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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't to persist on reforms policy, PM says

[02] Papoulias addresses Greek university rectors' meeting

[03] Papandreou chairs Political Council session

[01] Gov't to persist on reforms policy, PM says

The prime minister, who was speaking in the framework of his tour of the prefectures of Laconia and Messinia, also stressed that the government will continue on its course of changes and reforms steadfastly.

Referring to the unfavourable international conjuncture due to the case of Iran and the repercussions of the oil crisis, he clarified the position of the Greek government, saying that "we are opposed to the development and proliferation of nuclear weapons and we support in practice the finding of a peaceful and diplomatic solution."

The prime minister also referred to the plan on limiting the country's dependence on oil, pointing to the deregulation of the energy market, support for the production of bioenergy, the utilisation of renewable energy sources and the expansion of the use of natural gas.

Strongly criticising previous governments, Karamanlis said that "we are working intensively to make up for the time and ground that was lost during the years of conservative inertia and introversion", adding that in the past years Greece did not take the steps that it could have resulting in a heavy legacy being left today, deeply-rooted pathogeny in public administration, great burdens, deficits and debts in the economy and chronic problems in society.

He repeated with emphasis that the government will not back down in the face of difficulties and adversity and barren opposition reactions and stressed that those who are responsible for problems cannot pretend to be accusers.

"Their position is known: an attempt at polarisation and tension, populism, reaction to everything and no position," he said.

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[02] Papoulias addresses Greek university rectors' meeting

Papoulias underlined that Greek universities are at a crossroads today and are being called on to redefine their goals in order to meet modern societyâs needs.

Universities in Greece, as in the rest of Europe, are faced with a complex reality, he said, noting that within a climate of economic globalisation and intense competition, higher education is called on to adapt to the demand that universities be linked with production and serve economic needs through knowledge specialization.

"Universities face the risk of an overall deconstruction, even in terms of their basic principles, but this is not a one-way street. The correct diagnosis of such problems, the vision and the inspired action strategy will create universities built on the appropriate infrastructure, ones focusing on the quality of the education provided," Papoulias stressed.

He also stressed that universities should be open to everybody for continuing adult education, as well as contributing to international cooperation, while at the same time enjoying full autonomy in thought and expression.

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[03] Papandreou chairs Political Council session

Earlier in the day, Papandreou met in Parliament with the PASOK-backed women candidates for the municipal and prefectural elections which will be held in October.

The PASOK leader said that when he assumed the leadership of PASOK, he had "promised to give opportunities to women as they are not proportionally represented in the country."

He said that "we are not utilising an enormous human potential which is capable and is willing to offer," noting that "it is important to promote women candidates in very high posts, from municipalities, prefectures and up to supra-prefectures."

Papandreou said that "local government needs renewal, new people, new blood, it needs the contribution which many women today can and give to Greek society, to political life."

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