Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-09-05

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou: 'PASOK the only choice'

[02] Greek Press Review

[01] Papandreou: 'PASOK the only choice'

"PASOK represents the hopeful and only choice that we have, a factor of which is that crises do not only create problems but also create opportunities for looking at what we are doing wrong and finding new ways of growth," he stressed.

Papandreou also expressed confidence that Greece could turn things around with the right kind of leadership in power:

"When we had leaderships that believed in our strengths, when the state was at our side and not on our backs, when there was a plan for all and not just privileges for the few then we worked miracles. This is the kind of leadership the country needs today," he stressed, expressing certainty that the morning after the October 4 elections would be the start of a new course for Greece with a majority PASOK government at the helm.

At another point in his speech, PASOK's leader stressed that his party's proposal for "green development" was the only feasible and realistic solution for bringing the country out of the current cul-de-sac and the crisis into which it was sinking, noting that 'green development' would benefit farmers and especially young farmers most of all.

He suggested that EU police should now shift away from supporting agricultural production based on land acreage to supporting environmentally-friendly farming practices.

PASOK's leader criticised the government for failing to address the problems faced by farmers and for failing to stand up to big companies and cartels that maximised profits at farmers' expense.

He promised to clash with middle-men and cartels that got rich on farmers' work, stressing that the existing framework of laws was adequate and required only the political will to enforce it. "This I am determined to do," he added.

Caption: Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou addressing the Young Farmers' Conference in Ancient Olympia on Saturday. ANA-MPA - Katerina Mavrona.

[02] Greek Press Review

The upcoming elections, a German court ruling against the extradition of Siemens case suspect Michalis Christoforakos and the opening of the 74th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) dominated the headlines on Saturday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "They are not extraditing Christoforakos! By a unanimous ruling of Germany's Federal Constitutional Court".

APOGEVMATINI: "No dead weight on [ruling New Democracy (ND)] election tickets. Prime Minister will indirectly but plainly make known in Thessaloniki that those who have hurt the citizens with their behaviour will not be on the tickets".

AVGHI: "Mobilisation at TIF for the 'next day'. Closing credits for [Prime Minister Costas] Karamanlis tonight".

AVRIANI: "[Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister George] Souflias thundered and roared, smiting all those that attempted to doubt the reasons that forced Karamanlis to go to the polls".

ELEFTHEROS: "The golden percentages for a majority government. They are scanning opinion polls over and over at [ND and main opposition PASOK party headquarters]".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA : "Karamanlis' 'will and testament'. Departing 'new governance' bequeaths heavy burden to those coming next".

ESTIA: "Missed opportunities for the country. All that was not done in the last 5.5 years".

ETHNOS : "Cold comfort for Karamanlis in the North. Even traditionally Karamanlis-dominated constituencies are shaky".

KATHIMERINI: "Thorns for ND, PASOK on the road to elections. Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) one step before fragmentation".

LOGOS: "He's 'cleaning up' New Democracy before the elections. G. Voulgarakis also off the election tickets".

NIKI: "TIF seals his fate. Karamanlis trapped in his decisions".

PRESS TIME: "Tough poker for two. 'It's either me or chaos' - the dilemmas and the economy".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Rally in Thessaloniki today, Fountain Square at 6.00 p.m. PAME-PASY-EBE Rally Coordinating Committee".

STO KARFI (Weekend paper): "And good riddance".

TA NEA: "The three secrets to a majority government. Reversals due to the crisis in ND - SYRIZA".

TO VIMA: "Siemens and Vatopedi [scandals] dynamite ND election tickets. Prime minister to present his electoral strategy today".

VRADYNI: "Three axes of the new term. Costas Karamanlis to clear up the scene at TIF".

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article