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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-02-07Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Parliament president Psarouda-Benaki addresses parliamentary forum on Med cooperation and security at NafplioParliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki on Sunday addressed the 4th Conference for security and cooperation in the Mediterranean that is taking place in Nafplion, which is discussing the creation of a permanent forum for Mediterranean parliaments.In her address, Psarouda-Benaki stressed the need to accentuate efforts to create a Euro-Mediterranean free trade zone and to resolve security issues that have arisen in recent years. Without a secure environment it was inconceivable to expect Mediterranean countries to develop and their people to prosper, she noted. At the same, security could not be imposed by "raising walls or by the threat of arms procurements but arose from the will of the people and the cooperation of governments," she added. Referring to terrorism, she said that it was a serious threat to humanity that was becoming particularly serious in the Mediterranean because of the fluidity of its political and socioeconomic fabric. Noting the need to stamp out this "evil nightmare", she stressed the need to address the roots of the phenomenon and try to deal with it using democratic processes, without putting in jeopardy "our achievements in the area of political institutions and human rights". [02] Synaspismos to initiate 'aggressive alliance policy', party leader Alavanos saysCoalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) leader Alekos Alavanos told a party meeting on Saturday that the party will begin an "aggressive" alliances policy, beginning with cooperation with forces of the radical left and radical ecology as its base.The party meeting on Saturday marked the start of political and organisational preparation by Synaspismos for the upcoming local government elections in 2006. He stressed that the party should operate with the logic of a movement in the local government elections, stressing the elements of its programme concerning ecological concerns, quality of life, social issues and regional development, and cooperating with the forces of 'sensitivity'. He said the Coalition will seek to develop SYRIZA in this context and to cooperate with forces from the Left, radical ecologists and those not organised with any party that were interested in cooperating in local government. "It's very important to highlight a unifying programme inspired by the Left, to highlight programme ideas that are related to institutional issues concerning local government but chiefly with the major ecological and social issues that concern citizens and can be solved by local government institutions," he stressed. [03] Justice minister promises punishment, not resignations for rogue judgesJustice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras emphasised in published comments over the weekend that resignations of judges attempting to avoid punishment for their involvement in a trial fixing and bribery-for-parole scam will not be accepted."Rogue judges will be referred to (the independent judiciary's) relevant disciplinary organs and punished with all the foreseen consequences," he said. In comments published by the Athens daily "Chora", announced that the government is proceeding with a plan to relieve prison overcrowding and to institute a separation of inmates based on age, conviction and type of crime committed. He also announced an effort to improve vocational training from inmates and healthcare in correctional facilities. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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