Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Reforms will continue, PM Karamanlis affirms at ND parliamentary group session

[01] Reforms will continue, PM Karamanlis affirms at ND parliamentary group session

At the same time, he severely criticised those who "remain captives of the past and captives of the minorities of inertia", stressing that "it is our decision to leave them by themselves, in the extremes and extremities thay have opted for".

"Our decision is to carry on with the changes, together with the citizens," Karamanlis stressed.

Turning to the need for presentation of the political parties' platform positions, Karamanlis said that society demands from everyone replies on the "what" and "how", but warned, however, that society rejects the rationale of "highest-bidder" pledges.

On the dialogue carried out on the important issues concerning society, Karamanlis said that the government was not claming infallibility, "but choices that sacrifice the interests of the many, that undermine the country's future, that put forward the party interest at the expense of the collective interest, have not been made, are not being made, and will not be made" by ND.

Regarding the "fair and important demands" put forward by society, the premier said that the course that has led the Greek economy to a better position "required difficult, but absolutely necessary, decisions", adding that it was "more than certain" that the major impasses have been left behind. "We won battles, which improve the present. We are creating conditions that guarantee a better tomorrow. For all the citizens. Throughout the entire country," Karamanlis stressed.

Particularly regarding the reforms being advanced by his government, Karamanlis said that the citizens perceive the needs of the times and demand competition in contribution. "They demand changes and reforms that lead far away from the practices and mentalities of the past. Changes and reforms for a better prospect. This is why the barren reactions are doomed. This is why the attempts at undermining are in vain. This is why our position is becoming increasingly stronger. And this position is not negotiable. The reforms are continuing. The reforms are becoming action, with the backing of the citizens. They are being made for the present and the future. And this concerns, first of all, Education," the premier continued.

Referring more specifically to the provisions in the framework-law on higher education, Karamanlis said that it encouraged the self-administration and autonomy of the universities, and that it "effectively safeguards the academic asylum and ensures the free dissemination of ideas, which today is being violated by the uncontrolled violence".

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