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Saturday, 21 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-05-01Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Government's primary aim is social cohesionRuling New Democracy (ND) party Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis said in a May Day message on Wednesday that the anniversary of labour May Day signals the demands, the struggles and the sacrifices of working people for social solidarity and social justice.Zagoritis noted that the axis of ND's policy "is the working man, the man of toil, of creation," adding that it "respects the struggles of the working people and heeds the anxiety of the unemployed, of young people and of pensioners and, in the framework of real developments and the possibilities of the economy, it is working hard to meet their expectations." The ND secretary also pointed out that its primary aim is social cohesion, in practice and with specific policies and not with slogans and proclamations. [02] Papandreou's Labour Day messageMain opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou said in his own message that working people "are currently in the most difficult position of the past years. Their limited purchasing power, the deadlock in the country's economy and, above all, uncertainty over their working environment are what characterises current reality."Papandreou further said that the social security and pensioning rights of working people "have been undermined". "This summer, working people will face the implementation of the most hostile social security law for their interests. Thousands of working people are semi-employed because they cannot find full employment and many others have no access to the labour market," he said. The PASOK leader stressed that "today Greece needs a government that will show solidarity to the citizen and his problems". He added that "may this year's May Day signal a new beginning for the struggles of working people for a just society and a strong Greece." Caption:ANA-MPA file photo of main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou [03] EU on South StreamThe South Stream pipeline is not a competing one but it is supplementary in relation to the Nabucco pipeline and, consequently, there is no problem on the part of the European Union.This was stated on Wednesday by the European Commission's representative in Brussels, when asked whether the South Stream pipeline, whose construction is entering the final phase, also following Tuesday's agreement between Greece and Russia, constitutes a problem in relation to the Nabucco pipeline, whose construction is being backed by EU funds. The Commission's representative said that the EU is backing Nabucco with the aim of strengthening Europe's energy supply from non-traditional sources. He added that the South Stream concerns supply from traditional sources and, consequently, it does not have a competing but a supplementary role with Nabucco, regarding Europe's energy security. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of European Commission building in Brussels /PANTELIS SAITAS [04] Russian media on PM's visitGood coverage of Greek PM's visit in Russian mediaPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis' trip to Moscow received extended coverage from the Russian media, most of which devoted several columns and minutes of air-time to the visit and the signature of the South Stream gas pipeline agreement on Tuesday and Wednesday. The general consensus was that the visit and the agreement opened new horizons in cooperation between Greece and Russia and it was viewed as a final diplomatic success for Vladimir Putin before his departure from the presidential office to become Russia's prime minister. The Greek premier also received record amounts of airtime in Russia's electronic media, such as the main television networks and the English-language satellite channel "Russia Today", which spoke of a "new page in strategic cooperation" between Greece and Russia and an "impressive improvement in bilateral relations in the last three-four years". According to one Russian newspaper, for example, the South Stream pipeline made Greece an important link in Europe's energy policy, while it noted that Athens and Moscow had built on historic and cultural ties to become close partners in the energy sector. Caption:ANA-MPA/EPA Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis speak during a press conference in Moscow, Russia, 29 April 2008. Greece and Russia signed a deal to extend the proposed Russian-Italian South Stream gas pipeline into Greek territory, boosting Moscow's presence on Europe's energy supply routes. EPA/YURI KADOBNOV [05] Progress in talks with DTThe government on Wednesday reported major progress in talks between the Greek State and the German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom on striking a deal over the management and future of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), the state-run phone utility.In a joint announcement issued by the economy and finance ministry and the transport and communications ministry, the government said the talks wout continue into the coming week. Caption:ANA-MPA file photo of OTE tower in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. [06] Flower Exhibition in AthensThe 54th Flower Exhibition opened on Wednesday evening at Athens' northern suburb of Kifissia.On display are more than 2,000 varieties of plants and flowers. The exhibition, which will last until May 18, will be flanked by a number of cultural events focusing on the environment. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of poppies , the flower of May. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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