Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-09-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou addresses event for Kranidiotis

[02] "Mermaid", "Siren", "Oceanis" in Thessaloniki

[03] FM at EU General Affairs Council

[04] ASE opening: Rise

[05] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Papandreou addresses event for Kranidiotis

The event was also addressed by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.

"We shall never compromise with partitioning, (Cyprus) President Demetris Christofias has stressed the dangers from the perpetuation of the problem," Papandreou further said.

Papandreou further said that for the PASOK government, "if of course the people make this choice in the (October 4 general) elections, a foreign policy that will be giving once again power and prestige to Greece will be a priority, while the country will intervene in all the major international developments."

The PASOK leader also said that the PASOK government's foreign policy will be a policy with targets.

"President Christofias is aware that he has our support in his effort," Papandreou said, adding that for a solution to the issue of Cyprus there must be no outside interventions, pressures, suffocating timetables and arbitration and called on Turkey to leave the Turkish Cypriot community free to negotiate its future so that "we can be led to a solution that will be effective and fully workable of an EU state."

Papandreou went on to say that "the problem of Cyprus is a problem of invasion and occupation by Turkey and we must remind this" and called for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops, the last wall in Europe to fall and Turkey to fulfill all its commitments as an EU candidate country.

Papandreou also underlined that "in December a new road map must be set, a new Helsinki" and Turkey will assume clear commitments for a solution to the Cyprus issue.

On his part, President Christofias said that Cyprus feels the absence of Yiannos Kranidiotis, especially at the present stage of efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and Turkey's EU accession course.

adding that, despite of the fact that his life was cut short, Yiannos Kranidiotis sealed the political developments of the '80s and '90s, and established himself as a politician and diplomat, who successfully combined technocratic training with political activity and contemporary European thought.

President Christofias referred to Yiannos Kranidiotis' instrumental role in Cyprus' EU accession course, and the significant political heritage he left for both Cyprus and Greece. He added that ''the posts Yiannos Kranidiotis was called on to undertake in two very crucial decades for Greece, Cyprus and Europe testify the faith the Greek state, great political leaders of the age and various governments had in him.''

Fifty-two-year-old Yiannis Kranidiotis, with his son Nicholas and another four persons, were killed during a flight to Romania on the Greek Prime Minister's Falcon jet, in September 1999, when the plane lost altitude.

Kranidiotis, born in Nicosia in 1947, was an advisor on the Cyprus issue to late Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou from 1981 to 1984, while he also served as Secretary of European Affairs at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister and alternate Foreign Minister of Greece until his death. Kranidiotis was also the author of several books and articles focusing on European, Cypriot and Greek affairs.

[02] "Mermaid", "Siren", "Oceanis" in Thessaloniki

The sculptures, among them the "Mermaid", the "Siren" and "Oceanis", have already traveled to the islands of Spetses, Poros, Hydra and Crete, while the northeastern city of Kavala will be their next stop after Thessaloniki.

[03] FM at EU General Affairs Council

Focusing on the issues discussed by the Council, Bakoyannis said that, among other things, the issue of tackling the economic crisis was discussed which is of vital importance for the future of Europe, with emphasis on the issues of employment and the supervision of the monetary system.

She added that, in this context, at the informal European Council on Thursday an effort will be made to shape an EU position in light of the meeting of the Group of 20 in the United States.

The foreign minister further said that the Council discussed the institutional issues preoccupying the EU and the changes that the Lisbon Treaty will be bringing about, if everything goes well with its ratification.

Bakoyannis also met on the sidelines of the Council with Bulgaria's new foreign minister.

Lastly, replying to the question of her possible candidacy for EU foreign minister, that will be created if the Lisbon Treaty is implemented, Bakoyannis said that it is premature for one to speak of possible candidacies and posts.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis

[04] ASE opening: Rise

Individual sector indices were moving mostly upward, with the biggest gains in Mass Media, up 5.49 percent; Health, up 2.85 percent, and Commerce, up 1.41 percent.

The biggest losses were in Insurance, down 2.61 percent; Chemicals, down 0.66 percent and Constructions, down 0.28 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 0.87 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 0.77 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 0.46 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 72 were up, 34 were down, and 16 were unchanged.

[05] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Ruling New Democracy's (ND) candidate lists for the upcoming general elections, announced on Monday, and the European Comission's intervention for an immediate reduction of the fiscal decifit, dominated the headlines on Tuesday in Athens' dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Farmers vote for ND".

APOGEVMATINI: "Major suprises in ND's ballots - High-profile cadres excluded".

AVGHI: "Severe austerity tunnel - ND proposes two-year period while main opposition PASOK one extra year, wrapped with compassion".

AVRIANI: "European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia demands immediate measures to reduce deficit".

ELEFTHEROS: "Almunia sends double negative message to George Papandreou for benefits".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Massacre and collapse - Opinion polls foresee ND's Waterloo in elections".

ESTIA: "Populism dominating".

ETHNOS: "Shock and awe for ND and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis".

KATHIMERINI: "Rendez-vous with European Commission after the elections - Almunia awaiting measures from new government to cut deficit".

LOGOS: "Almunia sends strict message to ... whoever's interested".

NIKI: "George Papandreou on his father's (former premier and PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou) tracks, meanwhile, Karamanlis legend collapses".

RIZOSPASTIS: "ND and PASOK deceiving people with false dilemmas".

TA NEA: "Lists of dissolution - ND in chaos".

VIMA: "Ballot lists of defeat - Product of compromise, blackmail".

VRADYNI: "Lists of victory".

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