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Sunday, 24 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-16Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Ministerial meeting on crime ends in AthensA two-day meeting between the interior and public order ministers of Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Greece on ways to jointly combat illegal immigration, human-trafficking, narcotics and organised crime ended in Athens on Friday with the signature of a joint declaration and a decision to hold similar meetings on a regular basis.In a press conference afterwards, Pakistan's interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao categorically denied reports that Pakistani nationals had been abducted for questioning in Greece, saying that no such incident had been reported by relatives or friends to the Pakistani embassy. The other ministers at the meeting included Greek Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis, Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Poor-Mohammadi and Turkey's Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu. During their two-day talks, they agreed to increase cooperation against organised crime, particularly human trafficking and illegal migration, and establish a more effective mechanism for exchanging information, as well as an early-warning system. Other measures agreed were a once-yearly meeting by senior officials and experts to better coordinate cooperation between the four countries and the creation of a network of national contact points for exchanging information, know-how and techniques. The meeting was also attended the ambassadors of Iran, Pakistan and Turkey in Greece and senior officials of the public order ministry, as well as the head of the Greek intelligence service EYP Ioannis Korantis and the Greek Chief of Police George Aggelakos. Present as an observer was the head of the European Commission's immigration and asylum service Jean-Louis de Brouwer, representatives of the British EU presidency, Frontex and the International Migration Organisation. During a press conference after the end of the meeting, the ministers announced that the meeting will be held in Turkey and that Afghanistan would be invited to take part. [02] Papandreou, Pavlopoulos address ENAE conferenceMain opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou and Interior and Public Administration Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos were the two keynote speakers at a conference on Friday held in Athens by the union of prefectures, as both men outlined their positions on decentralised government while at the same time exchanging criticism.Papandreou, the former foreign minister, said that although "much has been done, Greece remains a highly centralised state with a petty partisan attitude, where instead of serving the public interest it serves the particular interests of groups and centres of power". He added that this condition is a source of corruption and an incentive for manipulating local government. In criticising the government, Papandreou said expected 4th Community Support Framework (CSF) funds will be lost if current 3rd CSF funds are not fully absorbed, while he again expressed support for the election of regional directors instead of the current regime, i.e. appointments by the central government. On his part, Pavlopoulos initially said next year's prefectural and municipal elections open new prospects in light of the 4th CSF package and challenges from a united Europe. In responding to Papandreou's criticism, Pavlopoulos charged that repeated PASOK governments systematically withheld funding and responsibilities from local government entities, while blaming low CSF absorption rates directly on the previous Simitis government's "Pachtas law" - named for the relevant deputy economy minister cashiered prior to the 2004 election - as well as widespread delays by PASOK's administration. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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