Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] ND Central Committee reviews govt's achievements

[02] Lefteris Zagoritis elected ND Central Committee secretary

[01] ND Central Committee reviews govt's achievements

"We fully respect and defend the rights and interests of all the citizens but the demands of one individual, however just, cannot be fought for in a way that creates risk for the lives or property of others, it cannot be demanded in ways that harm the interests of other, usually much larger, social groups," Karamanlis said.

This applied even more when sensitive sectors such as health, tourism, agriculture and the supply of remote areas were affected, he added.

The principles of democracy and legality, politics and social responsibility require that responsible leadership should - with respect for the Constitution and the laws - protect the interests of all the citizens, the premier said.

Thursday marked the end of a nearly week-long strike by the seamen's federation PNO, cut short by a controversial government mobilisation order that obliged seamen to return to work. Some quarters questioned the legality of the move to end the strike, which had cut off communications to the many hundred Greek islands but was backed by the courts, saying that laws allowing the order had been rescinded a few years ago.

Referring to the government's work to date, Karamanlis said it had handled foreign policy issues with absolute success, had provided solutions to long-term problems for large sections of the population and had taken several important steps toward refounding the state, as well as creating a firm foundation for dynamic development and economic growth.

He also noted that the public deficit was being reduced in the most gradual way possible, with growth rates remaining above the EU average and a trend for rising unemployment curbed, while exports had surged, tourism was constantly rising and there was a recovery in private investments, both Greek and foreign.

Referring to the government's plans for the future, the prime minister outlined six main directions.

- A strategy for changes and reforms in all sectors, including the state, the economy, education and health.

- A strategy that will lead to refounding the state, in order to create an efficient and responsible state in the service of citizens.

- A strategy to establish a strong economy that created opportunities.

- A foreign policy that sought peace, cooperation and growth, full normalisation of relations between Greece and Turkey and a solution to the Cyprus problem through a functional and viable solution.

- A strategy to establish a modern social centre in politics, seeking dialogue, understanding and cooperation with all political forces, with all productive groups and all the social partners.

- A strategy based on clearly defined relations between the party, the state, government and society.

Regarding the role of the party, in particular, Karamanlis stressed that this should engage in continual dialogue with citizens. It should support the government in implementing the party's programme but not blur the distinctions between party and state.

The Central Committee was next addressed by Meimarakis, in his last address as Central Committee secretary, who said the party had succeeded in creating bonds between its grassroots and society, which led to the broad social alliance that brought ND to power. ND politically supported the government and its reforms, informed the citizens, listened to society and conveyed its views to the government, he added.

Meimarakis also stressed that the government should on no account slow down the rate of changes and reforms through fear of the political cost in view of the upcoming local government elections.

The election process, in which the Central Committee will choose between the two candidates Lefteris Zagoritis and Katerina Papacostas, began at 11:00 and will end at around 14:30. A request by Papacostas for the two candidates to address the Committee before the vote was rejected as not foreseen under party regulations.

Political party reactions to PM's speech

Responding to Karamanlis' speech, main opposition PASOK spokesman Nikos Athanassakis unleashed a barrage of criticism against the New Democracy government, saying it was daily creating instead of solving problems.

"Today, Mr. Karamanlis again played the same old tape. He read the same speech that he has brought out after his party's programme manifesto and onward. Every point in this speech is a lie but the fine, big words that Karamanlis recycles without a trace of self-criticism cannot hide the hypocrisy, the authoritarianism of his government," Athanassakis stressed.

The citizens were more interested in policies of the government, which was "conservative, right-wing, hiding its face behind fair words while it acted against the many and favoured the few, decreased the country's prestige and increased uncertainty and insecurity for all," he added.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) commented on parts of the premier's speech referring to the government's obligation to take action in the face of "violence and excesses" and its response to striking seamen.

According to KKE, the 'excesses' referred to were not the just struggle and forms of fighting that workers had a right to choose.

"Excesses are the provocative profits of industrialists, of bankers, of shipowners, of big traders, whose interests ND serves," a KKE announcement said.

ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

[02] Lefteris Zagoritis elected ND Central Committee secretary

Zagoritis had a landslide victory over rival candidate Katerina Papacostas, receiving 402 out of 507 votes cast, from a total of 559 central committee members who were eligible to vote.

Papacosta received 70 votes, while 35 votes were blank or spoiled.

Commenting on his election, Zagoritis said Friday's process highlighted New Democracy as the foremost democratic party in the country, one with values, principles and positions, while stressing that the party will work to support the policies of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Zagoritis was first elected an MP for Athens in 2004 with New Democracy. He was one of the founding members of the New Democracy youth party ONNED and the student party DAP-NDFK, as well as publisher of the paper "Democratiki Protoporia".

A member of the board and vice-president of the Athens Bar Association, he became a member of ND's Executive Committee in 1994 and secretary of the party's organisational and trade union organs, as well as a member of the interior, justice and public order sectors. He was also elected a member of ND's Central Committee and Political Council.

He is married and has two children.

ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

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