Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-11-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] ND leader calls for immediate elections

[02] DM says 12 months service for all enlisting in armed forces as of

[03] Shimon Peres lays wreath at Jewish Holocaust memorial in Thessaloniki

[04] Weather Forecast: Cloud and light showers on Monday

[01] ND leader calls for immediate elections

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis called for an across-the-board dialogue with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, to enable citizens to learn the truth, and for immediate elections, speaking at the end of his two-day tour of Rethimno and Hania, on the island of Crete, on Saturday.

Addressing social partners from the prefecture of Hania at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karamanlis promised a four-year term of lofty targets, ambitious planning, development everywhere and prosperity for all.

''We are calling for citizens' positive vote, but we are not relying on this alone. We are calling for something more. We are calling for the widest possible confidence of society, which is something much more than the vote,'' he said.

Karamanlis also criticised the government's taxation policy, saying it resulted in 400,000 businesses closing down.

The ND leader addressed a rally in the town of Souda later on Saturday evening, extending an invitation to the prime minister and to political parties for dialogue.

''We are the first to want all citizens to know all the truth about all issues. We are the first to want an open dialogue on everything concerning the citizen. We are the first to want no confusion to exist for any citizen. If they do not pretend, if they do not fear the truth let them come and discuss everything with us,'' he said.

Karamanlis then called on the prime minister and party leaders to agree to a public dialogue on all issues concerning the present and future of the country and the present and future of the citizen and added that elections make take place immediately without delay.

[02] DM says 12 months service for all enlisting in armed forces as of January

Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, in an interview with the Sunday newspaper ''Ethnos tis Kyriakis'', said all who will enlist in the armed forces as of January 2004 and after will serve for 12 months.

Until now, 12 months service applied for the army and, according to the decision taken recently by the Government Council of Foreign and Defence Affairs (KYSEA),it will be extended to the air force and the navy as well.

Papantoniou, referring to KYSEA's decisions on changes in the armed forces, said the aim of these decisions is to have them adjusted ''to the new security environment shaped over the past 10 years.''

The minister further indicated the only danger now comes from Turkey which is keeping open the ''wound of the Cyprus issue'' and is keeping up its ''unilateral claims against our sovereign rights in the Aegean.''

Papantoniou said the armed forces, with their new form, will also have the task of confronting ''new threats in the form of international terrorism'' and other dangers ''linked to instability in Balkan countries regarding illegal immigration and organised crime.''

[03] Shimon Peres lays wreath at Jewish Holocaust memorial in Thessaloniki

Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres laid a wreath at the Jewish Holocaust memorial in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Sunday.

In a statement immediately after the ceremony, the Nobel peace award winning statesman expressed optimism for a solution to the Palestinian problem.

Peres said the precondition for peace and a solution to the problem to be achieved is an end to acts of terrorism.

He pointed out that he has the feeling that the Palestinians want to rid themselves of terrorism, adding that Israel is seeking an opportunity for peace and for a solution to the Palestinian issue.

Peres later visited the Jewish Museum in Thessaloniki, the Byzantine Museum and the offices of the Israelite Community.

[04] Weather Forecast: Cloud and light showers on Monday

Cloud and light showers are expected throughout the country, with the exception of light snowfall or sleet in Macedonia, Thrace and the northeastern Aegean. Winds northerly, northeasterly variable, moderate to very strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 1C to 7C; in the west from 5C to 16C; and in the rest of the country from 5C to 14C. Temperatures in Athens between 8C and 12C; and in Thessaloniki from 3C to 7C.

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