Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM refers to global income redistribution

[02] Hoteliers' group bashes proposal limiting supports for 'all-inclusive' hotels

[03] Bakoyannis sets up political discussion group

[01] PM refers to global income redistribution

He was speaking after a meeting of SI's Commission on Global Financial Issues headed by economic Joseph Stiglitz on the island of Poros, where Stiglitz had briefed him on discussions at the G20 on SI's proposal for a global financial transactions tax, or Tobin tax. (ANA-MPA)

Papandreou stressed that the crisis did not arise as a result of money spent on social welfare so the solution for overcoming the crisis could not therefore be sought by cutting social spending.

According to the Greek premier, the crisis is a result of large-scale corruption, inequality, a lack of democratic control and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few.

In addition to a redistribution of wealth, he also called for stronger institutions to monitor financial markets and ensure transparency. (ANA-MPA)

[02] Hoteliers' group bashes proposal limiting supports for 'all-inclusive' hotels

In announcement, the Panhellenic Association of Hoteliers stressed that the tourism deputy minister "continues to act irresponsibly, without any previous consultation with related agencies, ignoring developments in the market.

"... He (Nikitiadis) is consumed by amateur and futile efforts, ignoring the fact that such actions, although pleasant to his electorate, do not offer added value or help in recovering tourism trends, but instead, if introduced, could deprive Greek hotel enterprises from a steadily increasing global demand for all inclusive services," the statement read, making reference to the fact that Nikitiadis is elected from the Dodecanese island constituency.

Hoteliers underlined that adoption of such proposal would lead to even larger decline in competitiveness for the country�s tourism product.

"The all inclusive system is not a Greek invention. It is an international tourism product steadily on the increase in our main markets, such as the UK, Germany and Russia," the association said.

Last week, Nikitiadis said he intended to place limitations for all inclusive services offered by Greek hotels seeking financial subsidisation from a new development law for investments.

[03] Bakoyannis sets up political discussion group

In a statement found on the site, Bakoyannis describes the current situation in the country, as she sees it, noting that the situation can change if there is unity and cooperation, (ANA-MPA) but also solidarity, "so that one social group will not be pitted against another social group."

Bakoyannis was due to meet in the early afternoon with the first 50 members of the group who support her effort.

Bakoyannis, a former foreign minister, was expelled from main opposition New Democracy's (ND) Parliamentary group in early May after defying the party line and voting in favor of a government austerity package in Parliament. A party later expelled her from ND altogether over her stance in Parliament and a statement she made in response to her expulsion from the Parliamentary group. (ANA-MPA)

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