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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-07-07Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PASOK leader visits Western Attica hospitalsMain opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou visited two hospitals in Western Attica on Saturday morning, the Thriasio Hospital and the General State hospital in Nikea. "We are not dividing the people. All will have equal rights in a fair society," he said, while accusing the government of bringing the National Health System (ESY) into disdain.Papandreou was briefed by the hospitals' administrations on problems they are facing, the main one being the shortage of medical staff. The PASOK leader said he did not wish to speak of granting benefits, but stressed that his party will be hiring 3,000 medical staff annually so that the entire system can function properly in 4-5 years, while the ESY will be subsidised with an additional 1 percent from the GDP. Papandreou is scheduled to address rallies on the island of Salamina on Saturday evening, Aharnes on Sunday and Egaleo on Monday. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of PASOK leader George Papandreou. [02] FM Dora Bakoyannis addresses ND party congressForeign Minister Dora Bakoyannis addressed the ruling New Democracy party's 7th Regular Congress on its second day on Saturday, referring to the party's political agenda in the years to come. "Our main concern today is to clarify the priorities and directions of our political agenda in the years to come, following the victory of ND and of Costas Karamanlis," she said."The next four-year period will be a period with important political milestones. In June 2009 we will be having Euro-elections, in March 2010 the election of the President of the Republic, in the autumn of 2010 municipal and prefectural elections," she added. Bakoyannis further said that these milestones must not affect ND's overall policy since there will be many temptations and stressed that "PASOK (the main opposition party) will resort to the known sport of denial and of petty-partisan exploitation, while various groups might consider it an opportunity to make demands that cannot be accepted." Outlining government policy, the foreign minister said that it has specific commitments that it is implementing, it is carrying out reforms that are changing Greece and it is following a policy of sincerity that is creating confidence and optimism among the citizens. Bakoyannis went on to say that ND must create new paths for issues that will be dominant, such as new technologies, the confrontation of poverty and a solution for the social insurance issue. She underlined that the choice in the next elections will not merely be between ND and PASOK, it will be a choice between those who express Greece of accommodation, inertia and stagnation and those who want reforms to enable Greece to be strong, powerful and proud. Lastly, Bakoyannis referred to the sector of her responsibility, foreign policy. She said that Greece is emerging in the international environment as a reliable force having strength and influence. The government is defending and strengthening the country's national interests with consistency and determination, it is strengthening bilateral relations with all the main factors of the international community and it has restored relations of mutual respect with the United States, while it is promoting its relations with Russia and China dynamically. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |