Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't moving ahead with major changes, reforms, PM to new ND parliamentary group

[01] Gov't moving ahead with major changes, reforms, PM to new ND parliamentary group

"The citizens chose a government of confidence," the prime minister said, adding that "this means changes and reforms, far removed from dogmas and biases; their (citizens) message is that they demand we move faster and more efficiently."

"We have no room for delays; we do not succumb to reactions by guilds and interest groups. We are strong in the society, and we operate as a tight fist regarding the country's problems," Karamanlis stressed, adding that some quarters "chose conservatism and populism", and warning that "barren negativity, the 'no' to everything, does not benefit the country".

On the government's priorities for its new four-year term in office, the premier cited, in particular, reform of the social insurance system, noting that "the government has already invited the political forces to dialogue" aimed at "a modern, just and viable social insurance system".

"No one has the right to undermine the future of the coming generations. Inertia and rejection are the most anti-popular choices," he said.

Another priority was change of the electoral law, he said, explaining that the present electoral law had been tested in action, and adding that "we want an electoral law that strengthens the governmental stability, without hurting the proportionality'.

Karamanlis said the new electoral law would be unveiled early in the current governmental term, and not at the end of the four-year term, while a further priority was a bill that would give absentee voting rights to Greeks citizens abroad. Still yet another priority was revision of the Constitution.

"Our aim is to proceed with a revision of the Constitution, particularly the provisions concerning transparency and higher education, and the responsibility lies with the entire parliament. Effectiveness depends on the credibility of everyone," he stressed.

On the developments in the main opposition PASOK party, Karamanlis stressed that "we respect the historic course of all the parties, and do not involve ourselves in anyone's internal party affairs".

In a brief account of the government's first term in office, Karamanlis said that it had succeeded in laying the fo7undations for a strong economy, dynamic growth, and improvement of state efficiency. The goal now was to carry on with the reforms at all levels of education, in the environment, and the strengthening of social cohesion, he added.

"We dared to proceed with targeted reforms in all sectors. The credibility of the economy was restored, growth was strengthened, firm foundations were created for a just social state," the premier said about the government's first term, whereas in the present term it would "ensure fiscal streamlining, with the goal of achieving balanced budgets by 2010," he said, adding:

"At the same time, the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) would be soon voted on in parliament, 80 percent of the funds of which will be chanelled to the periphery, the biggest public works programme the country has ever known was in progress, farmers were being backed on turning to crops of the future, tourism development was being strengthened, new measures were being taken to support SMEs, an increase in the social dividend was being ensured, priority was being placed on the knowledge society and digital Greece and the rejuvenation of the public university, while in the long-term the autonomy of the high school and change of the entry system to higher education institutions were also being advanced."

The goal, Karamanlis said, is to evolve into a state of increased abilities, adding that "we are continuing the reforms for a more efficient state".

The premier stressed that the reforms were also being materialised for strengthening the social state, with the establishment of a special Social Cohesion Fund to combat poverty, while soon the new unemployment benefit would enter into effect, as well as increases in the EKAS low-pension benefit and farmers' pensions, while as of 2009 a minimum national pension would be established.

On national issues, Karamanlis said targets included full rapprochement of Greek-Turkish relations and finding a viable and operational solution to the Cyprus problem, reiterating that the government supported Turkey's European orientation while stressing that "full accession means full conformation with the European principles".

Regarding FYROM, Karamanlis stressed that the government has made it fully clear to the neighbouring country that "persistence on irredentist propaganda and intransigence in the process of finding a compromise solution on the name issue undermines its road to NATO and Europe".

Earlier, Karamanlis noted that Thursday would mark the 33rd anniversary of the founding of the New Democracy party, and made a special reference to the party's founder and his namesake, the late statesman Constantine Karamanlis, and to all the party leaders since then.

The meeting ended with the election of Ioannis Tragakis as the new general secretary of the ND parliamentary group, with Theofilos Leontaridis. Elias Psomiadis, Michalis Bekiris, George Kontoyannis and Fevronia Patrianakou as the alternates.

Caption: PM Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. ANA-MPA

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