Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-06-07

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Chryssi Avghi spokesman punches KKE former MP

[02] Tsipras calls on ND leader to accept public debate

[03] Samaras: I was the architect of the anti-memorandum

[04] PASOK leader says country must be united on June 18

[05] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies

[06] Burglar shot dead in Peania

[07] Athens Stock Exchange opening: Rise

[01] Chryssi Avghi spokesman punches KKE former MP

Kanelli, a former journalist, is a long-standing MP for the KKE in the Greek parliament, which was recently dissolved after only two days in order to pave the way for repeat general elections on June 17. amna

Chryssi Avghi elected MPs to the now dissolved parliament for the first time in the May 6 inconclusive general elections, among them Kassidiaris.

During a heated discussion on the morning TV programme, Kassidiaris also emptied a bottle of water on SYRIZA cadre Rena Dourou, after she said that Chryssi Avghi will turn Greece back 500 years.

Kanelli reacted to the dousing, and Kassidiaris slapped her once and punched her twice in the head, despite attempts by the TV programme host and other panelists to stop him.

After the incident, Athens chief prosecutor Eleni Raikou ordered the arrest of Kassidiaris, who in the meantime left the television station.amna

Political party representatives called into the station and condemned Kassidiaris' action as "cowardly".

A prosecutor's office announcement later clarified that the arrest warrant for Kassidiaris is for the attack against Kanelli, for attempted grievous bodily harm, an offence that is prosecuted ex officio.amna

That is not the case with the dousing of Dourou, which offence falls under the category of unprovoked abuse, which is prosecuted only after a law suit is filed by the victim.

The announcement further clarified that Kassidiaris is currently not an MP since parliament has been dissolved ahead of the elections.amna

This means that Kassidiaris does not have parliamentary immunity.

[02] Tsipras calls on ND leader to accept public debate

He called on Samaras to appoint "whoever journalists he desires, whoever make him feel better, let him even appoint Mihelakis (ND's spokesman) provided that he accepts a live confrontation in a substantial and not standardised confrontation."amna

Tsipras appeared even more optimistic over the election victory of SYRIZA in the June 17 elections and, referring to the ND and PASOK parties, said "they are departing hand-in-hand, for the people to be left in peace and the country to change course," while expressing certainty over the victory of SYRIZA and stressing that "the people have turned the balance definitely."

[03] Samaras: I was the architect of the anti-memorandum

"I did not sign the continuation of the memorandum, I signed its change. If I had not done it we would be in the procedure of the drachma already. Europe accepted the amendments I proposed. I was the architect of the anti-memorandum. I could insist (in October 2011) and receive a 60 percent (in anticipated elections), but at that moment I placed the fatherland above our interest."amna

"We have a complete and costed programme. The citizen stands to gain from our programme. Jobs, the stability of the euro, growth and relief for his debts as well as for many injustices that took place. We are in the most crucial period and many things are at risk. Jobs or taxes, euros or drachmas, successful renegotiating or capitulation," Samaras added.

He also said that someone having a loan must not pay an instalment above 30 percent of the monthly income. There must also be an extension of the unemployment bonus to two years.amna

Samaras also reiterated that he will form a factfinding committee to see how Greece reached the memorandum.

[04] PASOK leader says country must be united on June 18

Venizelos added that no party can govern alone and manage the crisis, since the era of one-party governments passed "both politically and arithmetically". He also said that there are "no gladiators, nor a bipolar party system" and predicts that "on June 18 there shall be no majority government" and "consequently cooperations will be sought".amna

The PASOK leader also stresses that "only an electorally and Parliamentary strong PASOK guarantees and safeguards the necessary and balanced government cooperation" and "a governance of national joint responsibility" and adds that if such a thing does not happen "the deadlock will be inevitable, whatever the first party is."

[05] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies

European Commission's plan for the banking sector and the Greek Tax Bureau's foreclosures for overdue debts, mostly dominated the headlines on Thursday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Finance Ministry's instructions for the income tax statements".

AVGHI: "We will exit the crisis, we will remain in the eurozone".

AVRIANI: "SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras presented a reliable government platform for the country's rescue, to the G20 ambassadors in Greece".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "International front against German Chancellor Angela Merkel".

ESTIA: "Extreme populism prevails".

ETHNOS: "Find a solution for the crisis right away!".

IMERISSIA: "Banking Union in EU - Guarantee Fund for the bank deposits".

KATHIMERINI: "Foreclosures in the battle for state revenues".

LOGOS: "Operation 'shock and awe' against the debtors".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Immediate relief measures for the people against the tax-robbery".

TA NEA: " Plan 'Iphigenia' - Greece led to the altar".

[06] Burglar shot dead in Peania

According to initial information, three unknown individuals, at about 2:00 a.m. broke into a house in Peania but the residents spotted them and the burglars fled. However, the burglars did not leave the neighborhood and attempted to break into another residence, but when they alarm went off the burglars put a knife to the throat of the owner, a woman, and demanded from the woman's aunt to turn off the alarm. Meanwhile the woman's two sons aged 23 and 25 woke up and fought with the burglars, who escaped again.amna

Later, possibly the same burglars broke into a third house in the neighbor but a resident took notice of them and fired a shot in the air with a rifle. The burglars fled but the 25 year-old that had clashed earlier with the burglars, was leaving his house and saw two men running away, chased them, and shot at them with a rifle, resulting to the fatal injury of the Albanian, while the other suspect was arrested by police that had arrived on the spot. The local man surrendered to police. amna

An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is underway. A series of burglary attempts have been reported in Peania in the last days and the residents are furious.

[07] Athens Stock Exchange opening: Rise

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 1.37 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.23 percent.

Individual sector indices were moving upward, with the biggest gains in Banks, up 2.81 percent; Commerce, up 2.30 percent and Health, up 2.00 percent .

The only losses were in Personal and Household Products, down 0.83 percent.

Of the stocks traded, 28 were up, 8 were down, and 6 were unchanged.

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