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05/02/2004  
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TOP STORY
Social security taboo stands firm New Democracy, pounded by PASOK and unions, says no change to retirement age and payments

Greece's great structural problem of the need for social security reform became the central issue of the March 7 elections yesterday, not because of any necessary debate on the issue but in the desperate efforts by the opposition New Democracy party to distance itself from the suggestion that it would do anything to harm workers' interests.
FRONT PAGE NEWS
The Cartoon Of The Day
PASOK trims ND poll lead
The ruling PASOK party appears to be recovering from the blow it suffered last month when a junior minister tried to pass controversial legislation favoring a land developer. A nationwide telephone poll conducted by VPRC for Skai radio among 1,186 people on Feb. 2-3 found that if elections were held today, 32.7 percent would vote for New Democracy and 29.2 percent for PASOK.
Date for Cyprus talks by Friday?
A date for the initiation of new peace talks on Cyprus could be set «in a day or so,» United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday in his strongest show of optimism since the last round of negotiations broke down last March.
Salonica is Greek Web capital
The typical Greek Internet user is an educated, affluent male city-dweller aged 18-24 who is looking for specific information, according to a new survey made public yesterday.
Age won’t count for Games flats
Hoping to attract foreign ticket-holders seeking to rent apartments in central Athens during the Summer Games, tourism officials said yesterday they would scrap a controversial clause excluding buildings more than 23 years old from the Olympic rental program.
Third northern see in administrative limbo
The power vacuum in northern Greece's ecclesiastical affairs grew yesterday after the resignation, on health grounds, of Ambrosios, Bishop of Kozani. This means that, due to the ongoing turf war between the Greek Church and the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate, three northern Greek dioceses are now without bishops.
IN BRIEF
Prosecutor to probe controversy surrounding deputies' signatures : An Athens prosecutor yesterday ordered a preliminary investigation...
Two gas canister bombs cause minor damage to a bank in Ano Patissia : Two homemade explosive devices, consisting of gas canisters bound together, caused minor damage to the ATM of a bank...
Six lifers moved ahead of ELA trial : Police yesterday transferred six November 17 convicts, including the terror group's leader...
Electoral law : The new electoral law, containing minor changes to the way that deputies are elected, was approved...
Draft dodgers : Greek military living abroad will be able to return to Greece to vote in March 7 elections and stay until March 26...
Greek-Turkish talks : Senior Greek and Turkish diplomats are to meet in London today for the 23rd round of exploratory talks on bilateral issues...
Quake trial : The trial of four pharmaceutical company executives and a civil engineer charged with the «murder with possible malice aforethought»...
Transmitter clash : Riot police yesterday clashed with municipal employees trying to disconnect mobile telephony transmitters in Nikaia...
Hit and run : Traffic police yesterday appealed for witnesses to a fatal hit-and-run incident on the country road between the villages of Galatades and Aghios Georgios...
Bulgarian ties : General Georgios Antonakopoulos, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, and his Bulgarian counterpart, Nikola Kolev, yesterday agreed to tighten bilateral military cooperation...


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Around 150 olive growers...
EDITORIAL
Political hypocrisy
The social security issue is an acute problem which is known to all. It is caused by the declining ratio between the working population and pensioners: The number of the former is constantly falling while that of the former is swelling. Furthermore, the high unemployment rate and rising health spending put more strain on the system. Greece is not the only country facing this problem. The crisis is common in all European states that consider social security to be the cornerstone of the welfare state and a primary means of redistributing wealth.
COMMENTARY
Wanted: Genuine politics
As the election date nears, the two main political factions are intensifying their effort to woo middle-ground voters. Although tension runs high, and despite some high-blown rhetorical flourishes, PASOK and New Democracy are conducting a dignified campaign without any hits below the belt. Only in a few cases have they traded barbs or tried to rally their fighting forces with militant rhetoric; up to now, at least. There have been, of course, some advisers who recommend a more dynamic campaign based on political bashing and more nasty blows at crucial junctures. Tension is set to grow in coming weeks. One cannot possibly expect the two front runners in the runup to the elections to launch a mild, conflict-free campaign. Ideally, the strength of the rivals would depend on the rigor of their political proposals and arguments...
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