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Wednesday, 4 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-02-21Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] President Stephanopoulos launches Niarchos Education CentrePresident of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos on Sunday inaugurated the international Stavros Niarchos Centre for Greek Education, Tradition and Professional Training at the University of Ioannina in the country's northwest.The centre aims to link ethnic Greeks abroad with their country of origin. The centre will receive 130 people from Greece and abroad, mainly young people of Greek origin, with an accompanying lodge offering sleeping quarters to 44 people. In his speech the outgoing president of the republic praised president-elect Karolos Papoulias saying that he was aware of the latter's ''virtues and capabilities''. Stephanopoulos also referred to the functioning of democracy, the government, political parties but also to the responsibilities of the citizen. The political parties, he said, should propose programmes and should explain them to voters. These programmes should be implemented when the party proposing them comes to power. [02] Gov't pledges to spur growthDevelopment Minister Dimitris Sioufas said on Sunday that the government was resolved to maintain its drive to boost growth, removing the obstacles that had mounted under the previous administration.Among moves taken so far were a development bill providing incentives to growth and a simplification of procedures for manufacturing companies to obtain operating permits, the minister told an annual assembly of the Association of Thessaly Industries in Larissa. Part of the change for manufacturers was the fact that prefectural industry departments were being given a development orientation, incorporating staff from town planning and environmental protection units in order to provide a one-stop shop, he added. In the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Deputy Development Minister George Salagoudis told a seminar on development initiated by Sioufas that the government was resolved to spur participation by the regions in the country's growth. [03] Bank workers on strike MondayBank employees were staging a 24-hour strike on Monday, the latest of a string of walkouts since the end of January. Another strike was scheduled for Monday, February 28.The OTOE union is seeking introduction of a single supplementary pension system for all sector staff versus a piecemeal arrangement for each bank; and it opposes alignment of sector pensions with the main state fund, which would lead to lower pensions and a higher retirement age. In addition, banks plan to join key state corporations in a 24-hour strike tentatively scheduled for March 17 to protest against goverment policy affecting incomes, pensions and company restructuring. Civil servants may also take part in the March strike proposed by the General Confederation of Employees of Greece. The walkout would lead to disruption in state railways, telecoms, post offices, civil aviation, electricity and water. [04] Boats, equipment, from Athens Olympics given to Sailing FederationSixteen inflatable outboard motor boats from the Athens 2004 Olympics were presented to the Sailing Federation on Sunday by Alternate Culture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia, whose portfolio included work for the global event.The boats and other equipment were delivered as part of a wide-ranging distribution of items used in the Olympics that have now been designated for public use. "Now we have staged the best, the safest and the most expensive Olympics in their history, from now on the Olympics' major sponsor, that is to say the Greek public, will be the beneficiary of this post-Games legacy," Palli-Petralia said. More than 1,200,000 goods have so far been distributed nationwide as part of the government plan. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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