Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-08-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Israeli President arrives on state visit, warm greeting by Papoulias

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines on Monday

[03] Greece braces for another heatwave

[01] Israeli President arrives on state visit, warm greeting by Papoulias

During his official visit to Greece, Peres will have meetings with the state and political leadership, while on Wednesday he will go to the island of Hydra with Papoulias, before departing for Israel on Thursday morning.

Peres was greeted shortly after his arrival by Papoulias at the Presidential Mansion in an official ceremony also attended by prime minister Antonis Samaras, during which the two Presidents inspected an Honour Guard before going in to a private meeting, after which they will being joined by the Greek and Israeli delegations for a broader discussion.

The two Presidents will make joint statements to the press at noon.

"Your presence here underlines the desire of our two peoples for cooperation in many sectors," Papoulias said as he welcomed Peres to the Presidential Mansion.

"The enhancement of the relations of the two countries is a good omen," Peres replied, adding that beyond the geographical and philosophical rapprochement, Greece and Israel could also cooperate in the field of science, which is a basis for growth in the new era.

Peres said that the Greeks are a wonderful people with a wonderful youth, and it is the young generation that can bring the development wanted by the country.

After his talks with Papoulias, the Israeli president will have a private meeting with Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras at 14:00, followed by a working lunch.

On Monday afternoon Peres will have separate meetings with main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, before attending an official dinner in his honor hosted by Papoulias.

On Tuesday Peres will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Syntagma Square. He will then meet with parliament president Evangelos Meimarakis and be presented with the Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament.

Peres will also meet with members of the Jewish community in Athens and visit the New Acropolis Museum, where a lunch will be hosted by culture minister Constantine Arvanitopoulos.

The two Presidents leave for Hydra on Wednesday morning, accompanied by their official delegations, and return to Athens that same night.

Peres will depart Athens for Israel on Thursday morning.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines on Monday

The gigantic sweep operation code-named "Xenios Zeus" in central Athens in a clamp-down on illegal migration, the Finance Ministry's new plan for gradual payment of income tax and the Troika's planned return to Athens in early September were the main front-page headlines in Athens' dailies on Monday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Dendias (public order and citizens' protection minister) is turning Athens into a metropolis once again".

AVRIANI: "Dissolution of the governmental coalition and Greek exit from the eurozone - Citigroup report".

DIMOKRATIA: "Me, George's (former prime minister) chauffeur? - Hot-blooded captain of 'Flying Dolphin' resigned when he saw the former prime minister with his wife and guards boarding his boat".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Income tax and special surtax payment in 7 installments".

ESTIA: "The Lernean Hydra of bureaucracy".

ETHNOS: "Fewer installments to the Tax Bureau - Income tax payments in 7 instead of initially planned 10 installments to fill gap in state revenues".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "The final itemization of the measures in September".

TA NEA: "Long-term sweep operation, with mass deportations".

VRADYNI: "Real estate - All the changes in taxation as of 2013".

[03] Greece braces for another heatwave

On Monday, temperatures will reach 39-40 degrees on the mainland, and 36-37 C in the Ionian, eastern Aegean and southern Crete.

On Tuesday and Wednesday temperatures will rise to 41-42C on the mainland, and 38-39C in the Ionian, eastern Aegean and southern Crete, and 37C in the Cyclades, northern Crete and the Dodecanese.

Temperatures will ease off slightly on Thursday in northern Greece, but will remain high in the rest of the country.

On Friday temperatures will cool off throughout the entire country.

Athenians headed to the surrounding beaches in droves on Sunday, taking advantage of the sunny weather and to brace for the hot week ahead.

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