Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece an important transshipment hub

[02] Tanker explosion toll rises to eight

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Greece an important transshipment hub

Voulgarakis also stressed after the meeting that the "Friendship Gas" tanker's ship safety officer and marine chemist, who were responsible for the repairs, have been arrested, while a preliminary investigation was underway, the outcome of which would lead to the attribuition of responsibilities.

Voulgarakis further said that he briefed Karamanlis on developments in the process for concession of the OL-TH, in which he said a very significant tender has been submitted, adding that OL-TH will announce the tender winner next week.

In this way, he added, "a very large reform for the country is headed towards its completion, and Greece will become a very important transshipment hub in the Balkans and Europe".

"Consequently, a very big chapter is opening up, and a very important reform, which was among the government's fundamental program commitments,is nearing its completion," Voulgarakis said.

The minister added his belief that in the next period the situation in the country's ports (who have been staging mobilizations against the government's plans for concession of container terminals in several of the country's major ports) will be normalized, so that the country may, unhindered, take advantage of the benefits of this very important reform effort".

[02] Tanker explosion toll rises to eight

Four others injured in the accident were rushed to nearby Thriassio Hospital, where they were reported to be in a non-life threatening condition.

The incident was reported shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday as repairs were underway on the Panamanian-flagged liqueified gas tanker "Friendship Gas" anchored at the Perama shipbuilding and repair zone, when an explosion occured in the vessel's eingine room during repairs, causing a massive blaze.

Three fire engines, a firefighting vessel and three tugs took part in the operation to extinguish the blaze.

The ship's safety technician and marine chemist were arrested on Friday night, as being responsible for the reapirs on the tanker, and will be brought before a public prosecutor later Friday under the en flagranto delicto process.

The dead and injured were believed to be mostly repair workers, while one of the fatalities was tentatively identitied as a crew member.

Some 1,000 workers employed at the Perama Shipbuilding and Repair Zone staged a protest demonstration to the Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island Policy ministry in Piraeus, where they clashed with police forces, who used tear gas to push back the demonstrators.

Statements

President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias expessed his deep sorrow over the people injured or trapped following an explosion at the Perama shipyard earlier in the day, while addressing a reception on Thursday night, at the Presidential mansion, marking the 34th anniversary of the restoration of Democracy in Greece.

Merchant marine, Aegean and island policy minister George Voulgarakis expressed grief over the loss of workers' lives in Thursday's explosion and ensuing fire aboard the liquefied gas tanker while undergoing repairs at the Perama shipbuilding and repair zone, in a statement to the press on Friday following a previously-scheduled meeting with prime minister Costas Karamanlis.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga said on Thursday, while on a tour of Kilkis prefecture, that ?for years now, without protection measures by the governments, the tankers are transformed into hell holes of harsh exploitation."

Papariga noted that ?those responsible for the crimes at Perama? should be put on trial.

In a press statement, the KKE condemned "the new, big employers' crime against the working class".

"Capital is dripping blood," it said, adding that "this is democracy under capitalism. This is the result of the present governmental policy, which is the firm policy of all the governments of the plutocracy".

The KKE called on the working class to raise its stature, support the struggle of the workers in the Perama Zone, and demand safety and hygiene measures in the workplaces, while it also expressed its condolences to the families of the dead workers.

Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance MP Panagiotis Lafazanis, who visited the Perama Shipbuilding and Repair Zone on Friday, said that the "chronical of the inevitable deaths" in Perama was perpetuating at the expense of the working class.

"In essence, we do not have accidents, but mass, inevitable murders, which continually increase, with governments that simply observe the repeating tragedies, as neutral spectators. The time has come for those guilty and for their accomplices, who murder workers en masse on the altar of the shipowning and contractor profits, to finally pay".

He said that the government was required to fully shoulder its responsibilities and act immediately for the exemplary punishment of the guilty parties and the taking of drastic measures for the prevention of deaths.

Caption: Fire ensued aboard the Panama-flagged "Friendship Gas" liquefied gas tanker as it underwent repairs at the Perama Shipbuilding and Repair Zone near Piraeus. (ANA-MPA/G. Christakis)

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The tragic accident in Perama Shipyards in which eight workers were killed in an explosion and ensuing fire onboard a fuel tanker undergoing repairs, President Papouliasâ message on corruption in public life, the FYROM name issue, the imminent abolition of work contracts in the DEKO (public utilities and organizations) not traded on the stock market, the figures on tax evasion in Greece made public by Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis and the measures intended by the government to combat the phenomenon were the main front-page items in Fridayâs dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Retiring public servants eligible for larger lump sum retirement benefit - Up to 56,800 euros for this yearâs retirees with 35 years of insured work".

APOGEVMATINI: "Cutbacks in DEKO employeesâ privileges - Equalization of public and private company employees for the sake of social justice".

AVGHI: "Crime in Perama - State apathy for the tens of workplace accidents".

AVRIANI: "Corrupt politicians use politics as a vehicle to get rich - President Karolos Papoulias sends warning signal following the peopleâs wrath".

CHORA: "Judiciary salaries doubled - (Justice Minister Sotiris) Hatzigakis sponsors amendment in Parliament".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Eating and drinking in the name of those killed".

ELEFTHEROS: "(FYROM PM) Gruevski is met with disapproval - (UN special envoy Matthew) Nimetz: only the name is on the table".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Whoâs going to pay (the price of) the taxation impasse".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Judges lavishly paid - Domino decision leading to MP salary raise".

ESTIA: "Financial losses doubled for (Hellenic Railways) OSE under the New Democracy government".

ETHNOS: "New taxation package - (Economy and Finance Minister George) Alogoskoufis targets real property and the self-employed".

KATHIMERINI: "Finance Minister statement: revenues from direct taxation have reached rock bottom".

LOGOS: "Political morality wanted - President Papoulias makes important intervention".

NIKI: "People are conned with tricks and ploys - PM Karamanlis does not care about the high cost of living".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Blood dripping capital - Crime with eight dead workers in Perama Shipyards".

TA NEA: "Surprise decisions on DEKO salaries, layoffs - Sudden upset in labor relations".

TO VIMA: "President of the Republic: I share the disappointment and wrath of the people - Papoulias issues warning against the corruption incidents".

VRADYNI: "New remuneration rates for the members of the judiciary - Pay raises of up to 80 percent".

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