Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Messages on Int'l Human Rights Day

[02] Government over US envoy's comments

[03] Two-day strike against gov't economic policy

[01] Messages on Int'l Human Rights Day

Karamanlis termed the universal recognition of human rights as the "greatest achievement of liberal democracy and the most important step for safeguarding terms and conditions for a world of peace, security, prosperity and justice for all".

The prime minister further said that Greece, "the craddle of democracy, pays paramount importance on the defending of individual, collective, political, cultural, social and economic rights and of fundamental liberties, the shielding of democratic institutions and the effective functioning of a state of law".

"The Greek women and men believe that governance is successful when it succeeds in substantively widening the horizon of the rights of citizens," Karamanlis also said.

On his part, main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou issued a message on Friday on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on Saturday, stressing that "in the human rights sector there are no minorities since the culture of a society and the quality of a democracy are judged on the basis of respect for freedom in practice".

Papandreou said that the Greek socialists "recognise that the upsurge of the phenomenon of international terrorism has changed factors concerning the protection of rights, but they do not accept the theory that the end justifies the means."

He added that PASOK categorically condemns methods which degrade man, such as torture, unjustified detentions and the disregarding of the criterion of innocence, particularly their upgrading to official or unofficial state policy.

[02] Government over US envoy's comments

"The modern-day Republic of Greece, in both its bilateral and multilateral relations, does not allow interventions in its internal affairs," government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said.

The spokesman, who also holds the minister of state portfolio, added that foreign envoys in the modern era also exercise "trade diplomacy".

His responses came amid queries on whether the US side is pressuring Athens over the sale of 40 new F-16 fighter planes, an issue that has drawn considerable flak from the opposition since the country-to-country agreement was announced.

Roussopoulos noted that bilateral affairs, in general, were discussed by Karamanlis and the US ambassador. On Thursday, the spokesman confirmed that the meeting had been sought by the US side for some time.

Foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos had earlier on Friday more-or-less used the same language when answering reporters' questions.

"Greece, as an active member of the international community, enjoys a quality of relations with all countries, and does not leave any margins for interventions in its internal affairs, even more so amongst friends and allies."

The foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment on the envoy's specific references to transparency in the country or even the F-16s sale, while adding that Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis did not attend the Wednesday meeting because he was on a diplomatic mission to Belgrade and Pristina, although the FM was fully aware of the issues discussed.

Among others, a couple of top PASOK deputies, Miltiades Papaioannou and Vasso Papandreou, both high-ranking ministers of past PASOK governments, sharply criticised the envoy for "exceeding his role" as a foreign diplomat in the country. Both PASOK MPs also said the government should have reacted much more vigorously to Ries' statements.

The other Ries comment that drew criticism involved a remark on Thursday at a conference of Greek exporters, where he said a lack of transparency remains a stumbling block for investment activity in Greece.

PASOK reaction

In a later statement, main opposition PASOK spokesman Nikos Athanassakis said "in this country it would be better for everyone to mind his own business so as not to cause negative reactions, especially since there are historical precedents for Greece..."

Athanassakis also echoed other PASOK cadres' criticism of the government, saying ruling ND recently celebrated what it called an upgrading of relations with Washington, while at the moment it is "helplessly" viewing and reacting to this latest development.

Asked about the F-16 purchase, he said PASOK has already voiced its opposition, in terms of the substance of the deal, the number of planes involved and the procedure of buying directly from another government.

[03] Two-day strike against gov't economic policy

The focus of the walkout is to oppose industrial relations policy and practice, a bill to overhaul public corporations currently in parliament, and moves to undermine free collective bargaining, GSEE said in a statement.

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