Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-09-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM discusses labour claims with labour confederation directorate

[02] Restoring local administration's prestige a political priority for the government, interior minister says

[03] Psarouda-Benaki addresses 'Youth Parliament'

[01] PM discusses labour claims with labour confederation directorate

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis held talks on Friday with the directorate members of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), who briefed him on the labour movement's claims.

According to reports, Karamanlis told the trade unionists not to see "ghosts behind doors" since all have the same targets, but possibly with a different approach, while the government's policy is aimed at improving the investments climate and increasing employment and incomes.

Employment Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos, in a statement after the meeting, said that the government is aiming at improving the investments climate and all the measures it is taking, even at a cost, target development, increasing employment and decreasing unemployment.

GSEE President Christos Polyzogopoulos said on his part that the government thinks that its options will produce results. However, until now a redistribution of income is taking place at the expense of low income brackets. He further said that the prime minister did not reply to the confederation's claims.

Polyzogopoulos listed labour claims in a long letter he delivered to Karamanlis. GSEE focuses its criticism on the issues of labour reforms and the high cost of living and seeks an increased heating allowance for this year.

"If last year, with 42 dollars a barrel, the allowance was necessary, this year that it is already exceeding 70 dollars, the allowance is becoming imperative," the letter stressed.

Employment Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos, in a statement after the meeting, said that the government is aiming at improving the investments climate and all the measures it is taking, even at a cost, target development, increasing employment and decreasing unemployment.

GSEE President Christos Polyzogopoulos said on his part that the government thinks that its options will produce results. However, until now a redistribution of income is taking place at the expense of low income brackets. He further said that the prime minister did not reply to the confederation's claims.

Polyzogopoulos listed labour claims in a long letter he delivered to Karamanlis. GSEE focuses its criticism on the issues of labour reforms and the high cost of living and seeks an increased heating allowance for this year.

"If last year, with 42 dollars a barrel, the allowance was necessary, this year that it is already exceeding 70 dollars, the allowance is becoming imperative," the letter stressed.

[02] Restoring local administration's prestige a political priority for the government, interior minister says

Pavlopoulos announced that the new municipalities and communities code is ready and will be tabled in Parliament for ratification in October, while the corresponding code for prefectural local administration will be ready by spring.

He also said that the number of the country's regions will remain 13 and there will be no changes.

Referring to the issue of mayoral candidates being elected with 42 percent in the first round of local elections, the minister defended the government's proposal and noted that those who will be elected in this way will be able to exercise their policy freely with their own programme and will not be bound by circumstantial alliances.

[03] Psarouda-Benaki addresses 'Youth Parliament'

"Democracy, in its present parliamentary form, is regarded as the best system for mankind, but is not the property of all the peoples," she told the "youth deputies", noting that "there are peoples who do not know about it."

Psarouda-Benaki underlined that the institution of the "Youth Parliament" contributes to the civil awareness of youth and to the conveying of faith in the value and defence of freedom of opinion and speech.

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