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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-16
CONTENTS
[01] PM Costas Karamanlis discusses local elections with ND secretary
[02] U.S. State Department report ascertains improvements in religious
freedoms in Greece
[01] PM Costas Karamanlis discusses local elections with ND secretary
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis held talks at the Maximos Mansion with
the ruling New Democracy party's Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis on
Saturday on the issue of local elections due to take place in the
country on October 15. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Zagoritis said
that he discussed the local elections with the prime minister in light
of the ND Central Committee's meeting on Sunday and briefed him on
tours he has made throughout the country. Also referring to the
government's struggle against corruption, Zagoritis said "have you seen
the handcuffs? When we say zero tolerance for corruption we mean it."
[02] U.S. State Department report ascertains improvements in religious
freedoms in Greece
This year's report by the U.S. State Department on religious freedoms
ascertains improvements in Greece. The chapter referring to Greece says
that the constitution establishes the Greek Orthodox Church as the
prevailing religion, but at the same time it protects the right of
every citizen to choose his religion.
It adds, however, that although the government respects this right in
general, non-Orthodox religious groups are sometimes faced with
administrative obstacles or legal restrictions in exercising their
worshipping.
Improvements taking place in the past year regarding respect for
religious freedoms are pointed out, while it is underlined that the
Greek government enacted a law permitting the cremation of the dead and
ratified a law abolishing the obligation of local bishops to issue
licences for the founding of places of worship by other religions or
denominations.
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