Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis receives Governor of W.Australia

[02] Abductors release indurstrialist

[03] Parthenon marbles repatriation

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Karamanlis receives Governor of W.Australia

No statements were made after the meeting.

In the evening Costas Karamanlis will speak at the International Greek University Symposium on developments in global economy.

The prime minister in repeated questions from reporters regarding the latest developments regarding the investigation into the Siemens bribery scandal, following Thursday's revelations that senior members of the main opposition PASOK party may have received money from the German multi-national group.

Reporters particularly focused on whether the government would insist on the line it has taken up until now and wait for the findings of the judicial investigation or whether it would consent to a Parliamentary inquiry into possible political involvement or responsibility. In his reply, Karamanlis underlined the government's commitment to letting justice do its work and bringing everything out in the open.

"In the past years, justice functions without any hindrance," he said and stressed that the government's political stance was one of "full investigation, full exposure, assigning blame and responsibility without discounts".

Clarifying justice would be allowed to complete its investigation, the premier also categorically ruled out any involvement by ruling New Democracy (ND) in the affair. At the same time, he indicated that he would not hesitate to expel members of his government or Parliamentary group, in spite of ND's currently slim majority in Parliament, if the investigation uncovered evidence implicating members of his party in the scandal.

"The last thing that interests the Greek people is whether one person or another loses their seat in Parliament or is expelled from their party. What they want is full disclosure and offenders brought to justice," he underlined.

On another note, the prime minister stressed that he would not seek to obtain political benefits from the current discomfiture of PASOK party and did not believe that this would benefit democracy.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis

[02] Abductors release indurstrialist

According to initial reports, Mylonas, president and CEO of the Athens-listed Alumil aluminum constructions industry, was given a stolen BMW car to return home by his kidnappers, possibly in the region of Peria, Yiannitsa or Veria, and arrived at his home at 1:15 a.m.

The ransom amount paid by the family was undetermined, while Mylonas was reported to be well in health.

Silence had shrouded the police investigations and negotiations with the abductors following an appeal by Mylonas' family.

Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE) president George Mylonas was abducted by unidentified gunmen shortly before midnight on Monday, June 9, in Thessaloniki, as he was returning to his home in the Panorama residential district.

According to initial information, the gunmen immoblised his car -- which was driven by Mylonas himself and with his wife as a passenger -- a short distance from his home. The perpetrators entered the car, released Mylonas' wife, and forced the industrialist to head eastwards, and a few kilometers later, in the Thermi area, they abandoned the car and disappeared, taking Mylonas with them.

Mylonas' wife immediately alerted authorities of the abduction.

Police who rushed to the scene found Mylonas' cell phone and watch on the back seat of the abandoned car.

Mylonas, 49, is the owner, president and CEO of the listed Alumil aluminum constructions industry and the Alumil Group of companies, with major investments in Greece and abroad.

The Serres-born Mylonas is also a member of the board of directors of the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) and the Hellenic Aluminium Association, and vice-president of the board of the Association of Aluminum Processing Industries.

Further, Mylonas is vice-president of the Greece-China Business Council, and a member of the Greece-Serbia Business Council.

Mylonas and Alumil have received several awards and distinctions in recent years for their business activities.

Caption:ANA-MPA file photo of Federation of Industries of Northern Greece president George Mylonas.

[03] Parthenon marbles repatriation

Caption: A Sections of the Parthenon Marbles in London's British Museum, Wednesday 14 January 2004. ANA-MPA/EPA/Matthew Fearn

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The prospect of establishment of a parliamentary fact-finding commission on the Siemens affair, the internal crisis in main opposition PASOK party, and the economy and finance ministry's measures to counter-act the aggravation of the budget's basic indicators were the main front-page items in Athens' newspapers on Monday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Siemens scandal: Government says 'yes' to fact-finding commission, provided justice produces incriminating evidence".

APOTEVMATINI: "PASOK breaking up into pieces - Siemens scandal causes panic in and de-constructs the once powerful Movement - Thoughts of new party".

AVRIANI: "Elections (early general) in September with the slogan of catharsis and commitment that all those who took money from Siemens' 'black' funds - Karamanlis determined to clear up the landscape".

CHORA: "Camorra (mafia) with abductions, bouncers and briefcases from Zurich - Police thriller with the 'black' political money".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Rapid developments and avalanche of revelations expected this week regarding the Siemens scandal, with more names to come to light of recipients of 'gifts' in deutschemarks".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Siemens file 'approaching' parliament - Critical week with depositions before the examining magistrate".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "7 middlemen 'burn' Tsoukatos (close governmental advisor of PASOK former prime minister Costas Simitis) - They will testiry on the movement of the DM 1 million".

ESTIA: "Those responsible for the corruption - Inadequate sanctions for parties and politicians".

ETHNOS: "Fact-finding commission in the midst of political heatwave - The first cycle of the judicial investigation closes by mid-July".

TA NEA: "Black money as far back as July 2005 - Why the government is fearful".

VRADYNI: "Siemens rift in the political system - Tremblers in PASOK, new revelations feared".

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