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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-06-03Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Costas Karamanlis says changes and reforms shall continuePrime Minister Costas Karamanlis addressed his ruling New Democracy party's first pre-conference at the Ioannis Vellidis convention centre at the city of Thessaloniki's International Fair on Sunday and pledged that changes and reforms shall continue both before and after the elections (elections are normally due in the country in March 2008). "The ND government turns its commitments into practice. Reliability and consistency in its policy is its difference from (the main opposition party) PASOK," Karamanlis stressed. Referring to PASOK's leader George Papandreou, who will also be visiting Thessaloniki on Monday, the prime minister said that he welcomes him because Thessaloniki is highlighting this major political difference existing between ND and PASOK, the difference between words and deeds."For 10 years PASOK, being in government, used to promise the same things every September at the (Thessaloniki) International Fair. It promised a Metro, but we saw no Metro. It promised an undersea tunnel, but we saw no undersea tunnel. It promised an extension of the airport, projects at the port, hospitals. But we saw nothing of all this. 10 years of promises and false words. 10 years of mockery," the prime minister said. Karamanlis further said that Papandreou will now have the opportunity of seeing the projects that the government has started and is creating in three years alone. "Because the Metro has begun. And the airport is being extended. And the port is changing. And the undersea tunnel is starting. And two new hospitals are being built," Karamanlis stressed. The prime minister expressed the hope that Papandreou will also follow him to the other cities where ND will be holding pre-conferences. "Let him come then, to Larissa and to Iraklio and to Yiannena and to Patra and to Nafplio. Let him follow us to every corner of the country. So that he can have a close look at what reliability in politics means. To discover what it means to honour your commitments to the citizen. What it means, instead of big words and promises in the air, to carry out projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in their day-to-day lives," Karamanlis further said. The prime minister noted that "there are those who are stuck with yesterday and, on the other hand, there are we who, day-by-day, are improving the present and building strong foundations for a better tomorrow for all." Karamanlis will be leaving for Athens on Sunday, but he will be returning to Thessaloniki on Monday afternoon to address a dinner of the Balkans Economic Forum, organised by the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece and the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce. Caption: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis addressing ND pre-conference in Thessaloniki on Sunday, June 3, 2007. ANA-MPA/NIKOS ARVANITIDIS. [02] PASOK leader addresses rally in AmfissaMain opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou addressed a rally in Amfissa, central Greece, on Sunday, underlining his party's readiness to rule the country, criticising Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and the government and wondering whether the country is being ruled by the prime minister or by a wretched establishment.Papandreou made two personal commitments during his address. The first is the implementation of PASOK's programme that, as he said, has been prepared and is feasible. He said that the second commitment is the reversal of conceptions and structures and of an establishment that has trapped the political system so that it cannot represent the Greek people genuinely and democratically. Papandreou called on citizens not only to bring down the government in the coming elections (they are normally due in March 2008), but to change this political system as well, that the people cannot stand. "The government is now being faced with the wrath of the young generation, since it toyed with it, just like it toyed with education. New Democracy and Mr. Karamanlis came to power with promises, promising everything for everyone and turning into a government of scandals and coverups," Papandreou said. "This government will lose the elections with a simple opponent. The truth, that the Greek people are now aware of," he added. Lastly, referring to PASOK's programme, Papandreou said that the top priority will be to redistribute wealth to benefit the weak and to create a new social agreement for the labour market and employment that it will honour and observe in full. Caption: PASOK leader George Papandreou addressing party rally in Amfissa on Sunday, June 3, 2007. ANA-MPA/KATERINA MAVRONA. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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