Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Main opposition on phone-tapping plot against gov't

[01] Main opposition on phone-tapping plot against gov't

Papandreou said that the government was partly to blame for the incident and also criticised it for how it handled the situation.

In a written statement, the main opposition leader said that this was only 'the tip of the iceberg' regarding lack of transparency and deterioration of services due to irresponsible political manoeuvering.

He also criticised the government for the way in which it chose to publicise the matter and the related investigation, adding that the government "cannot guarantee Greek citizens' safety nor does it enjoy their trust."

Papandreou demanded an in-depth investigation, expressing doubts that the government can be relied upon to carry it out.

He particularly slammed the government for not informing PASOK's leadership that one of its MPs was among the targets.

Earlier on Thursday, the government confirmed that a year-long investigation has been under way into a mobile phone-tapping plot.

Phone-tapping has double objective, KKE leader says

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, referring on Thursday to the phone-tapping issue, said that phone-tapping "has a double objective".

"It is aimed at creating preconditions for dealing a blow at the radical movement and at gathering information on the war taking place between countries, governments and business groups," she said.

"It is a branch of the big and bushy tree of generalised monitoring of parties, governments and movements, monitoring which benefits countries, governments, intelligence services and business groups," Papariga added.

The KKE leader further said that "from then on, at a time when there is the 'Echelon' which monitors everything, when various other ways exist, satellites and various systems, we can say that monitoring through a network of modern mobile telephones appears to be 'innocent'."

Lastly, Papariga said "this does not mean that we are facing the issue in a fatalistic manner, nor do we believe that we must incriminate new technologies which are at the service of monitoring movements, citizens and parties. The problem is that those who have the sweet melon also hold the knife. And, of course, we believe that not only are government members under surveillance. One branch of the issue has merely appeared."

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