Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-12-08

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] SYRIZA's Tsipras invites 'creative' forces to discuss post-memorandum Greece

[02] U.S. Armed Forces chief in Athens on two-day visit

[01] SYRIZA's Tsipras invites 'creative' forces to discuss post-memorandum Greece

He referred extensively to the municipal elections and the euro-elections next May, underlining that the government, "being in a state of panic over its imminent crushing defeat, considers various election systems and scenarios".

Tsipras repeated his proposal for the holding of thematic conferences that will prepare positions and lasting committees, constituting a Lasting Forum for the transformation of society, the economy and the state that will change the fate of the people and the country.

He said that the state budget voted in Parliament will not be executed in its present form, noting that it will be revised to include new measures when an agreement is reached with the troika on the size of the fiscal gap in 2014.

He said that the troika representatives want first home foreclosures to go ahead and demand mass layoffs in a country where unemployment has reached 30 pct.

Tsipras accused the prime minister of lying when he insists that the German left does not want a loan "haircut" and refuses to discuss the issues of the WWII reparations and the forced occupation loan extracted from Greece by the Nazi regime in WWII.

The SYRIZA leader repeated that "the system is trying to stay alive using the only recipe it knows; tough austerity measures, criminalization of resistance, scandals and gifts to the representatives of the establishment."

Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou lashed out at the SYRIZA leader, commenting on the latter's speech before his party's Central Committee.

"Mr. Tsipras continues his known delirium. He forgets what he and his party used to say about the drachma during the election campaign. He is trying to make his party forget what he said to the contrary when he was recently in Texas," Kedikoglou said.

He accused the SYRIZA leader of "withholding the fact that the government has already managed to reduce debt and cut interest rates, which he promises to do" and that he also "withholds the fact that the marginal European political parties supporting him vote against the additional help to Greece which he publicly declares".

"We wish success to the thematic conferences aimed at drawing up a policy agenda for SYRIZA. Because what the party professes at the moment constitutes a return to the impasses and will lead the country to disaster," the government spokesman said.

[02] U.S. Armed Forces chief in Athens on two-day visit

Gen. Dempsey, who arrived in Greece on Saturday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Gen. Kostarakos, also met with Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos and was received by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. His visit was scheduled for last September but it was postponed because of the developments in Syria.

On Saturday, the two chiefs of staff visited NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC) at Souda Bay, Crete.

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