Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papoulias in Shanghai

[02] Town Planning approved

[03] Bakoyannis, Rice meeting in Berlin

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Papoulias in Shanghai

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Jia Qingling, the chairman of the National Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference (China's top political advisory body), Papoulias also expressed optimism because "we ascertained China's political volition for further advancement of our bilateral relations", adding that "Greeks has many expectations from this advancement".

Jia called Papoulias' visit to China "an important historical event" for furthering Greek-Chinese relations.

Papoulias, who is accompanied by employment minister Fani Palli-Petralia, justice minister Sotiris Hatzigakis, and deputy foreign ministers Yannis Valynakis and Petros Doukas, is due to meet in the afternoon (Shanghai time) with Shanghai mayor Han Zheng, who will also host an official dinner in the Greek President's honor.

On Thursday, Papoulias will attend a Greek-Chinese business conference with the participation of entrepreneurs from both countries.

Caption: President of Greek Republic Karolos Papoulias lays a wreath at the heroes monument in Tiananmen sq. on Tue.24 June 2008. ANA-MPA /NIKOS ARVANITIDIS

[02] Town Planning approved

Of the 288 parliament deputies present, 151 ruling New Democracy MPs and the independent MP Costas Koukodimos voted in favor, while 136 opposition MPs voted against.

[03] Bakoyannis, Rice meeting in Berlin

The talks were held on the sidelines of an International Donors Conference on boosting law and order in the Palestinian territory that took place in Berlin.

Briefing Greek reporters after her meeting with Rice, Bakoyannis clarified that on the name issue there is no ground for resolving the problem by July 9 and that such an issue was not even raised by the American side.

The character of the discussion in this respect was an "informative" one, the minister also said in light of the arrival of special envoy Matthew Nimetz in Athens on Thursday and afterwards in FYROM.

"I expressed the hope that these negotiations will have an auspicious conclusion, also hoping that the side of FYROM will also abandon pre-election rhetoric and will enter the essence of the negotiations," Bakoyannis said.

Replying to a question on what was Rice's contribution during the discussion, the minister said that "Mrs. Rice is well aware of the issue of the name (of FYROM) and of the Cyprus issue, which we also discussed... She is well aware of the issues, she has involved herself a great deal and, as you know, she is an experienced minister who is also aware of the essence of the problems."

Bakoyannis, who has already departed for Athens, concluded by saying that "the discussion was sincere and, as you know, Greek-American relations are good and are based on strong foundations."

Caption: Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis (R) with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Berlin on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. ANA-MPA / A. DOUKAS.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The Siemens scandal and the continuing revelations, the situation in the Greek and global economy and the university entrance base passing grades dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "(Development Minister Christos) Folias takes drastic decision: 'Stop' on 15 abusive bank terms (on loans and credit)".

APOGEVMATINI: "The courrier of two suitcases full of deuthschemarks destined for bribery payments in Greece, skimmed the money during his flight to Athens, keeping a 'gift' for himself as well".

AVGHI: "Eurobarometer: Majority of Greeks want the country to take a different course" .

AVRIANI: "(Main opposition PASOK party leader George) Papandreou's close friend George Trepeklis is the 'champion' bribe-taker: He took 6.5 million euros in advance for middle-man services (in the SIEMENS affair)".

CHORA: "The 13 routes of the 'black money' - Shocking testimonies indicating the large sums of money Siemens gave out".

ELEFTHEROS: "The Army Participial Fund is sinking - The reverse count start in 6 months, according to an actuarial study".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Short circuit in PASOK, New Democracy resulting from SIEMENS case - (Former prime minister Costas Simitis' economic advisor and Minister of State Theodoros) Tsoukatos' implication is an excuse for a 'clearing up of accounts' in PASOK".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "2.3 million euros in bribes also during ND's governance".

ESTIA: "Political 'little' people - Nobody is responsible for the corruption".

ETHNOS: "University base entry grades: ups and downs".

KATHIMERINI: "EU wants investigations into the Athens Metro and Siemens. The file of the frigates (upgrading of Dutch frigates) also reopens".

LOGOS: "Bank borrowers vindicated on 15 'abusive' bank transaction conditions".

NIKI: "The 'general' (Tsoukatos) left alone, without party coverage - Below-the-belt blows from Simitis 'loyalists' against George Papandreou - Tsoukatos admits he has no proof (that the DM1 million bribe ended up in the PASOK coffers)".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Migrant workers won their battle at the 'LADY FASHION' garment factory - The unity and solidarity of the working class brought a positive result".

TA NEA: "The base entry grades for the most wanted Schools even higher - Two-speed grades in Nationwide exams".

TO VIMA: "The train of bribes - 'Crowds' outside the prosecutor's door - Daily revelations of new names implicated in the SIEMENS case".

VRADYNI: "University entry base grades: Where (which Schools and Departments) they went up, and where they went down - What the Education Ministry statistics and the grades reveal".

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