Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Absolute neutrality towards all candidates

[02] Minister on migrants' treatment

[03] ASE opening: Decline

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Absolute neutrality towards all candidates

"We are on course to the extraordinary Congress and to the election of the new leader," Sioufas said, adding that both the central and the regional bodies of the party have the obligation to function with democratic sensitivity and absolute neutrality towards each and every candidate.

He added that ND, in totally abiding by the party principles, will emerge stronger from the entire process, with unity and cohesion.

[02] Minister on migrants' treatment

Among these he cited support by social workers and psychologists for police stations in sensitive areas, the hiring of migrants at police stations to act as intermediaries between police and jailed foreigners, the hiring of second-generation immigrants for civilian posts within police departments, a Special Complaints Office set up in collaboration with the state ombudsman and the punishment of police officers "harbouring fascist elements".

The minister made the announcement during a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of the group "Movement United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat", who reported police mistreatment and brutality toward foreign nationals when they were arrested and detained at police jails.

Chrysohoidis said that relieving police from processing asylum applications was a "symbolic gesture" given that Greece should have particular sensitivity to asylum issues, adding that the measure will be discussed by the Cabinet.

During the meeting, members of the group raised four issues concerning alleged police abuses. One concerned the death of a Pakistani where an autopsy carried out by the group did not uphold the findings of one carried out by police concerning the cause of death but found evidence of maltreatment such as cuts, burns and bruises. The second related to the abductions of 28 Pakistanis that has "stalled" at the public prosecutor's office, while its victims have been variously "punished" through the removal of their passports or had been denied re-entry into Greece to join their families. A third issue was the overall treatment of migrants and the actions of the Frontex agency, while lastly they cited police cooperation with ultra-right-wing militants such as the 'Golden Dawn' party and the lack of police reaction to the abuses of such militants in the Agios Panteleimonas district.

Chrysohoidis said that he had already requested the assistance of the Supreme Court in resolving the first issue raised by the group, preferring this over an internal inquiry, while noting that the Pakistani abductions were an issue for Greek justice. On police links with fascist organisations, the minister said that any police officer found to be collaborating with Chryssi Avghi (Golden Dawn) or similar groups would be sent home.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Citizens' Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis

[03] ASE opening: Decline

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest gains in Media, up 1.32 percent; Travel and Recreation, up 0.75 percent; and Commerce, up 0.10 percent.

The biggest losses were in Food and Beverages, down 1.65 percent; Construction, down 1.29 percent; and Public Utilities, down 0.98 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.68 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.27 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 0.16 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 31 were up, 60 were down, and 21 were unchanged.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The EU's warning over the deficit in the economy, the government's moves for the country to exit from the crisis and the upcoming election for a new leader in main opposition New Democracy (ND) dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Deadly hazard - Internet threatens thousands of people's mental health".

APOGEVMATINI: "German justice released from jail former Siemens Hellas CEO Michalis Christoforakos".

AVGHI: "They are setting the scene for austerity - European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia and Bank of Greece governor George Provopoulos give instructions to the government".

AVRIANI: "We have deceived the EU seven times in five years with false figures".

CHORA: "The leader will be elected only through an alliance, or else a split in ND is unavoidable - None of the candidates appear able to amass over 50 percent in the first round".

ELEFTHEROS: "Almunia: Someone is lying over the state of the economy - He wonders how the deficit grew from 6% to 12% of GDP in zero time".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "12 other EU countries' excessive deficits saved us from the firing squad".

ESTIA: "The entire truth about the deficit - Why the 2009 State Budget derailed".

ETHNOS: "Measures right now, or else we sink".

KATHIMERINI: "The EU will give us some extra time, with difficulty - Brussels furious over the skyrocketing deficit".

LOGOS: "Full steam ahead to fiscal surveillance by the EU - Additional borrowing is mandatory".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The capital must pay for the deficit and the debts, not the working classes".

TA NEA: "Clash between government and Brussels over the 2.5 billion euros for benefits".

TO VIMA: "Final warning for changes and reforms - Almunia's recommendations to FinMin George Papaconstantinou".

VRADYNI: "Crash landing - Brussels puts an end to the people's expectations".

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