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Friday, 22 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-12-14Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PASOK: Wed. strike a rejection of gov't policiesA main opposition PASOK spokesman on Friday expressed the partyâs satisfaction over the level of participation in a nationwide strike two days earlier, saying that the rally translates into a rejection of the governmentâs economic policies by a "majority of the people".Spokesman Yiannis Ragoussis also called potential reforms, as outlined by the government, "harsh" and "anti-popular", reiterating the socialist partyâs position that it is in favour of state control of certain strategic utilities. Moreover, the state deputy referred to "foreign capital of unknown origin" being used to purchased state-run enterprises in Greece, an indirect reference to the Marfin groupâs recent interest in telephony utility OTE's shares. Moreover, the spokesman said PASOK will outlaw the use of CCTV traffic cameras for surveillance of demonstrations, saying that such a measure is not in line with a modern European countryâs operation. Finally, he said the latest opinion poll results were discussed during Fridayâs session of the newly formed political planning committee, chaired by PASOK leader George Papandreou. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of PASOK leader George Papandreou. [02] Gov't, opposition exchange criticism over OAThe government and the opposition on Friday continued to trade barbs and accusations related to ailing national carrier Olympic Airlines (OA), with back-and-forth debate in Parliament even reaching the Commission's chambers in Brussels, with one main opposition PASOK MP blaming the relevant EU Commissioner for OA's latest woes.Former parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis, among others, charged that no one appointed EU Commissioner Jacques Barrot to "interfere" in Greek internal affairs or to defend Greek taxpayers' money, an indirect reference to sharp Commission criticism of subsidies paid out to OA over the past decade. Transport Minister Costas Hatzidakis, in turn, first dismissed accusations that the government and Commission are actively working against the debt-ridden carrier in order to benefit local and European rivals, while he reminded that Barrot is France's Commissioner with subsequent approval by the EU Parliament. He also charged that the main opposition failed to show the same sensitivity to the Commission's directives when the current government was attempting to defend its "primary shareholder" law. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Greek Transport Minister Costas Hatzidakis. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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