Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece's role as energy hub was pointed out during PM Tsipras' meeting with EU Commissioner Canete

[02] Greece and Cyprus' common position is solution without guarantees and occupation troops

[03] Second review may lead to fourth memorandum, ND spokesman Kikilias says

[04] Greek budget primary surplus down in 2016, BoG report

[05] We want Greek seamen to work in Greek-owned ships, Kouroumblis says

[01] Greece's role as energy hub was pointed out during PM Tsipras' meeting with EU Commissioner Canete

Moreover, according to a prime minister's press office announcement, the two men discussed the development of Greece's advantages in terms of the country's strategic position with investments and growth of energy infrastructures.

Towards this direction, the European official expressed the European Commission's support on the government's investment plans and the development of available funding tools.

[02] Greece and Cyprus' common position is solution without guarantees and occupation troops

Welcoming Pavlopoulos to the presidential mansion, Anastasiades referred to the excellent cooperation with the Greek government which he thanked for its support.

Referring to the negotiations on Cyprus, Pavlopoulos said that there is no pressure but support mostly from the part of the European Union and the European Commission on the positions we have defined and called on everyone to understand that by supporting Cyprus' sovereignty during the negotiations, they defend the sovereignty of the EU member states.

"Turkey", said the Greek president "must accept a solution that will allow to Cyprus to proceed in the European Union and to eurozone's hard core.

Moreover, he called anachronistic and unacceptable the guarantees and the remaining of the Turkish troops on the island noting that they set dangerous precedents.

[03] Second review may lead to fourth memorandum, ND spokesman Kikilias says

"Kyriakos Mitsotakis (ND leader) represents the progress, the investments and the common sense when Mr. Tsipras represents populism, opportunism and the logic of manipulation to maintain his position" said Kikilias during a press briefing.

ND spokesman accused the government that in the last 20 months has passed 18 amendments with aim the establishment of favouritism and reiterated that ND will not proceed with layoffs in the public sector. "We do not divide the country" he said.

On the second review of the Greek programme he estimated that it might lead to a fourth memorandum, to additional measures and to huge impasses.

[04] Greek budget primary surplus down in 2016, BoG report

Greek central government cash balance recorded a deficit of 3.569 billion euros in 2016, compared with a deficit of 3.359 billion in the previous year, the central bank said.

The central bank, in a report, said that in the January-December 2016 period, ordinary budget revenue amounted to 48.941 billion euros, compared to 45.607 billion in the corresponding period of last year. Revenue of 43 million euros, regarding Securities Markets Programme (SMP) income transfers from the Bank of Greece is excluded.

Ordinary budget expenditure, including expenditure of about 3.850 billion euros for the repayment of arrears, amounted to 51.143 billion euros, from 48.043 billion euros in January-December 2015.

[05] We want Greek seamen to work in Greek-owned ships, Kouroumblis says

He stressed that Greek shipping was a global pioneer despite the country's small size and presented the ministry's strategic goals, while he stressed the ministry will deal with any bureaucratic problems still existing to help Greek shipowners bring their ships back under the Greek flag and said that the country will give its response to the EU at the highest political level.

Europeans must understand that Greek shipping was not only for Greece but also a power for Europe, the ministry said, adding that upgrading maritime education was a top priority for the ministry as global shipping was expected to need 150,000 officials in the next 10 years.

Kouroumblis said the ministry will support the sea cruise sector in the country and will help to overcome any bureaucratic problems facing an investment in the port of Piraeus.

Theodore Veniamis president of the Union of Greek Shipowners, addressing the conference, urged the state and seamen trade unions to overcome trade union problems and to leave the maritime labor market offer new job positions under international law. He added that the goal remained to safeguard the competitiveness of Greek shipping and that meant stability in institutional framework and curing administrative, bureaucratic problems, raising hurdles in the daily smooth operation of shipping business.

He noted that a competitive Greek shipping was closely related with a further growth of shipping cluster and stressed that European shipping was not in danger from unfair competition practices among its members, but from competition from Far East countries and rapidly growing shipping clusters developed in the region.

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