Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-04-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK: Blame lies with gov't over funds furor

[02] Bad weather postpones annual NYC Greek parade

[01] PASOK: Blame lies with gov't over funds furor

In echoing standing criticism by his part, Athanassakis said responsibilities lie with the top echelons of the government, particularly with FinMin George Alogoskoufis, while charging that an "organised plan" existed to fleece pension funds of their reserves, "the problem lies at the heart of (ruling) New Democracy party.

He spoke during an interview published by the Athens daily "Ethnos".

Opinion poll

In a related development, a sizeable majority of respondents in the most recent opinion poll believe illegal gains were made in the purchase of a questionable bond by the civil servants� fund, an issue that has generated a political firestorm regarding the management of various state-controlled pension funds� assets.

According to the poll carried out by the VPRC firm for a local television station and published in the Sunday edition of "Kathimerini", 73 percent of respondents believe illegal gains were made, while 23 percent either declared ignorance of the case or made no comment; only 4 percent of respondents said they did not believe a questionable profit was gain.

The same poll gave ruling New Democracy party a 42.5-percent of respondents� preference, followed by PASOK with 39; the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 7 percent; the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) 4.5 percent, and the out-of-Parliament Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) party 4 percent.

Regarding the most suitable for prime minister question, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis polled 49 percent, followed by PASOK leader George Papandreou with 24 percent.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Athanassakis.

[02] Bad weather postpones annual NYC Greek parade

Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, in New York for talks and to take part in the parade, announced Sunday that a Hellenic Navy Philharmonic Band will extend its visit to New York to be present in the parade next Sunday.

A memorial service was held as scheduled, however, on Sunday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, officiated by Archbishop of America Demetrios in the presence of Greek officials and representatives of the Greek-American community.

Meimarakis, who represented the Greek government in the celebrations, said after the doxology that Greece, being a member of the EU and NATO is a factor of stability and peace in the Balkan region.

He added that Greece tries to persuade even those who react that they will have to honor their signatures and that the threat of a casus belli is not consistent with good neighborly conditions, adding that peaceful coexistence will benefit the entire region.

Referring to the Greek-American community, Meimarakis underlined that in the era of globalization it is important to preserve national heritage, faith, identity, language, traditions and all those things that can keep expatriate Greek communities alive.

Caption: Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, right, meets with Archbishop of America Demetrios Meimarakis in New York City on Thursday, April 12, 2007. ANA-MPA / GANP / D. PANAGOS.

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