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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-07-25Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Weekend BulletinMonday, July 25 2016 CONTENTS
[01] Tsipras: A new Constitution will be a milestone for Greece"The 24th of July is a milestone for democracy," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his message for the 42nd anniversary of the post-Junta period and called on all political and social forces to a broad, open and fruitful dialogue on constitutional reform."A new Constitution that will mark the new post-Junta period and will lead to a new Greece: the Greece of 2021," he said. In particular, the prime minister pointed out in his message that "the anniversary of the new regime is first of all a day of honour and respect to all those who resisted the dictatorship: the thousands of political prisoners in the seven year period of 1967-1974, to all who in any way and any means defended democracy and freedom in our country and, of course, first and foremost, to the heroes who gave their lives in the struggle for democracy, popular sovereignty and social justice in our country." He also stressed that "our historical duty towards these people is the constant expansion and consolidation of democracy in our country" adding that the "democratic institutions and constitutional freedoms are priceless and we have to respect them and protect them." Moreover, Tsipras stated that "today, 42 years since the dictatorship of 1974, an entire historical cycle is completed" and that "entering a path of development and social justice, Greece is now on the threshold of a new era." He added that "the characteristics of this era should be the expansion of democracy, strengthening of the people's view in making important decisions, shielding the transparency and the rule of law, constitutional recognition of fundamental rights, especially for the weakest." [02] Mitsotakis: Democracy needs seriousness, credibility and truth"The transition from the collapsing military dictatorship to a Democracy - model for that time - was a real feat," main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his message for the 42 years since the restoration of Democracy."It took political courage, credibility and seriousness of a leader, Constantinos Karamanlis, and the political maturity of the people to achieve this transition smoothly," he underlined stressing that these must also be the characteristics of our Democracy: seriousness, credibility, truth. The leader of the main opposition noted that what the country needs is a leadership that is moving beyond petty interests, opportunism and populism. "However, nowadays the opposite applies. Instead of big decisions of truth, based on the national interest, we have policies of deception and party interests that lead nowhere. They do not solve problems, they create more problems. They do not offer perspective, they lack perspective. These old ways of governance should end once and for all. This is considered necessary for Greece's restart. It is fundamental for a substantive and not a pretext national consensus, as the majority of our people wants," Mitsotakis underlined. [03] What concerns me is Turkey's domestic contradictions not pass into inter-state relations, FM Kotzias saysFor some time now, I have been underscoring that Turkey is distinguished for a restiveness, a term used to describe Germany in the 19th century. A restiveness followed by the more intensive presence of the Army," Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said in an interview with Real News on Sunday."I was disparaged for these views, but developments have a way of bearing out sober assessments," he said when asked on the repercussions that the coup in Turkey might have. "What interests me is that any restiveness or worsening of domestic contradictions in Turkey not pass into inter-state relations; that the crisis not be exported through accidents. This is a basic criterion for handling the situation," he added. Asked whether any strengthening of Erdogan leads to an upgrading of Turkish provocations in the Aegean, he replied: The Erdogan era is characterized by the fact that there has been no heated incident against our country. There have been violations of international law, of course. At least in the short term, they will probably decrease. If, of course, domestic authoritarianism increases in our neighbour, then, in the long term, these violations may increase. In any case, we have to be measured and cautious. Sober and calm. We need to take care to develop the friendship between the two peoples. Regarding the impact on the Cyprus issue from the coup attempt, Kotzias stated: The developments vindicate our position that the Turkish occupation force in Cyprus cannot be an agent for democratic peace or a guarantor of the implementation of a just solution. In fact, it is and will present a danger to any solution. A hotbed generating coups. A real solution includes the complete and definitive withdrawal of the Turkish army from Cyprus, the elimination of the anachronistic system of guarantees. I hope everyone now understands this. On how the European Union should behave towards Turkey, and if the situation following the coup facilitates the visa liberalization Ankara is seeking, he said: At the Council of Foreign Ministers last week, we welcomed the defeat of the coup. We agreed that Turkey should show a European political and legal culture; that the victors should show self-restraint and not bring back the death penalty. Asked if he believes that Turkey, even in the short term, will face problems of cohesion and of maintaining its borders, he noted: The EU wants a democratic Turkey in which the interests and needs of all religious, ethnic and social groups are respected. We don't want a Turkey of revenge, of rifts, of destabilization. In this context, I think Erdogan's statement regarding Hagia Sophia was counterproductive. Kotzias also said that this was a coup from another era, when it sufficed to take over the state radio stations. Back when there were no social media or private media outlets. It is a coup that struck at parts of the army itself and citizens; that started in the evening of a holiday, with the imams on the balconies, and not in the early-morning hours. There are quite a few who believe that there were forces who were preparing the coup and were discovered, and that, subsequently, perhaps they were trapped into acting early. When asked whether Greece will hand over the Turkish military personnel who requested asylum in Alexandroupoli, the Foreign Minister replied: "That will be decided by the judges and the competent authorities. The latter will certainly take into account the extent to which the eight were part of the coup. That their lawyers are saying they weren't aware of the coup is their absolute and inalienable right. Let me take this opportunity to note something else. I cannot accept the insult of drawing a parallel between the struggle of those who fight for their rights nationally, socially and democratically, and those who mount a coup; who wanted to overturn the rights of society, who bombed the Parliament, killed and wounded protesters. They deserve anything but our solidarity." On Turkey threatening that there will be a deterioration in Greek-Turkish relations if Greece doesn't hand them over, he said: "You are referring, I imagine, to the comments published in the Turkish ambassador's interview on Tuesday. But, as you saw, there was a clarifying statement as to what was said on his part. In the "genuine" text, no such threats are expressed. Regarding the Turkish consulate in Komitini, he said that it often acts beyond its competencies. "We have to take care to remind them of this. First of all, I note that the Muslim minority has always lived well in Greece, within a civilized framework and with its rights guaranteed. I also note that Roma and Pomaks, too, belong to this community. Two groups of Muslims of Thrace who are unrelated to those groups who are self-determined as being of Turkish origin. Moreover, one need do no more than compare the development of the Muslim community in Thrace with what the Hellenism of Asia Minor and Istanbul have suffered." On the Brexit and the changes that Europe needs to make, Kotzias explained: "The EU needs to make a fundamental decision: Does it want to deepen the integration processes? And, if so, does it understand that these have to be in the direction of more democracy, of social justice and of growth? That the time has come to say farewell to the neo-liberal dogmas and memorandum policies? Because if it continues on the same course, it will probable founder in suicidal tendencies." General News [04] Public Issue: Euroscepticism in Greece remains highEuroscepticism in Greece remains high, according to a research by Public Issue for "Avghi" newspaper on Sunday.44 pct of the participants has a positive opinion about the EU and 55 pct has a positive opinion about the euro. When asked what they would vote if a referendum on Grexit was held, a 56 pct of the participants said they would vote in favor of remaining in the EU and 39 pct against. On the electoral system, a 50 pct said it would choose a system that would ensure the fair representation of smaller parties and a 40 pct said that what it considers important is stable governments. Moreover, a 70 pct of the Greeks has a very positive opinion about China and the Chinese. A 67 pct of the respondents see the economic cooperation with China as a good opportunity for growth. [05] Weather ForecastFair weather and north-northwesterly winds are forecast for Monday. Wind velocity will reach 5 on the Beaufort scale. Partly cloudy in the afternoon in the northern and the western parts of the country with temperatures ranging from 21C-35C. Mostly fair in the eastern parts with temperatures from 21C to 36C. Sunny over the Aegean islands and Crete, 22C-31C. Fair in Athens, 23C-35C. Mostly fair in Thessaloniki, 22C-33C.[06] Athens News Headlines at a glanceAVGHI: The roadmap for the new social stateELEFTHEROS TYPOS: New persons in New Democracy's ballot tickets ETHNOS: Tax evasion and black labour on the islands KATHIMERINI: Changes in the public sector for meeting the 2.5 pct surplus LOGOS: The Greeks even poorer this year PRIN: Tsipras is afraid of the people's reactions REAL NEWS: The Sultan has decided PROTO THEMA: Coup on loans TO CHONI: Less closures of businesses and unemployment TO VIMA: In the era of fear 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 - PRESIDENT & GENERAL DIRECTOR: MICHALIS PSILOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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