Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-11-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM addresses Socialist International's conf'

[02] ND on local gov't elections

[03] EU: Greek statistics credible

[04] British tourist arrivals to rise

[05] �thens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM addresses Socialist International's conf'

Papandreou made special reference to "the Group of 20" and the decisions that must be taken at international level.

"The solutions for the global balances must include issues such as the protection of labour, the handling of unemployment, support for women, combined with the safeguarding of the fundamental rights and the strategies for the decrease of poverty," he said. ana-mpa

Papandreou stressed the necessity for a global reform of systems governing and regulating international capitals, "a reform that must secure the political and economic rights of all the citizens of the world." Otherwise, as he said, "the leaders will have to face the outcry of billions of citizens."

He focused on the problems created by the strengthening of markets in front of the lack of political will on the part of leaders and spoke of the need for "a real economy, a real growth, capable of securing real jobs."

Papandreou pointed out that in a globalised economy there should also be globalised action, as is the aim of the Socialist International.

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[02] ND on local gov't elections

Based on the ND assessment of the election results, the party has improved performance even in the regions it lost.

ND spokesman Panos Panagiotopoulos stated on Monday that the choices made by party leader Antonis Samaras were the right ones based on the results, pointing out that the party assumes again a leading role in the political scene. ANA-MPA

Referring to the high voter abstention, Panagiotopoulos stated that it records an overall disbelief toward the political system.

"ND has assumed its share of the responsibility," Panagiotopoulos stated, pointing out that the high abstention rate also reflects the rejection of the blackmailing dilemma set by the ruling PASOK party.

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[03] EU: Greek statistics credible

Speaking to reporters, Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj declined to say whether additional fiscal effort would be necessary next year or in the next three years and noted that troika officials were currently in Athens for a quarterly assessment of the country's economic progress. Altafaj noted that the goal for 2010 was to cut the fiscal deficit by four percentage points, compared with 2009, and stressed that this goal has been surpassed by the Greek government.ana-mpa

The EU spokesman said Eurostat's figures for the country's fiscal deficit and public debt did not include any reservations and that "figures released today are credible and transparent".

"It is a very significant development since it was the first time in five or six years that Greek statistics are not accompanied by reservations or remarks," Altafaj said.

"It is also very significant in order to restore confidence in the Greek economy," he said, adding that Greece has fulfilled all its commitments for the year and was on the right track.

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[04] British tourist arrivals to rise

Speaking to reporters, Nikitiadis predicted that tourist arrivals from the UK would rise by at least 2.0 pct compared with 2009 despite economic difficulties facing the UK.ANA-mpa

The minister said the executives of low-cost airlines such as Ryannair, EasyJet and Monarch expressed their intention to raise their charter flights to Greece and stressed that Greek authorities would seek cooperation with all aspects of the tourism industry and dismissed talk with low-cost carriers' passengers were low-income tourists.

He also announced that the tourism ministry would draft a survey on the pros and cons of an extra duty charge on airline tickets and whether it would be useful to either abolish or cut this duty.

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[05] �thens Newspaper Headlines

The revision of the Greek deficit, speculation of additional austerity measures and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's statement that Greece's accession to the eurozone was a mistake, mostly dominated the headlines on Tuesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The 4 billion euros 'black hole' sets fire to the State Budget".

AVGHI: "(Greeks) 'convicted' to life sentence".

AVRIANI: "IMF's slaves for at least three more years".

ELEFTHEROS: "Ministers worried and demand from Prime Minister to proceed with corrective changes".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Cuts in 17 DEKO (Public Utilities and Organisations)".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "We have voted and now...we are paying".

ESTIA: "Hour of truth for the government".

ETHNOS: "Prime Minister George Papandreou furious with German Chancellor Angela Merkel".

IMERISSIA: "Memorandum's extension - We seek extension of the repayment period for the 110 billion euros".

KATHIMERINI: "Drastic cutbacks in DEKO and state hospitals".

LOGOS: "30 percent cuts in the wider public sector".

NIKI: "German occupation part 2".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "France says 'yes' to the extension of the loan payback period".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The people, with the KKE (Communist Party of Greece), for the abolition of the Memorandum, for popular alliance and authority".

TA NEA: "Peace in the country, war abroad".

TO VIMA: "George (Papandreou) outraged with Merkel's stance".

VRADYNI: "Excuse for new harsher measures".

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