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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-03-09Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Karamanlis indicates changes in public utility services, rules out reshufflePrime Minister Costas Karamanlis indicated that changes will be taking place in public utility services in his across-the-board interview at the Foreign Press Association and replying to questions on Tuesday night, while categorically ruling out the possibility of a government reshuffle.The prime minister stated that his government will exhaust its four-year tenure and left open the possibility of going ahead with a constitutional amendment after the year 2006. Karamanlis said he never concealed existing problems and noted that, although the effort is difficult, reducing the deficit below 3 percent at the end of 2006 is feasible. "We were the empire of deficits," he said and stressed that reforms must take place to boost the country's competitiveness, as well as productivity. Referring to public utilities, the prime minister stressed his readiness for dialogue with all and without taking anybody by surprise. Karamanlis said the deregulation of working hours must take place since the country cannot stay behind in the 60's and 70's since the world is forging ahead. The prime minister further said that announcements by the hierarchy concerning its internal crisis were in the right direction, adding that he supports every measure aimed at self-cleansing and that he does not agree with levelling masures. "I am optimistic because I am determined and what must be done shall be done and this is my duty," the prime minister said, adding that decisions taken are for the good of all. On the question of Turkey's obligations towards the EU on the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, Karamanlis said Turkey has assumed a series of obligations which are tough and strict and noted that one of them is signing the customs union with Cyprus. The prime minister mentioned, among other things, that there is a normalisation of relations with the neighbouring country and an improvement of the atmosphere. [02] Development minister meets with EU commissionersBRUSSELS (ANA/M Spinthourakis) - Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said on Tuesday that he held talks with European Union comissioners on the sidelines of a preparatory competitiveness ministers' meeting in the Belgian capital for a summit in the spring.Sioufas, in Brussels, told reporters of the following meetings: [03] Greece, Finland report lowest car prices in eurozoneCar factory prices are converging in the EU-25, the European Commission said in a report published on Tuesday, although it also stressed that some member-states continued to report significant price divergences.The EU's executive said Finland and Greece recorded the lowest factory prices (excluding tax) in the 'eurozone', while Germany and Austria recorded the highest prices. Estonia is the cheapest country in the EU-25, with car prices 2.5 percent lower compared with Greece. The Commission said low factory prices in some member-states were attributed to a pricing policy by car manufacturers for countries with high car taxes. The report, based on national car market prices on November 1, 2004, compares prices of 91 models by 18 European manufacturers and eight from Japan. Compared with May 2004, the average price divergence fell to 6.4 percent from 6.9 percent. The Commissoin said factory prices rose 0.5 percent in December 2004, compared with the same month in 2003 in the EU-25, while prices rose 2.2 percent in Greece over the same period. EU-25 inflation was 2.4 percent, while the inflation rate in Greece was 3.1 percent over the same period. [04] Papandreou cites support for human rights, minority groups' participation in AlbaniaMain opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou on Tuesday received a delegation of neighboring Albania's Union of Human Rights Party -- the political formation traditionally aligned with that western Balkan country's ethnic Greek minority.The former foreign minister stressed that Athens supports every effort at ensuring human rights and the participation of minorities - especially the ethnic Greek minority -- in Albania's political process. "...because this comprises a basic obligation of every democratic country; secondly, it contributes to our bilateral relations, and thirdly but just as importantly, it is part of Albania's European course, a course which we support," Papandreou stressed. On his part, the president of the Human Rights Party, Vangelis Doules, emphasised that both the party and the ethnic Greek minority in the neighbouring country are working hard "so that Albania becomes a member of the European family very soon..." He added that minority groups will benefit from such a prospect, "because only when equality before the law and justice are guaranteed can members of a society contribute decisively towards progress and their fortunes." The delegation is visiting Greece for talks with the government and political party officials ahead of the upcoming general elections in Albania. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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