Compact version |
|
Wednesday, 4 December 2024 | ||
|
Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-26Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Triple anniversary events begin in Thessaloniki in presence of President Karolos PapouliasEvents marking the triple anniversary of the feast of Thessaloniki's Patron Saint, Saint Demetrius, the city's liberation from Ottoman rule in 1912 and the October 28 national holiday began in Thessaloniki on Friday and will heighten with the traditional military parade on Sunday. President Karolos Papoulias attended a te deum service held at the Cathedral of Saint Demetrius at noon. The service was also attended by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou, Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party leader George Karatzaferis, party representatives and other dignitaries. Karamanlis said in a statement that Greece is a country that is an example for all its neighbours and their guide in Euro-Atlantic structures.The prime minister added that if they respond to prerequisites set for all candidate countries and show full respect for the principles of international law, good neighbourliness, sincere cooperation and for the avoidance of provocations then, as he said, they will find a consistent ally and partner in the face of our country. On his part, Papandreou said that all the creative forces of Hellenism must be released today with the aim of achieving a new model of development. The historic Leberation flag of Thessaloniki was also hoisted on the White Tower during an emotional ceremony held in the morning. President Papoulias will be visiting the Aristotelio University in the afternoon. In the evening, Thessalonki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos will also be hosting a reception in the President's honour in a downtown hotel. CAPTION: ANA-MPA file photo of President Karolos Papoulias. [02] Papandreou addresses rally in KalamataGeorge Papandreou, the main opposition PASOK current leader and contender of the party's leadership on a November 11 nationwide vote by party members, addressed a rally in Kalamata, in the Peloponnese, on Thursday night saying that "PASOK of compromises and transactions is small but, on the contrary, PASOK of its history, of reforms and of victory is big."Papandreou added that "those who tried to manipulate PASOK so far appear not to be succeeding and it appears now that they are pinning their hopes on its dissolution as we can see at least in various television programmes." PASOK is holding a nation-wide ballot on Nov. 11 for the election of a new leader, in which party members and registered supporters can vote, with some estimates pointing to a figure of as high as one million voters. Incumbent president George Papandreou, Thessaloniki deputy and former minister Evangelos Venizelos as well as Athens MP and former party secretary Costas Skandalidis are the three main candidates in this much-expected election. The PASOK leader criticised the government for its policy in its entirety and referred once again to national issues, placing responsibilities on the government for what he called "the loss of our negotiating capacity on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and for Wednesday's event of reference to occupied territory in Cyprus with the so-called name of the pseudostate in an official document that the British government signed with Turkey." "Unfortunately, this development on the Cyprus issue as well is the result of inadequate strategy on our national issues by the government of New Democracy, the government of Mr. Karamanlis," Papandreou said. Lastly, Papandreou invited citizens to what he termed the unprecedented democratic process on November 11 so that "we can have a very strong popular mandate for a PASOK that will be free of every centre lying outside institutions and for November 11 to become the starting point for victory, change and the new hope for Greece and Hellenism." CAPTION: ANA-MPA file photo of PASOK leader George Papandreou. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |