Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM determined to proceed with crucial public sector reforms

[01] PM determined to proceed with crucial public sector reforms

Karamanlis' statements, which coincide with the tabling of a reform-laden draft bill making labour relations at state-run utilities and enterprises more flexible, among others, were made during an address to ruling New Democracy's Parliament group.

"Citizens gave us a clear and precise mandate to change things; to effectively deal with the problems that have accumulated and increased over the past years; to clash with the attitudes of the past; to dare implement all the initiatives that were postponed over the previous years," Karamanlis said, reiterating one of his primary pre-election planks, namely, reforms in Greece's massive public sector.

He referred directly to the draft bill for utilities and state-run enterprises (telephony, power, water etc.), saying his government intends to end the long-standing plague of operating state-run companies with huge losses, whereas a distinct improvement in the quality of services for consumers and citizens is another target.

In citing the need for transparency in the wider public sector, Karamanlis then aimed his criticism at the main opposition PASOK party and the latter's long stay in power.

He referred to the dire situation in the economy inherited from the previous PASOK governments, charging that Greece entered the 21st century "bearing massive economic burdens and deeply ingrained structural problems" that kept it at the bottom of the European Union in terms of important socio-economic indices, such as competitiveness, public debt, budget deficits, GDP per capita and a huge gap in the balance of trade.

Caption: Greek PM Costas Karamanlis addresses a ruling New Democracy Parliament group session on Thursday in legislature's senate hall. ANA photo / P. Saitas.

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