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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-04-18Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Latest poll shows slim ND lead; major support for reformsThe latest in a cascade of spring-time opinion polls gives ruling New Democracy party a 0.8-percentage-point lead over main opposition PASOK, whereas Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis continues to lead rival PASOK leader George Papandreou by 11.2 points on the question of most capable for the premier's post.The poll was conducted by the Athens-based GPO firm and presented by a private television station (Mega) Monday evening. Specifically, 34 percent of respondents favored ND; 32.2 percent PASOK; 7 percent supported the Communist Party of Greece (KKE); 3 percent the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos), and finally, 4.8 percent favored the out-of-Parliament LA.OS party. Karamanlis was judged as better suited for prime minister by 46 percent of respondents, compared to 34.8 percent for Papandreou, the former foreign minister. Interestingly enough, the latest pinion poll reported that 76 percent of respondents believe debate to reform the country's shaky social security system should commence, while 65 percent favor more flexible labour relations and regulations. Caption: A file photo shows a previous meeting between Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, left, and PASOK leader George Papandreou at the premier's Maximos Mansion office in January 2006. ANA-MPA photo / P. Saitas. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [02] State Dept. on possible Rice visitUS Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looks forward to visiting Athens some time in the future, but a relevant decision has not been taken as yet, a State Department spokesman said on Monday, commenting on reports of a possible visit by Rice to Greece next week."She certainly looks forward to travelling to Greece at some point," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. Asked if Rice will visit Turkey, the spokesman said: "like I said, she looks forward to travelling to both of those places at some point in the future, and we'll keep you up to date on her travel schedule." Caption: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis during an official visit by the latter to Washington in late March 2006. ANA-MPA photo / D. Panagos. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |