Prime minister Costas Karamanlis met Monday with Transparency International (TI) chairwoman Huguette Labelle, TI Greece National Chapter director Costas Bakouris, and justice minister Sotiris Hatzigakis.

   Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Hatzigakis said that Greece, in the framework of the United Nations, was developing a programme with TI that will culminate in October.

   He said that, soon, the government will advance a draft law for ratification of TI, noting that the government was particularly interested in this issue, and that with ratification of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), it would be placing a small stepping stone in that area.

   Asked to comment on recent attacks on the justice system by MPs, Hatzigakis said that Justice was doing its job well, and should not be hindered in the exercise of its work.

   Labelle, in turn, expressed satisfaction with the meeting, adding that premier karamanlis placed particular weight on the issue of transparency.

   She also thanked the prime minister and the Greek government's decision to host "the most important international conference against corruption" in end-October in Greece.

   Bakouris also expressed satisfaction with the meeting, noting that a major survey on the issue of corruption and what can be done to improve the situation in Greece would be presented later in the day at an event at the Megaron-Athens Concert Hall organised by the Greek National Chapter of TI, which will be addressed by prime minister Karamanlis and main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou.

   Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis