Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-01-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] New Cabinet sworn in on Thursday

[02] Alavanos meets Palestinian ambassador

[03] ASE opening: Big decline

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] New Cabinet sworn in on Thursday

After the swearing-in ceremony, which was officiated by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece and held in the presence of President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and the premier, the new ministers and deputy ministers went to their respective ministries to take over their new portfolios from their predecessors.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis (L) and President of Republic Karolos Papoulias(R)

[02] Alavanos meets Palestinian ambassador

Asked to comment on the government reshuffle taking place on the same day, Alavanos said that the change of politicians demanded by Greek society cannot be provided by the New Democracy party, adding that the removal of the ministers and deputy ministers responsible for economic and educational issues showed that SYRIZA had moved and is moving in the right direction.

Referring as well to the serious wounding of the young police officer during the attack in the Athens district of Exarhia, Alavanos stressed that "the Left defends with its identity the innocent victims of violence and it also defends the younger generation and, in this sense, SYRIZA's solidarity for policeman Diamantis is absolute."

[03] ASE opening: Big decline

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest gains in Personal & Household Goods, up 0.76 percent; and Travel & Recreation, up 0.27 percent.

The heaviest losses were in Construction, down 3.65 percent; Telecoms, down 3.50 percent; Oil & Gas, down 3.15 percent; and Banks, down 2.75 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 2.05 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 1.03 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index down up 0.98 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 10 were up, 62 were down, and 33 were unchanged.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The Cabinet reshuffle, the new faces and balances in the government and the reaction on the new Cabinet's composition dominated the headlines on Thursday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "After the reshuffle, what? The Prime Minister's steps will be very cautious".

APOGEVMATINI: "Government of new speeds - The new Cabinet is younger and more flexible".

AVGHI: "Reshuffle: Right turn aiming at party (ruling New Democracy) unity ".

CHORA: "Karamanlis made bold moves aiming to the ease the political climate from the scandals and the financial crisis".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Reshuffle to reverse the bad political climate caused by former government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos and the youth's uprising".

ELEFTHEROS: "Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis signals for early elections via the strangest and most bizarre reshuffle".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Heading towards ballots with 'beheadings' and new faces".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Patches aiming at party balances, and surprises. Karamanlis: After a 2-month meditation he slightly changed the troupe".

ESTIA: "The pros and cons of the reshuffle: FinMin Alogoskoufis' removal from the government is the dominant issue of the reshuffle".

ETHNOS: "Reshuffle made by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and Enviroment and Public Works Minister George Souflias - Reshuffle tailored to serve the in-party balances".

KATHIMERINI: "Reshuffle with reversals - Alogoskoufi , Culture Minister Michalis Liapis and the cadres involved in the Vatopedi scandal left out of the Cabinet - Changes in Education and Public Order ministries".

LOGOS: "Reshuffle of balances and surprises - Image of revival with the government's milestones intact".

NIKI: "Karamanlis 'whipped' - A hostage of the 'barons', he simply recycled 'worn out' cadres".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Intensification of the popular solidarity with the struggle of the people of Palestine".

TA NEA : "Reshuffle with a view to the ballot box - Changes were based on the results of the opinion polls".

TO VIMA: "FinMin George Alogoskoufis leaves and general elections arrive ......Reshuffle aiming to placate the public opinion".

VRADYNI: "Reshuffle of reversals aimed at better coordination and reversal of the political climate".

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