Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece celebrates its 1940 'no' to admit Italian troops

[02] EU budget requires balanced solution, PM tells EU Summit

[01] Greece celebrates its 1940 'no' to admit Italian troops

Greeks on Friday celebrated then Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas' refusal to allow Italian troops to pass through the country on October 28, 1940 with parades throughout the country.

In Thessaloniki, the annual military parade was held in the presence of President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and Defence Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos.

Immediately after the parade, Papoulias greeted handicapped veterans and National Resistance fighters.

"Today is a great day; a historic day and one of national pride," Papoulias told reporters.

"However, it is also a day during which we pay honour and respect to the country's Armed Forces, whose ultimate duty is safeguarding our country's territorial integrity and security," he said.

Turning to current events, Papoulias said that the country will fight in coming days for a just and definitive solution to the Cyprus issue, a solution that will not allow occupational forces in an EU member state.

"We will fight for a mutually-acceptable name for FYROM. We will not accept ultimatums nor blackmail," he said.

Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Papoulias said that on that issue too Greece is fighting daily to improve relations.

"There is much potential and many benefits to be derived from such a cooperation between Greece and Turkey, but Turkey's political and military leadership must take that into account," he said.

On his part, Spiliotopoulos said: "We honour those heroes who sacrificed even their lives so that we today can live under free and democratic rule. Our powerful and modern Armed Forces are an impenetrable shield and a guarantee for the defense and security of Greek citizens, who contribute to the armed forces' modernization."

Spiliotopoulos thanked Greek citizens for their contribution and assured them that the government manages public funds carefully and respectfully.

Also attending the parade were former President of the Republic Christos Sartzetakis, military leaders, government and party officials, as well as local authority officials.

Athens student parade

In Athens, students from the city's schools marched by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Education Minister Marietta Giannakou and main opposition PASOK President George Papandreou attended the annual parade.

In comments she made after the parade, Giannakou said that youngsters understand that this parade as well as other symbols are related to the timeless struggles Greeks underwent in order "to make this land our country."

"Greece is not just a geographic unit, a grand tradition, it is a very beautiful idea; the idea to serve man and our values - those of democracy, freedom, social solidarity and peace," Papandreou said.

"With the great 'No' (Ochi) of 1940 as well as many other eras, including modern ones, Greece shows that when it sets goals it succeeds in meeting them and emerges a universal power," Papandreou concluded.

Interior Minister attends Patra parades

Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Prokopis Pavlopoulos represented the government at the military and student parades held in Patra.

"I hope that this bright day will always express the future and optimism of this land and its people. Based on this heritage we must vocalise our own 'no' to regression, stagnation, to the interests of those few who are trying to portray Greece as 'grey and levelled out'," he said.

"Based on this heritage we can express our common struggle - beyond party lines and petty conflicts - the struggle to make Greece leader in the protection of principles and values which are inherent to our history and civilisation, such as peace, democracy and social justice," Pavlopoulos concluded.

[02] EU budget requires balanced solution, PM tells EU Summit

Failure to agree on the budget means heavier consequences for the Union's long-term economic planning and difficulty for the EU to proceed with decisions on crucial issues, he added.

Karamanlis noted that according to the Greek government, agreement on the budget should be based on the proposals made by the Luxembourg EU Presidency, since those proposals ensure satisfactory levels of funds for political cohesion.

Regarding the issue of globalisation - the summit's main topic of discussion - Karamanlis noted that it brought about many opportunities, but also many challenges as a result of the increased movement of people, services and goods.

"It [globalisation] is an issue of great dimensions, making it impossible for individual countries to effecitvely address it alone. Therefore, our discussion focused on finding the common denominator which will enable the EU to formulate strategies and to step up actions aimed at dealing with common problems and individual issues, such as unemployment, competitiveness, illegal immigration, and citizens' safety in connection with the EU's foreign policies," Karamanlis said.

He added that Greece emphasised the need for the EU to face the challenges globalisation poses while at the same time preserving the European social model.

"That means growth and competitiveness, while at the same time safeguarding social solidarity, social justice and jobs. It is a difficult goal but it's one our policy must serve," he said.

Referring to the fight against terrorism, the Greek premier stressed that any initiatives aimed at ensuring citizens' safety must not be taken at the expense of civil liberties.

Speaking of Thursday's informal summit, Karamanlis said that it gave EU leaders the chance "to exchange views in an informal and friendly setting, as to how we will jointly - within the EU - address the challenges set forth by globalisation."

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