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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-01-15Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Greek aid, support to Albania detailed at Ioannina eventGreek-Albanian relations and Athens' support towards the neighboring country dominated an event on Sunday in the northwest city of Ioannina, where five school vans were handed over to a same number of regions in Albania that host sizeable ethnic Greek communities.Speaking during a brief handover ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Evripides Stylianidis noted that Greece's total aid to Albania reaches the 184-million-euro mark, while up to 40 schools are being constructed or repaired at the present time via Greek funding. Among others, a major school complex is being planned for the Himare region, similar to a facility opened recently in the town of Korce. "The Greek government is systematically working to promote a series of projects in Albania. Our goal is to support the European orientation and the inclusion of all the western Balkan countries into the European family," Stylianidis said. Greek officials added that a tender will be awarded within the year for construction of a cross-border highway connecting the Sayiades region of Thesprotia prefecture, in extreme northwest mainland Greece, with the southwestern Albanian towns of Konispol and Sarande. Caption: Greek Deputy FM Evripides Stylianidis speaks during a ceremony in Ioannina on Sunday where five new school vans were donated to a same number of regions in southern Albania. ANA / P. Pappa. [02] Minister outlines gov't direction in constitutional revisionPolitical parties' financing, better monitoring of election spending and means of wealth statements by deputies are the main axes of an upcoming government proposal for constitutional revision, Interior and Public Administration Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos was quoted by an Athens daily as saying on Sunday.The minister noted that financing of political parties must come from the state's coffers, thereby restricting outside funding. Pavlopoulos, a constitutional expert by training, also said that current legislation preventing MPs from professional activities while in office should be revised, without however, offering "complete professional freedom". Along those lines, he said deputies' immunity from prosecution should be lifted in cases where an alleged infraction is not linked with the exercise of political power. Regarding the reasons the government is tabling the constitutional reform issue at present, Pavlopoulos said several significant proposals made by the New Democracy party when it served as the main opposition while PASOK was in power were ignored by the latter. A file photo of Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos. ANA / A. Beltes Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |