Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-03-17

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greek and Luxembourg PMs discuss EU's fiscal prospects, Turkey's European prospects and Stability Pact

[02] Trade union group cites strong strike turnout

[03] Athens firm on stance vis-a-vis FYROM name issue

[04] Greek economic sentiment index up 10.1 pct in 2004

[01] Greek and Luxembourg PMs discuss EU's fiscal prospects, Turkey's European prospects and Stability Pact

Karamanlis, who will have dinner in Brussels on Monday night with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said "now is the time for Turkey to prove practically, in practice, that it can and, indeed, intends to fully comply with the acquis communautaire. We are expecting the Turkish government to take all necessary measures to fulfill all criteria and commitments, as they have been set by the European Council."

Juncker said on his part that "the sooner Turkey signs the Ankara protocol, for which it has committed itself, so much the better for itself and the EU."

According to reports, Karamanlis pointed out during the talks that high standards have been set for Turkey now, following the decisions taken by the EU on the indefinite suspension of negotiations with Croatia.

The prime minister said that, in light of Monday's meeting, the atmosphere has improved and a good personal relation undoubtedly exists.

"I think that this helps, but it does not mean we agree fully. However, this is not a reason not to discuss with the prime minister and the government of a neighbouring country," Karamanlis said.

Replying to a question by the press on violations of Greek air space, the Greek prime minister said we have committed ourselves to smooth out our relations with Turkey fully.

"Evidently, the path is not easy to achieve this target. There are many obstacles, the climate is much better. We support the European prospect of Turkey, because we expect that a Europeanised Turkey will be a much more compatible neighbour for Greece and the other countries," he said.

Karamanlis also said that Turkey must prove step-by-step that it adopts European conditions, such as human rights, minority rights and the way it behaves in its foreign relations.

[02] Trade union group cites strong strike turnout

The stoppages were called to protest against goverment policy affecting incomes, pensions, and company restructuring in state-run corporations.

For the first time in years, shop workers joined a mass strike, in order to protest against government proposals on new shop opening hours. Major stores in Athens city centre were closed, GSEE, the country's largest trade union umbrella group, said in a statement.

The union group's president, Christos Polyzogopoulos, told reporters that more strikes would be called if the government failed to change its policies.

[03] Athens firm on stance vis-a-vis FYROM name issue

A foreign ministry spokesman, nevertheless, said the Skopje government appears "ensnared in positions and rhetorical intransigence, and doesn't comprehend the messages it is receiving from Brussels (the European Union) and elsewhere".

Spokesman George Koumoutsakos reiterated that Athens continues to assiduously maintain a "productive policy and substantive dialogue" vis-?-vis the "name issue".

[04] Greek economic sentiment index up 10.1 pct in 2004

Speaking to reporters, Sioufas said the economic sentiment index rose by 10.1 percent in the January-December 2004 period, compared with the same period in 2003, exceeding a 9.2 percent growth average rate in the EU.

The Greek minister stressed that the index recovered strongly last year after a 5.8 percent drop in 2003.

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