions, pensioners

[23] ECB prepared to 'do more' to shore up eurozone, Coeure says; France's Macron says talks must continue

[24] Foreign Minister Kotzias leaves on working visit to Israel

[25] ANEL leader Kammenos: The Greek people said 'No' to their impoverishment and 'Yes' to a democratic Europe

[26] ND deputy Bakoyannis asks for the resignation of party leader Samaras

[27] New Democracy sources comment on MP Bakoyiannis' call for resignation of party leader Samaras

[28] ANA-MPA publishes the report in German 'Focus' magazine for Potami leader Theodorakis

[29] SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government should not use the referendum result to impose new tough measures, sec gen Koutsoumbas says

[30] PASOK supports the prospect of a viable solution, party leader says

[31] PASOK to support the new phase of negotiations

[32] Chief of Bank Associations on bank safe deposit boxes

[33] Majority of Germans feel 'compassion' for Greeks, Bild poll finds

[34] Weather forecast: Monday Politics

[01] Official results of Greek referendum released by the Interior Ministry ( 95.63 pct of votes counted)

NO: 61.31 %

YES: 38.69 %

Voters participation reaches 62.49 percent

[02] President Pavlopoulos casts his vote, urges Greeks to remain united

"This day belongs to the citizen alone. He is called to decide, in accordance to his conscience and exclusively guided by the national best interests, on the future of our country and our people. I add only this, the historically self-evident: regardless of the outcome of the referendum, we have an obligation to tread the difficult path of tomorrow with absolute unity. This is what our forebears did at crucial times and this is our obligation today. We proceed, therefore, all together."

[03] Greek President says Greece will remain in eurozone, calls political leaders' council meeting

The President noted that Greece's will to remain in the eurozone and Europe is also nonnegotiable. He stressed the importance of "forging our national unity and unanimity to shape a healthy and strong national front to restore normalcy in the economy and to immediately claim a solution to the problems in the negotiations with our partners."

Pavlopoulos agreed with Tsipras' statement of ending the "strangulation of the economy" and added that Greek proposals will be realistic and logical. "We're in a position to promote immediately a meaningful negotiation to find a reliable solution and an honorable compromise for the good of Europe," the President said. "They must all understand that Europe goes through compromise rather than through divisions."

Tsipras also asked Pavlopoulos to convene the council of political leaders, which the President accepted.

[04] PM Tsipras: Tomorrow we return to the negotiating table

"At this time the place needs more than ever unity in order to overcome the difficulties," said Tsipras.

Referring to the outcome of the referendum, the Prime Minister stressed that "the Greek people have changed the question of dialogue in Europe. The question 'in or out of the euro' must go for good. The people gave an answer to what Europe they want and replied that they want a Europe of solidarity."

"Europe cannot be a one-way road of memoranda and austerity," he underlined.

He stressed that the debt issue will now be set at the negotiating table adding that the IMF report confirms the Greek position on the need to restructure the debt.

Tsipras said first priority is to restore economic stability and the operation of the banking system. He expressed the confidence that "the ECB fully understands the situation." "We are ready to continue negotiations on the basis of social justice and the transfer of the burden from the weak to financially strong ones," he stated.

"There are no easy solutions, but there are fair, viable solutions, provided that both sides want them," according to the prime minister. He added that the mandate is not a mandate for rupture, but a mandate for a viable solution, which he will safeguard without delays.

[05] PM Tsipras speaks on phone with French President Hollande

[06] French President Hollande to meet Chancellor Merkel on Monday

"The meeting is taking place in the framework of constant cooperation between France and Germany in order to contribute to a sustainable solution for Greece," according to the announcement.

[07] Merkel, Hollande call for EU summit on Greece on Tuesday

Both leaders agreed that the Greek people's vote 'must be respected", Berlin said in an announcement.

[08] EC chief Juncker says Commission takes note, respects Greek vote

"President Juncker is consulting tonight and tomorrow with the democratically elected leaders of the other 18 eurozone members as well as with the heads of the EU institutions. He will have a conference call among the "Euro-Institutionals" (with the President of the Euro Summit, the President of the Euro Group and the President of the European Central Bank) on Monday morning. He intends to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday," the statement said.

The announcement said Juncker took note of and respects the result of the Greek vote.

[09] European Parliament head Schulz says Greece will need humanitarian aid

He said the government's pledge to open banks tomorrow "seems very difficult and dangerous", while noting that Greeks will be called to face toughest situations in the days to come.

"Tomorrow or at the latest on Tuesday, at the eurozone Summit meeting, we have to decide on a humanitarian aid programme for Greece," he said in his address, adding that this has to be the answer to the "dramatic situation that the Greek government has brought to Greece."

Schulz also said that restarting the negotiations will depend on the proposals which will be sent by the Greek government, which he urged to be "substantive and constructive".

[10] Russian official says Athens strengthened negotiating position after referendum

"If the final result confirms the first estimations on the result of the referendum, this will constitute a very significant credit of confidence for Greece's positions in its talks with the EU," Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the foreign policy committee in the upper house of Russian parliament told TASS news agency.

Asked on the developments, Kosachev said the situation "is unlikely to develop into uncontrollable chaos, because no one needs that," and added that negotiations will continue with strengthened positions for Greece. "Tsipras will have more confidence in his talks with his Euro-creditors."

[11] Podemos leader says "Democracy won in Greece"

[12] FinMin Varoufakis: 'Tomorrow we extend hand of cooperation to our partners'

"The specific ultimatum was the lenders' rejection of any meaningful debate," he told journalists after the results of the referendum were announced.

He then accused them of wanting to close Greek banks "from almost the first moment to humiliate us on these two fronts: of austerity and of the unsustainable debt."

The minister noted that the country's lenders wanted to force the Greek government to make "a repentance statement for criticizing the failed memorandums and by articulating for the first time at the Eurogroup scientific discourse, to which they had no retort." He also said the 'No' vote will be the tool with which Greece will extend a hand of cooperation to the country's creditors. "From tomorrow, with this brave 'no' which the people endowed us with, by ignoring fear created by the Greek banks and the media of the oligarchs, we extend a hand of cooperation to our lenders. We'll invite them one by one to find common ground," Varoufakis said.

He said he plans to look at the IMF report which confirms that Greek debt needs restructuring and "face positively" the stance which the ECB kept last week, "a stance which shows our common anxiety for the need to find a mutually beneficial solution."

He also said he will face positively the European Commission "which wants, like us, to play a positive role in healing the Greek wound hurting Europe. Starting tomorrow, Europe, whose heart beats in Greece tonight, will start healing its wounds."

[13] SYRIZA will abstain from SKAI TV shows

The announcement said "Due to the SKAI's unprecedented campaign to terrify the citizens, that reached the point to violate the electoral legislation by organising a TV show with supporters of the "yes", SYRIZA will not participate in the station's news shows on Sunday and Monday".

SYRIZA has proved with its stance in the last years that it does not fear but on the contrary it wants the severe political contradiction. However, this blatant and vulgar rally of the media against ethics and objectiveness is inconceivable.

[14] Main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras resigns

Samaras called on New Democracy deputy and former Parliament President Evangelos Meimarakis to lead temporarily the party.

[15] Parliament president Konstantopoulou: Greek people's strong No to the blackmails and the ultimatums

[16] Gov't spokesman Sakellaridis optimistic over referendum result

"With this result, the prime minister has a clear mandate from the Greek people," government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis told ANT1 and added: "Under very difficult circumstances this mandate was given and that alone really enhances its strength. It gives the government the mandate to defend its own proposal, its own positions and the negotiation does not start from scratch. We should start the substantive negotiation on a more solid foundation as of today."

"We must ensure that all those citizens who went to the polls, no matter what they voted, will remain united. National unity is required," the government spokesman added.

[17] FinMin Varoufakis rejects press reports on agreement with lenders in 24 hours

"In 24h we COULD have an agreement', I said. But our toxic media rushed to report that I predicted an agreement within 24h. Go figure!" Varoufakis tweeted.

[18] FM Kotzias on the referendum

Asked about the reactions of some extremist circles in the EU after the referendum, Kotzias noted: "Europe must start thinking strategically with coordination for its future. We need to stop working with the angers and irritations in the bureaucratic approach of major political events. Let's come to the negotiation table for real and meaningful negotiations that will give breath to our place, growth prospects, which will provide social justice measures and relief to our people."

[19] Greek top negotiator Tsakalotos says government will negotiate economically sustainable agreement

"We'll negotiate a solution which is economically viable," the country's top negotiator said during his appearance on Star channel.

Asked how he believes a deal can be achieved in 24 hours when for the past five months Greece and its lenders have disagreed on very important issues, leading to a breakdown in negotiations, Tsakalotos said there are now two new elements: "The first is that the government will have a new popular mandate and the second is the IMF's report, which states that Greek debt is unsustainable."

[20] This is a historical day for the Greek people and Europe, Interior Min Voutsis says

"Our first task is to take care of this people and do whatever is needed so that we will quickly overcome the very difficult living conditions that our people experience," Voutsis stressed.

"Today, in Greece, a small step was made for the Greek people and a very big step for Europe," he added.

[21] Greek citizens are proud, Labour Min Skourletis says

"Because regardless of what he voted, this place first of all respects democracy. The government has a strong mandate, a strong negotiating asset to reach an agreement that will open up new roads," Skourletis said entering the Maximos Mansion.

[22] Greek bank branches to open on Monday for some transactions, pensioners

These branches will also serve pensioners who have not yet collected their 120 euros because they didn't have a cash card.

[23] ECB prepared to 'do more' to shore up eurozone, Coeure says; France's Macron says talks must continue

Speaking at an economic conference in Aix-en-Provence in southern France, Coeure said the ECB will "find the necessary instruments and use those instruments to do more if that becomes necessary."

"In the current circumstances of great uncertainty in Europe and the world, the ECB has been clear that if we need to do more we will do more...Our will to act in this matter should not be doubted," Coeure added.

Speaking at the same conference, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said that talks between the two sides must continue, even if Greeks vote 'no' in Sunday's referendum.

Macron said Greece and its creditors had to find a compromise based on reforms while also making its debt burden more sustainable.

"Whatever the vote, we must starting tomorrow respond with political discussions to create a framework," Macron said, adding: "It's not about taking refuge behind the ECB and others that have already done more than enough."

[24] Foreign Minister Kotzias leaves on working visit to Israel

On Monday, Kotzias will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will also have meetings with the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, and chief negotiator on the Palestinian problem, Silvan Shalom; Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz; and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Tzipi Hotevely. Kotzias will then visit the Yad Vashem Memorial, where he will lay a wreath in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

On Tuesday, Kotzias will be received by the President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin.

Before his meetings with the Israeli side, the Greek foreign minister will meet with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem on Sunday.

[25] ANEL leader Kammenos: The Greek people said 'No' to their impoverishment and 'Yes' to a democratic Europe

"The Greek people resisted impoverishment and the terrorism cultivated this past week with a great 'No'," the leader of the junior ruling coalition party said.

"By a vast majority, the Greek people said 'No' to blackmail and 'Yes' to a democratic Europe," Kammenos said, adding that the day was significant for both Greece and Europe.

"We saw [European Parliament President Martin] Schulz recommending to the Greek people that they change their ruling government. We saw Greeks being threatened with expulsion from Europe. The Greek people experienced a week under a climate of terrorism," Kammenos underlined.

He expressed his optimism for solution in the government's negotiations with its European partners, which he said Greece would initiate on Monday, saying, "Tomorrow (Monday) the Greek government will begin negotiations where it left off. We shall seek a solution that does not impoverish people. The directives, threats, blackmail and terrorism are finished. I hope and wish that the overwhelming decision by the Greek people will help in the understanding that peoples are powerful and sacred," he noted.

What Greece's negotiating partners asked was "unethical, not an honest agreement," he said, and aimed at "bringing Greeks to their knees, in order to alter Europe."

[26] ND deputy Bakoyannis asks for the resignation of party leader Samaras

According to ANA-MPA sources, Bakoyannis told Samaras that she is willing to withdraw from the race for the party's leadership if she is the problem.

[27] New Democracy sources comment on MP Bakoyiannis' call for resignation of party leader Samaras

"We leave it to the judgment of every thinking man to judge this action," the same sources said.

[28] ANA-MPA publishes the report in German 'Focus' magazine for Potami leader Theodorakis

"Who is constructing what?

Athens-Macedonian news agency published "statements" attributed to [party leader] Stavros Theodorakis in Focus magazine. Stavros Theodorakis has made absolutely no statement, neither now, nor before in this magazine. Potami has complained strongly to the authors of this report."

To clarify any misinterpretation, ANA-MPA is publishing the article of the German magazine Focus in its entirety, as well as its translation to English.

The Focus story is the following [Issue 28/2015]:

"Tsipras must go

Politician Stavros Theodorakis, 52, represents hope for many Europeans.

Calmly and with clarity, he operates his party office, which could be the headquarters of a computer company. Stavros Theodorakis, President and founder of the liberal movement 'To Potami', is surrounded by constituents and associates. He has had his cell phone on his ear for hours. Many of the calls are addressed to Brussels and other major cities in the EU.

"Intellectuals and creative forces in the country support the 'yes' vote in the referendum," he assures Berlin, Paris and Rome.

Theodorakis, a former TV show moderator, is a Greek which many European politicians would prefer as Prime Minister if new elections were held or a new government was formed, as he is viewed as pragmatist, a proponent of reforms, a determined friend of the Euro and a savior.

The leader of SYRIZA, the main coalition partner, Alexis Tsipras, chose the extreme-right leader Panos Kammenos as a government partner. Today, Theodorakis says: "Tsipras placed his career ahead of the country's happiness. He is the problem; he is the one that must go."

The leader of Potami hopes: "Young people in Greece will vote in favour of Europe and against the Balkanization of Greece."

[29] SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government should not use the referendum result to impose new tough measures, sec gen Koutsoumbas says

[30] PASOK supports the prospect of a viable solution, party leader says

[31] PASOK to support the new phase of negotiations

PASOK added that it will support the new phase of the negotiations.

Financial news

[32] Chief of Bank Associations on bank safe deposit boxes

General News

[33] Majority of Germans feel 'compassion' for Greeks, Bild poll finds

The same poll found that one in two respondents consider Greece's bankruptcy to be the country's own fault, while 42 pct consider that both sides are to blame. A 56 pct majority believe that a Greek exit from the eurozone will not affect Germany and 32 pct take the opposite view.

[34] Weather forecast: Monday

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