Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou: 5 initiatives for Siemens scandal

[01] Papandreou: 5 initiatives for Siemens scandal

The main opposition leader once again attacked the government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis over its handling of the affair, while he accused Karamanlis of being "weak-willed" and a "hostage to interests" and held him responsible for what he claimed was an attempted cover up.

He also commented on the part of Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis and the revelations placing the minister in the same hotel abroad as Siemens CEO Mihalis Christoforakos about three years earlier, claiming that Liapis was in an untenable position given that the company had been contending to win public-sector contracts in sectors that Liapis, who was then minister for transport, had been in charge of.

The other PASOK proposals announced by Papandreou included that the government take legal action against Siemens to seek compensation; that state services, such as the finance ministry's Special Audits Service, be mobilised; that the independent authority against money-laundering headed by George Zorbas be activated; and that companies which admitted to paying kickbacks in order to win contracts should not longer qualify for state procurement contracts.

PASOK's president stressed also, that responsibility in the affair did not only concern those that were directly involved but also those that attempted to cover up the truth.

CAPTION: Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou addressing the Socialist International Congress held in Athens earlier this week, where he was re-elected SI President. (ANA-MPA/PASOK PRESS OFFICE)

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