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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-05-14Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Clear mandate to lead country out of crisisANA-MPA/Main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras on Saturday again rejected any prospect of consensus with the PASOK government's current policies, underlining that he will not act as a "co-manager" of the country's economic impasse, as he said."We have rejected any prospect to co-rule, and possibly leading the country into the wrong direction. We have proposed a basis of real consensus, namely, our programme".ana-mpa Samaras, whose interview was carried in a local Athens daily on Saturday, also emphasised that he wants a clear popular mandate in order to lead the country out of the impasse, adding nevertheless, that he will not demand snap elections because "we're not just interested in replacing a government that has lost control." He reiterated that an exhaustive economic "jumpstart" programme he unveiled this past week must be fully implemented, while indicating that the "Memorandum mistake" can be corrected. "Cooperation towards the right direction is imperative; cooperation in the wrong direction is unfathomable". More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [02] Restoration works on DelosThe 'sacred island' of antiquity, Delos, one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece, is scheduled for a series of maintenance and restoration works following the Central Archaeological Council's (KAS) approval of a relevant proposal by the French Archaeology School of Athens, which has a long history of excavations on the island since 1873.Delos was a sacred sanctuary for a millennium before being made the birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis in Olympian Greek mythology. In 1990, UNESCO inscribed Delos on the World Heritage List as an "exceptionally extensive and rich" archaeological site that "conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port". More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [03] Rehn on Greek economyBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Aroni) - EU Economy Commissioner Olli Rehn, underlining that the speedy de-escalation of recession in Greece and the apparent return to growth constitute a "positive surprise", stressed the need here on Friday for further measures to be taken in 2011, noting in parallel that political differences and quarrels must be brushed aside in Greece so that the "necessary" economic adjustment programme can be implemented.ana-mpaAsked on to comment on the stance of opposition parties in Greece, during a press conference on the issue of the European Commission's predictions on the European economy, Rehn said that the EU expects the main opposition parties and the government to find a more consensual policy so that all the parties will support the "necessary" programme for the restructuring of the Greek economy. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [04] Gov't on EU econ forecastANA-MPA/The implementation of an economic policy program is a key and a fundamental factor in achieve a sustainable growth course in the medium-term, economic growth and a sustainable fiscal consolidation," a Finance ministry announcement said on Friday.Commenting on the provisions of a European Commission's spring economic forecasts report on Greece, the ministry announcement said the country will return to growth rates in 2012 as it overcame the lower point of recession.ana-mpa "The spring forecasts do not take in mind an assessment by the troika, currently underway, nor a Medium-term Fiscal Strategy Programme currently drafted," the report said, adding that "as mentioned in the spring forecasts, the Greek economy has overcome the lower point of the recession and was expected to return to positive annual growth rates in 2012." More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [05] 'Zero tolerance' for violenceANA-MPa/Addressing the commanding officers of Greece's police and security forces on Friday, Citizens Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis stressed that the government would show zero tolerance for violence, including that perpetrated by members of the police force."We will not allow Greece to become trapped in a vicious circle of lawlessness. Political issues are not solved with clubs, petrol bombs, axes and stones. The message is zero tolerance for violence, wherever this may come from," Papoutsis underlined. He warned that incidents of police brutality and abuses would receive exemplary punishment that might even go as far as dismantling departments or services that routinely tolerated brutality or arbitraty behaviour.ana-mpa The minister also stressed the government's determination to fight in order to restore the centre of Athens. Turning to the issue of terrorism, Papoutsis said that this was a phenomenon that "regenerated itself" and for this reason, in spite of significant successes against terrorist groups during his ministry, he had never spoken of "dismantling terrorism". He noted that the government was being called on to solve the accumulated problems of decades concerning levels of crime, asylum issues, illegal migration and decaying inner cities. "Once again, we do not have the right to allow Greece to become trapped in fear. We cannot view the future with confidence if our society is organised based on fear and the insecurity of the citizens," he stressed. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |