Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-03-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras' letter led to the seven-part meeting, gov't spokesman says

[02] Tourism is the only hope for growth, New Democracy leader says

[01] PM Tsipras' letter led to the seven-part meeting, gov't spokesman says

He noted that this letter was sent to other European leaders and officials, including French President Francois Hollande and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

"It said nothing more and nothing less from what we already said last week…that there are difficulties with the liquidity and that political initiatives need to be taken," he said.

Sakellaridis said this letter triggered the so-called seven-part meeting on the sidelines of the EU summit and added "All those issues were discussed during this meeting and an answer was given."

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, in a letter dated March 15, warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel that it will be "impossible" for Athens to service its debt obligations due in the coming weeks if the EU fails to distribute any short-term financial assistance to the country, British paper Financial Times reported a few hours before a scheduled meeting between Tsipras and Merkel in Berlin.

The letter, the report noted, came just before Merkel agreed to meet Tsipras on the sidelines of an EU summit last Thursday and invited him for a one-on-one session in Berlin, scheduled for Monday evening, at 18.00 (Athens time).

According to Peter Spiegel's report from Brussels, Tsipras in his letter warns that his government will be forced to choose between paying off loans, owed primarily to the International Monetary Fund, or continue social spending. He blames European Central Bank limits on Greece's ability to issue short-term debt as well as eurozone authorities' refusal to disburse any aid before Athens adopts a new round of economic reforms.

"Given that Greece has no access to money markets, and also in view of the 'spikes' in our debt repayment obligations during the spring and summer...it ought to be clear that the ECB's special restrictions when combined with disbursement delays would make it impossible for any governments to service its debt," Tsipras wrote among others, according to the British paper.

[02] Tourism is the only hope for growth, New Democracy leader says

Samaras underlined that tourism is the only solution for growth and described the closing of shops when two cruise ships with thousands of tourists docked at the port as a "big mistake."

"I hope that tourism (inflows) which came to record levels during the previous government as a result of our efforts will continue because it is our only hope for growth. Because there is no discussion on economy and growth. All they care about is their party and writing off those that we have achieved with great effort," Samaras stressed.

Samaras has been in Kalamata since Sunday, in order to attend the celebrations for the 194th anniversary of the liberation of the city, which will take place on Monday afternoon in the presence of the President of the Greek Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

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