Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-25

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek leadership sends message of peace at event marking International Day of Peace

[02] Papandreou criticises gov't, draws sharp reply

[03] FM to meet UN chief Annan on Monday

[04] Industry exhibition opens in Kavala

[01] Greek leadership sends message of peace at event marking International Day of Peace

The event was also addressed by Papoulias, Meimarakis and education minister Marietta Yannakou, who all delivered messages advocating peace and stressed Greece's efforts to promote peace in the wider region.

The Presidency of the Republic hosted an event at the Athens Concert Hall on Sunday evening to mark International Day of Peace, which was commemorated on Sept. 21.

The event was addressed by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis and Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou also spoke at the event.

"It is with great joy that I welcome you to tonight's event, which is being held for only one reason: For an anti-war message to be heard loud and clear from a country that has given so many great battles and has given birth to astounding ideas for the issue of peace," Papoulias stressed.

"It is a great honour for all of us, the presence here of activists for peace, such as Manolis Glezos and Mikis Theodorakis; personalities that symbolise the struggles and suffering of the Greek people for a peaceful and just world.

"When we decided on this initiative, in cooperation with the Defence Ministry, which has its own particular symbolism, the war in Lebanon had not yet broken out," Papoulias said, adding: ?The latest dramatic developments in the Middle East, which shook international public opinion, make even more urgent the need for the leaderships to awaken and for societies to mobilise..."

On his part, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis noted that "the celebration of International Day of Peace underlines the obligation of every democratic state, and the obligation of every citizen, to actively participate in the continuous struggle for peace, because the embodiment of 'a great alliance for peace' is the only way for us to answer the challenges of the new era.

"Greek thought gives broad content to the meaning of peace. It defines it not as an absence of clashes, but as a situation where justice prevails and produces concrete results for nations and peoples. On the basis of this definition, Greece follows, both in its relations with the neighbours and as an active member of international organisations, a stable strategy of peace and cooperation; a strategy that has as its foundation and prerequisite, absolute respect of international laws and treaties," the prime minister added.

"This steadfast national strategy for peace, which unites Greeks regardless of ideology and party affiliation, is a one-way road for a country such as ours ... which has, in its recent historic past, paid a disproportionately high price in terms of blood in various wars, but also during the Civil War," Karamanlis said.

The prime minister also referred to developments in Lebanon and regarding the Palestinian issue, adding: ?The recent initiatives by the Greek presidency of the UN Security Council drew the appreciation of the council members, of our European partners and of involved countries in the Middle East question. The special session of Sept. 21 was a difficult wager for the presidency, which was finally won. It was a result of methodical and intensive work. It confirmed that Greece is a force for peace, a serious and trust-worthy partner and an interlocutor of broader acceptance. This is valuable diplomatic capital, which we daily strengthen and utilise even more."

National Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis noted that "with today's event, we send a message that Greece plays a leading role for peace in the broader region, which is of the highest value. Greek military forces not only constitute a guarantee but simultaneously also constitute a strong factor of peace and stability," he said.

The defence minister also referred to Athensā immediate presence in the recent crisis in Lebanon with the transport of humanitarian aid, "a stance that showed, in practice, the readiness of our armed forces."

Finally, Education Minister Yiannakou said ?peace is directly linked with democratic values and human rights."

A documentary entitled "Philanthropic Peace", by Maria Hatzimichali-Papaliou and music by Mikis Theodorakis, was also screened at the event.

[02] Papandreou criticises gov't, draws sharp reply

Papandreou charged that Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is leading the country backwards and is not capable of honouring the mandate given to him by the voters.

The PASOK leader further cited the things that he would do differently, as he said, from the prime minister, saying he would not attempt to "manipulate" regional mass media or independent authorities. Additionally, he said he would not allow "uncontrolled oligopolies and cartels in the market."

Referring to the political developments of the past few days, Papandreou said corruption scandals are linked to specific political decisions, practices and conceptions of the ruling New Democracy party.

Commenting on proposals made by his party on combating corruption, the PASOK leader said "we are struggling for a society of values, for a model of development that will be based on education."

Gov't reaction

Meanwhile, both the development minister and the deputy development minister responded to PASOK's corruption-related criticism over the weekend, with both men referring to "mud-slinging."

"All those who mud-sling and use meaningless words are exposed, and it will not take long for them to understand this. Despite the fact that they were late to understand and to confess that they themselves are those who in 2000 and thereafter destroyed the country," Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said, in paraphrasing a controversial statement reportedly uttered by high-ranking PASOK cadre Theodoros Pangalos a few weeks ago to describe a PASOK government's performance from 2000 to March 2004.

On his part, Deputy Development Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou, responding to reporters' questions regarding the operation of cartels, especially in the domestic milk sector, said: "In accordance with Law 3373/2005, which was voted in principle by PASOK, the relevant agency for monitoring such cartels is the Competition Committee, and no one else.

"From March 2004 to the present, the Competition Committee has imposed fines amounting to 28.5 million euros, and cases are still pending over which there are already recommendations for fines to the tune of 100 million euros. From 1995 to February 2004, the Competition Committee had imposed fines just 4.1 million euros. That means that in the two-and-a-half years since the New Democracy came to power, imposed fines increased seven fold, compared to all those imposed in the nine years of PASOK rule," Papathanassiou charged.

Finally, in response to Papathanassiou's remarks, Vasso Papandreou, the head of PASOK's economy section, said the deputy minister, "instead of apologising for himself and for the government is attempting, once again, to defame us."

[03] FM to meet UN chief Annan on Monday

Bakoyannis will meet with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan here on Monday morning, with whom she is expected to discuss the situation in the Middle East (the Palestinian issue, Iraq and Iran's nuclear programme), the future status of Kosovo and the Cyprus issue.

The Greek foreign minister will also have bilateral talks with her counterparts from Lebanon, Guatemala, South Africa, Libya and Nigeria, while she will attend a luncheon given in her honor by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.

She will depart for Washingtion in the afternoon (local time).

On Friday, following her speech at the UN General Assembly, Bakoyannis presided at a meeting, within the framework of the Inter-Balkan Cooperation, which was held at the offices of the Greeceās permanent delegation. Also participating at this meeting was UN special mediator in negotiations for final status of Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, with whom she had a private meeting earlier.

Bakoyannis also met with her counterpart from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Antonio Milososki.

She will meet with the UN secretary general's special envoy for the FYROM name issue, Matthew Nimetz, on Thursday, after returning from Washington.

[04] Industry exhibition opens in Kavala

Speaking during the event, the minister referred to the government's effort to achieve balanced development in the countryside, through the utilisation of the comparative advantages of each region and the improvement of necessary infrastructures.

Kalantzis, who received an honourary plaque for his contribution to the region's development, said that great efforts have been made in recent years to enable the prefecture of Kavala to meet the difficult economic reality of the global economy.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article