Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-02-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou addresses supporters in N. Greece

[02] Wine producers' exhibition in Athens

[03] 9th Int'l Franchise Exhibition opens

[01] Papandreou addresses supporters in N. Greece

In Kozani, Papandreou said the "impasses" generated by the Karamanlis government's policy will soon lead to early elections, which he added PASOK will win.

He also told supporters that charges claiming PASOK was without a programme are a "myth", while promising to oppose any sell-off or privatisation of state-run Public Power Corp. (PPC), the electricity utility that operates several lignite pits and power plants in Kozani prefecture.

Moreover, he again criticised the government's policies in the public heath care sector and in social security, while even charging that riot police in Athens last week failed to contain a series of violent street protests, saying police merely pushed the masked rioters back into the Athens polytechnic.

Along those lines, he charged that the government "and certain television stations have declared the nation's youth as the enemy ... the younger generations are not masked troublemakers, they are not slackers..."

A day earlier in Kastoria, Papandreou said his party's programme will be unveiled in early March, saying that the "programme will spell-out how I will govern". Regarding the party's youth conference, he said it will essentially mark the re-foundation of the party's youth-affiliated wing.

Finally, he laid blame on the government for, as he said, the high cost-of-living, increased taxes, the purchase of Greek companies by foreign ones, a more aggressive Turkey, FYROM's intransigence and various education-related problems.

Caption: PASOK leader George Papandreou addresses supporters in the western Macedonia city of Kozani on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007. ANA-MPA photo / K. Mavrona

[02] Wine producers' exhibition in Athens

Papaligouras congratulated all the producers who are members of the eponymous Nemea cooperative in the northeast Peloponnese, as well as Greek producers in general, who, as he said, produce and promote "an extremely dynamic product that is gaining more and more ground in markets abroad."

The "Dionysia 2007" exhibition went into its second day on Saturday and, apart from the visit by the justice minister, is expected be toured by US ambassador to Greece Charles Ries.

Caption: Papaligouras examines a vintage wine on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, produced by the Nemea cooperative, during the "Dionysia 2007" exhibition in Athens. ANA-MPA / ACE IMAGES / D. Papamitsos.

[03] 9th Int'l Franchise Exhibition opens

Addressing the event, the deputy development minister said the government believes that franchising is the "reply" by commercial businesses, and especially small and medium-size ones, to the challenges of the future.

The French ambassador, on his part, thanked the Federation for France being the theme country at this year's exhibition. He said in a brief address that the 15 French companies partipating in the exhibition will have the possibility of carrying out successful Greek-French transactions.

The exhibition, due to last from February 23-26, is being organised under the auspices of the National Greek Trade Confederation, the Franchise Federation of Greece, the World Franchise Council (WFC) and the European Franchise Federation (EFF).

Caption: File photo of Deputy Development Minister Papathanasiou.

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