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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-01-03
CONTENTS
[01] Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis briefed PM Costas Karamanlis
[02] Papandreou chairs party's co-ordinating body
[03] Communist party leader Papariga press conference
[01] Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis briefed PM Costas Karamanlis
Karamanlis briefed by FM Bakoyannis Greek Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis was briefed by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Thursday
at his Maximos Mansion office in Athens.After the meeting, Bakoyiannis
referred to the prime minister's formal visit to Turkey stressing that
it is scheduled and the date will be announced.Regarding the
Zachopoulos affair and if it affects the political climate, Bakoyiannis
refused to make any comments adding that only the Greek Justice can
shed light on the issue.
Afterwards, Karamanlis was due to receive Employment and Social
Insurances Minister Fani Palli-Petralia.
One day earlier, the Prime Minister reiterated that he is determined to
proceed with necessary reforms for the country, speaking during a
reception by the Athens Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
"During a difficult and fluid international juncture, the Greek economy
is on the right course, indicating that it has a strong growth rate
allowing us to confront any challenges."
Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis(R) and
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis (L)
[02] Papandreou chairs party's co-ordinating body
Main opposition PASOK Political Coordinating Body meets Thursday in
Athens chaired by party leader George Papandreou. Meanwhile, Louka
Katseli, responsible for the PASOK party economy sector, stated that
recent figures on the state budget implementation in the
January-November 2007 eleven-month period overturn the government's
arguments on alleged fiscal reform and confirm PASOK's assessments
expressed in the recent debate held in parliament on the 2008 state
budget. <font size="3" face="Verdana">
[03] Communist party leader Papariga press conference
Greek Communist Party (KKE) Central Committee General Secretary Aleka
Papariga characterized developments in the wider Middle East region as
very serious, stressing that the launch of a pan-Arab popular struggle
is necessary to prevent the Arab and the wider region countries from
becoming victims of the competition in which the big powers are engaged
over the region's oil deposits. Papariga made the comments in a press
conference she gave on Thursday in the party headquarters in Perissos
on the occasion of the meeting of fourteen communist and labor parties
from the Middle East, south and east Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the
Gulf region to take place in Athens during the January 5-6 weekend.
Referring to the latest developments in the Palestinian issue, Papariga
said that it is now in the hands of the US President who promotes the
creation of a new state without borders. Papariga also referred to the
autonomous status of Baluchistan, the Turkish invasion of northern
Iraq, the isolation of Syria, the continuing crisis in Lebanon and the
Cyprus issue. On the imminent visit of Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis to Ankara, Papariga expressed the view that it should not
take place considering the recent Turkish violations in the Aegean. On
the situation in Kosovo, she stated that the imminent independence of
Kosovo could ignite the southern Balkan region, stressing that FYROM
will be directly affected while questions are raised over the policy
Albania will choose to <font size="3" face="Verdana">follow.
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