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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-10Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Karamanlis on Lisbon strategy and Greek economyExpressing satisfaction with decisions reached by European leaders in Brussels regarding the EU's internal market and the Lisbon strategy, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday underlined that Athens was in favour of strengthening the social dimensions of the EU through fair wages and minimum social standards. "Greece fully embraces the efforts of the EU to boost its competitive position globally. There is no time to lose. We are continuing the reforms that have been planned. At the same time, we are ensuring that the benefits from this growth are spread to all society," he told reporters. In statements outlining Greece's positions, Karamanlis welcomed the agreements reached on strengthening Europe's internal market, increasing its competitiveness, boosting employment and developing the European social model. He also noted that the European economy's recent recovery was largely due to the reform efforts set in motion.With regard to Greece, Karamanlis pointed to the strong growth it had enjoyed for several years while emphasising that his government had taken decisive steps to end "major uncertainties about the prospects of economic growth" that had existed in March 2004, when it had taken over power. "We decided to put an end to the policies of the past and proceed with a different mix of economic policy. A mix based on fiscal discipline and transparency and on structural reforms. This policy is fully compatible with the principles we follow here, at the European Council, in recent years. I can say that our efforts are now being rewarded," the Greek premier said. He pointed out that strong economic growth was continuing in Greece, while it was no longer based on state spending: "Growth is now based on an increase in private investment and of exports, which have reached record levels, and on direct foreign investments that represent 2.2 pct of GDP. Unemployment has dropped by 3.0 percentage points in the past three years. We are creating the foundations for strong growth in the future and part of this effort is based on the fiscal adjustment we have achieved," the premier said. Noting that the reform effort was ongoing and continuous, Karamanlis said that Greece's ailing social insurance system would be the next major reform effort after the next elections. In its first four-year term, the government had set a goal of dialogue in order to record the facts concerning this crucial issue, while the government emerging from the next elections must put forward a plan for reforming the social insurance system for the next generations, he added. The premier additionally pointed to the marked reduction in Greece's public deficit, which fell from 7.8 pct of GDP to under 3 pct of GDP under New Democracy's government, noting that there were similar trends for public debt. Asked whether Greece would exit the excessive deficit procedure, Karamanlis said the decision now rested with the European Commission and the European Council. "We remain steadfast in our goals for fiscal reform, aiming to achieve balanced or surplus budgets by 2012," he added. Regarding a proposal to reduce bureaucracy in the EU by 25 pct, Karamanlis said that Athens had been in favour: "We did not refuse, we accepted and it is binding for us as for all the partners. We know that for us the effort will be greater because Greek public administration is in a much worse situation than the European average. I consider it the greatest challenge to press forward at an even faster pace," he said. In response to other questions, the prime minister denied plans to offer pre-election handouts, saying that this would be counter to his "deepest political philosophy". "The economy is doing better but needs even greater efforts to reach the point we want, to be a society that produces, exports, generates wealth that the government distributes more fairly to those in need," Karamanlis told reporters. [02] PASOK leader to visit ThessalyMain opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party leader George Papandreou will visit the region of Thessaly, central Greece, on March 11-13. On Sunday, the leader of PASOK will attend events marking the anniversary of the liberation of Karditsa from the Italians during WWII and later in the afternoon of that day, he will address a political event.On Monday, Papandreou will meet with farmers in rural areas in the prefecture of Trikala and on Tuesday he will visit the 1st Army Corps in Larisa, the Tactical Air Force Command and the Hellenic Air Route Traffic Control Center, ARTCC. (ANA-MPA file photo of PASOK leader George Papandreou) [03] Synaspismos hails demolition of wall in divided NicosiaPanos Trigazis, head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) in a statement on Saturday hailed a decision by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos for the demolition of the wall in Ledra Street in Nicosia, which was announced in Brussels on Thursday night.President Papadopoulos' statement followed the start a few hours earlier of the dismantling of the National Guard wall in this commercial street in the walled city of Nicosia, the world's last divided capital. "We hail the demolition of the wall in Ledra Street in Nicosia. This step by the government of the Republic of Cyprus constitutes a hopeful development, both on a symbolic and political level in the direction of the rapprochement of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and the resumption of the bi-communal talks under the auspices of the United Nations for a solution to the Cyprus issue. What is mainly called for is the end of the Turkish occupation, the demilitarisation and reunification of the island with the creation of a bi-communal-bi-zonal federation on the basis of the UN resolutions and the European acquis communautaire,? Trigazis said. (ANA-MPA file photo of Panos Trigazis, head of the Foreign Policy Department of Synaspismos) [04] 49 youths to testify over protest violenceA three-member First Instance Court late Friday night gave a deadline until Monday to 49 youths to prepare their testimony in relation to the violent incidents that broke out in central Athens on Thursday during yet another student demonstration against education reforms, which were passed by Parliament the same day.The court ordered the release of 48 of them until then, while for a private employee, the court ordered the extension of his detention until Monday. The 49 are accused of disrupting public order. Moreover, 12 suspects were earlier charged by a public prosecutor with a number of misdemeanour offences. Nine of them will testify on Monday, while the remaining three were due to do so on Saturday. Thirteen police officers were injured during Thursday's incidents and one of them was hospitalised. According to police, the incidents were caused by self-styled anarchist and anti-establishment youths who participated in the rally and are responsible for the petrol bomb attacks on a number of banks, as well as for the violent clashes recorded when they attempted to break the anti-riot police cordon in front of the Parliament building hurling petrol bombs, stones and other objects against the security forces. The same individuals are responsible for torching a sentry box at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and for the attack on a traffic police officer, forcibly removing his radio set. The statement issued also clarified that the Evzone Guards, members of the presidential guard, were removed from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by decision of the police for security reasons. Caption: A sentry box in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in downtown Athens burns on Thursday, March 8, 2007, after self-styled 'anti-state' youths torched the structure during unprecedented violence in the city's centre. ANA-MPA / P. Saitas. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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