Daily Archives: April 6, 2015

As Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras prepared for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow on April 8-9, designed to boost bilateral ties, high-ranking European officials voiced concerns that the trip might play Russia against the European Union during negotiations with the Greek government.

Government sources told Kathimerini that Athens is determined to pursue a “multifaceted energy and economic policy.” In this context, the sources said, the aim is to co-sign a three-year action plan for the economy, commerce, research and technology.

The leftist leader appears unmoved by western concerns of a Greek geopolitical shift. That said, Tsipras does not intend to camouflage areas of disagreement such as Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, unnamed aides told the newspaper.

Over the weekend, senior politicians from EU paymaster Germany expressed strong reservations over the visit.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz warned the Greek premier against “alienating” the EU. In an interview with Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung on Saturday, the German politician said it would be “unacceptable if Tsipras jeopardized Europe’s common policy on Russia in return for Russian help.”

Speaking to the same newspaper, Gunther Krichbaum, chairman of the Bundestag Committee on EU Affairs, said that if the Greek government believes it can find “salvation” in Moscow, “it is betting on the wrong horse.”

Criticism also came from the country’s economy minister, Sigmar Gabriel. “I can’t imagine that anyone in Athens is seriously playing with the idea of turning their back on Europe and falling into Moscow’s arms,” Gabriel told the Rheinische Post.

source:ekathimerini.com

Greece faces another critical week with looming debt repayment obligations and the resumption of tough talks on a proposed list of reforms with the country’s international creditors amid renewed speculation about the possibility of a Greek default or an early general election.

Government officials sought to ease concerns over the weekend with reassurances that Greece is in a position to honor its debt to the IMF and to continue paying salaries and pensions. On Wednesday, Greece is to auction 1.4 billion euros in Treasury bills in a bid to raise the equivalent amount of debt maturing a week later though only about half that amount is held by foreign investors who are unlikely to participate in the sale. And on Thursday, it must repay a 450-million-euro debt to the International Monetary Fund. Even if it meets these two challenges, coffers must be replenished for subsequent obligations.

But, as talks with the creditors have been progressing at snail’s pace, there is very real concern about when a deal can be reached to allow the release of at least a portion of a pending 7.2-billion-euro loan tranche.

As Greek officials and creditor representatives remain far apart in talks, and divisions within the government remain over potential concessions, there are few hopes that a deal will be reached in a two-day session of the Euro Working Group due on Wednesday and Thursday. According to sources, the government is aiming to secure some progress in those two days of talks and a deal on the technical level by April 19, which would mean an agreement could be reached at a Eurogroup summit scheduled to take place in the Latvian capital of Riga. A lot of ground must be covered over the next two weeks if a deal is to be reached. At a Euro Working Group carried out by teleconference last week, one eurozone official lashed out at his Greek peers, Kathimerini understands, telling them: “It’s been nine weeks since the elections and you’ve done nothing.”

According to sources, the European Commission has shown the most understanding. Indeed, the EC is said to have suggested that eurozone governments cover Greece’s repayment to the IMF on Thursday before discovering that such a move would not be legal.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was to meet with the head of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, in Washington on Sunday for “an informal discussion on the reform program of the Greek government,” the ministry said.

The list of proposed reforms has not satisfied creditors, who are said to be insisting on Greece approving at least some privatizations to raise revenue. There is a chance that pension and labor sector reforms could be postponed until later if Greece pushes through other revenue-raising measures now, Kathimerini understands. But that will require Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras clashing with radicals in his government such as Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, who repeated over the weekend that the government should honor its pre-election promises.

In view of the internal political strife and the impasse with creditors, Tsipras has been advised to consider calling a referendum or new general elections in June or even sooner, Kathimerini understands.

source:ekathimerini.com

Siege over Melbourne, Southbank. A distressed woman leaves the area. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia

A DRAMATIC siege in a Melbourne restaurant has ended with a traumatised woman freed after being detained for more than seven hours and a man arrested and tasered by police.

Police ended a tense night of negotiations with the former restaurant employee who barricaded himself inside the Southbank restaurant when he agreed to free the 27-year-old Melbourne woman around 5.25am.

Police were called to the Ludlow restaurant around 10pm when a man, armed with a knife, had entered the restaurant taking an employee hostage. Police said the man, 35, was armed with a knife and was known to police.

It is believed the ex-employee had left the restaurant in the last week and was disgruntled about some employment issues.

When the man agreed to release his former colleague after more than seven hours, during which the surrounding area had been locked down and hundreds of people evacuated, police “had to taken action”.

“The male was tasered and as a precaution he was taken off to hospital,” Acting Inspector Travis McCarthy said.

The woman was said to be “very upset”.

“It was obviously a fairly traumatic experience for her,” Insp McCarthy said.

Police on scene at the southbank siege. Picture: Brendan Francis Source: News Corp Australia

Police and paramedics have wheeled out the hostage-taker on a stretcher with oxygen support but sitting upright and conscious after armed tactical police from special operations group could be seen entering the building with paramedics on scene.

Authorities were called to Riverside Quay about 10pm after reports a man had begun making threats at the riverside premises.

The man barricaded himself in a part of the restaurant with a woman.

Police earlier extended the exclusion zone around the siege, pushing people off the public square near the site.

Police on scene at Southbank. picture: Brendan Francis Source: News Corp Australia

Two angle grinders were also carried by police into the cordoned-off area.

It is believed the woman’s boyfriend and workers from the restaurant were waiting at the scene.

Nearby Riverside Quay was closed to traffic and pedestrians between Cook St and Southgate Ave.

The incident is not believed to be ideologically motivated.

The Southbank promenade between the ‘love lock’ bridge and the Ludlow restaurant remains blocked.

Witnesses said they saw police storm the area with shields about 10.40pm.

Paramedics with a stretcher remained on standby at the scene as a crowd of concerned passers-by watched on.

Police on scene at the southbank siege. Picture: Brendan Francis Source: News Corp Australia

A group of people believed to know those inside the restaurant watched on.

Police, both uniformed and in plain clothes, huddled near an entrance to a Riverside Quay building.

Cristina Grimaldi, who lives five minutes walk from the promenade, described the scene as like “a movie”.

“We were walking home and we saw the cops and we wondered what happened.

“It is the first time we have seen so many police.”

Police at the scene are diverting people away from the area saying a crime is currently being committed.

source: news.com.au