Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-03-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Green development : an overall solution

[02] Man injured in booby-trapped car explosion

[03] Foreign ministry spokesman on UN minority issues report

[04] Art objects from recyclable materials on display atThessalonikiās Institut Francais

[05] ASE opening: Decline

[06] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Green development : an overall solution

Papandreou stressed that the current crisis "is related directly to the end of an economic model that promoted growth without guaranteeing the viability and prosperity of our society."

He added that the crisis is an opportunity to reverse a growth model that is breathing its last, "an opportunity to tell those who are smothering the possibilities of the country and of our people, to those who are preventing progress and are cultivating inertia and pessimism, to those who are restricting the right for a life of quality and dignity: make way for Greece to pass."

Papandreou pointed out that Green Development "is an overall solution to enable us to change course" and that "historically, whenever governments have attempted to emerge from crises through restriction, meaning with measures which decrease economic activity, they have failed" and added that "they have succeeded in emerging from a crisis when they have clear targets and a development position."

Analysing his party's three main priotirites, Papandreou underlined that the first priority is the climate and energy. The transition to an economy that reduces carbon emissions by 2020 and that can ultimately rid itself from mineral fuel by 2050.

The second is radical restructuring in all of the conomy's production sectors. In agriculture, fisheries, tourism, culture and processing. With the transition from the era of mass production, of low quality and cheap costs, to the era of quality.

The third priority, he noted, is economising with natural resources, with forests and protected regions, waters and refuse, as well as with green infrastructures, transportation, coastal shipping and the public environment.

Papandreou concluded that the transition to the green development model will take place with economic and institutional tools, with a green taxation reform, with strong public investing in research in the development of new technologies, with the creation of the "Green Fund", with the participation of the public and private sectors that will finance the improvement of the environment's quality.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou

[02] Man injured in booby-trapped car explosion

Attica security police are investigating the incident.

[03] Foreign ministry spokesman on UN minority issues report

"Our positions are crystal-clear and are based on absolute respect for human rights, a principle that also applies for minorities, and this constitutes an achievement of the modern-day Hellenic Republic," the spokesman said.

Koumoutsakos further said that in Greece every Greek citizen has the inalienable individual right to determine himself and the state's care to strengthen and protect human rights is continuous and effective.

"This policy is based on our steadfast conviction that the apparatuses for protecting and strengthening human rights must ultimately boost the harmonious coexistence of the citizens of a country," Koumoutsakos further stressed.

"For this reason, these apparatuses as well must not be turned, either directly or indirectly, into an opportunity or an alibi for some who are consciously attempting to exploit them for the promotion of expediencies of their own at the level of inter-state relations. Moreover, they must not become a tool in the hands of those who, for selfish purposes, aim at the creation of discord and a climate of tensions inside a society," the spokesman concluded.

[04] Art objects from recyclable materials on display atThessalonikiās Institut Francais

[05] ASE opening: Decline

Individual sector indices were moving downward nearly across the board, with the only gains in Mass Media, up 0.92 percent.

The biggest losses were in Financial Services, down 2.03 percent; Raw Materials, down 1.88 percent; Health, down 1.56 percent; and Banks, down 1.42 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.96 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.77 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 0.13 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 18 were up, 41 were down, and 19 were unchanged.

[06] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' meetings with the political leaders aimed at a common policy on the global crisis mostly dominated headlines in Friday's newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The outcome of the Prime Minister's meetings with party leaders was fruitless".

APOGEVMATINI: "Pettiness....The political leaders - except Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis - dismissed the prime minister's proposals on cooperation".

AVGHI: "Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary group leader Alekos Alavanos presented 25 counter-proposals to prime minister's neo-liberal call for consensus".

AVRIANI: "Political leaders and unions must assume their historical responsibilities to the country".

CHORA: "370,000 pensioners in danger of being left without medical care - Major problem faced by state social security funds".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "'Our political leaders failed to agree once again, for the good of the country".

ELEFTHEROS: "The leaders' hide-and-seek sank the consensus attempt - Karamanlis' 6 proposals and his mistakes".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Every man for himself - Papandeou torpedoed the effort for cooperation on tackling the crisis".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "The performance ended - Karamanlis called the leaders, knowing in advance that they would disagree".

ESTIA: "The Greek economy sacrificed on the altar of party expediencies".

ETHNOS: "Karatzaferis extends his hand - 3 'no' and 1 'yes', but conditionally".

KATHIMERINI: "The government left alone in the face of the crisis - PM's meetings with party leaders were fruitless".

LOGOS: "Karamanlis called for consensus on 6 points and received 3 negative and 1 positive answer".

NIKI: "Karamanlis confessed complete failure after 5 years of governing - He threatens 'tsunami' of severe measures".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The working class united for the plutocracy to pay the cost of the crisis".

TA NEA: "They (banks) are not passing on to new loans the latest European Central Bank (ECB) interest reduction".

TO VIMA: "Scenario of despair - Mr. Karamanlis bringing new distresses - The political leaders did not gave him the 'alibi' of their consensus".

VRADYNI: "Consensus is wanted - 3 'no' 1 'yes' -Clash instead of agreement".

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