Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Moroccan Boubker wins 29th Classical Marathon, sets new record

[02] Vote of confidence for new gov't at noon Wed.

[01] Moroccan Boubker wins 29th Classical Marathon, sets new record

Two sideline events were also held in tandem: a 10-kilometer split and a 5-kilometer split.

Boubker covered the 42-kilometer distance in record time, breaking the previous record of 2:12:40 set by Kenyan Raymond Bett in the 2010 Athens Classic Marathon.

The first woman to finish the race, which set off from Marathon at 9:00 a.m., was Ethiopia's Elfneshe Yado Melaku with 2:35:25 (12th overall), followed by Russia's Kamila Khanipova with 2:33:31 (45th overall).

The first Greek runner to finish was Dimitrios Theodorakakos with 2:24:10, in 7th place overall.

The runners were cheered on by young and old alike who lined up on the streets along the route.

The 42-kilometer Classic Marathon is based on the legendary run carried out by the ancient hoplite Pheidippides who ran all the way from the battlefield of Marathon to the ancient city of Athens to bring news of the Greek victory over the invading Persian army, and traces the actual route he is believed to have taken. Pheidippides died as soon as he arrived in Athens, shouting 'Enikikamen' (we won). Pheidippides' effort inspired the modern Marathon event, which covers roughly the same distance as that between Marathon and central Athens and was created for the first-ever modern Olympic Games of 1896.

[02] Vote of confidence for new gov't at noon Wed.

Papademos will present his policy statement on Monday afternoon, at 7:00 p.m. in parliament, after which a three-day debate begins on the policy statement, which will wind up at noon on Wednesday with a roll-call vote.

All the political party leaders and all the ministers, deputy ministers and MPs wishing to do so may speak during the parliamentary debate.

The new transitional 'unity' government that will serve under new Prime Minister Lucas Papademos was sworn in during a ceremony at the presidential mansion in central Athens on Friday afternoon. Broadly, most Cabinet members served in the previous government of George Papandreou. Nevertheless, the new coalition government also includes six members hailing from the main opposition New Democracy party and four from the right-of-centre Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.O.S) party.

In total, 48 people including the prime minister make up the new government, seven more than its immediate predecessor. There are 12 new ministers in its ranks, of which nine have been sworn into government office for the first time, including the new premier. (www.amna.gr)

The composition of the new government, as compiled by the Athens News Agency (AMNA), is as follows:

Prime Minister: Lucas Papademos

First Government Vice President: Theodoros Pangalos

Government Vice President and Finance Minister: Evangelos Venizelos

Administrative Reform and Electronic Governance Minister: Dimitris Reppas

Deputy Ministers: Dinos Rovlias, Pantelis Tzortzakis

Interior Minister: Anastasios Yiannitsis

Alternate Minister: Fofi Gennimata

Deputy Minister: Paris Koukoulopoulos

Finance Minister: Evangelos Venizelos

Alternate minister: Filippos Sahinidis

Alternate minister: Pantelis Economou

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Mourmouras

Foreign Minister: Stavros Dimas

Alternate Minister: Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou

Deputy Minister: Dimitris Dollis

National Defence Minister: Dimitris Avramopoulos

Alternate Minister: Yiannis Ragoussis

Alternate Minister: George Georgiou

Deputy Minister: Costas Spiliopoulos

Development Minister: Michalis Chryssohoidis

Alternate Minister: Socrates Xynidis

Deputy Minister: Thanos Moraitis

Deputy Minister: Adonis Georgiadis

Environment, Energy & Climate Change Minister: George Papaconstantinou

Alternate Minister: Nikos Sifounakis

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Maniatis

Education, Life-long Learning and Religions Affairs Minister: Anna Diamantopoulou

Alternate Minister: Constantine Arvanitopoulos

Deputy Minister: Evi Christofilopoulou

Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister: Maroudis Voridis

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Magriotis

Labor and Social Security Minister: George Koutroumanis

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Koutsoukos

Health and Social Solidarity Minister: Andreas Loverdos

Deputy Ministers: Dimitris Vartzopoulos, Markos Bolaris, Mihalis Timosidis

Agricultural Development and Food Minister: Costas Skandalidis

Deputy Ministers: Yiannis Drivelegas

Deputy Minister: Asterios Rodoulis

Justice Minister: Miltiadis Papaioannou

Deputy Minister: George Petalotis

Citizen Protection Minister: Christos Papoutsis

Deputy Minister: Emmanuel Othonas

Culture Minister: Pavlos Geroulanos

Deputy Minister: George Nikitiadis (for Tourism)

Deputy Minister: Petros Alevizatos

State Minister: George Stavropoulos

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