Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Premier calls for more democratic and effective UN on occasion of 60th anniversary

[02] PASOK leader attacks gov't on corruption, minister responds

[03] KKE reiterates decision against cooperation with other parties in local elections

[01] Premier calls for more democratic and effective UN on occasion of 60th anniversary

In a written statement released by the premier's press office, Karamanlis said the United Nations "was and is the guardian of international law and international legality, necessary elements for peaceful co-existence and cooperation between states and peoples."

Prime Minister Karamanlis added:"Of course, 60 years after its founding, the organisation is called on to continue this most important mission of it, in conditions completely different from those prevailing when it started its action.

"Our world is faced with new challenges and new threats, such as international terrorism, poverty, humanitarian crises, the plague of narcotics and natural disasters, many of which are due to the lack of effective protection of the environment."

The Greek prime minister went on to say:"It is therefore imperative for the United Nations to proceed to those necessary reforms which will render it more effective. This procedure of reform must also include the Security Council, of which the existing composition does not reflect the present international community."

Concluding, Prime Minister Karamanlis said:"Our country, a stable and ardent supporter of the United Nations, has the opportunity, but also the will, to contribute in this effort in its capacity as non-permanent member of the Security Council, for the time period 2005-2006, as well. With all our strength, we are working for a more democratic and more effective United Nations in the modern world."

[02] PASOK leader attacks gov't on corruption, minister responds

On its part, Minister of State and Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos responded immitiately back to Papandreou's claims and criticism.

The PASOK leader accused the government that "it operates as a conqueror in a foreign country and that its establishes party profligacy," adding that "never has a government in Greece slid so fast in the dark side of politics."

He stressed that the ruling New Democracy (ND) party "is becoming part of the problem of corruption and not combatting it."

Papandreou further accused the ND and the government that "they are attempting to pass the view that they are all the same," adding that "in this manner, they are striking the heart of the self-confidence of the Greek people and passing the view that the Greek is incorrectable." The PASOK leader said "we will not allow this logic to pass," adding that "we proved that when we want to, we can achieve many things."

Minister of State and Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Saturday launched an attack against main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) in response to issues of corruption.

"Hostages of corruption and of vested interests are not those who make shielded laws but those who made photographic laws so as to serve interests," Roussopoulos said.

The spokesman added that "the present government, wherever there are charges, explores them and sends them to the public prosecutor."

[03] KKE reiterates decision against cooperation with other parties in local elections

The KKE central committee said that the Parliament-represented party gives next year's municipal and prefectural elections in the country a "political significance".

Among others, KKE's top policy-making body reiterated that the party will not cooperate at the central or local level, either directly or indirectly, with any of the three other parties in Parliament, ruling New Democracy, main opposition PASOK or the smaller Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos).

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