Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-06-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK leader insists on 4-party meeting to form coalition gov't

[02] Discussions on forming a government to continue Tuesday

[03] Former Greek national football team coach Alketas Panagoulias dies

[04] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies

[05] Athens Stock Exchange opening: Decline

[01] PASOK leader insists on 4-party meeting to form coalition gov't

In statements after meeting Samaras, who holds the exploratory mandate to form a government, Venizelos insisted on his proposal for a meeting of ND, PASOK, anti-bailout SYRIZA and the sixth-placed Democratic Left (Dem.Ar) chaired by the President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias in order to negotiate the formation of a 'shared responsibility' government.amna

Venizelos called for the conclusion of the process to form a government on Tuesday, following this meeting, while slamming statements made by SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras -- who called on the pro-bailout parties to form a government without him -- as "politically and democratically provocative".

He accused Tsipras of choosing to remain in the opposition in order to wait for the failure of the government that will be formed or in order to cause its wearing down, saying his stance was politically and nationally unacceptable.amna

Venizelos said that the electorate had voted for the cooperation and rallying of the political forces and that it was now primarily important to ensure the broadest possible political cooperation. It is the national duty of the opposition, also, that the country achieve the best possible result, he added.amna

PASOK's leader said that a message of unity must be broadcast within the country and a message of seriousness, dignity and serious negotiating positions abroad. He stressed that such issues were much more significant than who would be prime minister or the composition of the government and that, for this reason, answers must be given to these before there is progress on the rest.

[02] Discussions on forming a government to continue Tuesday

Samaras had met, earlier Monday, with SYRIZA leader Alexis Samaras, PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos and Independent Greeks party president Panos Kammenos.

On his part, Kouvelis said the country must acquire a government of a "progressive character on the basis of specific programme commitments." Kouvelis reiterated his party's proposals on the exercising of a policy that will keep the country in the eurzone and for a gradual disengagement from terms of the memorandum, such as the reduction of minimum salaries and, as well as the extension of the time for the programme's implementation.amna

"We will not give a blank authorisation to anyone," Kouvelis said, adding that all will depend on the content of the programme agreement that will be achieved.

Lastly, referring to the persons that will compose the "government of a progressive character" as he reiterated, he spoke of the need for there to be "coincidence and consensus."

[03] Former Greek national football team coach Alketas Panagoulias dies

Panagoulias was facing health problems and in the last period was bedridden.

With Panagoulias at the helm the Greek national soccer team qualified for the EURO 1980 in Italy and the World Cup 1994 in the USA, while he also coached the US Olympic soccer team and a number of Greek-American soccer teams

In Greece, he also served as coach for Olympiakos Piraeus, which won three championships under his guidance.

He played for Aris Thessaloniki in 1949, where later he served as coach and president.

The funeral service will take place at St. Catherine's church in Falls Church, Virginia on Friday.

Panagoulias is survived by his wife, two children and two grand-children.

[04] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies

The political leaders' meetings and the deliberations on the formation of a government, mostly dominated the headlines on Tuesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Government of national salvation and of full term".

AVGHI: "Memorandum reinstitution".

AVRIANI: "The collusion publishers' blackmail".

DIMOKRATIA: "Whim at the edge of the cliff".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Agreement on the points for a three-party government".

ESTIA: "Restoration of confidence".

ETHNOS: "The keys for the government of the 'three'."

IMERISSIA: "The negotiation package - Battle in three fronts with the troika".

KATHIMERINI: "In orbit for formation of government".

LOGOS: "Government by Tuesday night...".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "In search of balances for a cooperation government".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The Communist Party together with the people in the battle for their interests".

TA NEA: "Government with...dowry".

VRADYNI: "Government of policy agreement with prime minister New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras".

[05] Athens Stock Exchange opening: Decline

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 1.29 percent, while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.82 percent.

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest gains in Telecoms, up 1.61 percent and Health, up 1.38 percent.

The biggest losses were in Commerce, down 1.10 percent and Food and Beverages, down 1.09 percent.

Of the stocks traded, 16 were up, 24 were down, and 11 were unchanged.

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