Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-06-15

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Reports: PM willing to step down for consensus

[02] Sources: PM, ND leader discuss all-party gov't

[03] Crackdown on illegal migrant-fuelled currency export; 'black markets'

[04] Clashes as bulk of protestors appeal for calm

[05] Tourist arrivals up 4.52% in Jan-May

[06] Changes to tax measures

[01] Reports: PM willing to step down for consensus

The same sources said the prime minister had indicated in talks with the political party leaders on Wednesday that he was open to all proposals for getting the country of the crisis, especially with main opposition ND leader Antonis Samaras.

In a 20-minute telephone call with Samaras, Papandreou apparently clarified that he would only be prepared to consider such an all-party government, even if he were not its leader, in the event that all the political parties were able to agree on a set of specific political goals, on time commitments for the negotiations and the changes that the country needs to make.

During talks with Samaras, Papandreou indicated that the country was going through critical moments with decisions of historic importance had to be made, requiring proposals of historic responsibility for the present and future of the country. (ANA-MPA)

The prime minister also made it clear that if such an agreement was not possible, he was determined to stay and finish the job, as the elected prime minister of the country.

According to reports, in talks with his top aides, Papandreou relayed that he had "made his choices, taken his decisions" and was prepared to proceed either one way or another in the effort to take the country into a new era, during which Greeks would never have to go through the same things as today ever again.

The same sources claimed that during his conversation with Papandreou, ND's president had been evasive, undecided and had avoided a substantive discussion. (ANA-MPA)

&copy; ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A.

Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden.

More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form

[02] Sources: PM, ND leader discuss all-party gov't

While an earlier official announcement by ND had declined to disclose the content of their talks before Papandreou had expressed his position, unnamed sources within the party said the Greek prime minister had described the situation as extremely difficult and that he was prepared to consider either an all-party government or a broad alliance government.

The same sources (ANA-MPA) said Samaras did not reject the proposal but made it clear that this could not work with Papandreou as prime minister. To this, always according to the same ND sources, Papandreou apparently replied that he was not concerned about whether he was prime minister.

Other sources within the party announced that there would be a second telephone communication between the two men later on Wednesday afternoon.

Samaras has apparently made it a condition that a substantial renegotiation of the terms of the Memorandum for the loans to Greece be initiated, in order to agree to an all-party government. (ANA-MPA)

The ND leader, who has been in continuous contact with his closest aides since the morning, is expected to head to his party's headquarters in a short while. (ANA-MPA)

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo

&copy; ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A.

Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden.

More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form

[03] Crackdown on illegal migrant-fuelled currency export; 'black markets'

Diotis also noted that a special investigation will focus on the currency that is illegally exported from Greece on a daily basis by illegal migrants to their home countries.

In a meeting with representatives of the Piraeus merchants' association, Diotis pledged that all necessary measures will be taken to clampdown on the "underground markets" and smuggling, including strict checks at the country's entry points. (ANA-MPA)

More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form

[04] Clashes as bulk of protestors appeal for calm

The trouble makers, who had earlier been confined to the lower part of the square and surrounding streets succeeded in moving the clashes to the centre of the square, attacking platoons of riot police with sticks, bits of broken marble and petrol bombs and provoking a response with tear gas and chemicals.

Authorities have so far made two arrests and detained 18 people in connection with the incidents. Twelve of those detained, during earlier clashes, have already been released and another six are being questioned.

The violence marred nearly two weeks of peaceful protests, mostly sit-down rallies, in central Athens by thousands of people of all ages.

The masked youths, mostly self-styled anarchists and anti-state activists, have repeatedly in the past infiltrated protests and mobilisations, often with the intent of vandalising property and clashing with riot police.

Caption: Youthful rioters throw objects at riot police guarding the Parliament building in central Athens on Wednesday. ANA-MPA / O. PANAGIOTOU

&copy; ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A.

Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden.

More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form

[05] Tourist arrivals up 4.52% in Jan-May

In a monthly report based on the figures of tourists arriving in the country by air, the federation said tourist arrivals totaled 2,405,030 in the five-month period, up from 2,300,959 last year.

SETE said May was the best month so far this year, with tourist arrivals totaling ..., with all airport reporting improved figures with the exception of the airports of ... (ANA-MPA)

Caption: An ANA-MPA file photo shows a scene from central Rhodes.

&copy; ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A.

Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden.

More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form

[06] Changes to tax measures

Government sources said Papaconstantinou, presenting the programme to the ruling PASOK party's Parliamentary committee, said the government would leave a tax-exempt level of 12,000 euros annually, unchanged, while it will not impose any taxes on primary residences of up to 100 sq.m.

He also said that the government will not (ANA-MPA) proceed with a plan to equalise a special consumption tax on diesel and heating oil, while an extra tax charge on incomes will be imposed on three categories: 1 percent for annual incomes up to 20,000 euros, 2 percent for incomes up to 50,000, 3 percent for incomes up to 100,000 euros and 4 percent for incomes surpassing 100,000 euros.

The same sources said that the finance ministry was under severe criticism from PASOK deputies for his proposals. (ANA-MPA)

&copy; ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A.

Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden.

More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form

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