Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-07-19

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

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

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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