Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-08

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM pledges reforms; seeks vote of confidence in response to PASOK censure motion

[02] Firebombs thrown at policemen

[03] Greece, Turkey sign justice cooperation protocol

[01] PM pledges reforms; seeks vote of confidence in response to PASOK censure motion

In an eventful Parliamentary session, meanwhile, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou replied by launching a scathing attack on the government, saying it had lost the confidence of the Greek people, and asked for a vote of censure against Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis.

The premier responded by requesting a vote of confidence in the government instead, which will commence on Friday, to be completed on Sunday night with a roll-call vote.

Opening the debate, the prime minister stressed the need for reforms that will benefit all Greek people, rather than a privileged few, while noting that the changes should not be driven by ideological conflicts and positions but by the need to realistically deal with the problems.

Karamanlis underscored the government's desire for the broadest possible consensus for changes and stressed that his government had neither concealed the truth about the economy nor taken the Greek people by surprise.

"In all cases, however, we are prepared to proceed with changes and reforms. There is no other way to overcome the critical economic situation," he said.

He stressed the need to boost the Greek economy's competitiveness and to create new jobs, underlining the role of education in this effort, while stressing that the drive to boost competitiveness could not be based on low labour costs but on the quality of Greek goods and services and by making best use of the country's comparative advantages to acquire a competitive edge.

Speaking after Karamanlis, Papandreou launched a scathing attack on the government's record on the economy and addressed ruling New Democracy MPs, asking them if they still had confidence in the government and the prime minister. To a rumble of affirmative responses, he replied: "Yes? He is, however, no longer trusted by the Greek people!"

Noting that more and more Greeks were feeling the threat of new poverty, Papandreou opined that "very soon, the people will decide that the big step for structural changes in the country is to put (ruling party) ND back in the opposition benches". He then announced that he was submitting, on behalf of his party, a motion of censure vis-a-vis Alogoskoufis.

In response, Karamanlis said that, because the economy and the budget were not governed by one person but by overall government policy, "I request that the discussion be converted into a vote of confidence in the government, so that we may be given full opportunity to discuss the issues, and for those responsible under the PASOK governments in the preceding years to appear".

[02] Firebombs thrown at policemen

According to police, a group of five hooded youths threw two molotov cocktails against a team of police officers on the corner of Akadimias and Zoodochou Pighis streets, who were stationed there for preventive reasons. The molotovs exploded in the street, and did not threaten the safety of the officers.

The youths fled immediately, and disappeared in the surrounding streets. Police were unable to arrest anyone.

[03] Greece, Turkey sign justice cooperation protocol

The protocol concerns the transfer of know-how in matters of justice and administering justice. More specifically, it was agreed to commence an educational programme for Turkish justices and to set up special training programmes for candidate Turkish judges, which will be held in Thessaloniki and in Turkey.

Meanwhile, a programme for the twinning programme was underway for the founding and organisation of the institution of Ombudsman in Turkey, with the provision of know-how by the Greek Ombudsman, and with EU funding.

In addition, the signing of a twinning programme on copyright matters with the European Centre for Public Law was also imminent.

The Greek side put forward a request for the transfer of Turkish citizens currently in Greek prisons to Turkey for completion of their terms of incarceration.

Papaligouras told reporters later that the Turkish justice minister had seen the request in a positive light.

The Greek justice minister said that the relationship established by the Greek and Turkish prime ministers has substantially contributed to the creation of the conditions for consolidating a climate of frank cooperation between the two countries, and for further strengthening the mutual climate of confidence.

Cicek told reporters that there existed a constructive dialogue, and that Greek-Turkish relations have acquired a multidimensional character. The political will existed, he said, adding the hope that these actions would contribute to the relations between the two countries remaining stable.

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