Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-08-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM stresses need for 'Fourth Way'

[02] Summer sales turnover down

[03] Forced landing on Rhodes

[04] Âus driver arrested

[01] PM stresses need for 'Fourth Way'

The premier also explained that "Greece's debt has come from years of economic mismanagement - wasteful government spending, an inefficient public sector, chronic tax evasion", noting that "many other developed countries have unsustainable levels of debt that will require tough decisions in the short term to guarantee viability in the long term".

"But cuts alone will not be enough to safeguard the global economy. We also need measures to stimulate growth and create jobs," he said, stressing: "Instead of collective austerity, we need global responsibility."

Papandreou also warned that "there is a real danger in global austerity", because it could dampen global demand during a very fragile recovery. Our goal should not be to bounce from one bubble to another, but rather to move the global economy towards sustainable and equitable growth. We must ensure that those least responsible for causing this crisis do not pay the highest price.

The premier further said that "Greece strongly supports further European integration and unity", stressing that "greater fiscal coordination is an essential part of this process".

"We must ensure that European institutions serve the interests of Europe's citizens - not of financial markets," he said.

[02] Summer sales turnover down

The economic crisis and the prevailing climate of insecurity makes the consumer extremely careful and hesitant, according to market representatives.

As a result, in many parts of the country a significant fall in turnover has been recorded that reaches 25 percent, although in some parts of the country there have been signs of improvement.

To date, according to estimations by local chambers of commerce, the biggest declines have been recorded in Attica prefecture and in Thessaloniki, while the biggest rises in shops' turnover are on Crete, especially in Heraklion, and in Patras, northwestern Peloponnese.

[03] Forced landing on Rhodes

The airport was placed on alert, and the plane landed safely. Rhodes Fire Brigade assisted the 112 passengers and two babies who were on board to evacuate the aircraft.

Rhodes airport resumed normal operation at 10:55.

[04] Âus driver arrested

The detainee was working as a driver of the Public Benefit Transport Enterprise of Alonnissos and transported tourists visiting the island.

According to police the employee is charged with issuing fake tickets, which he procured himself and which were different from those supplied to him by the Enterprise, but collecting the normal price.

In this way, the man presented lower to nearly zero revenues to the Enterprise from the bus routes he conducted.

A 44-year-old Albanian woman implicated in the scam has also been arrested.

The case was discovered in the framework of an internal audit by the municipal enterprise.

A preliminary investigation is being conducted by police.

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