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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-07-31
CONTENTS
[01] PASOK leader slams gov't reaction to fires
[01] PASOK leader slams gov't reaction to fires
Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou on Tuesday accused the
government of "confusion" and a "communications reaction" in the face
of the devastating fires that have ravaged Greece, during his address
to PASOK's Parliamentary Council. Papandreou announced that, in
addition to the immediate proposals that PASOK will make for
compensation to the victims of the fires, it would also draw up a
special developmental plan for each region and that this would be a
binding pledge if it became a government.
"We pledge not only to fully compensate for the damages but to apply a
special developmental plan that will give a new air of growth to these
areas," he said.
PASOK's leader questioned the sincerity of the government's apology to
the victims of the fires and said its past track record on handing out
compensation was poor, as proved by the case of fire-ravaged Halkidiki,
in spite of personal assurances to the opposite by Prime Minister
Costas Karamanlis.
Accusing the prime minister of being "absent" during a time of
difficulty, he also claimed the existence of a "political gap" in civil
protection planning, that the fire brigade was riddled by party
politics and lacked meritocracy and that fire-fighting services were
underfunded.
Referring to his proposal for a meeting of the political party leaders
chaired by President Karolos Papoulias, which was rejected by the
government, Papandreou said that such a meeting would have helped
inspire a sense of security, self-confidence and development in the
Greek people. Agreement on the eight points of the proposal, meanwhile,
would send a strong message to those hoping to gain as a result of the
fires as well as positive messages to society and those fighting
fires.
Regarding the Vodafone phone-tapping issue, PASOK's leader that it was
a "matter of principle and democracy" and that PASOK would not allow a
cover-up but would ensure that the truth came to light.
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