Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-09-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Voulgarakis tenders resignation

[01] Voulgarakis tenders resignation

In his resignation letter to the prime minister, the veteran cadre of ruling New Democracy referred to "an orchestrated effort to slander him" and said that this was also affecting the government's image -- citing this as the reason for his decision to resign.

He also thanked PM Costas Karamanlis for entrusting him with several ministerial posts since 2004.

"Over the recent period the ND government's credibility has become a target, in order for conditions of political destabilisation to be imposed on the country. With a torrent of lies and mud aimed to create impressions, the cold-blooded termination of my political existence is being attempted, as well as a denigration of my honor and reputation. (Main opposition) PASOK is behind this unethical and slanderous strategy, again employing its old tactics in order to serve its petty partisan interests," he charged in his letter.

Afterwards, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said the premier had accepted the resignation and thanked Voulgarakis for his "significant political work" since 2004 at the public order, culture and merchant marine ministries.

Among others, Roussopoulos cited Voulgarakis' effective work towards reforming and privatising the country's major ports.

In comments on the resignation and the statements made about it, PASOK spokesman George Papaconstantinou said they failed to meet the expectations of the public and described them as "shameful", noting that the minister resigned "without accepting his responsibilities" and that Karamanlis had accepted the resignation while fully providing full coverage for his minister's actions.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photograph of former merchant marine, Aegean and island policy minister George Voulgarakis.

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