Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-03-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Stranded tour boat evacuated

[02] KKE leader attacks EU

[01] Stranded tour boat evacuated

The "Georgis" ran aground on the small islet of Platia late on Thursday afternoon. The ship had been carrying out a one-day cruise around the Saronic Gulf islands.

Coast guard vessels were sent to assist, while other ships sailing nearby also responded to the distress call. Also sent to the scene were four Navy mine-sweepers and one torpedo boat, a C-130 aircraft, seven helicopters.

The "Georgis" had set sail on Thursday morning from the port of Piraeus and was scheduled to stop at the islands of Aegina, Hydra and Poros before returning to Piraeus late on Thursday night. As yet, the reasons that caused the ship running aground are not known.

Weather conditions in the area were excellent, with calm seas and blue skies, allowing the evacuation of the passengers to be carried out without great difficulties.

[02] KKE leader attacks EU

Speaking at a press conference ahead of a two-day meeting of 23 communist and leftist parties from EU member-states, beginning in Athens on Friday, Papariga said that Euroscepticism was not enough.

"Expressing the idea of Euroscepticism only, is not enough. Speaking simply for another Europe is a trap and an illusion. Only the perspective of a rift with the European Union can offer solutions to its peoples," Papariga noted.

The KKE leader also attacked the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party saying that its programme "is a socialdemocratic programme which evolves into a right-wing one."

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga.

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