Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece-Russia friendship event

[02] FinMin on 2009 state budget

[03] Call for reduced work/wages

[01] Greece-Russia friendship event

"The Federation constitutes one more pedestal of a bridge that is bringing us even closer, strengthening the strategic development of our relations in all sectors with the Greeks living and creating in the Russian state being valuable helpers," the President of the Republic stressed in his message, pointing out that "between Hellenism snd the Russian people there have always been strong ties, in their collective historical memory the echo of the Byzantine empire and Orthodox Christian tradition have always been points of reference."

The President of the Republic further said that "in the conscience of the Russian people, Greek spiritual tradition stands high. On the other hand, the Russians were for the Greeks the people with whom they shared the same religion and common spiritual and historical roots," while congratulating the members of the Federation for "productive action and valuable contribution as a binding link between Greece and Russia."

Russian Federation President Dmitri Medvedev said in his own message, read by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ribkov, that "the ties of friendship, respect and confidence, that traditionally link the peoples of Russia and Greece, are based on firm spiritual-historical foundations and constitute a reliable beginning for the further widening of our strategic cooperation."

The Russian President underlined that "multifaceted dialogue is developing actively between the two countries, plans in the trade-economic sector that are mutually beneficial and of a large size are being implemented with success, cultural-humanitarian relations are being strengthened, cooperation on the international stage is developing" and expressed the conviction that the activity of the Friendship Federation "that has the ardent support of wide circles among public opinion in Russia and Greece" will continue its contribution to the multifaceted development of the constructive and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

Messages of greetings were also sent by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luskov, while Ribkov observed that "starting from Cyril and Methodius, Sofia Paleologina, who introduced the Byzantine emblem to Russia, the double-headed eagle, and reaching the South Stream pipeline, there are no other countries in Europe that are closer spiritually than Russia and Greece."

"The Federation constitutes one more pedestal of a bridge that is bringing us even closer, strengthening the strategic development of our relations in all sectors with the Greeks living and creating in the Russian state being valuable helpers," the President of the Republic stressed in his message, pointing out that "between Hellenism snd the Russian people there have always been strong ties, in their collective historical memory the echo of the Byzantine empire and Orthodox Christian tradition have always been points of reference."

The President of the Republic further said that "in the conscience of the Russian people, Greek spiritual tradition stands high. On the other hand, the Russians were for the Greeks the people with whom they shared the same religion and common spiritual and historical roots," while congratulating the members of the Federation for "productive action and valuable contribution as a binding link between Greece and Russia."

Russian Federation President Dmitri Medvedev said in his own message, read by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ribkov, that "the ties of friendship, respect and confidence, that traditionally link the peoples of Russia and Greece, are based on firm spiritual-historical foundations and constitute a reliable beginning for the further widening of our strategic cooperation."

The Russian President underlined that "multifaceted dialogue is developing actively between the two countries, plans in the trade-economic sector that are mutually beneficial and of a large size are being implemented with success, cultural-humanitarian relations are being strengthened, cooperation on the international stage is developing" and expressed the conviction that the activity of the Friendship Federation "that has the ardent support of wide circles among public opinion in Russia and Greece" will continue its contribution to the multifaceted development of the constructive and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

Messages of greetings were also sent by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luskov, while Ribkov observed that "starting from Cyril and Methodius, Sofia Paleologina, who introduced the Byzantine emblem to Russia, the double-headed eagle, and reaching the South Stream pipeline, there are no other countries in Europe that are closer spiritually than Russia and Greece."

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of the President of Republic Karolos Papoulias.

[02] FinMin on 2009 state budget

At this stage of the international crisis "we can only have a period of rest in relation to monetary adjustment," the minister said. Monetary adjustment that took place over the 2004-7 period and which constituted one of the main targets of economic policy "can only come second in relation to the problems of the real economy, this year," Alogoskoufis said, adding that "this is also the meaning of the flexible implementation of the stability and development pact."

However, the minister pointed out that "it is unfortunate" that the international crisis found us in the middle of the scheduled restructuring course of the country's public finances.

"We had said that our first goal was to reach the levels of 3 percent and below them. The second goal, meaning reaching the point of zero deficits, must be postponed," he said, since "we cannot pursue monetary adjustment at the same rate in a period of crisis."

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis

[03] Call for reduced work/wages

EBEA's head, Constantinos Mihalos, addressing a meeting between the Social Insurance Fund (IKA) with employers' unions and chambers, said the proposals were aiming to avoid any round of mass lay-offs because of an expanding financial crisis.

Responding to EBEA's proposals, Employment and Social Protection Minister Fani Palli-Petralia said the government would not allow this crisis to undermine labour relations and stressed that the government would persist with a policy for full and quality employment.

The confederation of commerce unions expressed its reservations to the proposals while the confederation of small- and medium-sized enterprises categorically dismissed the proposals. GSEE -Greece's largest trade union umbrella- said the proposal was unfair and anti-societal and noted that workers would climax their mobilizations in the next few days, ahead of a 24-hour Panhellenic strike on December 10.

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