Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-01-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou chairs party's Coordination Body

[02] KKE leader bashes media

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Papandreou chairs party's Coordination Body

This amendment is nothing but a desperate attempt to gain time - in search of strategic investors (for OTE), Papandreou told the Parliament plenary session.

He also charged that the government has turned state-run Public Power Corp. (PPC), the listed power utility in the country, into a loss-maker, while eying its eventual sell-off.

Referring to the ongoing Zachopoulos affair still reverberating on the country's political scene, Papandreou said the government is not in a position to investigate an affair of which it is a party to.

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

[02] KKE leader bashes media

She also accused media owners of 'doctoring' the political developments, aimed at manipulating the developments and obstructing developments detrimental to the two mainstream parties, ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK.

She said the situation that has been created in the private and state media at the KKE's expense, particularly after the last general elections, was "blatantly provocative".

She said the real time allotted on news programmes for the KKE barely exceeded 2 percent, and accused the Radio-Television Coucil of being a 'simple observer' to this phenomenon, adding that it was the choice of the electronic and print media owners, noting that they use public frequencies, and charged that the declarations on polyphony and equality had proved to be hypocritical.

Another indication of the KKE's unequal treament was that a large number of programmes on state channels did not invite representatives of the KKE, although they did invite people who had left the party decades ago and now belong to other parties to speak, even about the KKE's 90-year history.

Papariga further charged that the majority of mass media ridiculed and slandered demonstrations and take-overs decided collectively by workers and the youth because they were counter to the choices of capital, while the only mobilisations they project are those that aid the two-party alternation in power.

She said all the mechanisms were being used to obstruct and cancel the growth of the popular movement, and to protect the two-party alternation, aimed at formulating bi-partisan solutions when the margins for single-party governments were depleted. The media interventions to influence the election of party leaders, as shown in the recent developments and leadership election in PASOK, and the ongoing developments in the Coalition of the Left (SYN), were in that direction,.

"The KKE's electoral rise and the increase in its influence worries them," she said.

Papariga termed the situation prevailing in the field of information as unacceptable, and criticised the government which, she said, has forgotten its older declarations against the collusion of business and publishing interests, adding that, with the new law, the concentration of media in the hands of capital was being strengthened.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Communist Party of Greece leader Aleka Papariga-->

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Questions surrounding the Zachopoulos affair, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou's attack on government in parliament and Employment Minister Fani Palli-Petralia's proposals on social security reforms dominated headlines on Thursday in Athens newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Illness and terrorism worry people, European survey indicates".

APOGEVMATINI: "Zachopoulos affair brings turbulence to the political scene".

AVGHI: "Prime Minister 'escapes' to India - He uses his official visit to India to get out from the Zachopoulos affair vise"

AVRIANI: "Politicians are liars, that's why the political system is in a crisis".

CHORA: "Defence plan against inflation being prepared by Economy Ministry".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "The Prime Minister will bring back from India a fakir to 'charm' the Zachopoulos scandal cobras".

ELEFTHEROS: "Silence of the Ministers - New Democracy cadres on Zachopoulos affair".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "The name of the mysterious reporter who handed over the Zachopoulos DVD is...- Rumours and war among journalists over the name of the 'postman' ".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Escape to India -The examining magistrate awaits the return of PM's press office director Yannis Andrianos".

ESTIA: "Government falling apart - Irrational actions makes things worse".

ETHNOS: "They found Zachopoulos' 'lotto winners' - The agencies that received Culture Ministry funds".

KATHIMERINI: "The Greek political scene hostage to the DVDs- While crucial issues trouble the country".

LOGOS: "Appointment with oblivion...- Government attempts to close Zachopoulos affair".

NIKI: "Karamanlis' political responsibility in the Zachopoulos affair - Papandreou attacks for the scandal".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Media are undermining the Communist Party and the labour movements".

TA NEA: "Double shock on real estate tax rates- New 0.5% increase in bank loan interest rates".

TO VIMA: "Turmoil on the political scene- Four months after general election the balances are in jeopardy"

VRADYNI: "Fani's nine keys to 'unlock' the social security issue".

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