Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-03-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] SYRIZA slams gov't for backing 'haircut' of Cyprus bank accounts

[02] KKE on developments in the economic crisis on Cyprus

[03] Travelling exhibition on Olympic Games in Qatar

[04] Greek merchant shipping fleet down in Jan‏.

[05] FinMin: Solution to Cyprus economic problem urgent

[06] First charter flights inaugurate summer season on Crete

[01] SYRIZA slams gov't for backing 'haircut' of Cyprus bank accounts

Speaking about the results of this visit at the same press conference, Dragasakis strongly attacked the stance adopted by both the Greek government and the decisions taken by European leaders regarding the economic problems in Cyprus.

Tsipras, on his part, emphasised the geopolitical aspect of the decisions about Cyprus, stressing the need to resist the Eurogroup's decision. Using strong language to denounce EU leaders, he claimed that half were "gangsters" and the other half "submissive and afraid".amna

Prompted to outline SYRIZA-EKM's "geopolitical reply" to the crisis, Tsipras said that his party did not wish to choose protectors.

"We consider that a country that is subjugated and destroyed endures double damage, not just the obvious but also the downgrading of its geopolitical position," he said. SYRIZA-EKM's leader noted that the crisis depleted the potential for effective negotiation, while the geopolitical positions of Greece and Cyprus could be a vehicle, if properly used, for overcoming the crisis and negotiating as sovereign countries "our position in European and world affairs".amna

Both Tsipras and Dragasakis, meanwhile, said that the risks from the implementation of the Eurogroup's decision for Cyprus would pose a threat to several countries, among them Greece, which might well be the next country asked to tax deposits as a way to raise funds.

Tsipras also attacked the government and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in person, saying that after the Cyprus Parliament's rejection of the Eurogroup plan, they failed to utter one word of support for the Cypriot people and under the "unprecedented blackmail attack" to which they were being subjected.

"

[02] KKE on developments in the economic crisis on Cyprus

"The people of Cyprus should not submit to blackmail as to what path will lead them to bankruptcy. Plan A with the haircut of bank deposits, plan B with the haircut of social insurance funds or another halfway plan," KKE noted. amna

"All plans are accompanied by drastic reduction of wages, pensions and labour rights, as well as, by unemployment and privatisations," according to the KKE statement, which concluded that "the people should reject the anti-popular measures and sacrifices and follow the road to disengagement from the EU, overturning the anti-popular policy".

[03] Travelling exhibition on Olympic Games in Qatar

It is the largest international exhibition on Ancient Olympia, and will be opening to the public on March 28, after showing in Berlin from August 2012 to January 2013.

The exhibition will be hosted at Qatar's Olympic Games and Sports Museum to June 30, 2013 and is split into two sections - "Olympia: Myth, Cult, Games", which includes over 600 objects from Greek and European museums and findings of recent excavations in Olympia that have not been presented to the public so far, and "Olympics: Values, Competitions, Mega-Events", dedicated to the history of modern-day Olympic Games.amna

The exhibition is under the auspices of Greek President Karolos Papoulias and the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the Qatar Museums Authority.

[04] Greek merchant shipping fleet down in Jan‏.

The statistics service, in a report, said that the Greek merchant shipping fleet capacity totaled 43,603,165 gross registered tons in January, up 0.1 pct from the same month last year, after an increase of 0.5 pct recorded in January 2012.

[05] FinMin: Solution to Cyprus economic problem urgent

Stournaras said that Greece was at the side of the Cyprus Republic, supporting its decisions, and that a plan was already in place if Cypriot bank branches in Greece needed to be absorbed.amna

Commenting on an attack launched against him personally by main opposition SYRIZA-EKM leader Alexis Tsipras, Stournaras noted that he had replied to every part of this in detail on Wednesday, before the appropriate Parliamentary committee.

In earlier statements to a group of some 20 MBA students from Columbia Business School, the finance minister again stressed that the Cypriot side must come up with a "Plan B" as an alternative to rejected European proposals since the country's banks could not remain closed indefinitely. He also assured them that the Greek banking system was protected against events in Cyprus.amna

[06] First charter flights inaugurate summer season on Crete

A total of 490 visitors will arrive on the charter flights, namely 324 German tourists from Frankfurt and Dusseldorf and 166 from Tel Aviv will arrive at Heraklion airport "Nikos Kazantzakis".

More charter flights from Austria and Russia are expected next week to land at the same airport, which give a first positive indication for the tourist flow to the island this year.

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