Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK in final stretch to 8th Congress

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PASOK in final stretch to 8th Congress

PASOK party secretary Nikos Athanasakis and the Congress Central Organising Committee coordinator Christos Polyzogopoulos, speaking at a press conference coordinated by PASOK spokesman Yiannis Ragoussis on Tuesday, said that the outcome of Sunday's process on electing more than 4,500 delegates to the party's 8th Congress was positive for PASOK and the country's political system.

According to data presented, the number of registered 'members' and 'friends' of PASOK who participated in the election procedures amounted to 208,738 people, a number expected to increase slightly and to reach about 210,000 people after the last polling stations were counted.

"What is of interest is the political framework," Athanasakis said, underlining the significance of the dialogue developed by PASOK with citizens in the various pre-congress events.

Data revealed by Polyzogopoulos showed that these events totalled 1,297, of which 920 were at municipal level, 132 at prefectural and 75 were theme events. Moreover, 170 visits were carried out by delegations of PASOK all over the country.

Meanwhile, Papandreou on Tuesday met with the Athens A' Constituency party deputies Anna Diamantopoulou, Sylvana Rapti, Nasos Alevras and Christos Papoutsis.

The issues discussed included education, citizensâ incomes, the social security system, traffic, greenery and cleanliness.

Apart from these topics, also discussed was the course towards the 8th PASOK Congress on March 13-16, as well as political developments.

Caption: File photo of main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou. (ANA-MPA/P. Saitas)

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The government's and opposition parties' efforts to disband suspicious Internet rings, the bill on primary healthcare, and changes in the ELAS (Greek Police) leadership, were the main front-page items in Wednesday's dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Orgy of scandals in OGA (farmers' social security/pension fund) - Bogus medical diagnoses, fake prescriptions, illegal benefits, etc.".

APOGEVMATINI: "9,100 new (public sector) hirings".

AVGHI: "Government indifferent to the environment - PPC (Public Power Corporation) employees warn they will pull down the switch", adding that mobilisation of PPC employees cancelled signing of memorandum for construction of coal-powered electricity production units.

AVRIANI: "The supposed blackmail by PRESS.GR (blogspot) is bogus - Aim is to muzzle all the free blogs on which the people learn the truth and vent their frustrations with every type of authority".

CHORA: "Thirteen measures to reinforce animal-preeders - Government's interest proven in action".

ELEFTHEROS: "They've gone mad in ND (ruling party) and are mutually stabbing each other over FYROM name issue and domestic policy matters".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Deposition that burns Zachopoulos and lawyer specialising in labour issues - What the 35-year-old woman said in 15-hour testimony before the examining magistrate - She accused the culture ministry former secretary general (Zachopoulos) of subsidies to 'friends', and the lawyer of collusion with the mass media".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Government attempting to exploit a unique issue, with the much-discussed blogs as the protagonists, in order to save itself from the vortex of the problems plaguing it".

ESTIA: "Multiple national fronts: Greek-Turkish affairs, Cyprus issue, FYROM name issue, Kosovo".

ETHNOS: "To your health...with carbon dioxide - PPC president's preposterous statements on coal-powered power station".

KATHIMERINI: "The Liechtenstein scandal being investigated by Athens, too - Greek authorities will ask for data from Berlin on possible implication of Greek citizens".

LOGOS: "No fear of major earthquake - Civil Protection Secretariat General reassuring", referring to predictions that such a quake was expected in Greece".

NIKI: "ELAS on verge of nervous breakdown - Unrest over the (imminent) changes in the leadership" to be decided by the KYSEA (government council on foreign affairs and defence) on Wednesday in the annual promotions and retirements in the armed forces and police.

RIZOSPASTIS: "Escalation of the action on social security and collective labor agreements - Call for labor-wide mobilisations by PAME".

TA NEA: "Tsekou 'fingers' Zachopoulos over 650,000 euros (in ministry subsidies) to 'friends' ".

TO VIMA: "Politicians also 'feeding' the lumpen information - The murky ring of press-gr (blog)".

VRADYNI: "4 deep changes in Health - Bill on primary healthcare to be tabled by Avramopoulos (health minister) in parliament".

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