Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-12-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou: 'Country needs change'

[02] ΚΚΕ offices firebombed

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Papandreou: 'Country needs change'

Papandreou referred directly to a "cold-blooded" murder of a 15-year-old pupil a week ago in downtown Athens, an incident that triggered unprecedented riots and disturbances in parts of central Athens and in other Greek cities.

The one-time foreign minister said the incident revealed the magnitude of the crisis enveloping the country and the younger generations, saying PASOK has a responsibility to sincerely and without inhibitions ask the major questions and provide solutions to those questions. Among others, he ticked off a series of questions, such as "what society are we creating? ... what society will be leave for the younger generation?"

"PASOK does not want to divide the country; no is not the time, amid the crisis we are experiencing, for blind policies or social polarisation and conflicts. We want to unite the people and the progressive forces around the solutions we propose, from a radical programme of changes in a national and social pact," he told PASOK cadres.

Papandreou again roundly criticised the government, saying it had lost people's trust yet continued to "grapple" onto power and "drag the country into adventures."

"Enough already ... now the people must give the answer," he said, adding that the government created a "state of corruption and incompetence".

Turning to the nighttime violence that plagued downtown Athens over the past week from hooded rioters and self-styled anarchists, Papandreou underlined that PASOK was absolutely against any form of violence and the destruction of public and private property. "For us, democracy does not wear a mask, it has a face."

In reference to the younger generations, Papandreou said they were experiencing the crisis more intensely, which is the reason behind their uprising, "because they are facing the most difficult problems faced by the world."

Finally, in response to a press question, Papandreou dismissed what he called the image portrayed in a series of foreign press reports, calling on public opinion to remember the Greece of the 2004 Olympics, among others.

The session began with a moment's silence in memory of Alexis Grigoropoulos, the youth that was shot dead by a policeman in the Athens district of Exarchia last Saturday evening.

[02] ΚΚΕ offices firebombed

Moreover, KKE underlined that "the attacks on the KKE's offices clearly reveal the powers hiding behind the masks, as well as their inspirers."

According to police, unknown perpetrators attacked KKE offices in Thessaloniki with firebombs and home-made incendiary devices in the early morning hours. Several garbage cans were also set on fire during the same period in the city's centre.

Caption: A file photo shows a scene from the disturbances in Thessaloniki on Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. ANA-MPA

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The fallout, political and otherwise, from the almost week-long disturbances and riots in Athens and a handful of other Greek cities, in the wake of the police shooting of a 15-year-old youth in Athens a week ago, expectedly dominated the headlines in the Sunday edition of Athens' dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "(To youthful rioters) Take off the masks. Education minister in candid interview."

APOGEVMATINI: "Battle in EU over 48-hour work week".

ARTHRO: "What is the generation of rage?"

AVGHI: "Young people burning government: Nationwide opinion poll by VPRC firm."

AVRIANI: "Foreign (interests) and 'pimps' (local business interests) setting the stage for another 'ecumenical' (coalition) government with dirty operation to ruin government".

CHORA: "Government out of touch, out of place. No one willing to realise the deeper reasons for crisis."

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Friends of Alexis (Grigoropoulos) speak out on their friend's murder."

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Word for word testimony by Alexis' friend, who was with him the final moments of his life."

ETHNOS: "Uprising and chaos gave the coup de grace to government, (PM Costas) Karamanlis."

EPOCHI: "We're your children: the unknown-well-known (hooded rioters)."

KATHIMERINI: "Mr. Karamanlis (the prime minister) before his responsibilities".

LOGOS: "Change of target with people's confidence. Mr. Karamanlis made it crystal clear."

NIKI: "Karamanlis' collapse."

PARON: "What they want. What's behind the masked rioters?"

PROTO THEMA: "Goodbye Mr. Karamanlis: They stole, killed and bankrupted us. Opinion poll: 65 percent believe (ruling) New Democracy's slide cannot be overturned."

REALNEWS: "He doesn't regret pulling out his service revolver, interview of 'rambo's' (police officer) defence attorney."

RIZOSPASTIS: "Everyone valiantly in action for success of PAME's rallies."

TO VIMA: "Abandoned country ... amid a handful of dust."

VRADYNI: "Stop to violence so young people's voices can be heard."

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