Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece opposes UK budget plan for European Union

[02] Olympic torch passed to Turin 2006 Games' organisers

[03] PASOK opposes DEKO bill

[01] Greece opposes UK budget plan for European Union

"The proposal is incompatible with Greece's position," Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said after a meeting in Brussels of his EU counterparts. Britain holds the bloc's rotating presidency.

"At the same time, there is leeway for improvement in negotiations that are to be held in coming days," Alogoskoufis noted.

At an EU summit in June, Greece backed a compromise by Luxembourg, the bloc's former rotating president, which it saw offering a fairer distribution of the cost of EU enlargement.

Britain's proposal calls for a slimmed-down, long-term budget that cuts 24 billion euros from a spending level proposed by Luxembourg, most of it taken from regional aid to east European countries.

The EU's 25 members aim to reach a deal on the budget at a summit on Dec 15 and 16.

Tough talks anticipated

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis told reporters that Greece was studying the British budget package, forging alliances in what he called "tough, painful" negotiations among the EU's 25 members.

"The final outcome cannot be determined yet," Valynakis said.

He noted that Greece's had two aims: the attainment of a final agreement that would show the EU was capable of taking major decisions; and a drive to obtain an increase in funding "down to the last euro" to aid Greek growth.

Valynakis is to represent Greece at a working dinner for 20 EU members known as "friends of cohesion" ahead of a finance ministers' meeting on Wednesday that is expected to bring the first official statement by the bloc's members on the UK budget deal.

[02] Olympic torch passed to Turin 2006 Games' organisers

The torch carrying the Olympic flame arrived at the marble U-shaped stadium in central Athens after being relayed around Greece -- including eight ski resorts -- after first being lit at ancient Olympia.

Greece's gold medallist in the 400m women's hurdles during the Athens Olympics, Fani Chalkia, was the last torch-bearer, while Hellenic Olympic Committee (EOE) president Minos Kyriakou presented the torch to Turin 2006 organising committee.

Greek President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias was also present at the ceremony.

The 2006 Winter Olympic Games will begin on Feb. 10.

[03] PASOK opposes DEKO bill

The decision was taken on Tuesday during the session of the coordinating body of the party's Parliamentary Group which was held under the chairmanship of PASOK leader George Papandreou.

Papandreou gave particular emphasis to the DEKO draft law, stressing that PASOK's basic aim and position, regarding the public enterprises "is above all the service of public interest."

He said "the DEKO have a role to play in growth, they should offer high quality services and operate with transparency." Papandreou added that "at the same time, they must be competitive but also offer security to the working people."

He rejected the logic of change in labour relations without a dialogue with the working people and without there being security for them. Papandrou said that the ruling New Democracy (ND), as arises from the draft law which it has brought before Parliament, ""is attempting to serve specific interests," while this draft law "moves in the direction of serving customer relations and does not prevent corruption."

Referring to the government's intention to pass a bill for establishing the 42 per cent minimum for the election of mayors and prefects, Papandreou noted that what counted was "reinforcing and decentralising local government and not the concentration of powers promoted by the ND government".

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