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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-03-18
CONTENTS
[01] FM on FYROM issue
[02] SYRIZA on social security
[03] FinMin briefs Karamanlis
[01] FM on FYROM issue
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Tuesday briefed the Énner Cabinet
on the course of negotiations over the thorny FYROM "name issue".
Responding to a question after the meeting on whether the name "New
Macedonia" is up for consideration, Bakoyannis said negotiations are
underway and that Greece has a clear-cut position. "Negotiating
efforts will most likely intensify in the remaining 15 days before the
NATO Summit in Bucharest," she added, pointing out that Athens'
positions are known inside the country, but more importantly, outside
the country as well.
Caption:ANA-MPA file photo of Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis
[02] SYRIZA on social security
The redistribution of accumulated wealth and the implementation of a
new type of development focusing on fulltime employment is the way
toward a meaningful social security system reform, according to
Coalition of the Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary group leader Alekos
Alavanos. Speaking Tuesday at a special meeting between SYRIZA and
social partners on a "different solution to the social security issue",
Alavanos suggested the establishment of three social security funds,
for salary earners, farmers, and the self-employed, following a
worker-approved merger of existing funds. The preparation of actuarial
analyses, the settlement of pension fund deficits, a maximum common
denominator in the merger procedure and the workers' consensus are
regarded by SYRIZA as fundamental preconditions before proceeding with
the mergers. SYRIZA also backs retirement after 35 years on the job
with no age limits, social security for women, farmer social security
independent from farm production insurance, a drastic increase in the
minimum pensions, and improvement of administrative and operational
procedures in social insurance organizations. Criticizing the
government's social security reform plan, the SYRIZA parliamentary
group leader pointed out that the adoption of flexible and part-time
employment overturns the fundamental labor relationship on which the
social security system was based until now.
Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Coalition of the Left (SYRIZA)
parliamentary group leader Alekos Alavanos
[03] FinMin briefs Karamanlis
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis met separately on Tuesday with
Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis following the
conclusion of an Inner Cabinet meeting at the premier's Maximos
Mansion office (government's headquarters).
Alogoskoufis, in answer to a question on the state of the economy
amid the turbulence in the global markets, said "there is
international concern, especially in United States, but hopefully
things are better for the European economy, and we believe that
repercussions will be less."
The FinMin added that what worries Europe is the onslaught of
international inflation, "this is something that affects all of us
on an everyday basis."
Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Finance and Economy Minister George
Alogoskoufis
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