Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-04-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK leader addresses Economist conference

[01] PASOK leader addresses Economist conference

"I wish to make the folliwing observation on every effort made by various mediators. Every effort must help the goal of a mutually acceptable solution and must not become a part of the problem," he said.

Referring to the recent NATO summit in Bucharest, Papandreou said that a negative development for Greek national interests was averted and reiterated that Greece's aim was not the veto but a solution to the issue of the name of FYROM, that will be mutually acceptable on a composite name with a geographical qualifier for all uses without exception.

Papandreou further stressed that efforts to solve the issue of the name must be continued, but always under the auspices of the UN.

The PASOK leader also opposed the establishment of a stste in Kosovo and its unilateral recognition since, as he said, they constitute a violation of international law.

Commenting on international developments in general, as well as on developments in the region of Greece, Papandreou stressed that three major challenges currently exist, focusing on climatic change as being the first. He added that this issue has becone a priority at the Socialist International, while mentioning that the impact is also considerable in Greeece in agricultural production and in other sectors, such as the water balance and the spectre of desertisation.

Papandreou determined security and stability as being the second major challenge, that is at our door, and that is related to the international political and economic system.

He went on to say that "what is necessary is a new democratic and global governance with strong institutions for arranging and balancing great inequalities, as well as restricting the dangerous accumulation of wealth and power in the hands of a few and uncontrolled elements."

Papandreou assessed that "first of all Europe must activate itself in this effort, must awaken from its lethargy and contribute to stability and probably with the incorporation of wider regions such as Russia and the Mediterranean."

The second factor that can play a role in the democratisation of the global governance system, as Papandreou said, "is a new progressive government in the United States which will distance itself from the Cold War complex or the phobia complex that was cultivated following September 11 and that will have the courage to contribute to the shaping of a fairer world."

Lastly, Papandreou drew three conclusions concerning the country's economic state: "the Greek government did not utilise the leading position of the country and of its economy in 2004 and wasted time, money and reliability, the Greek economy is currently unprotected against international turbulence since there is no plan for handling and managing crises and the country, in a rapidly changing environment, is being called on to claim its own economic and growth identity in a new global distribution of labour."

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