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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-07-19
CONTENTS
[01] Karamanlis confers with Athens mayor over local gov't reforms,
finances
[01] Karamanlis confers with Athens mayor over local gov't reforms,
finances
<!--ÔëòüìòñÞüìòPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis met Thursday with the
leadership of the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of
Greece (KEDKE) to discuss institutional reforms and finances for local
governments. The meeting was also attended by Interior Minister
Prokopis Pavlopoulos and deputy minister Athanasios Nakos.
KEDKE president and Athens mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis told reporters
after the meeting that there was identity of views with the prime
minister regarding the "Kapodistrias II" plan for the administrative
reform of the country, which is being advanced by the government,
adding that the deadline for voluntary mergers (of municipalities and
communities) expired in end-2008, and noting that strong incentives for
such mergers were provided in a relevant draft law by the interior
ministry.
Kaklamanis, the former health minister, said the prime minister pledged
that a draft law on collaborations among metropolitan centres would be
tabled in parliament by the end of the year.
One of the biggest issues for local government, he continued, was that
of the withheld taxes, adding that a solution would be forthcoming by
2008 for the gradual rebate of those taxes to the municipalities.
Asked to comment on the various views seeing the light of day regarding
the recent barrage of forest fires throughout the country, Kaklamanis
said "extreme statements do not express us, regardless of where they
come from...We demand, from the political forces of the country, more
projects and less talk".
Former KEDKE president Paris Koukoulopoulos, the mayor of the northern
town of Kozani and a main opposition PASOK cadre, said the discussion
with Karamanlis was at "the level of understanding", but added that,
without wishing to doubt the prime minister's intentions, "the same
dialogue took place a year and 10 days ago".Caption: ANA-MPA file photo
of PM Karamanlis.-->
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