Category: GREECE

ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟ ΑΠΟΔΗΜΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ (ΣΑΕ)

WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD (SAE)

Δρ. Όλγα Σαραντοπούλου – Γραμματέας ΣΑΕ
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Dr.Olga Sarantopoulos: Intervention on
unfavourable treatment of repatriated Expatriates​ ​ ​​​

​Vienna, 21st of March 2013

Dr.Olga Sarantopoulos, Secretary of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) addressed a new intervention-letter to the Minister of Finance of Greece, Mr. J. Stournaras, following the government’s decision to change the existing law and to vote an article which provides that the pension payments to repatriated Expatriates will be only made, if the beneficiaries (repatriated Expatriates) are permanently and legally residing in Greece for the last 20 years.

In particular, according to Article 1 of the law 4093, it is provided that the monthly pension of uninsured elderly as described in the law 1296/1982 (A’128 ), is to be paid – if among other conditions – the beneficiaries “Reside permanently and legally in Greece for the last 20 years before applying for retirement and are still living in the country during their retirement. ”

This is the fourth intervention in series of Dr.Olga Sarantopoulos on issues relating to taxation of expatriates.

In her letter, Ms. Sarantopoulos notes that the issue affects thousands repatriated Expatriates, especially former residents of the countries of the former Soviet Union and the Northern Epirus, who will suffer financially and socially since they do not fulfill the term of twenty years. They risk to loose their only source of income. Based on the information available from the competent Organization of Repatriated Greeks in Greece, 95% of these people do not meet this requirement.

“These people are experiencing the measure as another prosecution against them,” as stated in the letter.

The Secretary SAE underlines that the economic and fiscal policies of the government should not only be tax-collecting oriented, but should essentially maintain the social ties of the country. “It is unthinkable to condemn people whose sole income is a meager pension, just because some people decided to extend the time limit of residing in Greece, as a precondition for their retirement.”

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Greek investigative journalist Kostas Vaxevanis (C) leaves a prosecutor’s office in Athens in 2012. He was found not guilty of breaking data privacy laws in November, but the Athens public prosecutor subsequently ordered a retrial for June.

A Greek investigative journalist prosecuted by his government for publishing a list of wealthy Greeks with Swiss bank accounts has said he was prepared to go to prison for the offence.

Speaking before receiving the Journalism prize at the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression in London, Kostas Vaxevanis said it had been his duty to publish the list in defiance of the Greek establishment.

Kirsty Hughes, the Index’s chief executive officer, said: ‘Kostas has stood up to an economic and political elite who want to close down debate on one of the biggest crises in Europe’s history.’

Other prizes went to Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, Palestinian-born Syrian internet activist Bassel Khartabil and South African photographer Zanele Muholi.

Mr Vaxevanis’s case caused uproar in Greece and internationally. He was found not guilty of breaking data privacy laws in November, but the Athens public prosecutor subsequently ordered a retrial for June.

Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony, Mr Vaxevanis said he would be prepared to go to jail “just to show people what is happening in Greece”.

“But if I am convicted answers will have to be given about why other magazines and websites who published the list were not prosecuted,” he said.

A dozen other media outlets reprinted the list from his magazine Hot Doc, but none have been charged.

The maximum sentence he faces for breaching privacy laws is 10 years.

He continued: “I would publish again, of course, if there was a need. There had been talk about the Lagarde List for three years and it was my duty to publish.”

Three consecutive governments had known about the list but failed to act.

The list is in fact a spreadsheet containing 2,062 potential tax evaders with undeclared accounts at Swiss HSBC bank’s Geneva branch.

It is named after the former French finance minister Christine Lagarde, who passed the information on to Greek officials in the autumn of 2010 to help them crack down on tax evasion.

After receiving the information anonymously, on a USB stick, Mr Vaxevanis published a list of account holders, omitting large amounts of financial information in the files.

The next day he was arrested in the middle of giving a radio interview.

He said his case showed that Greece’s dire financial crisis has made the lack of democracy in his country more acute. In response to the outcry, the new coalition government has done nothing more than form a parliamentary committee of inquiry.

Mr Vaxevanis said he and his magazine were targeted, he said, because they were small and independently owned and could not be leaned on.

“I am just being punished for telling the truth. It’s an act of revenge because I broke the ties between political power and the media, which are very close in Greece,” he said.

House rejects bailout deal

Nicosia, Mar 19 (CNA) — The House plenary has rejected a draft bill on Cyprus` bailout agreement that provides for an unprecedented levy to be imposed on savings in Cyprus banks (haircut) with 36 votes against and 19 abstentions. DISY deputy Stella Kyriakidou was absent as she is currently abroad.

Ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) party abstained from voting while MPs of the other parliamentary parties – left-wing AKEL party, Democratic Party, Social Democrats EDEK movement, the European Party and Ecologists-Environmentalists movement – voted against.

The Eurogroup reached Saturday an agreement in Brussels which provided for a levy on savings that stung small account holders to the tune of 6.75% in exchange for a €10 billion sovereign bailout deal, whereas deposits over 100.000 euro would be charged with a 9.9% levy.

The agreement also included an increase in corporate tax from 10% to 12.5%.

Excluded from the international markets, Cyprus applied last June for financial assistance from the EU bailout mechanism, after its banks sought state support following massive write downs of the Greek bond holdings amounting to €2.5 billion or 25% of the island`s GDP, as result of the Greek sovereign debt haircut.

 

Consultations between President and parties following House decision on deposits levy CNA – NICOSIA 19/3/2013 22:57

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2255:CYPPRESS:23

Consultations between President and parties following House decision on deposits levy

Nicosia, Mar 19(CNA) —-President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades will have consultations with the political parties at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday morning, following Tuesday’s rejection by the House of Representatives of the deposits levy that was imposed by Eurogroup last Friday.

The MPs rejected the bill as part of an EU bailout by 36 votes against, 19 abstentions and none in favour. Democratic Rally (DISY) ruling party which abstained from the voting, said that Cyprus should now look into an alternative proposal.

Democratic Rally’s Deputy President Averof Neofytou speaking before the Plenary noted that abstaining from the voting is a constructive stance, since the party’s suggestion for another delay in the voting, was rejected by his fellow MPs.

He also stressed that the alternative proposal that will be put before our EU partners must be a reliable one and must not lead to a default.

He described the Eurogroup proposal for a deposits haircut as a “financial suicide” , noting that the President found himself before an extortion, since his other option was the default.

Left wing party AKEL’s Secretary General Antros Kyprianou suggested the island to withdraw its application for an EU bailout , adding that during tomorrow’s meeting at the Presidential Palace, the party will put forward a set of proposals that will meet the country’s financial needs.

Referring to the haircut of deposits, he said that Cyprus has become a guinepig and that some want to take control of Cyprus’ natural gas reserves.

Kyprianou also said that the dilemma that was put before us that we should either accept the haircut or the country will be in default was a fake one .

The deposits haircut was a mere blackmail said DIKO leader Marios Karogian. He also spoke of an unjust decision on behalf of our European partners, adding that this decision has affected the whole of the Eurozone and the markets in general.

EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou said that with Eurogroup’s decision Cyprus would have become a colony , stressing that the gap between South and North would have become even bigger and the social cohesion would give its place to unemployment and poverty.

He also said that his party will table a set of proposals in tomorrow’s meeting with the President and called for unity among the parties for the favor of the people.

EVROKO President Demetris Syllouris described Eurogroup’s decision as unjust and anti-european, noting that even with the rejection the bill for a levy on haircuts , the problem in Cyprus still remains . He underlined however that the country has the ability to find a solution.

Syllouris said that the House decision to reject the bill is a responsible stance and called on everyone to work with unity in order to find an alternative solution.

Green Party MP George Perdikes said that the bill would lead Cyprus to become a slave for the years to come, adding that transformations cannot take place using blackmailing.

He also said that the consolidation of the banking sector must take place in the right way and not as part of a plan to wipe out the country’s economy.

Independent MP Zacharias Koulias spoke of an unjust decision that was imposed by the Eurogroup , adding that no Cypriot Parliamentarian can accept such a shameful choice.

The Eurogroup reached Saturday an agreement in Brussels which provided for a levy on savings that stung small account holders to the tune of 6.75% in exchange for a €10 billion sovereign bailout deal, whereas deposits over 100.000 euro would be charged with a 9.9% levy. The agreement also included an increase in corporate tax from 10% to 12.5%.

Excluded from the international markets, Cyprus applied last June for financial assistance from the EU bailout mechanism, after its banks sought state support following massive write downs of the Greek bond holdings amounting to €2.5 billion or 25% of the island`s GDP, as result of the Greek sovereign debt haircut.

 

President expresses respect for Parliament’s decision on deposits levy CNA – NICOSIA 19/03/2013 23:00

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President expresses respect for Parliament`s decision on deposits levy

Nicosia, Mar 19 (CNA) — President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has expressed his respect for the decision taken by the Cypriot House of Representatives, which rejected a legislation that would lead to a haircut of bank deposits in the framework of a bailout agreement with the Troika.

In a written statement, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides, notes that the President of the Republic expresses his absolute respect for the decision taken today by the House of Representatives.

“The President of the Republic has already called a meeting of the party leaders for tomorrow morning, at the Presidential Palace, to discuss and study together the situation, as it has developed”, he adds, according to an official press release.

The Spokesman also said that tonight, President Anastasiades had a half-hour conversation with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. “It was a fruitful and constructive discussion on the economic relations between the two countries”, he pointed out.

Furthermore, he said that the Cypriot President also had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Greece Antonis Samaras, who “expressed his solidarity and the solidarity of the people of Greece for the hard times the Hellenism of Cyprus is going through”.

In addition, the President warmly thanked the Greek Prime Minister for his fraternal solidarity during the last European Council and at the Eurogroup.

The President also spoke with the President of Greece Karolos Papoulias, who also expressed his support to President Anastasiades.

The Cypriot House plenary rejected Tuesday a draft bill on Cyprus` bailout agreement that provided for an unprecedented levy to be imposed on savings in Cyprus banks (haircut) with 36 votes against and 19 abstentions.

 

Statement by the Government Spokesman Mr Christos Stylianides

The President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, is continuing intensive deliberations with and briefing of Heads of States and European Officials regarding the climate that has been created after the Eurogroup decision of last week and in view of the expected meeting of the House of Representatives this evening. Last night the President had a telephone conversation with the German Chancellor Mrs Merkel whom he briefed about the current situation in Cyprus. The President informed the Chancellor that the possibility was considered to cut the loan needs through Cypriot funds. The President of the Republic is expected to have another conversation with Mrs Merkel today and he will continue his contacts with other leaders as well. Meanwhile the Finance Minister, Mr Michalis Sarris, is leaving for Moscow today where he will meet with his Russian counterpart Mr Anton Siluanov. -19.03.2013

 

 

(Κ) Καταψηφίστηκε το νομοσχέδιο για το κούρεμα των καταθέσεων ΚΥΠΕ – ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑ 19/3/2013 20:26

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Η Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων καταψήφισε απόψε το νομοσχέδιο για το κούρεμα των καταθέσεων.

Κατά τάχθηκαν οι 36 βουλευτές του ΑΚΕΛ, του ΔΗΚΟ, της ΕΔΕΚ, του ΕΥΡΩΚΟ, ο βουλευτής των Οικολόγων και ο ανεξάρτητος βουλευτής Ζαχαρίας Κουλίας, ενώ οι 19 βουλευτές του ΔΗΣΥ ψήφισαν αποχή.

 

Κ) Στο μήνυμα της απόφασης της Βουλής αναφέρθηκαν αρχηγοί και εκπρόσωποι κομμάτων στα ξένα ΜΜΕ ΚΥΠΕ – Αντώνης Γκιλδάκης – ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑ 19/3/2013 22:03

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Η απόφαση της Βουλής των Αντιπροσώπων της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας προστατεύει όλους τους λαούς των κρατών μελών της ΕΕ, ανέφερε ο Πρόεδρος της Βουλής και Πρόεδρος της ΕΔΕΚ Γιαννάκης Ομήρου, μετά το πέρας της συνεδρίας της Βουλής, όπου καταψηφίστηκε – με 36 ψήφους κατά και 19 αποχές – η απόφαση του Eurogroup για το κούρεμα των καταθέσεων.

Εξερχόμενος της Βουλής, ο κ. Ομήρου είπε, σε δηλώσεις του στα ξένα ΜΜΕ, ότι κατά την αυριανή σύσκεψη με τον Πρόεδρο της Δημοκρατίας, θα συζητηθούν τα επόμενα βήματα. Πρόσθεσε ότι η Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων καταψήφισε με μεγάλη πλειοψηφία την απόφαση του Eurogroup για το κούρεμα των καταθέσεων στις κυπριακές και ξένες τράπεζες που λειτουργούν στην Κύπρο. «Αναμένουμε την αλληλεγγύη των εταίρων μας, που αποτελεί την θεμελιώδη αρχή της ευρωπαϊκής οικογένειας» είπε.

Ο ΓΓ του ΑΚΕΛ Άντρος Κυπριανού ανέφερε από την πλευρά του ότι καταψηφίστηκε η απόφαση του Eurogroup για κούρεμα των καταθέσεων, καθώς είναι καταστροφική για την κυπριακή οικονομία και κρατά «όμηρο» την χώρα στα χέρια της ΕΕ. Ως προς τα επόμενα βήματα, ο κ. Κυπριανού είπε ότι το ΑΚΕΛ έχει ετοιμάσει 15 συγκεκριμένες προτάσεις, ενώ απαντώντας σε ερώτηση δημοσιογράφων, είπε ότι «προς το παρόν δεν θέλουμε να εγκαταλείψουμε το ευρώ». Πρόσθεσε επίσης ότι ένα τέτοιο ενδεχόμενο δεν αποτελεί προτεραιότητα για την Κύπρο και πως όλα θα εξαρτηθούν από τις εξελίξεις.

Συνέχισε ότι η Κύπρος δεν αναμένει ότι θα λάβει πραγματική βοήθεια από τον ηγετικό πυρήνα της ΕΕ και είπε ότι «επιμένουμε ότι θα πρέπει να προσπαθήσουμε να βρούμε λύση εκτός του πλαισίου της Τρόικας». Ερωτηθείς σχετικά, είπε ότι χάθηκε η εμπιστοσύνη προς την Τρόικα και πρόσθεσε ότι «περιμένουμε περισσότερα από όλες τις Ευρωπαϊκές χώρες». Για την Ρωσία είπε ότι θα πρέπει να διερευνηθεί η πιθανότητα συνομολόγησης μιας συμφωνίας που θα βγάλει την Κύπρο από την δύσκολη θέση.

«Το κυπριακό κοινοβούλιο απέδειξε σήμερα την αποφασιστικότητα του να επαναδιαπραγματευτεί τη συμφωνία» με το Eurogroup, ανέφερε από την πλευρά του ο βουλευτής του ΔΗΚΟ και Πρόεδρος της Επιτροπής Οικονομικών Νικόλας Παπαδόπουλος. Ερωτηθείς για το αποτέλεσμα της σημερινής ψηφοφορίας, ο κ. Παπαδόπουλος είπε ότι «βασικά είπαμε όχι στην ιδέα ενός κουρέματος, γιατί πιστεύουμε ότι θα είναι καταστροφική για τον τραπεζικό μας τομέα», καθώς θα οδηγήσει σε βαθιά ύφεση και κατάρρευση της οικονομίας.

Ο κ. Παπαδόπουλος ζήτησε να παραμείνουν κλειστές οι τράπεζες τις επόμενες ημέρες και να γίνει επαναδιαπραγμάτευση. Πρέπει να πάμε πίσω στην Ευρώπη και να τους πείσουμε με επιχειρήματα, ότι η βιωσιμότητα της κυπριακής οικονομίας είναι προς όφελος της ΕΕ, είπε. Παράλληλα, ανέφερε ότι είναι λανθασμένο το αίτημα της ΕΕ να πληρώσουν οι χαμηλοεισοδηματίες και συνταξιούχοι για τα λάθη των τραπεζών και των κυβερνήσεων.

Ο Πρόεδρος του Ευρωπαϊκού Κόμματος Δημήτρης Συλλούρης είπε ότι θα σκεφτούμε αύριο τους τρόπους για να επιλύσουμε τα προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζει η οικονομία της χώρας, καθώς και πως θα γίνει αυτό χωρίς την αλληλεγγύη των Ευρωπαίων.

Ο βουλευτής των Οικολόγων Γιώργος Περδίκης είπε τέλος ότι οι πολιτικές δυνάμεις του τόπου θα πρέπει να εργαστούν σκληρά για να προστατευτούν τα συμφέροντα του κυπριακού λαού, μακριά από τις αποφάσεις του Eurogroup, που όπως είπε, είναι καταστροφικές για την κυπριακή οικονομία.

 

Source: Reuters

ECB to provide liguidity to to Cypriot banks

Nicosia, Mar 19 (CNA) — The European Central Bank said on Tuesday after Cypriot lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected a key element of a proposed bailout that it was in contact with its IMF and EU partners and remained committed to providing liquidity within certain limits.

“The ECB takes note of the decision of the Cypriot parliament and is in contact with its troika partners,” the bank said in a statement, according to Reuters.

It adds that “the ECB reaffirms its commitment to provide liquidity as needed within the existing rules”.

The Cypriot House plenary rejected Tuesday a draft bill on Cyprus` bailout agreement that provided for an unprecedented levy to be imposed on savings in Cyprus banks (haircut) with 36 votes against and 19 abstentions.

 

(Κ) ΕΚΤ: Θα συνεχιστεί η παροχή ρευστότητας προς τις κυπριακές τράπεζες ΚΥΠΕ – Γαλλικό Πρακτορείο Ειδήσεων – ΒΕΡΟΛΙΝΟ 19/3/2013 22:04

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Η ΕΚΤ ανέφερε ότι θα συνεχίσει να παρέχει οικονομική στήριξη προς τις κυπριακές τράπεζες, μετά την αποψινή καταψήφιση του νομοσχεδίου στην ολομέλεια της Βουλής, μεταδίδει το Γαλλικό Πρακτορείο Ειδήσεων.

«Η ΕΚΤ επαναβεβαιώνει τη δέσμευσή της για παροχή ρευστότητας όπου χρειάζεται, στο πλαίσιο των υφιστάμενων κανόνων» αναφέρεται σε ανακοίνωση της ΕΚΤ.

 

 

Invitation to Parents from Greece 3rd Meeting Tuesday 26 March 2013 All

Source: greeknewsonline

Source: WorldJewishCongress

Leaders of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Sunday sent a strong message of solidarity to the Jewish community of Greece as they gathered in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki for meetings of the WJC Executive Committee and commemorations on the 70thanniversary of the first deportation of Salonican Jews to the death camps. In a speech in the presence of Greek Prime Minister AntonisSamaras, WJC President Ronald S. Lauder urged Greece to take decisive action against the growing neo-Nazi movement Golden Dawn, which he called “the new Nazis” and “a threat to democracy.” In a resolution, the World Jewish Congress called on Greece to consider banning extremist parties such as Golden Dawn.

Samaras (pictured below) on Sunday became the first sitting Greek prime minister of the last 100 years to visit a synagogue. He pledged that his government would do everything to rein in the extremists. The Greek government would enact legislation that will be “completely intolerant to violence and racism,” he said, noting that with neo-Nazi parties on the rise again in Europe, governments had to “be very careful not to let them gain ground as they did in the 1930s.”

Fifty Jewish community heads and representatives from around the world attended the series of events in Thessaloniki in commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust. They were co-organized by the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki. More than 48,000 Jews of Thessaloniki were deported between March and August of 1943 and 96 percent of them were murdered in the German death camps.

On Saturday, World Jewsh Congress representatives took part in a commemorative march organized by Thessaloniki’s mayor YiannisBoutaris which attracted nearly 3,000 participants.

In his speech at the Monastiriotes Synagogue, Ronald Lauder thanked the survivors – some of whom were present and lit candles – for returning and rebuilding the Salonican community. He also praised Jewish community leader David Saltiel for his tremendous efforts in strengthening the community.

As part of the resolution, the WJC calls on Greece to “consider banning political parties, such as the Golden Dawn movement, which pose a serious danger to liberal democracy”; and also calls on the European Union to “ensure that political movements that actively espouse a platform of discrimination of ethnic or religious minorities, in contravention of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, are dealt with in a coordinated manner in all EU member states that law enforcement authorities receive all necessary support for the protection of citizens against such crimes.”

On Monday, the members of the WJC Executive will travel to Israel to hold talks with members of the newly appointed Israeli government and President Shimon Peres.

Resolution by WJC Executive Committee, adopted on 17 March 2013 in Thessaloniki, Greece

The Executive Committee of the World Jewish Congress, meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece on 17 March 2013 to commemorate the 70thanniversary of the deportation of nearly 50,000 Thessaloniki Jews to the Nazi death camps where more than 48,000 of them were murdered:

EXPRESSES the solidarity of world Jewry with Greek Jews, many of who are suffering from growing anti-Semitism and economic hardship;

NOTES that Greece is the country where Democracy was born and that during World War II, thousands of Greeks gave their lives to protect freedom and in opposition to the barbarism of the Nazis;

NOTES with alarm the growing expressions of anti-Semitism and the rise of the extremist and violently racist Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) movement, which has parliamentary representation, manifest in: its open denial of the Shoah and the existence of gas chambers at Nazi death camps; a series of anti-Semitic and racist statements; and physical assaults on dark-skinned people and immigrants which have become an almost daily occurrence in Greece;

EXPRESSES its great concern that a part of Greek society appears not to be sufficiently alert as to where such hateful ideology can ultimately lead, with members of Greek law enforcement authorities being repeatedly accused of leniency toward Golden Dawn activists who brutally attacked immigrant workers, and with the Greek judiciary being weak in bringing those who commit hate crimes, to justice;

RECALLS with immense sadness the fact that the failure by Germany’s democratic parties to effectively combat the Nazis, led to the appointment, 80 years ago, of Adolf Hitler as German chancellor and the establishment of a murderous dictatorship that ultimately led to World War II and the Shoah;

URGES the Greek authorities to: take serious and concerted actions against Holocaust denial, anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia; implement all relevant European laws in that domain; and unite all democratic forces against the enemies of democracy, so as not to allow society to drift into the darkness of racial hatred and anti-Semitism.

CALLS on Greece to consider banning political parties, such as the Golden Dawn movement, which pose a serious danger to liberal democracy;

CALLS on the European Union to ensure that political movements that actively espouse a platform of discrimination of ethnic or religious minorities, in contravention of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, are dealt with in a coordinated manner in all EU member states and that law enforcement authorities receive all necessary support for the protection of citizens against such crimes.

 

Source: YahooNews

Source: Cyprus-Mail.com