Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-05-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens Mayor sues ultra-right Golden Dawn MP for assault

[02] Greek prime minister to visit China on May 15-19

[03] Monday's Eurogroup to ratify May and June tranches totalling 7.4 billion euros

[01] Athens Mayor sues ultra-right Golden Dawn MP for assault

In the lawsuit, Kaminis asked for the exemplary punishment of the GD MP for the charges of insult, factual insult, unprovoked assault, attempted physical harm and for other charges that may arise during the ensuing inquiry. The lawsuit also referred to a 12-year-old girl, who was injured during the incident while receiving her Easter present.

The attempt made by the GD MP to allegedly use his gun on the mayor is also mentioned. According to the lawsuit, the defendant attempted to reach for the gun he was carrying but was prevented by the Athens mayor's bodyguards, who forcibly escorted the MP from the premises even though he threatened legal action against them.

Earlier on the same day as the assault, police had been called in by Kaminis to prevent GD setting up a food distribution operation for Greeks only in Syntagma Square, in downtown Athens. The initiative had been called a "hate event" by Kaminis.

[02] Greek prime minister to visit China on May 15-19

On Tuesday, Samaras held a meeting at the government headquarters in Maximos Mansion with Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister Costis Hatzidakis and Deputy Development Minister Notis Mitarakis to discuss arrangements for his upcoming visit to China.

The prime minister will be accompanied on his visit to Beijing and Shanghai by a delegation of 50 Greek business people and several ministers, including Hatzidakis and Mitarakis, Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, Shipping and Aegean Minister Costas Moussouroulis, the premier's diplomatic attache Stavros Papastavrou, Minister of State Chrysanthos Lazaridis and the head of his press office George Mouroutis.

In statements as he left the meeting, Hatzidakis said that the government, after the effort to stabilise the Greek economy, was now launching a new effort and reaching out to markets and investors.

"There are hopeful messages, day by day, month by month, and this effort must continue," he added.

[03] Monday's Eurogroup to ratify May and June tranches totalling 7.4 billion euros

The disbursement of the first tranche of 3 billion euros to Cyprus will also be decided on Monday.

According to the same official, the duscussion between the Finance ministers of the euro will focus on the assessment of the troika, that will be ratified, while, as the official clarified, the decision will be a joint one for the two tranches, totalling 7.4 billion euros. There are no other preconditions to be fulfilled for the two tranches to be disbursed, the same official said.

However, the European official stressed that the challenges remain the same for the Greek programme and concern the reforming of public administration, and mainly the taxation reform.

The official underlined that an effective taxation authority is required and pointed out that the government hired a tax revenues General Secretary. However, he said that for the undertaking to be completed successfully, there must also be a will on the part of certain classes of the population.

As regards Cyprus, a review of the course of the adjustment programme will take place at Monday's session and the political decision will be taken on the disbursement of the tranche for 3 billion euros.

The priorities are clear, according to the official and concern the reforming and restructuring of the fiscal system and the gradual lifting of restrictions in the movement of capital.

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