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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-11-07Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] FinMin pleased over EU report on economyEconomy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the results of the Eurogroup and ECOFIN meetings here regarding the course of the Greek economy.Speaking to reporters after an ECOFIN meeting, the minister said the European Commission's autumn forecasts were particularly positive, as they acknowledged significant growth dynamism for the Greek economy accompanied by a major increase in investments, higher employment and lower unemployment. Alogoskoufis noted that the Commission's report also acknowledged a significant fiscal effort made over the last two years, pushing the country's fiscal deficits below 3.0 percent of GDP this year and over the next two years. The Greek minister, however, underlined that fiscal efforts were not complete, adding: "we are in the crucial last stage of reducing deficits below 3.0 pct in 2006. This does not mean the end of our fiscal effort as we have a duty under a Stability and Growth Pact to present balanced or slightly surplus budgets as soon as possible." "Greece still has major fiscal problems, such as a high public debt, and for this reason it should continue its fiscal restructuring effort, although at a slower pace, to achieve fiscal stabilization," he said. He also stressed that efforts should focus on reforms and improving competitiveness. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Alogoskoufis. [02] DM to pay official visit to SerbiaNational Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis departs on Wednesday for Belgrade to begin an official visit to Serbia, the ministry announced on Tuesday.Meimarakis is scheduled to meet with his Serbian counterpart, Defence Minister Zoran Stankovic, for talks on matters related to military and technical defence cooperation between the two countries. He will also meet separately with Serb President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, and with Patriarch Pavle of Serbia. Meanwhile, in statements to the Tanjug news agency on Tuesday, Meimarakis reiterated Greece's support for a permanent and viable solution in Kosovo. The minister echoed Athens' position of avoiding any "imposed solution" in the region and observed that the process for a settlement of Kosovo's status has entered a sensitive phase, while adding that today's uncertainty should not continue because it could have a negative impact on stability throughout the Balkans. "For the sake of security and stability both sides should work for a mutual compromise," he stressed, while expressing a hope that negotiations will follow a positive course and lead to the right conditions for a permanent and viable. He also referred to EU's support for Kosovo institutions to be established after the status question is settled. [03] Rare Armenian manuscripts on loan to GreeceArmenia's prestigious Matenadaran manuscripts archive will loan out rare translations of Greek texts from classical antiquity for the use by scholars in Greece, under an agreement struck on Tuesday between Greek Parliament Vice-President George Sourlas and his visiting Armenian counterpart Vahan Hovanesian.According to a press release issued by Parliament, the texts will include works attributed to Plato, for which the original Greek text has been lost. Caption: A file photo of the Greek Parliament Building on Syntagma (Constitution) Square in downtown Athens. EPA/ANA-MPA/ L. Gouliamaki. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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