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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-05Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Debate begins in Parliament on Tuesday on DEKO draft lawDebate begins in Parliament on Tuesday of the new draft law concerning Public Utilities and Corporations (DEKO), which brings radical changes in companiies of the broader public sector. The first aim is to curb waste in expenditures and the improvement of the obliged public utilities and corporations. The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Civil Servants' Administrative Council (ADEDY) have announced a strike on December 14, in reaction to the intended changes in DEKO and argue that these changes will overturn labour rights. Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis in statements on Monday said that the draft law advanced by the government "constitutes the greatest reform effort of the past years."He underlined that "the provocative economic privileges of the administrations will be cut," adding that DEKO heads who do not perform will be removed. Alogoskoufis said:"Despite reactions by trade union organisations, the philosophy of Article 14 will not change. If there are proposals which can improve it, they are most welcome. This is why a dialogue is being held." Responding to reporters' questions regarding increases in pensions and salaries, the minister committed himself "that they will be the highes possible which the margins of inflation permit." [02] Bakoyanni named 2005 World MayorMayor of Athens Dora Bakoyanni was named World Mayor 2005 in an annual contest organised by the London-based City Mayors organisation. Bakoyannis was one of 65 mayors from all over the world who made it to the final stage of the competition, out of an initial 550 contestants. The runner up is Hazel McCallion, Mayor of Mississauga (Ontario/Canada). In third place is Alvaro Arzu, Mayor of Guatemala City, with Oscar Samson Rodriguez, Mayor of San Fernando (Pampanga/Philippines) in fourth place.More than 85,000 people voted online between June and October 2005 to select the winner based on who they thought had done the most in contributing to his/her city's prosperity and proving to be an effective mayor. The contest aims to raise the profile of mayors worldwide as well as to honour those who have served their communities well and who have made contributions to the well-being of cities nationally and internationally. In 2004, Edi Rama, Mayor of Tirana, won the Award. [03] Greek Balkan Economic Reconstruction Plan to be reactivatedThe Greek Balkan Economic Reconstruction Plan will be reactivated, following three years of delay due to economic, institutional, technical and political weaknesses. "By order of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who requested that we respect the continuation of our foreign policy and protect the credibility of Greece towards is neighbours, Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and the relevant staff of the foreign ministry worked intensively in past months, producing the first positive results," a foreign ministry press release said on Monday.It said that the absorption rate of the total plan amounting to 550 million euros has increased from 2.4 percent to 10.4 percent in the past months. "As regards private investments, 100 percent of capital concerning Bulgaria has been absorbed, 95 percent concerning Romania, 75 percent concerning Albania, 16.5 percent concerning FYROM (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and 6.5 percent concerning Serbia-Montenegro," the press release further said. Many small projects have already been inaugurated, while others are being implemented. As regards the major projects, the implementation of the first project has already begun, which is the Greece-Bosnia-Herzegovina Friendship Building in Sarajevo which will house the country's central government. The Axis 10 road corridor, which will link the cities of Thessaloniki, Skopje and Belgrade with central Europe, is being planned with joint financing by the European Investment Bank. Lastly, the study concerning the road scheduled to link Sarande, Konispoli and Sayada is being evaluated. "We have renegotiated with almost all the Balkan countries the priorities of the National Balkan Economic Reconstruction Plan, raising for the first time the element of the reciprocity of the projects for both our national strategy and our national economy as a criterion as well," the press release said. [04] EU budget dominates OECD ministerial summitLJUBLJIANA (ANA/N. Melissova) - The European Union budget dominated the discussion during the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) Ministerial Summit held here on Monday, where foreign ministers from the OECD member states convened to discuss European security issues. An agreement on the EU budget for the 2007-2013 period is expected to be reached during the summit in Brussels next week. "No opportunity should be missed, and we will not allow any to go unexploited in this difficult battle regarding EU funds," Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis, representing Greece at the OECD meeting, said.OECD ministers stressed the need for the organisation to become more effective in promoting security and democracy in Europe. Speaking to reporters, Valinakis said that the OECD is interested in "providing answers to issues related to security, democracy, human rights and in the monitoring of democratic elections." He added that "on the sidelines of these meetings we also have the opportunity to discuss important issues, such as the budget which is an immediate concern for the EU." Regarding the British EU Presidency's EU budget proposal, Valinakis said that the closer it is to the Luxembourg Presidency's proposal the more likely an agreement will be. However, according to initial indications, the British presidency seems to have drifted quite far from the suggestions presented by Luxembourg in June, Valinakis said. He nonetheless expressed optimism that the British presidency would propose a budget on which everyone will agree. "We would like to think that Greece will gain - from this agreement - that which it deserves from the distribution of EU funds," Valinakis said. On the sidelines of the OECD meeting, the deputy minister met with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, with whom he discussed Greek-US relations. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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