Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-07-24

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Democracy celebrated

[02] Greece honors d'Estaing

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Democracy celebrated

President Papoulias noted, in an address, that every such anniversary demands thought and vision for the future.

He said that the celebration of this specific anniversary was "a choice that proves deep respect for all those who struggled against the dictatorship", adding that lavish affairs and receptions were incompatible with the spirit of the struggle against the dictatorship, provoked the public sentiment and offended the measure that the political world had a duty to set out through its own deportment.

Referring to the resistance struggles, Papoulias said that the were the most powerful proof that "there is a light and magnificence in the Greek society", and "the struggles of the Greek people are the nucleus of an optimism that gives rise to creative forces, casts off defetism, and brings the aura of a better tomorrow".

Turning to the global financial crisis, the President noted that at a time when the prevalent economic model has been put in doubt, unfortunately no alternative proposal for a growth that will eliminate poverty and unemployment has been put forward in a compprehensive and efficient way.

One thing was sure, he continued, "that social cohesion in the developed world is at risk, and the insecurity among the many contains the threat of social outbursts and causes phobic syndromes".

The personal impasse of every unemployed person, the agony of every youth seeking work with no success, are the "raw materials" of inevitable social tensions, Papoulias warned.

He added that the crisis in the people's confidence in the political system was deep, not only because some representatives of the people use politicals as a springboard to a life of indulgence, nor because the long-standing pathogenies in public administration still exist. "The crisis is a deep one mainly because the code of values has eroded. All forms of facilitations and clientele attitudes have been morally legitimised, while success is frequently construed as exceptional ability, although it may have been achieved not by merit".

The President stressed the need to re-establish the rules, "what is right and what is wrong, what associates the individual with the collective interest and, finally, what kind of world we want to turn over to our children", and described those who fought against the dictatorship as an example of reference, because they gave so much without expecting anything in return.

Turning to the Cyprus issue, Papoulias said that Greece's steadfast goal was termination of the Turkish occupation and a solution to the problem founded on international law and the UN resolutions.

The European Union, he said, has a responsibility to contributing to the "therapy of this wound, which comprises one of the greatest shames of global civilisatoin".

"The key to a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue is in Ankara's hands, but for the time being we see no desire on Turkey's part to overcome and transcend anachronistic percpetions and ethnicist rationale. Quite the contrary, we are following with worry the escatlation of the provocations in the Aegean and the constant projection of unilateral and historically-unfounded claims".

But Turkey is deluding itself if it believes that it can bend our determination to defend and safeguard our rights with threats and overflights over our islands, Papoulias warned.

Also attending the event, at Papoulias' invitationk were 20 pupils from a highschool in Galatsi who had sent a letter to the President outlining their concerns and worry on the environment.

[02] Greece honors d'Estaing

The 2009 award was given to d'Estaing by Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas in the Greek Parliament's portico, in the presence of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, ministers, representatives of the political parties, politicians, artists and academics.

Sioufas described the former French president as "a unique, great European visionary, an ally of Greece, a philhellene and someone that gave substance to the Franco-Hellenic alliance.

He particularly underlined d'Estaing's support for the late Constantine Karamanlis, saying that he had stood by him like a true friend on what was perhaps the most difficult day of a long and eventful political career:

"By supporting the initiator of the post-junta period in the hard task that he undertook, you assisting in restoring democracy to its ancient homeland. You have linked your name to the greatest day of the modern Hellenic Republic," Sioufas told d'Estaing.

In addition to the French statesman's role during the difficult days of July 1974, after the fall of the junta, Sioufas also emphasised his crucial and emphatic support for Greece's entry into the then European Economic Community (EEC).

"In our country we have an ancient tradition of honouring the people that have stood by us. The greatest honour that we can give is a place in our hearts. You have won this place a long time ago," Sioufas concluded, handing d'Estaing the award bearing an engraved inscription and images of ancient Athens.

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The 35th anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece, early election speculations and the economy were the main front-page items in Athens' dailies on Friday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Bill affecting 80,000 private law contract employees in public sector - Ability to climb up the promotions ladder just as the tenured employees".

APOGEVMATINI: "Health Ministry decides free prescription of buprenorphine (used for medication-assisted trreatment for opioid addiction) via the ESY (National Health System), pharmacies and private physicians".

AVGHI: "SMEs: 36,000 layoffs and 9,000 shutdowns".

AVRIANI: "All the political parties in an election orbit - Snap elections call in September not excluded".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "PASOK leader (George Papandreou) sees...Turkish 'heatwave' in the Aegean - Worry over the increasing, daily violations of Greek national airspace by Turkish jetfighters".

ELEFTHEROS: "All the parties have a tough policy line on Turkey - The government is not alone, provided it makes use of the inter-party front".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "I fear the future - Eurobarometer: Greeks see their labor future as murky".

ESTIA: "Elections in the midst of the flu pandemic! Papandreou should rethink the matter".

ETHNOS: "Heads or tails, the state wins - The balance of the old car withdrawal and the increase in circulation fees".

KATHIIMERINI: "The clash over the Presidential election escalating".

LOGOS: "The target is to exit the crisis as quickly as possible - Prime minister's address on the 35th anniversary of the return to democracy" after the fall of the 7-year military dictatorship.

NIKI: "The death of the salesman - SMEs and employees in despair".

PARASKEVI+13 (weekly): "Sweeping reshuffle after mid-August - Who are switching ministries, who are leaving, who are waiting for...the telephone call".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Public primary healthcare and access for all to prevention and treatment - KKE leader's meeting with Health minister".

TA NEA: "Pre-electora checks to 50,000 professionals - The money now, the audits later".

TO VIMA: "The government giving out subsidies of 250 million euros to professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants)".

VRADYNI: "Constantine Karamanlis returning to Athens at 12 noon (on July 23, 1974, after the collapse of the dictatorship) - This is how history was written".

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article