Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM meets with Luxembourg counterpart; discusses European Constitution, EU's finances, enlargement

[02] NATO DMs examine alliance's current operations

[03] Bank workers, civil servants to strike June 16

[04] Architect Santiago Calatrava given honourary doctorate by Thessaloniki University

[01] PM meets with Luxembourg counterpart; discusses European Constitution, EU's finances, enlargement

In comments made after the meeting, Karamanlis emphasised that during Thursday's meeting it was decided that the ratification process of the European Constitutional Treaty must continue.

He said, that after receiving feedback from French President Jacques Chirac and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende regarding developments in their respective countries after the referendums, "we will examine the situation and take the decisions necessary for the next steps."

Regarding the Union's financial prospects for the period 2007-2013, Karamanlis said that Greece has been supportive of the Luxembourg presidency's efforts from the outset in order to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

Finally, on the issue of enlargement, the Greek PM stressed that the EU will have to implement the decisions it made in December 2004, but that candidate countries will also have to fulfill the obligations they assumed.

[02] NATO DMs examine alliance's current operations

The Greek defence minister, who met with his U.S. counterpart Donald Rumsfeld on the sidelines of the session, briefed it on Greece's contribution to NATO's operations.

The defence minister said that a mobile medical unit will be sent to Afghanistan in August to replace the Spanish one stationed there. A total of 60 percent of the medical unit will be composed of Greek doctors and medical staff.

He also referred to the preparation of the Greek forces to assume the administration of Kabul's airport as of December this year and for a period of four months.

As regards Iraq, the defence minister reminded of Greece's economic contribution, amounting to 300,000 euros, and its humanitarian aid which consists of providing specialisation for Iraqi military doctors in Greek hospitals, adding that Greece intends to assume initiatives through the Sea Transport Centre, based in our country, to facilitate the transportation of tanks and armoured vehicles to Iraq.

On the part of Greece, about 500 BMP-1 armoured personnel carriers will be provided over the next two years.

[03] Bank workers, civil servants to strike June 16

The head of the OTOE bank staff union, Dimitris Tsoukalas, told a news conference that another walkout may be staged the following day in a rift with management over pension funds.

The union is seeking introduction of a single supplementary pension system for sector staff versus a piecemeal arrangements; and it opposes alignment of members' pensions with the main state fund, saying the move would bring lower pensions and a higher retirement age.

"We will make no concessions in the social insurance issue," Tsoukalas said.

Bank employees staged a series of weekly 24-hour strikes in January and February this year after rejecting proposals by employers, and then by the finance ministry.

The union has also dismissed the finance ministry's plan to draft a legal amendment on pension funds for two banks, which it has called a unilateral move.

The General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE), the country's largest trade union umbrella group, has called the national strike on June 16 in solidarity with bank workers. The GSEE has accused the government of trying to overturn collective labour pacts.

[04] Architect Santiago Calatrava given honourary doctorate by Thessaloniki University

Calatrava, 54, said in his address that "being an architect is being at the service of man. 'Architect'. Meaning the leader of workers who succeeds in art through techniques and with the help of God."

The architect returned to Thessaloniki a year after his contribution to last year's Athens Olympic Games and said he feels enthusiastic with the city's "regular" structure and its particular relation with the sea, while stressing that his model is "architecture without an architect" where buildings coexist with the landscape.

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