|
|
|
Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-10-20
CONTENTS
[01] Deputy FM Valinakis meets with the Greek-Canadian community
[02] Transport disruption expected due to 24-hour strike Tuesday
[03] Current accounts deficit up
[04] FM meet ODIHR Director
[01] Deputy FM Valinakis meets with the Greek-Canadian community
Deputy Foreign Minister Yannnis Valinakis met with members of the
Greek-Canadian community in Montreal on his way back to Athens after
attending the Francophone Summit in Quebec on October 17-19 heading a
12-member delegation. Valinakis stressed that Greece is a strong
country with a strong economy and an equal member of the EU pointing
out that the Greek-Canadians should feel safe and proud. He referred
to the voting rights of the Greek expatriates stressing that
consultations are being made with all political parties represented in
parliament to ensure a 2/3 majority needed for the relative draft law
to be passed. He stressed that the Greek government's intention is to
give as soon as possible the right to vote to the Greeks abroad to
strengthen even more the ties between Greece and the Greeks of
Diaspora. On the FYROM name issue, Valinakis pointed out that in the
meeting he had in Quebec with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
and foreign ministry officials he conveyed the discontent of the Greek
government and the Greek-Canadians for the recent recognition of FYROM
by Canada under the name "Macedonia". He stated that bilateral
relations between Greece and Canada remain good adding that the
Canadian government should reconsider its stance on the issue of
FYROM. The deputy FM also referred to Turkey's aggressiveness and
pointed out that it should stop its irrational demands because the road
to the EU passes through the respect of human rights and maintaining
good neighbourly relations with Greece.
[02] Transport disruption expected due to 24-hour strike Tuesday
The 24-hour nationwide strike called by public and private sector
labour unions will cause serious disruptions to public transport
services on Tuesday. The main demands of the strike, called jointly by
the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Civil
Servants' Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY), are the adoption of
measures to deal with the high cost of living and unemployment, and the
social security issue, as well as in protest of the privatization of
state companies. The Hellenic Railways (OSE), proastiakos suburban
train and tram will be suspending service all day, while the metro,
urban electric railway service (ISAP) and trolley bus will run from 9am
to 9pm and the blue buses from 8am to 6pm. The air traffic controllers
will strike from 12 at noon to 4pm and no flights will be made inside
the Greek national air space. Most of the Olympic Airlines (OA)
flights will be cancelled and only one flight per destination will be
made due to the participation of the Federation of Civil Aviation
Unions (OSPA) in the strike. The private airline Aegean Airlines
announced that 23 of its flights will be cancelled while 26 will change
time.
[03] Current accounts deficit up
Greece's current accounts deficit widened by 13.4 percent in the
January-August period, to 21.989 billion euros, the Bank of Greece said
on Monday. The central bank, in a report, attributed this development
to higher deficits in the trade balance and the incomes balance during
the eight month period.
The trade deficit grew by 3.6 billion euros, reflecting a 2.641 billion
euros increase in net payments on fuel imports. The trade deficit,
excluding fuel and ships, showed export revenues grew 14 percent while
import payments rose by 8.1 percent.
The services surplus grew by 1.216 billion euros in the January-August
period, reflecting an increase in net revenues from transportation
services (1.140 billion euros), while gross revenues from
transportation services (mainly commercial shipping) grew by 22.8 pct.
Net proceeds from travel services grew by 242 million euros, while the
incomes deficit widened by 1.068 billion euros, reflecting higher net
payments on interest, dividends and profits.
The current transfers surplus grew by 874 million euros, reflecting
higher transfers from the EU to the Greek government. The financial
transactions balance showed that direct investment recorded a net
inflow of 1.166 billion euros, with the portfolio investment category
recording a net inflow of 12.593 billion euros. The other investment
category recorded a net inflow of 5.483 billion euros.
[04] FM meet ODIHR Director
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis received on Monday the OSCE Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Director, Ambassador
Janez Lenarcic, in view of Greece's assumption of the OSCE Presidency.
Welcoming the Slovenian official at the foreign ministry, FM Bakoyannis
stated that "Greece is ready for the presidency". No statements were
made after the meeting.
Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis
|
