Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-04-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou: bonds affair an 'organised criminal plan'

[02] Bakoyannis, Abbas meet in Athens

[01] Papandreou: bonds affair an 'organised criminal plan'

According to Papandreou, the bonds affair was an "organised criminal plan" that required setting up an entire mechanism - in every section of which were members of the ruling New Democracy party. Describing the government as "criminal", he also stressed that it was "a crime for which there is no statute of limitations, it is ongoing, and that returning the stolen goods does not expunge it".

Speaking at an event organised by PASOK on democracy and transparency, PASOK's leader asserted that the bonds affair revealed a broader plan:

"There was an attempt to create a system of power with unlimited economic resources that would ensure ND's long-term residence in power," he said.

Players in this scheme included a long list of ND-backed financial players, which he called the "neo-yuppies, the London group that had also made an appearance under the Mitsotakis government of 1990-1993 and were now back, "falling on public wealth like locusts with the collusion of the Karamanlis government".

"The set in motion the train of the big robbery on the route Athens-London-Cyprus-Cayman Islands," Papandreou said.

Turning his fire on Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis personally, he accused him of being "abset and in hiding" and said that his government was "finished, hanging grimly onto power by tooth and nail".

If Karamanlis was not aware of what was happening, then he was unfit to be prime minister, while if he was aware he was also unfit to be prime minister, Papandreou added.

He was critical of an offer by JP Morgan to buy back the bond in question - saying the move was tantamount to an admission of guilt - and called for legislative measures for the compensation of pension funds and their investment in the "old, safe bonds". He also demanded that the guilty be punished without exception, including politicians and their friends and relatives.

During his speech, Papandreou also appealed to the left-wing parties to join with PASOK and "not let Greece be delivered into the hands of a new and ruthless economic oligarchy".

He also stressed that the problem was not in the laws but in the lack of political will to stamp out corruption, underlining that he was determined to put an end to this vicious circle.

Caption: PASOK leader George Papandreou speaking at an event presenting PASOK'S programme positions entitled "Democracy and Transparency" on Sunday, April 22, 2007. (ANA-MPA - M. Kiaou)

[02] Bakoyannis, Abbas meet in Athens

Bakoyannis underlined the need to seek a solution based on the Road Map and the criteria set by the "Quartet". She also pointed out that, for the resumption of direct aid from the European Union to Palestine, the statements and actions of members of the Palestinian Authority should also be taken into account in addition to the three criteria of the Quartet.

The foreign minister noted that achieving progress in the peace process could potentially create a domino of positive developments in the region.

"The creation of a national unity government, the recent renewal of a proposal for an Arab peace-making initiative and the first positive messages from Israel, open up particularly promising prospects for promoting a peace-making dialogue," she said.

According to Bakoyannis, meanwhile, the regular dialogue between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was useful and helped to build trust. She urged that it continue, so that results might be achieved on urgent issues for improving living conditions in Palestinian territories.

Among these urgent issues she listed achieving an end to violence, establishing security and restoring free movement, returning withheld taxes, as well as setting free the captive Israeli soldier and the Palestinian ministers and MPs.

"The final goal remains a solution of two states based on the Road Map and the criteria of the Quartet, with an end to the occupation and the foundation of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state that will coexist with security next to Israel," Bakoyannis said.

It would be a "powerful" political message if the prospects of creating a Palestinian state were clarified, possibly by establishing a new time schedule, she added.

She also pledged Greece's support, alongside its EU partners, in the effort set up an international mechanism for sending humanitarian and developmental aid to the Palestinian people and to strengthen the institutions of the Palestinian state.

"Greece, as it proved during its presidency of the UN Security Council, will continue to make every effort to establish peace and stability in the region. Greece will support these positions at the next EU General Affairs Council, where the Palestinian issue will be raised," she told Abbas, while stressing the need for Europe to have a "single voice" on this issue.

According to Abbas, the creation of a national unity government and its new programme, as well as the reconfirmation of an Arab peace-making initiative, "satisfied all the conditions in order to proceed toward the implementation of the vision of U.S. President George Bush and the Quartet for the foundation of an independent Palestinian state and proceed toward a solution of two states".

He said his meetings with the Israeli prime minister were part of this framework and that they focused on "daily issues for Palestinians and issues that can lead to finding a solution".

Expressing his thanks toward the EU and Greece for their support, he urged the EU to lift its embargo because its continuation would only lead to an increase in extremism, which no one wanted.

"The Palestinian people must be helped to lead a normal life so that the situation can be normalised," he added.

Asked to comment on the initiative by Arab countries, the Palestinian president said it was a "Declaration of Principles that leads to peace" and described it as "balanced".

"It asks Israel to withdraw from the territories it occupied in 1967 and, in exchange, 57 Islamic and Arab countries are willing to normalise their relations with Israel. It is an extremely important initiative and its implementation is exceptionally vital for achieving peace in the Middle East," he said.

Regarding the Israeli soldier that is being held prisoner, Abbas said that efforts were being made for his release, so that he could return to his family.

"At the same time, we say that there are 10,000 Palestinians being held and we also have a right to demand their release," he noted.

Regarding BBC reporter Alan Johnston, who was abducted in Gaza, Abbas repeated an earlier statement that the reporter was alive and that the Palestinian Authority was making efforts to ensure that he would be set free.

Caption: Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis (right) shakes hands with visiting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (left) in Athens on Saturday, April 21, 2007. (ANA-MPA/ Pantelis Saitis)

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