Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK comments on phone-tapping issue

[01] PASOK comments on phone-tapping issue

Athanasakis, who was responding to earlier statements by Roussopoulos, said that in this way the two government members "are making cheap and irresponsible opposition to the opposition", while terming what Voulgarakis said at a press conference on Monday "amazing and unacceptable."

The PASOK spokesman said that there was a "difference between the statements of Roussopoulos and Voulgarakis since the government spokesman says that the government has submitted all the evidence it has to justice, while the culture minister says that many things will happen if he speaks" and called on Voulgarakis to speak and "say what he thinks and to give explicit replies to all that has come to light lately".

Gov't dismisses PASOK criticism over phone bugging affair

The government on Tuesday again took exception to recent criticism by main opposition PASOK regarding the ongoing investigation into an unprecedented mobile phone bugging affair that targeted much of Greece's leadership, including the prime minister, for nearly a year up until Feb. 2005.

Tuesday's comments by the government spokesman revolved around the previous day's high-profile statements by former public order minister George Voulgarakis, the current culture minister, who stated in a television interview that the 2004 Olympic Games of Athens may not have been hosted had he revealed what he knew of delays and omissions the Karamanlis government inherited from the previous PASOK government in March 2004.

"Mr. Voulgarakis referred to the main opposition party (PASOK) as the source of specific leaks and unsubstantiated rumors, while at the same time calling on those participating in this (rumor-mongering) affair to send whatever evidence they have to the independent judiciary," spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said, adding:

"... those lending credence to such rumors should reveal what they know ... let them head to the prosecutor or publicise what they know," he said.

In launching a stinging counter-attack over criticism aimed at the government by PASOK and a portion of the local media regarding Voulgarakis' statements, Roussopoulos again cited major delays in certain Olympic projects when ND assumed power, such as the route for the classical marathon race, while adding that the former public order minister discovered similar delays in the all-important security aspect of the Athens Games when he assumed his post.

Additionally, the spokesman again dismissed charges that Voulgarakis' statements were tendentious and timed to divert attention from the mobile phone bugging probe.

"PASOK attempted from the beginning to blame the government for delays in the (investigation) process, criticising the independent judiciary, in fact, as part of its preferred method of condemning the justice system when it suits its interests..." he added.

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