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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-14Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM briefed by Employment MinisterPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis received Employment and Social Insurances Minister Fani Palli-Petralia on Thursday who briefed him on the crucial social security reforms issue.Speaking to the press after the meeting, Petralia stressed that proposed reforms are in the "final stretch", adding that she and the prime minister discussed several issues a day before an off-the-agenda Parliament debate on the reforms, called by ruling New Democracy party. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis [02] KKE leader on Kosovo issueCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga on Thursday stressed that her party has for years declared its opposition on Kosovo secession, in reference to the Serbian government's decision to request an off-the-agenda meeting of the UN Security Council.Papariga added that KKE has called on the Greek government not to send a military force to Kosovo. She also stressed that KKE will ask for an emergency meeting of Parliament's foreign affairs committee in order to discuss developments in the province, as well as to express concerns over "negative consequences" that will effect the entire Balkans, as she said. In an unrelated, Papariga referred to a European Court's decision condemning Greece for subsidies to ailing national carrier Olympic Airways, saying her party does not recognise "any European Court" or the European Union's right to take such decisions. In fact, she reiterated the leftist party's standing position against Greece's participation to the EU. Caption: Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga during a press conference on Thursday 14 February 2008. ANA-MPA/KATERINA MAVRONA [03] Unions warn of new strikeUnions representing civil servants and the largest trade umbrella group in Greece, GSEE, participated in a 24-hour strike on Wednesday against the government's proposals for reforms in the country's bloated social security system.Union leaders vowed to keep "struggling against government's anti-social policy and social security reforms", while warning of a new strike after government unveils its proposals, with the prime minister himself taking the podium in Parliament on Friday. The Athens Journalists ' Union (ESIEA) also participated in the strike action, which saw Greece's massive public sector and several state-run utilities come to a standstill, including interruption of air and ferry links, although the vast majority of stores and businesses around the country remained opened. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of a previous strike mobilisation. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |