Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou: Country in deep crisis

[02] Papariga press con'f at TIF

[01] Papandreou: Country in deep crisis

"There is just one conclusion: despair. A cry of anguish from all sides, deep crisis in Thessaloniki and northern Greece, crisis in all of Greece," Papandreou stated after the meeting.

Papandreou on Wednesday kicked off a round of meetings with the city's producer groups, in a visit that will peak with his address at the 73rd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) on Saturday and come to a close on Sunday with a press conference.

In his statements, the main opposition leader highlighted the rise in prices and high unemployment that came hand in hand with corruption and lack of transparency.

"All this is topped by an unfair, inequitable taxation and the lack of any support from the state," he added, through which very few benefit but many suffer.

PASOK's president pledged that his party will place the right to a "humane society" paramount, one that would treat citizens with dignity and respect, contribute to development, create jobs and respect people's right to health, education and a proper social insurance system.

Papandreou's next stop will be the Museum of Byzantine Culture at Thessaloniki's landmark White Tower monument, where he will tour the exhibition on the history of the city, and a visit to the Technopolis centre at Pylaia.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of PASOK leader George Papandreou.

[02] Papariga press con'f at TIF

Among others and speaking at a more-or-less customary press conference, the communist leader repeated her party's standing positions regarding "class struggle" and anti-capitalist initiatives.

"We need to get away from (ruling) New Democracy and (main opposition) PASOK, not just as political party formations, but to bring the bourgeoisie class and the monopolies to defeat for the benefit of the popular classes," she said.

Even more biting towards KKE's leftist rivals, the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA), Papariga charged that the party acts like "cosmopolitans in the European Union, but in Greece they wear jeans and become revolutionaries."

She also again ruled out the possibility of "political alliances", adding merely that SYRIZA is advocating such alliances for election expediencies.

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