Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-01-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK positions on economic crisis

[02] Terrorist group assumes responsibility for riot police attack

[03] Ecumenical Patriarch briefs distinguished Open Society group

[04] FM spokesman on aid-laden vessel heading for Gaza

[05] ADEX closing report

[06] FinMin defends economic policy

[01] PASOK positions on economic crisis

Katseli "sounded the alarm" for a coming recesssion in the economy and a wave of mass dismissals, as she said. She also referred to a feeling of "fear and insecurity in society," adding that PASOK has already submitted a realistic and integrated salvation and development perspective programme for the economy that is based on four axes, and has presented proposals for a short-term programme to exit from the crisis with support for small and medium-size businesses, the weaker classes and the unemployed.

[02] Terrorist group assumes responsibility for riot police attack

One police officer, 21, was seriously injured in the ambush.

According to reports, the "Revolutionary Struggle" group also assumed responsibility for a Dec. 23, 2008 shooting against a bus carrying riot police in the Athens district of Goudi and for an attack against a petroleum multinational's offices in the Paleo Faliro district of southern Athens on Oct. 24, 2008.

The weekly, "Pontiki", is expected to publish the proclamation in its Thursday edition.

[03] Ecumenical Patriarch briefs distinguished Open Society group

The meeting was organised at a downtown hotel by the "Open Society" Foundation, with the participation of Marcelino Oreja Aguirre, former Spanish foreign minister, Italian Minister Emma Bonino, Albert Rohan, the former Austrian deputy foreign minister, and Hans van den Broek, the former Dutch foreign minister.

Also participating in the Foundation are Michel Rocard, the former French prime minister, Kurt Bidenkopf, former PM of Saxony in Germany and other politicians.

After an address was made by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, a discussion followed, with the Patriarch saying that the reopening of the Halki School of Theology is an urgent priority, while stressing that an Orthodox Christian seminary at whatever local university is no solution.

The European leaders were also briefed by the Patriarch on the situation at present

[04] FM spokesman on aid-laden vessel heading for Gaza

"At the same time, the Greek government has briefed, comprehensively and in a timely manner, before the sailing of the 'Arion', and cautioned those in charge and all who are participating in this initiative over the serious security risks entailed in their planned action, which means passing through the closed sea military zone determined by Israel..." the spokesman said.

"We have also taken at the same time and we are continuing to take all the necessary diplomatic actions towards the Israeli side, underlining the purely humanitarian character of this effort and calling on Israeli authorities to handle the situation with the necessary sensitivity and special care, so that the security of those on board the vessel will not be jeopardised," Koumoutsakos added.

[05] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 14,117 contracts worth 11.555 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (3,609), followed by Eurobank (589), MIG (580), OTE (877), PPC (1,032), OPAP (560), Piraeus Bank (767), GEK (961), Alpha Bank (1,393) and Marfin Popular Bank (771).

[06] FinMin defends economic policy

Commenting on a decision by Standard & Poor's to downgrade Greece's credit rating to A-/A-2 from A-/A-1, the Greek minister said:

"The main reason why Standard & Poor's downgraded the country is that Greece faces an international financial crisis with high public debt and fiscal deficit. I would like to note, however, that the public debt has fallen to 93 pct of GDP, down from 100 pct in 2004, and that the fiscal deficit has been cut significantly from 7.5 pct of GDP in 2004.

"It remains, however, at high levels because of the government's decision to put the real economy and supporting weaker classes as a top priority. In a difficult international conjuncture, currently prevailing, minimising deficits by ignoring social consequences cannot be a target. After all, several Eurozone member-states will exceed the 3.0 pct target. We are a country with a high public debt and it is to our benefit -and not because it is imposed by a Stability and Growth Pact- to gradually cut the deficit below 3.0 pct. And this will happen with a plan without leaving behind the need for social cohesion. That's exactly what we will seek with our updated Stability and Growth Program which we will present by the end of month".

S&P downgraded the country's credit rating because of a decline in competitiveness and higher fiscal deficits. However, S&P maintained the Greek economy's outlook as stable.

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