Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-06 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Mitsotakis promises meritocracy and evaluation in public administration [02] Tourism minister discusses marine research proposals with French ocean explorer [03] Government wasted seven valuable months with negotiations, Potami leader says --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Mitsotakis promises meritocracy and evaluation in public administration New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he will promote meritocracy and evaluation in public administration, during an introductory meeting with people who submitted their candidacy for ND's registry of party officials on Saturday. "Meritocracy everywhere, evaluation everywhere. The best will be promoted based on their work and their abilities. This is what Greek society needs," he told the candidates. "What happened with the registry is unprecedented for a traditional party. Among the things we achieved was to turn a party from a closed structure where you needed to have personal relations with the leader or some party cadres, to an open cell of new, worthy people," he added. Mitsotakis reassured the candidates that what differentiates ND from the parties governing today –SYRIZA and ANEL- are meritocracy and evaluation. "It is between those who want to offer their services and those who see ghosts everywhere, who sow hatred and division and who only care about hiring their few friends," he said. [02] Tourism minister discusses marine research proposals with French ocean explorer Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura met with aquanaut, ocean conservationist and documentary filmmaker Fabien Cousteau in her office on Saturday, to discuss the prospects of implementing marine research programs and projects in Greece. If the collaboration between Greece and the researcher's staff is successful, the country will benefit from the attraction it will receive by the global community of underwater research, which in turn will boost tourism. Cousteau, grandson of the famous Jacques-Yves Cousteau, has expressed interest for cooperation in the field of marine research and is planning more meetings in Greece to promote his proposal. The two sides also discussed diving tourism. Kountoura expressed her satisfaction for Cousteau's interest in the country. [03] Government wasted seven valuable months with negotiations, Potami leader says The government's negotiations with the institutions wasted valuable time, burdening the economy, Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis said in an interview with "Ta Nea" newspaper published on Saturday. "Just as in 2015, the negotiations ended in a debacle for the government, causing great damage to the real economy […] We wasted seven valuable months," he was quoted as saying. "The issue is not whom the government will choose to extend mercy. The issue is to help the economy cover the lost ground of the seven-month delay. To lower taxes, strengthen productive forces. To help exports, lower unemployment, stop the brain drain," he added.