Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Money laundering bill soon

[02] Energy Community Treaty

[03] Upgrade of Thessaloniki taxis

[04] MP resigns from ND parliamentary group

[01] Money laundering bill soon

Speaking to reporters, after the meeting, Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said the draft bill on combatting money laundering -in line with community directives- would lead to significant improvements in dealing with the problem, since money laundering was the main source of funding of terrorist and criminal acts.

Alogoskoufis said the draft bill would be submitted to parliament soon. The Greek minister noted that a second draft legislation was aiming to attracting foreign investors in Greece.

[02] Energy Community Treaty

The agreement will be signed between five EU member countries, the British EU presidency, and nine Balkan states.

Sioufas told reporters after the meeting that the agreement will create new conditions in the region that will contribute to its growth, economy, peace and stability.

The accord will be signed Tuesday morning at the Saroglio Mansion, in a ceremony that will be attended by Karamanlis.

The Energy Community Treaty of the countries of southeastern Europe will be signed in Athens on October 25 with the cooperation of the European Commission, the British presidency and the Greek government.

The founding of the Energy Community concerns the creation of a unifiied electric energy and natural gas market, among the countries of the Balkan region and the wider region of southeastern Europe, with the ultimate purpose of its incorporation in the European Union's internal energy market, a foreign ministry press release said on Friday.

The implementation of the Treaty will contribute decisively to close cooperation between the countries of southeastern Europe and the EU and to support for the Stability Pact for southeastern Europe which aims at the consolidation of peace, stability and the development of the region, it said.

This is also the aim of Greece, particularly now that it has the presidency of the Cooperation Process of the member-states of southeastern Europe.

[03] Upgrade of Thessaloniki taxis

The same procedure, which aims at upgrading the existing services to the citizens, through the use of new technologies, has already been completed in Iraklio, Crete, Thessaloniki Taxis Association President Paris Kissas told ANA/MPA at the close on Sunday of the 1st European Taxi Forum.

The conclusions of the conference will constitute the basis for a dialogue to start between the representatives of taxi drivers of all the countries for the forming of a common legal framework and regulation of operation of taxis.

Taking part in the conference, which was held at the initiative of the Panhellenic Taxis Federation, under the auspices of the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry, were representativves from Germany, the United States, Great Britain, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, France, The Netherlands, Cyprus and Turkey.

[04] MP resigns from ND parliamentary group

Announcing his resignation to reporters, Mantouvalos said that press reports appearing in recent days were linked with local internal-party clashes 'without mercy', and spoke of an unseemly partisan attitude towards himself, adding that he was not at fault in any way.

"It is an organised baseness that the people realise, and I will become more explicit if necessary," he said.

Mantouvalos said his decision was taken due to sentiment, rather than reason, adding that we was very upset.

"I cannot put a brake on the prime minister and the government, albeit without being at fault," he said.

The MP said he had not informed prime minister Costas Karamanlis in advance of this move, but added that he had informed the premier and his close associates on the problems that existed.

"I did not (priorly) inform anyone," he reiterated, adding that he still would have resigned in the event that efforts had been made to avert his resignation.

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