Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-02-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] National Council on Foreign Policy should discuss Turkey, ND's Koumoutsakos says

[02] Arson attack on French Institute in Athens; damage but no injuries

[03] Greeks usher in Lent with a day of kite-flying and picnics

[04] Papadimoulis: Greece should not be drawn into a 'rhetoric trap' with Turkey

[01] National Council on Foreign Policy should discuss Turkey, ND's Koumoutsakos says

"New Democracy had promptly warned in Parliament that Ankara's political choice would be to maintain and escalate a policy of dispute and tension in the Aegean. The unacceptable, provocative and dangerous Turkish delinquent behaviour cannot be handled with shallow communications gimmicks and personal 'vendettas'. It must be met with seriousness, sobriety, determination and a plan," Koumoutsakos said.

He stressed the need for coordinated diplomatic action and operational adequacy, while noting the need to launch an immediate campaign for diplomatic action and to brief Greece's partners in the EU, NATO and the United Nations of "this now dangerous Turkish behaviour."

"At home, as we have already asked in a letter to [Foreign Minister Nikos] Kotzias, there is an urgent need to convene and give an official, full briefing to the National Council on Foreign Policy. Finally, a word of advice to the government. During such crucial times, let the foreign ministry do the talking. The duties of the defence ministry are the country's operational readiness, not the clamour of news headlines."

[02] Arson attack on French Institute in Athens; damage but no injuries

Two fire engines and seven fire fighters responded to the call to put out the fire, which also spread to a second vehicle belonging to the Institute that was parked near the first.

Roughly an hour later, unknown assailants use a pickaxe to break the Institute's windows and again set fires using flammable liquids, though the prompt intervention of the fire brigade limited damage and prevented this from spreading.

The police have launched an investigation to find those responsible.

Greece's foreign ministry condemned the attack, expressing its abhorrence and unequivocal condemnation in an announcement.

"This mindless and criminal act against an institution that is a symbol of Greek-French friendship and France's contribution to the cultural and intellectual life of Greece is doomed to fail.

Contrary to its intention, this barbaric and incomprehensible act will strengthen even further the deep-rooted friendship between the peoples of Greece and France, and the close cooperation between their governments," the ministry's announcement said.

French Ambassador to Greece Christophe Chantepy urged French nationals living in Greece to be calm but maintain a "normal level of alertness". He said Greek authorities had responded promptly to the incident and that there were no victims.

"Tonight the French School of Athens and the French Institute of Greece were targets of arson. We did not mourn any human victims. The material damage was limited due to the swift response of the fire brigade.

Greek authorities responded immediately and have ordered an investigation. The embassy will be in constant contact with them.

As always, I am at your service and I call on you to calmly show the normal level of alertness," the announcement said.

The attack was also condemned by SYRIZA and opposition parties in the country

[03] Greeks usher in Lent with a day of kite-flying and picnics

The City of Athens held its own Clean Monday events on the Pnyx Hill and Filopappou, opposite the Acropolis, where many Athenian families went to fly their kites this year in spite of steely skies.

The record for the year's largest lagana loaf went to a baker in Larisa, who baked a three-metre lagana weighing in at 65 kilos, using 60 kilos of flour. A close runner-up, using 40 kilos of flour, was a bakery on Crete that produced a lagana that was 4.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide.

[04] Papadimoulis: Greece should not be drawn into a 'rhetoric trap' with Turkey

"It is in our interests, since that means Greece will join the ECB's quantitative easing programme that much sooner and this will give a signal of progress to the economy, but also in [the interests] of the European lenders, who would rather not have our country as a source of controversy in the chain of upcoming elections in the EU," Papadimoulis said.

He cited a statement by European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis saying that it would be possible to complete the review before March 20, noting that either this date or April 7 will allow Greece to join the ECB's QE programme in the spring. This was essential, he added, chiefly because it will allow Greek businesses to borrow at a lower interest rate that will help boost investments and assist the recovery of the economy, thus reducing unemployment.

He admitted that some thorny issues remained in the talks with the institutions that would resume on Tuesday but also noted that, on the positive side, "we are not talking about additional measures but an overall package of measures whose net fiscal impact is zero."

Commenting on recent tension with Turkey, Papadimoulis said the Turkish side was "looking for a fight" due to the upcoming referendum in that country. Greece should not play into its hands, he added, but calmly and steadily defend its national rights while "avoiding the trap of rhetoric that could possibly lead to a chain of tensions."

In connection with the Cyprus issue, Papadimoulis said a deadlock must be avoided. He said primary responsibility for the worsening atmosphere lay with Ankara and its influence on the Turkish Cypriot leader but stressed that Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and the AKEL party must "not be trapped in a dynamic that will lead to a breakdown in the talks."

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