Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-01-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou raps gov't, internal dissent

[02] DEPA, Edison deal on gas pipeline

[03] GNTO bureau chiefs in Paris

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Papandreou raps gov't, internal dissent

[02] DEPA, Edison deal on gas pipeline

The agreement, between DEPA and Edison, was signed on the sidelines of a meeting between Italian Minister for Economic Development Pierluigi Bersani and Greek Development Minister Christos Folias, who is on an official visit to Rome.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Greek minister said DEPA and Edison will hold a 50 percent stake each in Poseidon SA and that the new company will be based in Athens.

"It is a first major step to begin all procedures for the implementation of an ambitious energy interconnection plan, to transport natural gas from Greece to Italy," Folias said.

The Greek-Italian pipeline project is an extension of the Greek-Turkish natural gas pipeline project that was inaugurated late last year.

The Greek-Italian pipeline will have a ground section with a length of 590 km and a diameter of 42 inches, extending from Komotini to Igoumenitsa. The underwater section will have a length of 212 km and a diameter of 32 inches, linking Igoumenitsa with Otranto, Italy.

The Greek minister said the project was part of a strategic plan by the Greek government to turn the country as an energy hub in southeastern Europe.

Folias met with the management of ENEL, a partner of Public Power Corp. (PPC).

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Development Minister Christos Folias.

[03] GNTO bureau chiefs in Paris

Organisational issues and better planning dominated talks at the meeting, as well as upgrades to the bureaus themselves and increased staffing.

New GNTO bureaus are planned for China, Russia, South Africa and India.

Caption: A file picture dated 03 May 2006 shows the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. ANA-MPA/ EPA/HORACIO VILLALOBOS

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The ongoing Zachopoulos affair and its repercussions on the political system as well as a couple of reports on a probe regarding the German multinational Siemens were the main front-page items in Sunday's newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Final plan for pensions (reform)"

APOGEVMATINI: "All of the major issues on the (government's) table"

AVGHI: "A new majority. Two-party system collapsing"

AVRIANI: The newspaper banners a front-page story claiming that a former PASOK minister is involved in a kick-back scheme vis-a-vis the German multinational Siemens, something that will allegedly be cited in an investigation by a German prosecutor

CHORA: "392 areas to be included in new zoning"

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Prosecutor to file criminal charges against the 'courier' of the (Zachopoulos) DVD and three attorneys involved in the alleged blackmailing case"

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Politicians, journalists and DVD in the land of ... miracles"

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Government and television news stars the protagonists in a show involving collusion, blackmail and revelations"

EPOCHI: "Post-1974 political system at its boundaries"

ETHNOS: "Divorces in (main opposition) PASOK and 'arranged marriages' in (ruling) New Democracy"

KATHIMERINI: "Kick-backs by Siemens: 100 million euros to parties and telephone utility (OTE) executives"

LOGOS: "Early political storms"

PROTO THEMA (weekly): "MEGA-liars. Who is hiding the unedited DVD of Tsekou", a play using the name of a local television station.

RIZOSPASTIS: "People's will and strength the course towards power"

TO VIMA: "Underworld and decline downgrade public life"

VRADYNI: "How to protect yourself against excessive borrowing and high prices"

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