Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-08-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece celebrates Dormition of the Virgin holiday amid peak summer period

[02] Alavanos says SYN ready for elections

[01] Greece celebrates Dormition of the Virgin holiday amid peak summer period

In keeping with tradition, most of the country's top political leadership attended church services at a handful of revered cathedrals dedicated to the Madonna, most notably on the Cyclades island of Tinos and at the Panaghia Soumela Monastery in central Macedonia (Imathia prefecture).

As in previous years President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias attended the service at Panaghia Soumela Cathedral in Vermio, the focal point for celebrations by ethnic Pontian communities - ethnic Greeks of the wider Black Sea region - around the world. Papoulias was also honoured by the Panaghia Soumela foundation.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, accompanied by his wife and several ministers, attended the grand ceremonies on the island of Tinos' Evangelistria Cathedral. He also attended a memorial service marking the anniversary of the sinking of the light cruiser "Elli" in the island's port on Aug. 15, 1940.

Main opposition PASOK leader and former foreign minister George Papandreou was on hand for the services at Panaghia Soumela.

From the township of Vermio, where the Panaghia Soumela Monastery is located, President Papoulias sent a message of national unanimity, solidarity, love and creation to all Greeks, stressing the importance of the day for Orthodoxy.

Meanwhile, on Tinos, Church services began at 8:30 a.m. and an hour later dignitaries boarded a Hellenic Navy vessel to lay wreaths in the sea at the site where the light cruiser had sunk.

Speaking after the events, Karamanlis reiterated that the Dormition of the Virgin feast day was one of the greatest celebrations for Hellenism and Orthodoxy, a celebration that sends "messages of love, hope, solidarity and messages of humanity."

On a political note, Karamanlis underlined that "many significant things have taken place over the past three years. We are, however, in the middle of a difficult and uphill path. We are determined to continue to proceed along this path, the path of responsibility, the path of work, the only path that guarantees a better future for the country and the citizens."

On his part, Papandreou said from Vermio that "we honour the struggles and tradition of Black Sea Hellenism, this beautiful part of Hellenism and Greece. It gives us inspiration; it gives us strength, strength to struggle for a better Greece, for a better future of dignity, solidarity, love and humanity."

The government was represented at the services in northern Greece by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Kalantzis, while Parliament was represented by Vice President Georgios Sourlas. Other officials included ruling New Democracy party secretary Lefteris Zagoritis, the head of the out-of-Parliament Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) party George Karatzaferis, former minister and founder of the newly established Democratic Revival party, Stelios Papathemelis, as well as several deputies, deputy ministers and diplomats.

Caption: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and his wife Natasha attend Church services at the Evangelistria Cathedral on the Cyclades island of Tinos on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. ANA-MPA / H. LASKARIS.

[02] Alavanos says SYN ready for elections

"However, we consider the manner in which (ruling) New Democracy views them (elections) as outside the framework of our democratic culture. It is not possible for us to go to elections without a budget and plan for pensions."

He also charged that half the pensioners in Greece receive less than 500 euros (a month).

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Synaspismos leader Alekos Alavanos.

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