Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-04-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Nobody can take Greece out of the crisis painlessly

[02] Venizelos: Election battle extremely difficult and fascinating

[03] Samaras: Greece will make it

[04] Majority of citizens prefer coalition government

[05] Greek budget deficit below targets in Q1

[06] 'Antikythera Wreck' exhibition in Athens

[01] PM: Nobody can take Greece out of the crisis painlessly

"I am sure that as a society we shall invest in creation and not in backtracking. This means that we select the path that safeguards the position of our country in the European Union and the euro. The path of fiscal restructuring and of structural changes that will lead to a modern competitive economy, to viable growth of incomes and to a decrease in unemployment," he said and called on the political parties to observe the rules of democracy and dialogue in the election period.amna

"All views must be formulated freely and the citizens to make their choices having full awareness of reality," he said.

The prime minister made it clear that the effort that has started must not be slackened and for this a tough and disciplined effort is necessary since, as he said, "it will not only be judged which government will be formed the day after the elections. Greece's course in the next decades will be judged. Our decisions must not be turned to yesterday but to tomorrow. To the building of a better future for all."amna

Papademos added that nobody can take the country out of the crisis painlessly. "If we want to get out of the situation we are in, we must struggle with our forces and decrease our foreign dependences."

[02] Venizelos: Election battle extremely difficult and fascinating

Addressing his party's National Council meeting in which PASOK's ballot was approved, he underlined that this was the first time the party's candidate lists were announced on the same day the dissolution of parliament was announced. amna

Venizelos referred to a number of initiatives to be undertaken by PASOK soon after the elections, as well as, to the implementation of immediate cuts in election campaign expenditures. He also said that the Party Congress will take place on Sept. 3.

He stressed that immediately after the elections PASOK will undertake an initiative for the revision of the parliamentary rules of procedure, adding that his party's MPs will resign from parliamentary immunity which will only cover their political activities.

[03] Samaras: Greece will make it

Shortly after the announcement of the election date by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, the ND leader stressed that a new page is opening for the country now. "The people, the last time, in October 2009, voted believing in empty promises. They paid for it dearly. And today they are wiser. They told them many times that they 'saved' them. And they created a much bigger problem for them," Samaras said and pointed out that Greece is currently in the worst situation that it has ever found itself in a period of peace and is continuing to suffer but at least, as he said, it has gained time.amna

The ND leader clarified that the Greek people will have the opportunity to decide on their future with the elections and called on citizens to be very careful since some will attempt to convince them that all that took place is...for their good. "Don't believe them," Samaras said, criticising former prime minister George Papandreou and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos.

[04] Majority of citizens prefer coalition government

According to the company's evaluation, nine parties will be represented in the new Parliament since the New Democracy (ND) party that is in the lead garners 19 percent, PASOK 14.5, the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) 13, the Democratic Left 12, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 11, the Independent Greeks 11, Chryssi Avghi (Golden Dawn) 5, the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) 3, the Ecologists-Greens 3, the Democratic Alliance 2, Action 2 and 3.5 the rest.amna

Moreover, 89 percent of citizens believe that a majority government will not result from the elections, while 52 percent declare preference for a coalition government.

[05] Greek budget deficit below targets in Q1

Provisional figures on budget execution, on a cash basis, showed that net budget revenues totaled 12.808 billion euros in the first quarter of 2012, down 167 million euros from budget targets, reflecting lower revenues from a fuel consumption tax and lower VAT receipts. However, it should be noticed that pre-return revenues of the regular budget were higher in the first three months of the year, compared with the same period in 2011. The Public Investments Program's revenues totaled 1.371 billion euros in the January-March period, achieving a target of 1.372 billion euros for the period. State budget spending totaled 20.110 billion euros in the first three months of 2012, down 1.461 billion euros from a budget target of 21.571 billion euros. This development reflects a significant cut in regular budget spending, as a result of strict control in primary spending, lower defense spending and lower capital spending. Spending by a Public Investments Program fell to 488 million euros, down from a budget target of 950 million euros

[06] 'Antikythera Wreck' exhibition in Athens

This is the first time that all the findings from the Antikythera wreck, dated between 60-50 BC, will be displayed together, while some of the items have never been displayed before.amna

Sometime before Easter 1900, Elias Stadiatis, a Greek sponge diver, discovered the wreck of an ancient cargo ship off Antikythera Island at a depth of 42 m (138 ft). Sponge divers retrieved several statues and other artifacts from the site. The Mechanism itself was discovered on May 17, 1901, when archaeologist Valerios Stais noticed that a piece of rock recovered from the site had a gear wheel embedded in it. Examination revealed that the "rock" was in fact a heavily encrusted and corroded mechanism that had survived the shipwreck in three main parts and dozens of smaller fragments. The device itself was surprisingly thin, about 33 cm (13 in) high, 17 cm (6.7 in) wide, and 9 cm (3.5 in) thick, made of bronze and originally mounted in a wooden frame. It was inscribed with a text of over 2,000 characters, many of which have only just recently been deciphered. amna

The Antikythera Mechanism is believed to be an ancient mechanical calculator (also described as a "mechanical computer") designed to calculate astronomical positions. It was discovered in the Antikythera wreck off the Greek island of Antikythera, between Kythera and Crete, and has been dated to about 150-100 BC. Technological artifacts of similar complexity appeared a thousand years later. ed at the Archaeological Museum in Athens on April 5 and will run for a year

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