Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Opposition parties react to govt proposals for social security reform

[02] Pensions cannot be less than contributions, Greek president stresses

[01] Opposition parties react to govt proposals for social security reform

Union of Centrists party leader Vassilis Leventis expressed opposition over the government's draft law for the social security, after his meeting on Monday with Labour Minister George Katrougalos, who briefed him on the government's programme.

On his part, Communist Party (KKE) secretary general Dimitris Koutsoumbas, after his meeting with Katrougalos, said his party's position is totally against the government's proposal for the social security reform, noting that KKE will struggle so that the reforms do not pass in parliament.

Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis, who is visiting the northwest city of Ioannina, said "Katrougalos' meetings are only for photographers". In his statement, Theodorakis said "Potami is not willing to follow the government's public relations programme".

[02] Pensions cannot be less than contributions, Greek president stresses

"The partners in the European Union must take into account that the social insurance system is the heart of the social state of justice throughout Europe," Pavlopoulos noted. "It is the main pillar, not just of European democracy but of European civilisation," he added.

"I would like to believe, and not just to hope, that the Greek positions and the sacrifices of the Greek people will be understood," he said.

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