Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-06-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] ND, SYRIZA continue to trade barbs over TV debate

[02] SYRIZA leader discusses Memorandum, foreign policy with G-20 envoys

[03] Stocks end flat on Wed.

[04] Turkish tourists to receive visas at ports of Rhodes, Kos

[01] ND, SYRIZA continue to trade barbs over TV debate

In a statement, ND alternate spokesman and party press office director Giorgos Mouroutis called on SYRIZA to reply on whether it accepts previously agreed-to provisions for such a debate.

The ND official insisted that SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras does not want a televised debate or any focus on the essence of policies and issues.

Mouroutis also accused SYRIZA of only wanting to discuss "inconsequential issues" before the election instead of substantive matters and the "real dilemmas" facing the country. www.amna.gr

"... Since SYRIZA does not want to have a debate with New Democracy, let it have one with its (internal) groupings, in case they might find common positions. In any case, they will find us in front of them, in every city, village, town square, street, coffee shop, on all television screens."

SYRIZA reaction

On its part, a SYRIZA statement on Wednesday reiterated the party's position for two televised debates ahead of the June 17 elections, including one with the participation of all political party leaders – except from the ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi) – that will be coordinated by television news readers.

SYRIZA underlined that it is open to specific alternative proposals as regards the individuals participating and will wait for a ND response within the next few hours.

The statement suggested that SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras and ND's Antonis Samaras can have a separate second televised debate, after the recent French model, which was adopted in the recent presidential election campaign, allowing for lively dialogue and not being limited to parallel monologues. The suggested debate could be coordinated by two presenters, a man and woman. amna

[02] SYRIZA leader discusses Memorandum, foreign policy with G-20 envoys

The questions focused on what decisions that will be made by SYRIZA, if it wins the June 17 election and if it forms a government, on the Memorandum, Greece's participation in NATO and the western institutions in general.amna

Most of the questions and the discussion itself focused on the negotiating framework cited by SYRIZA, considering that it has made it clear that it will proceed with the termination of the memorandum.

According to reliable information, Tsipras wished to communicate with the senior foreign diplomats to outline to them his party's political positions and priorities, respond to their questions and, this way, help in overcoming or correcting any misinterpretations or possible vagueness.

Tsipras repeated that SYRIZA will table, in Parliament, draft laws reversing reforms in labour relations, minimum wages, layoffs, etc, and will make "decisive moves" toward a new and fair taxation system, as he said, expressing a hope that the EC-ECB-IMF troika will respond positively to the invitation for new negotiations.

He said a SYRIZA government will work methodically to preserve Greece's place inside the EU and the Eurozone but within a new negotiating framework, one aimed as he said in stopping the disastrous course followed by the country and avoiding a nationally painful humanitarian crisis.

Tsipras stated that his party's position, namely, that NATO should dissolve and Greece should leave the Alliance, still stands. However, he was clarified that the country's disengagement from NATO will not be raised in the "present phase". www.amna.gr

He stressed that Greece will not participate in conflicts where NATO is involved, either directly nor indirectly, and underlined the need to have a nuclear-free Middle East, pointing out that SYRIZA will work for peaceful co-existence in the region.

SYRIZA sources later clarified that the party's negative stance as regards the country's participation in any possible conflict in Iran or elsewhere does not mean that it supports authoritarian or anti-democratic regimes.

According to the same sources, SYRIZA supports the launch of negotiations on EEZ delineation between Greece and Turkey, and in the Mediterranean in general, in order to avoid future tensions.

Referring to the burgeoning military cooperation between Greece and Israel, Tsipras said it is under discussion within the framework of a multi-dimensional foreign policy that will be followed by a possible SYRIZA government.amna

[03] Stocks end flat on Wed.

The Big Cap index rose 0.75 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 1.36 pct higher. The Health (12.77 pct), Telecommunications (9.96 pct) and Commerce (4.42 pct) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Food (4.73 pct) and Raw Materials (3.40 pct) suffered losses. www.amna.gr

OTE (7.96 pct), Eurobank (6.92 pct), Titan (4.95 pct) and Folli Follie (4.48 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Coca Cola 3E (4.76 pct), Mytilineos (3.60 pct) and Cyprus Bank (2.95 pct) were top losers. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 63 to 56 with another 20 issues unchanged. Athens Medical (30 pct), Euroholdings (19.40 pct) and NEL (17.95 pct) were top gainers, while Elbisco Holdings (20 pct), Unibios (20 pct) and Varvaresos (20 pct) were top losers. amna

[04] Turkish tourists to receive visas at ports of Rhodes, Kos

The visa issuance at ports, instead of Greek consulates in Turkey, satisfies a persistent request by local authorities and tourism professionals on several eastern Aegean islands, who have long demanded easier facilitation of visas for visitors from the neighbouring country.www.amna.gr

The measure will also be implemented in the near future for the islands of Hios, Samos and Lesvos. amna

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