Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-05-16

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis readies for week-long visit to Australia; briefed on energy issues

[02] Papandreou criticism of gov't policy in justice system

[01] PM Karamanlis readies for week-long visit to Australia; briefed on energy issues

Australia and Greece are expected to sign a long-awaited mutual social insurance agreement guaranteeing the pension rights of Greek-Australians, and allowing the transfer of retirement pensions to Greece. The agreement will be signed on behalf of Greece by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who will accompany the prime minister.

Karamanlis will arrive in Sydney on Monday. He will meet with his Australian counterpart John Howard in Canberra before visiting Adelaide.

Karamanlis is expected in Melbourne on Thursday for talks with the political leadership of the state of Victoria and representatives of the sizeable Greek-Australian community there.

On Friday, May 25, the Greek prime minister will address a public gathering at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park.

Meanwhile, the premier was briefed on Wednesday by Sioufas over conclusions reached during the International Energy Agency, IEA, ministerial meeting in Paris on Monday and Tuesday.

Sioufas also briefed the prime minister on his meetings with European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs and talks on energy issues held with his counterparts. The overall conclusion is that energy issues occupy the top position on state agendas, said Sioufas.

Sioufas noted that energy saving and other issues related to Greece, which is set to become a regional energy hub after recent developments in the oil and natural gas pipelines sector, were also under discussion.

Responding to a relevant question, Sioufas said all necessary measures are being taken by the government prevent power shortages during the peak summer months in the east Mediterranean country.

Caption: Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis (L) greets his Australian counterpart John Howard (R) upon the latter's arrival at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Wednesday, April 27, 2005. ANA / M. MAROGIANNI.

[02] Papandreou criticism of gov't policy in justice system

Among others, he centred on the fact that a full-scale investigation has not been launched into press allegations concerning the son of Supreme Court president Romylos Kedikoglou, while also referring to delays in the investigation into the unprecedented Vodafone mobile phone tapping affair.

He also called for an acceleration of judicial investigations into a handful of cases that his party has termed as "scandals" - i.e. claims by a dozen or so Pakistani guest workers in Athens of illegal detention and interrogations by intelligence services following the London underground terror acts; state-controlled mobile phone provider Cosmote's purchase of the Germanos retailer, as well as National Bank of Greece's purchases of the Turkey-based Finansbank and a local brokerage firm, P&K.

He also called on the government and the prime minister to "open the file" into 1999-2000 Athens Stock Exchange "bubble", asking why this has not happened in three years of a New Democracy government.

Finally, he again reiterated his demand for early elections.

Papandreou spoke to his party's Parliamentary council.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Papandreou.

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