Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-09-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Days of Samaras government numbered, Tsipras says

[02] Tribute to Maria Callas in Athens

[01] Days of Samaras government numbered, Tsipras says

Commenting on a statement by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras that he will exhaust his four-year term, Tsipras said Samaras must not forget that he became prime minister in early elections.

"We are not in a hurry to come to power," he said and stressed that elections and the change in government are a condition for the survival of the lower income classes and the country's sovereignty, adding that if elections were held now SYRIZA would get an "absolute majority" in Parliament.

Tsipras further said that "we agree with Mr. Samaras, we shall leave the memorandum, but Mr. Samaras will leave the government together with the memorandum". Also referring to the prime minister, he said that he has already signed off on taking new measures.

Asked when he believes Parliamentary elections will be take place, Tsipras said "I do not have oracular abilities, but the government's political time has been exhausted and we are in extra time".

Replying on whether money exists for all that SYRIZA is saying can be done, the SYRIZA leader said "we are not pretending not to see. No easy or painless solutions exist, but it is a crime to be continuing the mistake. New loans are no solutution and we shall not consent. We have a programme for the country's productive reconstruction and the handling of the humanitarian crisis."

Tsipras also reacted to the accusation that SYRIZA and teachers are closing schools, saying that "the troika is closing schools" and proposed a fact-finding committee in the new Parliament on how the country was led to the memorandum.

Lastly, Tsipras said "we shall put right injustices in the public sector and all who were laid off unconstitutionally and illegally will be reinstated".

Government reply

In a reply to Tsipras' statements, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said that "his confusion is now competing with his lies and inconsistencies".

The spokesman said that SYRIZA's leader had resorted to many inaccuracies and concluded with the argument that we imitate Bolivia.

"Fortunately, Greece is staying in Europe, despite Mr. Tsipras's effort for the contrary," Kedikoglou said and also stressed that Tsipras cannot understand what the opinion polls say, for himself and his party in particular.

"How can he understand what the data says about the Greek economy? He confuses the financial vacuum with the fiscal vacuum and invokes assessments against Greece that are coming from leftist candidates in Germany. Unfortunately for Mr. Tsipras nobody adopts these positions," Kedikoglou concluded.

[02] Tribute to Maria Callas in Athens

Between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. the streets where Callas grew up will resound with the famous arias that singled her out as one of the greatest singers of her time, performed by members of the National Opera and supported by the National Opera orchestra, conducted by Artistic Director Myronas Michailidis.

The 'five-stage musical promenade' has been designed in such a way that the audience will be able to watch all five concerts, moving from one location to the next on foot.

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