Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-01-17

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANDREOU PROPOSAL TO TURKEY FOR DECREASE IN DEFENSE BUDGETS - ND

[02] PAPANDREOU AHEAD OF KARAMANSLI - ND AHEAD OF PASOK

[03] EU ULTIMATUM REGARDING STATE EMPLOYEES UNDER CONTRACT

[04] THE END OF DIKATSA

[05] OUT TO THE PEOPLE

[01] PAPANDREOU PROPOSAL TO TURKEY FOR DECREASE IN DEFENSE BUDGETS - ND REACTIONS

A proposal to the Turkish leadership for Greece and Turkey to sign an agreement for the gradual and balanced decrease in the two countries' defense budgets following the March 7 elections, was expressed by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, during his speech to local body representatives in Alexandroupoli.

He explained that the funds saved from the decrease in defense expenses, will be used in the education, health and employment sectors, where they are greatly needed. Mr. Papandreou made a commitment to take over the materialization of this plan on the day after the elections.

There were reactions from the Opposition, whose Spokesperson, Thodoris Roussopoulos, made the following statement:

We are all in favor of peace in the region, which would lead to a decrease in the budget of the defense programs, benefiting both peoples. In fact, it is an issue Cistas Karamanlis discussed twice in Ankara last year in meetings with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

However Mr. Papandreou contradicts himself, since, as a member of the Governmental Council for National Defense, he is one of the three people responsible, along with the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defense, who signed armament programs committing Greece to the unprecedented amount of 18 trillion drachmas (almost 53 million euro) for the next ten years.

[02] PAPANDREOU AHEAD OF KARAMANSLI - ND AHEAD OF PASOK

In the second part of the polls published today, G. Papandreou appears to be the most popular political leader, with 70%, in contrast to the 56.8% of C. Karamanlis, however 54% of those asked believe that PASOK's new President must radically change his party's program. The distance in preference between the two parties has dropped from 8 points to 2.5%-3%, still in favor of ND, however Mr. Papandreou has the lead as far as who is more appropriate to be Prime Minister is concerned.

[03] EU ULTIMATUM REGARDING STATE EMPLOYEES UNDER CONTRACT

Procedures for Greece's reference to the European Court for violation of community legislature regarding the permanency of state employees under contract have been moved by the European Union. Services under Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou sent a warning letter to Greece asking that Greek legislature become harmonious with the laws in effect regarding employees under contract in Europe.

[04] THE END OF DIKATSA

Automatic recognition of degrees from most universities in the EU and major universities in the US, Canada and Switzerland is foreseen by the draft of the Ministry of Education's new law, which will abolish the Inter-scientific Center for Recognition of Diplomas from Studies Abroad (DIKATSA). For those with degrees from countries outside the EU, exams will be held twice a year. DIKATSA, the staff of which will be transferred to other services within the Ministry of Education, will be replaced by a new organization, to be named the Inter-university Organization for Degree Recognition.

[05] OUT TO THE PEOPLE

As the parties intensify their preparations for the March 7 elections, political leaders are out on the campaign trail in various prefectures all over Greece, in order to develop their positions and come into contact with the people. Major interest has been concentrated in the campaigns of PASOK's candidate President and Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou in Thrace, and President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis, who is touring the Prefectures of Ilia and Arcadia.

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