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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-10-05Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Papandreou praises role of NGOs"Co-responsibility" of the state and the society of citizens is a one-way road for main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and will lead to a just society, PASOK leader George Papandreou stressed on Thursday. He was speaking at a seminar on "Society of Citizens, non-governmental organisations and the Constitutional revision" attended by PASOK's volunteer sector at the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies - Andreas Papandreou (ISTAME)."We want you as partners but also as monitors of this course and I personally guarantee your active participation through decentralised state institutions, as well as a Constitutional upgrading of NGOs," Papandreou said. PASOK's leader praised the role of NGOs in society, saying that they addressed "all that is finest, most valuable and most beautiful in our fellow human beings". At another point in his speech, meanwhile, Papandreou aimed criticism at the government, saying that it had allowed NGOs to languish forgotten in spite of its lofty pre-election promises, and emphasized that Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos had refused to upgrade NGOs via the Constitution. Noting that Greek society was in the midst of a generalized crisis in all areas, he said the government was unable to ?consult with society and, through a relationship of partnership, find common goals, common values and finally arrive at synthesis.? As an example of this inability, Papandreou cited the crisis over the teachersā strike, saying that beyond pay demands the striking teachers were also demanding to be treated with dignity and respect. ?The government represents a type of thinking about power that comes from the past and has no future, a view that sees the State as a prize, at the same time undermining independent institutions and turning one social group against the other,? Papandreou asserted. This view of the State could not survive if Greece had acquired a truly independent society of citizens and, among others, had created a powerful ?third sector?, parallel and independent from the structures of the state and market. This is a sector that we must reinforce in order to have a strong society of citizens that will not be manipulated,? PASOKās leader stressed. (ANA-MPA file photo of Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou) [02] Greek preparations for 4th CSF programmeGreece will receive advance payments of up to 2.0 percent of total funds (20.1 billion euros) included in a Fourth Community Support Framework programme immediately after approval of its programmes for the period 2007-2013, Greek government officials said on Thursday. Deputy Economy and Finance Minister Christos Folias addressed a conference, organised by the Economy Ministry, on preparations to draft and submit the Greek programme.Folias said implementation of the programme demanded better planning and more strict inspections compared with past practices and underlined the ministry's passion for better performances. Costas Mousouroulis, secretary general of Development and Investments in the Economy Ministry said Greece had to lay the necessary foundations to meet increased demands and to avoid past mistakes. "Implementing a Fourth Community Support Framework needed strong and credible authorities, along with certification procedures," Mousouroulis said. (ANA-MPA file photo of Deputy Economy and Finance Minister Christos Folias) Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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