Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-11-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK leader on electoral law

[02] Parliament president visits Cyprus

[01] PASOK leader on electoral law

Addressing an annual conference of the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities (KEDKE), being held in Kyllini, in the western Peloponnese, Papandreou also noted that a "new national strategy is needed, which will bring oxygen to our democratic system, liberate creative forces and protect the weak."

Regarding local government issues, he said the target "is to reinforce local authorities with funds, decentralising powers and fighting against bureaucracy."

Meanwhile, Papandreou was re-elected party leader during Sunday's leadership election after receiving 55.91 percent of the vote.

Final election results announced on Wednesday evening showed that 769,156 people voted in the election with 763,674 valid votes, 5,482 invalid and 1,212 blank.

George Papandreou received 427,021 votes (55.91 pc), Evangelos Venizelos 291,593 (38.18 pc) and Costas Skandalidis 43,848 (5.74 pc).

[02] Parliament president visits Cyprus

Speaking after a meeting in Nicosia with President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos, Sioufas expressed the gratitude of the people of Greece for the help and support of Cyprus in tackling the fires and their consequences that hit Greece during the summer.

Sioufas said that with President Papadopoulos ''we had a very hearty and constructive discussion,'' adding that ''the President informed us about the economic and developmental potential of Cyprus.''

He said the president ''briefed us on the developments and prospects regarding the Cyprus problem,'' adding that President Papadopoulos also informed them on ''the support our Cypriot brothers are giving to handle the consequences of the fires we had in Greece during the summer.''

''I expressed, on behalf of all the Greeks and all the political forces, to the Cypriot Government, to all the Cypriots, our gratitude for this support and aid given to the citizens who were struck by the devastating fires of the summer,'' he noted.

He also said he conveyed ''to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, and through him to all our Cypriot brothers, the support of the political forces in the struggle for a functional and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, based on UN decisions and the principles and values of the EU.''

''All us Greeks stand beside our Cypriot brothers. We want a continuous upgrading of our cooperation in all sectors and on all levels,'' he concluded.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

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