Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-04-14

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Econ assistance mechanism a 'safety net'

[02] Parliament debate on tax bill

[03] Reforms in education

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM: Econ assistance mechanism a 'safety net'

Furthermore, he pointed out that the government ministers should not undertake the role of "analysts and commentators", leaving this job to journalists. Papandreou said ministers should be in direct contact with his office on issues concerning the economy, investments and collaborations.

"The economic assistance mechanism, whether it is used or not, will serve as a safety net that will allow us to do our job with calm," he said.

Referring to the recent developments on the issue of terrorism, Papandreou congratulated Citizen Protection Minister Mihalis Chryssohoidis and everybody involved.

On the imminent visit to Athens by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said no dates have been set yet. He referred briefly to his trip to Cyprus and added that Alternate FM Dimitris Droutsas will brief the Cabinet on his recent contacts in Turkey.

[02] Parliament debate on tax bill

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party announced that it will request a roll call vote, while the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) adopted the same position, adding that it will make the same request for certain draft law articles as well.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MPs and government vice-president Theodoros Pangalos exchanged sharp criticism, following the party's accusations of government-backed "money-laundering".

Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou pointed out that "the draft law is being tabled amidst an economic recession, for which ND is responsible."

[03] Reforms in education

In presenting the bill, Minister Anna Diamantopoulou also said that an evaluation process for educators is also a "significant choice" by the government.

Moreover, in response to a press question, Diamantopoulou said the government will scrap the minimum grade requirement for entrance into tertiary education institutions, which was placed by the previous ND government at the 10-point mark, out of a perfect score of 20.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The omnibus bill on education and the police investigation on the Revolutionary Struggle terrorist group mostly dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) president proposes ND-LAOS alliance in local government elections".

APOGEVMATINI: "Changes in education and abolition of the '10' passing grade in university entrance exams".

AVGHI: "Government downgrades schools due to for economic crisis - Drastic cutbacks in state expenditures".

AVRIANI: "IMF demands three years of severe austerity in order to provide us assistance".

ELEFTHEROS: "Grave accusations in parliament".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Farmers: Taxes and cutbacks in subsidies".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Reversals with turbulence - Education: Base passing grade abolished, changes in teachers' appointments and evaluations".

ESTIA: "The big mistake of the decade - Inflation's divergence from the eurozone average".

ETHNOS: "Hope for 15,000 more candidates - University entry base passing grade will be abolished as of 2010".

IMERISSIA: "Government gives the green light for diesel cars - Abolition of the restriction for Athens and Thessaloniki".

KATHIMERINI: "Professionals send SOS on the crisis' repercussions in the real economy".

LOGOS: "Teachers will pass a test before they are appointed in public sector - University base passing grade abolished".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Interest rates surge in treasury bonds issue".

NIKI: "The guilty one is....known, as is also the reason - Government Vice President Theodoros Pangalos' attack against MIG chairman and CEO Andreas Vgenopoulos".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Omnibus bill on education - School becomes even more discriminating at the expense of the working class' children".

TA NEA: "Surveillance cameras everywhere - Independent Authority on Personal Data gives the green light".

TO VIMA: "Government accuses former Public Order Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos that he had ordered police to discontinue the surveillance of Nikos Maziotis (among the six suspects arrested on Saturday as alleged members of the 'Revolutionary struggle terrorist group)".

VRADYNI: "Under siege - The...support mechanism gun did not 'frighten' the markets".

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