Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-21

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Debate on economy Thursday in Parliament

[02] Kosovo dominates SI delegation's talks in Belgrade

[03] Greek current accounts deficit up 26% in Jan., yr/yr

[01] Debate on economy Thursday in Parliament

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis received former minister and New Democracy (ND) leader Miltiades Evert at his Maximos Mansion office.

A day earlier on Tuesday evening, Karamanlis addressed an event marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Greek statesman Constantine Karamanlis, organised by the foundation bearing his name.

"The fact that we are here today, representatives of all the political forces, is a great honour for the memory of the great Macedonian politician," the prime minister said in a brief address referring to his uncle, namesake and founder of ND.

The premier added that Constantine Karamanlis was a politician who sealed the course of the country, not only with his strategic foresight, but with his overall political presence as well.

Addresses were made on behalf of the main opposition PASOK party by Evangelos Venizelos, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) by Orestis Kolozov and the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) by its leader Alekos Alavanos.

The event, opened by former foreign minister Petros Molyviatis, was attended by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, former president Kostis Stephanopoulos, former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, most cabinet members and by many Parliamentary deputies.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Parliament.

[02] Kosovo dominates SI delegation's talks in Belgrade

In the meeting with the SI delegation, Serbian President Boris Tadic reiterated that Serbia will not budge from a position of never accepting an independent Kosovo, leaving no room for concessions on this issue.

Serbia's sovereignty will be defended through diplomatic means and not with war, stated the Serbian president, voicing a hope that the United Nations will not violate Resolution 1244, which was passed in 1999.

In a press conference after the meeting, the PASOK leader said the SI acknowledged that Serbia was in a difficult position and that the visit's objective was to declare that "our region needs unity, to have its voice heard and that the region belongs to Europe and that we want Serbia to soon become a part of the EU."

"We are here in an effort to upgrade the EU role in the issue of Kosovo. The United States have a say, and so does Russia, whereas the EU is absent," he stressed, adding that Greece could also have a voice, playing the role it deserves.

Referring to the Kosovo issue, he supported a compromise solution serving the region's stability.

The Kosovo issue also dominated a meeting between the delegation and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, who backed the continuation of negotiations and stated that Serbia counts on Russia's help to stop the Ahtisaari plan, leading to Kosovo's independence, from being ratified by the UN Security Council.

Domestic political developments and the efforts toward forming a government were also discussed in the meetings with Tadic and Kostunica.

President Tadic stated that the political situation in Serbia is greatly dependent on developments regarding Kosovo, and therefore, the solution should be the product of compromise. He also stated that the talks aimed at forming a government are on the right path and expressed the belief that they will give results soon.

The SI delegation departs for Pristina on Wednesday afternoon for talks with Albanian leadership and representatives of the Serb community there.

[03] Greek current accounts deficit up 26% in Jan., yr/yr

The trade deficit rose by 553 million euros in January, reflecting an increase of net payments on vessels by 310 million euros, while net payments on fuel imports rose by 34 million euros.

Exports of goods (excluding fuel and vessels) rose by 14.06 pct, or 122 million euros, in January, while imports rose by 12.3 pct or 331 million euros.

The country's external balance showed that the services' surplus rose by 40 million euros, mainly due to lower deficit on the travel services' category and an increased surplus in the transport balance. A widening deficit of the incomes' balance mainly reflected higher net payments on interest of loans and deposits, while a higher surplus of the current transfers balance reflected higher net transfers from the European Union.

The capital transfers' surplus (from structural funds and the cohesion fund) almost doubled in January to 74 million euros.

The portfolio investment category recorded a net inflow of 4.192 billion euros in January, reflecting increased purchase of Greek state bonds and Greek-listed enterprises' shares, while domestic investors reduced their exposure in foreign shares and securities (by 322 mln and 293 mln euros, respectively).

Caption: An aerial view of the port of Piraeus' commercial container hub on Monday, Dec. 4, 2006. ANA-MPA / G. Christakis.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article