Elections '96: News

NORTHERN GREECE IS A POLE OF DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE, SAYS PREMIER
Thessaloniki, September 6 (M.P.A.)

At the formal inauguration of Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair this evening, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis hailed Greece as "a leader of peace and security in the Balkans" and designated the country's northern region as a "pole of development and welfare."
In a cogent and analytical speech, the Premier focused on Greece's role in the Balkans stating that, being the only country-member of the European Union that borders with the other Balkan countries, Greece will embark on an exploratory, bilateral and multilateral, dialogue with the other neighboring countries in the region in order to examine the potential of creating a more cohesive economic cooperation in the Balkans which will work closely with the EU.
According to the Premier, various initiatives will be drawn within this framework in order to achieve multilateral cooperation, especially in the area of infrastructures.
"To begin with, the energy sector must become an example of systematic and lengthy cooperation," Mr. Simitis stated, adding that there are issues to be faced first, such as "protecting natural resources and operational security.
"In the long term, we must promote coordination in producing energy and linking electricity networks."
Mr. Simitis further elaborated on the country's communication and transportation sector, by pointing out that Greece is already moving in the direction of upgrading the Greek telecommunications network and its link with the international network of optical cables, while transportation networks will create new avenues for mobility, given, for example, the Egnatia Road Network, a public work of national importance which is slowly becoming a reality, while stable progress is being observed in other public works currently under construction in the ports of Igumenitsa, Thessaloniki, Volos, Kavala and Alexandroupolis, as well as in the 8 vertical road axes connecting Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace with the Balkan countries, which will accelerate the development rate in northern Greece.
However, the Premier considers the area of investments to be the weighest factor in achieving economic development.
"Economic restructure and demand increases, coupled by a privatization trend in the Balkans, are all factors that will surely attract foreign investors, especially in the areas of telecommunications, energy, as well as medicine, tourism and banking," said Mr. Simitis, while he added that Greece has the nencessary advantages for foreign investments in the greater region, "which is the primary task to be completed by the recently-founded Hellenic Center of Investments."
Giving leading importance to northern Greece, Mr. Simitis itemized the progress noted in the region's largest projects, beginning with the Egnatia Road Network, funding for which, as he stated, has been secured for two-thirds of its construction.
The Premier reminded that funding for the remaining construction of this public work will be sought through a bidding process.
Referring to the "Macedonia" airport, Mr. Simitis listed the interim solution of a sub-marine runway and the extension of the already-existing facilties. Moreover, the Premier pointed out that Thessaloniki's port is already undergoing a process of securing additional funding for upgrade-expansion projects whose cost, so far, has been assessed at 16 billion GDR.
Regarding Thessaloniki's rapid transit system, a project still on drawing paper, final decision-making has been postponed until after the elections, although 50 billion GRD have already been secured in project funds.
Lastly, the Prime Minister referred to technology, stressing the decision for the creation of a technological "Via Egnatia" wherein he reminded that presidential decrees have already been signed for the founding of four institutes in Northern Greece: information and telematics in Thessaloniki, cultural and training technology in Xanthi, biological research in Ioannina and technological textile-manufacturing company of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki.

NORTHERN GREECE IS A POLE OF DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE, SAYS PREMIER
Thessaloniki, September 6 (M.P.A.)

At the formal inauguration of Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair this evening, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis hailed Greece as "a leader of peace and security in the Balkans" and designated the country's northern region as a "pole of development and welfare."
In a cogent and analytical speech, the Premier focused on Greece's role in the Balkans stating that, being the only country-member of the European Union that borders with the other Balkan countries, Greece will embark on an exploratory, bilateral and multilateral, dialogue with the other neighboring countries in the region in order to examine the potential of creating a more cohesive economic cooperation in the Balkans which will work closely with the EU.
According to the Premier, various initiatives will be drawn within this framework in order to achieve multilateral cooperation, especially in the area of infrastructures.
"To begin with, the energy sector must become an example of systematic and lengthy cooperation," Mr. Simitis stated, adding that there are issues to be faced first, such as "protecting natural resources and operational security.
"In the long term, we must promote coordination in producing energy and linking electricity networks."
Mr. Simitis further elaborated on the country's communication and transportation sector, by pointing out that Greece is already moving in the direction of upgrading the Greek telecommunications network and its link with the international network of optical cables, while transportation networks will create new avenues for mobility, given, for example, the Egnatia Road Network, a public work of national importance which is slowly becoming a reality, while stable progress is being observed in other public works currently under construction in the ports of Igumenitsa, Thessaloniki, Volos, Kavala and Alexandroupolis, as well as in the 8 vertical road axes connecting Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace with the Balkan countries, which will accelerate the development rate in northern Greece.
However, the Premier considers the area of investments to be the weighest factor in achieving economic development.
"Economic restructure and demand increases, coupled by a privatization trend in the Balkans, are all factors that will surely attract foreign investors, especially in the areas of telecommunications, energy, as well as medicine, tourism and banking," said Mr. Simitis, while he added that Greece has the nencessary advantages for foreign investments in the greater region, "which is the primary task to be completed by the recently-founded Hellenic Center of Investments."
Giving leading importance to northern Greece, Mr. Simitis itemized the progress noted in the region's largest projects, beginning with the Egnatia Road Network, funding for which, as he stated, has been secured for two-thirds of its construction.
The Premier reminded that funding for the remaining construction of this public work will be sought through a bidding process.
Referring to the "Macedonia" airport, Mr. Simitis listed the interim solution of a sub-marine runway and the extension of the already-existing facilties. Moreover, the Premier pointed out that Thessaloniki's port is already undergoing a process of securing additional funding for upgrade-expansion projects whose cost, so far, has been assessed at 16 billion GDR.
Regarding Thessaloniki's rapid transit system, a project still on drawing paper, final decision-making has been postponed until after the elections, although 50 billion GRD have already been secured in project funds.
Lastly, the Prime Minister referred to technology, stressing the decision for the creation of a technological "Via Egnatia" wherein he reminded that presidential decrees have already been signed for the founding of four institutes in Northern Greece: information and telematics in Thessaloniki, cultural and training technology in Xanthi, biological research in Ioannina and technological textile-manufacturing company of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki.