Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Education minister on Int'l Day of the Child

[02] Education top priority for PASOK

[01] Education minister on Int'l Day of the Child

Celebrated each year on December 11, the International Day of the Child highlights the difficult living conditions of many children around the world.

As evidence, Giannakou cited data from human rights organisations, according to which 183 million children under the age of five are undernourished; 120 million do not have access to education; 3 million under the age of 15 suffer from AIDS; 1.2 million become victims of trafficking, kidnapping and prostitution annually; while in developed countries, 3,500 children under the age of 15 die annually from abuse.

While improving children's living conditions is a priority for human rights organisations, the issue concerns everyone and mainly governments, she said.

"Our fundamental obligation as adults, is for us to provide children with a loving environment that ensures sufficient material goods, sanitary conditions, well-being and the right to an edcuation and a stable family environment," Giannakou noted.

"Let this day be an opportunity for us to focus more on children's needs, be it our own children or children in need of our attention and care," she added.

[02] Education top priority for PASOK

In other comments, Papandreou predicted early elections, saying that the government would not be able to avoid them.

"George [Papandreou] will become prime minister much sooner than many think," she said, referring to PASOK's president.

As for the issue of corruption, Papandreou said that ruling New Democracy's tactics against PASOK on this issue "have collapsed and the government will now have to defend itself."

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