Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM announces plans to set up Prime Minister's Office in Thessaloniki

[02] Michael Dukakis to ANA-MPA: Greece needs to implement policies for viable growth

[03] IMF's Delia Velculescu expected to return to Athens on Sept. 12, IMF spox reveals

[04] Greek students presented 'Diana Award' for anti-bullying by Britain's ambassador

[01] PM announces plans to set up Prime Minister's Office in Thessaloniki

According to sources from the organisations attending the meeting, Tsipras said he would set up a branch of the premier's office in Thessaloniki where he will meet with Thessaloniki and northern-Greece based bodies, as well as Balkan leaders visiting Greece.

While receiving representatives of the associations on Thursday, Tsipras had invited them to become "allies in the great efforts for the recovery and productive reconstruction of the country."

"We will strive not to hold this dialogue annually and opportunistically each September when TIF comes around but make it constant, so that we can find the best possible solutions for the problems that you face and we face," Tsipras said.

During the meeting, the business and industry association representatives raised various issues concerning them, including local matters relating to Thessaloniki port, as well as more general problems such as liquidity and non-performing loans. Tsipras also promised that the TIF will remain where it is and not be moved.

[02] Michael Dukakis to ANA-MPA: Greece needs to implement policies for viable growth

"I'm very happy because we're back here in Greece once more ad we hope we can help the country exit the crisis," Dukakis told ANA-MPA in Greek, noting that the US learned their lesson from the deep recession of the 1930's and that Greece now needs economic incentives.

"How you will create this incentive from the EU is an issue that needs to be examined," he said adding that you cannot impose new cuts and taxes. "This will not help Greece exit the crisis."

During his speech at the forum, Dukakis discussed the same issue and noted that his experience as governor of Massachusetts showed that the most important element to gain people's support for reforms if the integrity of the political personnel.

After the forum, he was received by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who described him as a "notable Greek-American and experienced politician" in a tweet on his official Twitter page.

[03] IMF's Delia Velculescu expected to return to Athens on Sept. 12, IMF spox reveals

Asked about the ongoing case against former head of Greece's statistics agency (ELSTAT) Andreas Georgiou, Rice said the IMF does not comment on cases under investigation by the courts. He noted, however, that the IMF fully shares the concerns expressed by the European Commission in its letter to the Greek government.

The spokesman defended the progress made in ELSTAT's portrayal of statistical data in Greece after 2010, saying that the quality of statistical figures had greatly improved. He noted the need to protect this progress since the accuracy of statistics was a vital element and crucial condition for the IMF's participation in the new Greek programme.

Rice said that Georgiou was a former IMF executive but was unable to confirm whether Georgiou had resigned from the IMF in 2010, as soon as he took over as head of ELSTAT.

[04] Greek students presented 'Diana Award' for anti-bullying by Britain's ambassador

This is the first time a Greek team receives the award, which is aimed at "recognizing and honoring actions by young people who change society for the better," the embassy said in a press release.

"It is the first time that this great international distinction goes to Greek school. I warmly congratulate all the students for their achievements," the ambassador said in his brief statement. "These 30 students were able to address the very serious problem of bullying and violence in their local community. With a series of actions, they proved that taking a stand against bullying and violence is important and powerful," he added.

Fred Featham, of the "Featham School of English", said the team of volunteers is a tight-knit group that managed within two years to win this important award from a foreign country, which bears the name of Princess Diana. "It is an exceptional honour both for our schools, which celebrate 40 years this year, as well as for the town and our country," he added.

The "Diana Award" is a legacy to Princess Diana's belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. It is aimed at those youngsters who have the confidence and courage to defend their beliefs and volunteer to improve the lives of others in schools and their communities.

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