Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK party leader addresses rally

[01] PASOK party leader addresses rally

Papandreou began his speech by highlighting the "other path" sought by PASOK and the responsibility his party is undertaking in light of elections.

Referring to the phone-tapping furor, the PASOK leader said it is an issue concerning the protection of democratic rights and freedoms of Greek citizens and an issue of national security.

Papandreou repeated his queries on the tapping of Vodafone mobile phone numbers as to who were responsible, the individuals on a final list of phone-taps and where the products of the phone-tapping went. He added that he will continue asking these questions until he receives answers from the government and prime minister.

Papandreou also placed personal responsibility on the prime minister in connection with the fiscal audit, terming it once again a "big swindle" which, as he said, "constitutes the major moral and political crime of ND."

Papandreou addressed his party's 5th national council conference on Saturday and accused the government of denigrating the country's image. He further criticised Karamanlis personally for giving full backing to Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis.

Papandreou said that "Mr. Karamanlis personally has responsibility for the insult against the Greek people" and noted that it is a case of "arrogance taking on the dimensions of an affront" against the sacrifices and efforts of the Greek people to enable the country to join the euro zone. He also accused the government of failing to utilise relevant advantages and of undermining the course of the economy.

Finally, he expressed his solidarity for the young people of France, as he said, terming them "rebels with a cause" while calling on young Greeks to become "rebels with a cause" as well.

Gov't reaction

In response to Papandreou's comments in front of supporters in the western Greece town of Agrinio, Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos issued the following statement:

"In order to address farmers Mr. Papandreou must first of all publicly ask for forgiveness for the official position of the governments in which he served as a minister, namely, that 'farmers must now fend for themselves'.

"Until he does this every effort to appear as a critic will remove him farther from the boundaries of seriousness and standing," Roussopoulos stated.

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