Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM and ministers prepare for vote of confidence debate in Parliament on Friday

[02] Latest poll shows comfortable lead for ND; majority favors lifting of civil servants' tenure

[03] Parliament president receives Turkish justice minister

[04] Ecumenical Patriarch receives Ukrainian President Yuschenko

[01] PM and ministers prepare for vote of confidence debate in Parliament on Friday

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos announced that the debate on the premier's proposal for a vote of confidence in the government will begin at 18:00 on Friday. He stressed that this would be a "very important opportunity for the people to be informed condensely about the things happening in the economy under PASOK governments and for the government to present its work over the past 15 months, along with its strategic plan".

Pointing to recent opinion polls showing a comfortable lead for ruling New Democracy, he claimed that "the majority of people are in favour of structural changes, to the promotion of which the government gives priority."

The vote of confidence will commence on Friday, to be wound up on Sunday night with a roll-call vote.

[02] Latest poll shows comfortable lead for ND; majority favors lifting of civil servants' tenure

The poll, broadcast by the Athens-based SKAI radio station, comes a day after a contentious off-the-agenda Parliament debate that concluded with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis calling for a vote of confidence in the government, responding to an earlier demand by main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou for a motion of censure against Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis.

The poll also showed that 52 per cent of respondents supported the lifting of tenure for civil servants and public-sector employees - an issue that recently shot to the forefront in Greece following a ground-breaking agreement for voluntary early retirement of staff at the state-run telecoms provider (OTE). Support for the deal was highest among those supporting ruling New Democracy, at 57 percent. Next in line were main opposition PASOK supporters with 55 per cent, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 43 percent and Synaspismos with 41 percent.

Moreover, 58 percent of respondents said state-run enterprises and utilities, such as OTE and the Public Power Corp. (PPC), should adhere to the labour laws governing the private sector.

Conversely, a whopping 80 percent of respondents consider that the minimum retirement ages should not be raised, as opposed to 15 percent favoring the opposite. Some 67 percent of respondents also oppose an increase in social security contributions, while two out of 10 respondents said such contributions should increase.

Beyond the domestic political front, 67 percent of respondents favored the holding of a referendum to ratify the European Constitution. The 300-deputy Greek Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Euro-Constitution last month, with both the government and the main opposition expressing solid support for the treaty. Deputies from KKE and Synaspismos voted against the constitution.

Interestingly enough, 46 percent of respondents said they would have voted "no" in a referendum, while 31 percent said they would have backed the Euro-Constitution's ratification.

The poll was conducted by the VPRC firm on June 6 and June 7 on a sample of 954 respondents via telephone interviews. Individuals over the age of 18 were asked questions from a standard questionnaire.

[03] Parliament president receives Turkish justice minister

"We're following, with particular interest, the effort being made by Turkey in its course towards EU accession. The neighboring country's European prospects necessitate reforms within Turkey, and that is one of the primary reasons that we support this accession," Psarouda-Benaki said, adding:

"Two neighboring countries adhering to the same legal system is the best condition for harmonious relations to exist".

On his part, the Turkish minister cited what he called a sincere dialogue between the prime ministers of the two countries, adding that both he and his Greek counterpart are contributing to this rapprochement with their cooperation. He also noted the significance of Greece's support for Turkey's EU prospects.

[04] Ecumenical Patriarch receives Ukrainian President Yuschenko

Yuschenko reiterated an invitation to the Patriarch to visit the Ukraine as soon as possible and discussed Ukrainian ecclesiastical issues.

Greeting the Ukrainian president at the head of a large delegation of the Patriarchate's court, Bartholomew thanked Yuschenko for his regard. The Patriarch had earlier visited Yuschenko at his hotel in order to discuss ways of dealing with the fragmentation of Orthodox Christians in the Ukraine.

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