Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-27

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece, Albania sign protection/assistance accord for victims of child-trafficking

[02] PM holds first meeting with new ND secretary

[01] Greece, Albania sign protection/assistance accord for victims of child-trafficking

The Greek deputy minister called the agreement an "important step in confronting the most heinous crime" of children trafficking, and called for its correct implementation and close cooperation between the two peoples of the Society of Citizens, and the two governments.

Stylianidis and Ms. Zajmi said the agreement served as as an example for signature with other countries as well, while the Albanian deputy minister stressed the international dimension of the initiative, noting that it had been signed between a country that is a NATO and an EU member state and a country that seeks membership in both those international organisations.

The US ambassador's presence was also deemed of particular significance, given that a State Department global report presenting each country's position regarding people-trafficking is due to be released in mid-2006.

Stylianidis expressed appreciation to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for its close cooperation with Hellenic Aid, the Greek foreign ministry's corresponding agency, and for the knowhow it provides to Greece.

The Greek deputy minister announced that Hellenic Aid's expenditures for confronting people-trafficking had doubled in 2004 to two million euros from 1 million euros the preceding year.

Included in that action framework was the financing of the NGO (non-governmental organisation) ARSIS with 600,000 euros for the three-year period 2006-2008 aimed at its participation in the international programme TACT 3 (Transnational Action against Child Trafficking), whose membership includes international organisations and NGOs such as USAID, Unicef, etc.

The agreement signed Monday provides for the establishment of two government agencies at secretary general level, with the involvement of the authoritative ministries. It provides for the designation of a temporary guardian for every child falling under the category, which guardian would be responsible for the child up until the minor's departure for Albania, and also the ability to the Greek authorities of monitoring the child's fate after repatriation in Albania.

The purpose of the accord is the childrens' full incorporation into the Albanian society so that they would not be returned to Greece as victims of exploitation.

ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

[02] PM holds first meeting with new ND secretary

After the two-hour session, Zagoritis told reporters that the discussion had been all-encompassing, adding that he would also have the opportunity to speak with former secretary Evangelos Meimarakis -- who resigned from the post of party secretary after being appointed defence minister in the recent Cabinet reshuffle -- during a meeting of the ND inter-secretariat committee.

Replying to questions on the upcoming local government elections, Zagoritis said that all elections were crucial, and required collective effort and work, adding that the government's goal was to solve the greatest possible number of the problems it inherited from the preceding PASOK governments.

Asked to comment on a recent opinion poll that gave main opposition PASOK a marginal lead over New Democracy, Zagoritis noted that many opinion polls had been conducted recently and that all of them -- except the one cited by the reporter's question -- showed ND firmly in the lead, and also indicated the people's confidence in the current government.

However, he added, "we are not complacent".

The new secretary also met with party officials at ND's head offices in Athens on Saturday and participated in a meeting of the Overseas Hellenism secretariat.

Zagoritis said the meeting reflected the priority given by the party to overseas Greeks, adding that ND's Action Programme will be announced in due course and after he meets with his predecessor Vangelis Meimarakis and other party officials.

ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article