Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-06-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou letter to G-20 leaders

[02] Second day of ND congress

[01] Papandreou letter to G-20 leaders

In his letter to G-20 leaders, Papandreou refers to the SI's resolution regarding the global economy and economic reforms. (ANA-MPA)

The SI president cites a wide consensus in opinion by the 350 participants at the SI's recent council regarding a necessary exit strategy from the ongoing international financial crisis.

Moreover, he notes that although the G-20 represent some two-thirds of the world's population, nevertheless it is important that the voices of countries not represented on the G-20 be heard.

Among others, Papandreou refers to a tax on certain financial transactions, which he said will forever preclude the necessity for taxpayers to again bail-out banks, (ANA-MPA) as well as accumulating capital for rolling back poverty in the world.

In his second letter, addressed to UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland -- the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy -- and to Tony Blair, the Quartet's representative for the Middle East, Papandreou publicises the SI council's statement regarding the Middle East. (ANA-MPA)

Papandreou lists both the Israeli and Palestinian delegates to the SI council meeting as contributing to the resolution, stressing that the organisation calls for a substantive commitment towards ending the cycle of violence and polarisation in the Mideast. Additionally, the SI calls for all sides to contribute to the establishment of an independent, democratic and sovereign Palestinian state that will live side-by-side in peace with a secure state of Israel. A one-year timetable is also set for this goal. (ANA-MPA)

[02] Second day of ND congress

Among others, Athens-area MP Argyris Dinopoulos said the upcoming local government elections are a political battle that ND must win, while referring to a "head-on clash" with ruling PASOK.

On her part, Katerina Papacosta, who heads up ND's women's issues portfolio, emphasised that the "new ND embraces social liberalism and places as the 'red line' the social state, which is being demolished by PASOK and its associates". (ANA-MPA)

Former minister Aris Spiliotopoulos, meanwhile, said ND, "faced with an unbridled populism, has the historic obligation to find its paces and serve as an obstacle to the levelling of the political system and politicians."

Finally, ND's organisational secretary Manolis Angelakas, a former MEP, welcomed delegates to the congress' second day, referring to the creation of an "organisation with ideological and political action; an organisation with active members, ones that participate in the formulation of the party's political positions..." (ANA-MPA)

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