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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-09Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Karamanlis, FM Bakoyannis discuss FYROMPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis held two-hour talks with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Saturday morning, focusing mainly on the name issue concerning the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), also in light of Bakoyannis's visit to Washington next week. "It is a very delicate and sensitive moment. We have entered the final stretch of discussions on the issue of the name and further moves," the minister said after her talks with the prime minister. Asked to comment on reference made to corruption by President Karolos Papoulias during an address at the Athens University on Friday and whether the government is the hostage of a situation of corruption, Bakoyannis said "no elected government, and indeed having a fresh mandate, is the hostage of anyone. The government is only accountable to the Greek people."CAPTION: ANA-MPA file photo of Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis. [02] Papandreou addresses youthMain opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou addressed members of the party's youth wing on Saturday, criticising the government and saying that it is a government that "Greece does not deserve," while accusing it of fostering corruption and counting on untransparency.Papandreou also invoked remarks made by President Karolos Papoulias, during an address at the Athens University on Friday, regarding corruption and the danger of politics being subdued by economic interests. The PASOK leader pointed out that his party does not want to come to power to serve powerful interests and to share wealth among its friends, but to achieve a substantive and fair redistribution of wealth that is produced in the country, while also coming to change the political system. Papandreou further said that this is the reason why they are fearing and undermining PASOK, trying at the same time to level everything by saying that "they are all the same," adding that this belief leads the people to apathy and disappointment and to young people's aversion for politics. Wondering who benefits from this belief, Papandreou said that it only helps the powerful, because in this way they will have no voice resisting them. Papandreou concluded his address by telling his audience that "tomorrow is now, the future is today, take the party in your hands, don't deal with who belongs to who and preoccupy yourselves with where is the country heading and open paths." CAPTION: PASOK party leader George Papandreou addressing members of his party's youth wing on Saturday, February 9, 2008. ANA-MPA/ KATERINA MAVRONA. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |