Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-06-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM addresses ONNED conference, says reformist strategy will continue

[01] PM addresses ONNED conference, says reformist strategy will continue

"We are continuing changes and reforms together to build a dynamic and proud Greece," he said while addressing the party's young men and young women, in central Greece's resort of Kamena Vourla.

Karamanlis dedicated most of his address to educational reform. He said that the government is following a sustained strategy of educational reform, increasing public expenditures for education and directing 14 percent of the strategic framework funds to education.

"We have promoted and we are promoting reforms for the country's harmonisation with policies that are developing in Europe, to upgrade the public university and to strengthen research and its linking to the production process," he said, revealing that the government has activated the National Education Council, it has enacted an integrated infrastructures system for lifelong education, in accordance with European norms, and it is implementing a programme for the construction of building facilities for universities and technical institutes in 32 cities.

The prime minister also made special reference to Greece's exit from the excessive deficit process which it had entered, as he said, "due to the irresponsibility of past governments."

Commenting in general on his economic policy, Karamanlis said that the fiscal deficit is decreasing and Greece is achieving the highest growth rates in the eurozone (4.6 percent during the first quarter of the current year).

"We are continuing changes and reforms with the aim of achieving full fiscal restructuring, decreasing unemployment even more, releasing even more funds and improving the standard of living," he concluded.

Lastly, Karamanlis also criticised the main opposition PASOK party for its tactics and pointed out that "you can be sure that they cannot offset yesterday's guilt of theirs with their cries of today. Disinformation shall not pass, slander shall not pass and nothing can stop Greece on the path to the future."

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