Monday, 5 May 2014 Issue No: 4648 PM Samaras: Greece is breaking its chains with the past

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has said in an article published in Sunday’s edition “To Vima” newspaper that a new Greece is emerging by breaking its "shell" and its chains with the past. The premier refers to inherent problems of the past which kept Greece back to “old-fashioned mentalities and distortions, which maintained a false growth on borrowed money,” adding that a “shell” had been obstructing the country to move forward. ”This shell is now breaking. And the country and people’s great abilities are being released,” the premier stresses, launching an attack on those forces which, as he puts it, are still fiercely resisting because they do not want Greece to move ahead to the future. Samaras said that the main opposition SYRIZA party wanted Greece to return to the crisis that is now being left behind, and to see the country in an instable condition, internationally isolated and divided. The premier charged SYRIZA of making efforts to exert ideological terrorism and divide the society, as “they are trying to ethically castigate as ‘extreme right’ or ‘neo-liberal’ all views which are opposed to theirs.”

NERIT broadcaster starting programme as of 18:00 on Sunday

The New Greek Radio, Internet and Television (NERIT) broadcaster started its programme as of 18:00 on Sunday with a new news bulletin, a Greek and a foreign film and a sports programme. According to NERIT's president, about 11 months after the closure of the ERT broadcaster and the transitional Public Television channel the countdown will begin shortly before 18:00 with a "modest ceremony".

Shipping Minister Varvitsiotis inaugurates President Papoulias visits CERN installations in Mediterranean Yacht Show Geneva President Karolos Papoulias visited the installations of the Shipping Minister Miltiades Varvitsiotis, inaugurating the 1st European Nuclear Research Organisation (CERN) in Geneva on international Mediterranean Yacht Show exhibition on Saturday. President Papoulias was given a guided tour of the Saturday evening, said that "our country's sea tourism begins underground ATLAS research premises from Nafplio". and met with the Greek scientists comprising CERN's The minister said in his address, among other Greek Research Group. things, that the government has specific President Papoulias said "as you know, Greece is a logics and targets against the misery of the founder member of CERN since 1954 with the poor economic means that it has, but with the rich human crisis, with which it aspires that we shall potential. This moved me being a Greek, to be seeing the overcome it and one of the main targets is the potential that my country has. And I think that at some development of sea tourism. moment we shall be bringing this potential within the The event was attended, among others, by Environment walls as well". Minister Yiannis Maniatis, Deputy Culture Minister Yiannis He further stressed that "Europe is showing its potential, its Andrianos, Nafplio mayor Dimitris Kostouros and Greek Sea scientific potential. It can compete with whatever great power, it Tourism Federation president Mihalis Skoulikidis. is a great power and it must contribute to global developments and in the scientific sector in particular, where it has great potential".

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ANTONIS SKYLLAKOS Monday, 5 May 2014

Politics he shall secure what he wants in the Euroelections, government stability. He further said that the government does not exist in absentia of Deputy FM to attend Council of Europe meeting the people and was elected in 2012 when all the issues were in Vienna known to all, unlike 2009. Lastly, he pointed out that if the people want to be in danger, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas is scheduled to the government will be in danger, while stressing that at some participate in the meeting of the committee of ministers of the time burdens must be distributed fairly between the political Council of Europe in Vienna, Monday and Tuesday, forces. representing under the Greek Presidency the EU High Representative for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy PASOK leader Venizelos terms May 25 elections Catherine Ashton. 'Easter' On the sidelines of the meeting, which coincides with the 65th Government Vice President, Foreign Minister and PASOK anniversary of the foundation of the Council of Europe, party leader Evangelos Venizelos sent a clear message from the Kourkoulas will be having a series of bilateral contacts. The city of Lamia to those bringing about scenarios for the election main theme of the meeting, held under the presidency of night, terming the May 25 elections "Easter". Austria to the CoE this semester and expected to be attended by "They want PASOK to be ruined, ELIA to be ruined, the 30 foreign ministers of the 47 member states, will be "Council government to fall, the country to be led to early elections of Europe values and stability in Europe: Current challenges.” without strategy, without an aim, because some wish to doubt The meeting will be chaired by Sebastian Kurz, Minister for me", he stressed. Foreign Affairs of Austria and Chairman of the Committee of Venizelos also underlined repeatedly that "PASOK is present, it Ministers, who said that talks will focus primarily on the is fighting and struggling for the country and not for the cadres situation in the Ukraine and the potential to deescalate tensions and for himself". in the country’s east, as well as on human rights in Europe. Also referring to the Euroelections, Venizelos determined the May 25 result as a "denial of the attack strategy". Administrative Reform minister proposes next Parliament to have 200 deputies Venizelos says May 25 election result must not be subject to ambiguous readings Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking Government Vice President, Foreign Minister and PASOK in an interview with the newspaper "Realnews", proposed that party leader Evangelos Venizelos, speaking in an interview in the next Parliament the number of deputies be reduced to 200 with the newspaper "Ta Nea", stressed that "if one believes that from 300 that they are today. government stability must not be upset, if one believes that the "Years ago, when the entire political system whistled with country is a step before the completion of the effort and the exit indifference, I had submitted a series of proposals for from the memorandum and the crisis, he must support the immediate implementation that do not require constitutional progressive pole that is very specific, that is being expressed in revision, with the main one being the reduction of deputies Parliament with PASOK's Parliamentary Group and of Elia from 300 to 200. It is something that can take place now with more widely". the change in the election law with a 2/3 majority from the He also criticised the main opposition Radical Left Coalition present Parliament". (SYRIZA) and other opposition parties, saying that "those who Mitsotakis links, however, the reduction of deputies with both are supposedly 'anti-memorandum' are those who are lashing the change in the election law on the pattern of the German out in favour of the memorandum now, because they have model and legislation on the parties' operation. nothing to say, they have nothing to propose" and are "losing their political bread". Referring to SYRIZA and the opposition in general, Venizelos Venizelos says government stability problem if said that because on the night of the May 25 elections they will PASOK falls below 10 pct attempt to make a combined interpretation of the result "with the aim of undermining the government and national policy" for Government Vice President, Foreign Minister and PASOK this reason "a result is necessary that will not be subject to party leader Evangelos Venizelos, speaking in an interview ambiguous readings and not cast into doubt government with Mega television channel and replying to a question on stability as a basic precondition for the completion of the great what it will mean if PASOK falls below 10 percent in the national target that is the country's exit from the crisis and the Euroelections, said that what is important is what it will mean memorandum and the return to the normalcy of a self- for the country, clarifying that in this case there shall be a sufficient, in essence equal member-state of the European problem of government stability and government orientation. Union and of the eurozone". Venizelos, also replying to a question regarding opinion polls published on Sunday and showing once again that the Greeks do not want early elections, said that the citizen must think how

2 Monday, 5 May 2014

SYRIZA’s Skourletis comments on PM The spokesman said that Tsipras drifted to characterize neo- Nazis all European Union leaders who met with the new prime Samaras’s interview minister of the Ukraine in Brussels. Commenting on Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s interview with Sunday’s To Vima newspaper, main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) press spokesman Panos Skourletis said in a press release that “Mr. Samaras, the man tasked with completing the work of previous pro-bailout memorandum governments by snatching the Greek people’s vote, is now being unmasked as he maintains that for him stability means preserving the memorandum and extreme austerity policies.” Skourletis added that “the time of judgment is approaching and it will be damnatory to Mr. Samaras and his policy, a policy that is against to a redistribution in favour of the weak and catapults joblessness, a policy that robbed social security funds and closed down small- and medium-sized enterprises…”

Gov’t spokesman’s reply “We are not going to ask SYRIZA for a certificate of modesty," said the government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou in reply to Skourletis’ comment on the article by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in “To Vima” newspaper. Kedikoglou further said that "the party that defends convicted terrorists and hooded rioters and is in favour of Greece's exit from the euro and NATO - the party that swears and divides, now has the audacity to talk about extremes." The spokesman added that SYRIZA "should probably hide itself, as it is being exposed in also in Europe, where it is being disapproved by everyone, even by the radical (Daniel) Cohn- Bendit."

SYRIZA’s Tsipras renews call for debate with PM Samaras

“The people's patience is running out and on May 18 and 25 they would send out a message of change and overturning its ‘terrorists,’" main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) president Alexis Tsipras said during his speech in an open election rally in the central square in Kozani, western Macedonia. Tsipras attacked the prime minister Antonis Samaras, charging that the premier “is hiding behind the curtains of Maximou Building” and refuses to sit at a debate with him. The SYRIZA leader added that Samaras “does not dare to come out to talk with the people, with his political opponents… He exists only in articles in Sunday newspapers, proclamations, television channels and opinion polls carried out by vested interests." Tsipras renewed his invitation to Samaras for a televised pre- election debate.

Kedikoglou comments on SYRIZA leader’s speech Commenting on a speech by main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras in Kozani on Sunday evening, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said “it is not worth answering to an uncontrollable tirade.”

3 Monday, 5 May 2014

KKE party leader says KKE present in Furthermore, 40 percent believe that ND will be the first party in the Euroelections with a narrow margin from SYRIZA, while governance with people in power 31 percent believe that SYRIZA will win with a small difference. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Central Committee Prime Minister and ND leader Antonis Samaras is considered Secretary General Dimitris Koutsoumbas, speaking in an most suitable to be prime minister, receiving 42 percent of interview with the Alpha television channel on Sunday preferences as against 25 percent for SYRIZA leader Alexis morning, said KKE will be present in a governance with the Tsipras. Lastly, 61 percent are against early elections and 79 people really in power, that will go ahead with disengagement percent favour the country staying in the euro. from the EU, the unilateral write-off of the debt and the socialisation of the monopolies. Asked about citizens, radicals and leftists who are currently Financial News sceptical, Koutsoumbas said "we are thinking about these people", adding that KKE has decided, at whatever cost, to tell Deputy FinMin says tax rate reduction in the truth. government agenda

Firebomb hurled at KKE party election centre in Deputy Finance Minister George Mavraganis, speaking during Thessaloniki a meeting with representatives of production agencies from A firebomb was hurled at an election centre of the Communist northern Greece in Thessaloniki, stressed that the reduction of Party of Greece (KKE) in downtown Thessaloniki, causing tax rates from 26 percent that they are currently to 20 percent limited damage. and to even 15 percent in the future is in the government's An announcement by KKE's Central Macedonia Party intentions. Organisation denounced the incident and spoke of a "cowardly Mavraganis added that the new VAT payment system, that will attack". begin being implemented as of this coming autumn, will "give a deep breath of liquidity to enterprises", while also referring to DIMAR’s Kouvelis tours Tripolis, Kalamata steps already taken on the front of modernising tax legislation.

The European elections should send out a message of policy Considerable increase in tourist arrivals on change in order to address the major issue of unemployment, Rhodes Democratic Left (DIMAR) party leader Fotis Kouvelis said on Sunday in the central Peloponnese city of Tripolis. Evaluations made by tourist officials on the island of Rhodes Kouvelis walked through central streets together with are being confirmed regarding a good tourist season expected accompanying Eurodeputy candidates and party officials and this year, that is considered almost certain to surpass last year's participated in a flower planting activity. that was the best season in the history of the island's tourism in The DIMAR leader visited the offices of the regional ticket tourist arrivals. “Democratic Peloponnesian Cooperation,” backed by his party, According to data announced by the "Diagoras" airport, tourists as well as the regional exhibition “Arcadian Panorama” in arriving on the island last month were 23.69 percent more Tripolis’s industrial park, and conversed with exhibitors and compared to April 2013. Similar high rates are also expected in entrepreneurs. Kouvelis also met various regional candidates the coming months on both Rhodes and the rest of the Kouvelis noted that "the European elections should send out a Dodecannese islands, according to evaluations and bookings. double message in both Europe and Greece. A message of Data announced reveals that a total of 59,386 people arrived on policy change towards a progressive policy, to ensure social Rhodes with charter flights compared to 48,012 in April 2013. cohesion, to tackle unemployment which has driven 30 percent of the Greek population to live below the poverty line.” Later in the afternoon Kouvelis toured the city of Kalamata, Street Market Federations continuing southwestern Peloponnese. nationwide strike

ND ahead of SYRIZA, poll shows Street Market Federations are continuing their nationwide strike and decided to distribute free food in the Athens district of An opinion poll carried out by the Metron Analysis company Perissos on Saturday. and published in the newspaper "Ethnos tis Kyriakis" shows the The Federations will be holding a rally in front of Parliament at New Democracy party leading the main opposition Radical Left 18:00 on Monday. Producers intend to block streets around Coalition (SYRIZA). Parliament in the framework of their action, while local unions Three weeks ahead of the Euroelections, ND garnered 20.6 will be taking multiform action in every city. percent of respondents' preferences, SYRIZA 20, Potami 7.8, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 4.8, Golden Dawn 4.3, Elia 4.2, Independent Greeks 3.7 and Democratic Left 1.6.

4 Monday, 5 May 2014

General News

Name of Christodoulos Xiros linked to sending of parcel bomb to Itea police station

Wanted fugitive and member of the November 17 group Christodoulos Xiros is linked, according to the police from laboratory investigation evidence and DNA control, with the sending of a parcel bomb to the Itea police station. According to a Greek Police (EL.AS) announcement, on the explosive device sent and neutralised "a genetic type of a man was detected, that is identical with the same genetic type of a man, that was detected in items that were found and confiscated in a car that Christodoulos Xiros used for his transfer-escape from Thessaloniki to Athens on 05-01-2014". The "Conspiracy of Cells of Fire" group assumed responsibility for the sending of the parcel in a proclamation posted on the internet on Friday.

Aircraft returns to Hania airport after birds sucked into engine

An aircraft carrying Polish tourists back to their country was forced to return to Hania airport, on the island of Crete, shortly after taking off on Sunday when it was ascertained that birds had been sucked into its engine. The aircraft had taken off from Daskaloyiannis airport in the morning. However, shortly after take-off the development was ascertained but without any problem being created for its flight capacity. The pilots notified the control tower immediately and received the instructions anticipated by regulations. The aircraft remained in the air for a short while for fuel to be consumed and landed safely at the airport where the necessary check was carried out that revealed that a part of the engine had to be changed. The 179 passengers and 11 babies, less than two years old, that were on board went to a hotel in Hania where they will be staying.

Man arrested at Krystallopighi for carrying 100 kg of cannabis

A 40-year-old foreign national was arrested at Krystallopighi in Florina, northern Greece, at dawn on Sunday while another five accomplices of his are being sought after they had all attempted to bring about 100 kilos of cannabis into the country. Police, using a thermal camera, detected a group of six people in an inaccessible mountainous region of Krystallopighi, who had entered the country illegally on foot. They arrested the 40-year-old, but the rest managed to escape, taking advantage of the region's inaccessibility.

5 Monday, 5 May 2014

Super market, confectionery robbed in Durako The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance of Alepohori ETHNOS: The derbies of elections. VRADYNI: Four people carried out two robberies in Durako of Alepohori Rescue Guide for the mature insurance rights. AVGHI: on Saturday evening. The perpetrators robbed a super market Samaras seeking defeat management. EPOHI: first, seizing an amount of money. Shortly afterwards they ND, Elia with different king. KATHIMERINI: robbed a confectionery in the same area. Greek debt reduction formula. DIMOKRATIA: After firing in the air, they stole a car belonging to a foreign Labyrinth of May 25. RIZOSPASTIS: national and made their getaway. The vehicle was found in the What are you waiting for? Strong KKE Violetta region later on. everywhere because it is strength and hope of people. LOGOS: Double SYRIZA lead. Potami deflating, Elia and DIMAR collapsing. Special guard arrested for petrol station robbery TO ARTHRO: The crisis is leaving, the (past) mentality is staying. A special guard was arrested by colleagues of his and was being FREE SUNDAY: The riddle of May. The parties with their interrogated after robbing a petrol station on the Thessaloniki- gaze on the day after Euroelections. Moudania motorway on Friday evening. He threatened the petrol station's owner at gunpoint and seized an unspecified amount of cash. However, he was arrested shortly afterwards by colleagues, who were notified of the robbery.

Fourth 'Pink Panther' member arrested

A fourth member of the "Pink Panthers" criminal gang was arrested in the Athens district of Kypseli on Friday afternoon, who is involved in a host of robberies and burglaries at jewellery stores. The 26-year-old is a Serb just like the rest of the gang's arrested members. Among other things, a forged Bulgarian authority identity card, a forged Bulgarian authority driving licence, a replica type pistol and a full face hood were found in his possession and home and confiscated.

6