Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Staff-level agreement will be agreed by March 20, says government official

[02] Mitsotakis presents ND's proposals for government in Facebook Q&A

[03] Cretan farmers on their way to Athens to march against higher taxation, social security fees

[01] Staff-level agreement will be agreed by March 20, says government official

"The staff-level agreement will be agreed by March 20," the official said, adding the fiscal issue has been closed as the International Monetary Fund has accepted that there is no fiscal gap in 2018. The official said talks now concern the measures demanded by the institutions and the anti-measures proposed by the government –which will not be included in the staff-level agreement - as well as labour law reforms.

Concerning the timeline for the talks, the same official said it is possible for the delegation to remain in Athens on Wednesday and the issue is being discussed now, during the break.

[02] Mitsotakis presents ND's proposals for government in Facebook Q&A

Mitsotakis said his cabinet will be smaller than the current one and managerial positions in the public sector would be filled after personal interviews of the candidates by mixed committees. "Meritocracy everywhere, this is our main belief," he said.

Asked about the public broadcaster ERT, he said it needs to promote pluralism and objective information and at the same time respect the money of the Greek taxpayer, and reiterated his pledge to cut the monthly levy paid by taxpayers for ERT by half.

Concerning the vote of Greeks living abroad, Mitsotakis said he has already submitted a legislative proposal on the subject. "For reasons we all understand, SYRIZA has abandoned the issue. We will vote it the first month ND will be in government along with the change in electoral law," he said.

On the creation of private universities, he reiterated his pledge to change article 16 which forbids it but also noted his government would implement a comprehensive upgrade of public universities "which will continue to be chosen by the large majority of Greek youths."

Asked about the possibility the government of Alexis Tsipras launching a new referendum asking Greeks to vote in or out of the Eurozone, he responded: "I cannot imagine history repeating itself as a farce."

Concerning the violence in the city center, he said the police have the operational ability to handle the situation if given the political coverage.

[03] Cretan farmers on their way to Athens to march against higher taxation, social security fees

In Chania, 165 farmers are said to have boarded the ship while others are travelling for the ports of Rethymno, Lasithi and Chania.

Farmers are protesting against the government's new laws that increased taxation and social security contributions, as well as the high production cost for their products. "We want Crete to light up the flame of the struggle and satisfy our demands," the farmers' representative Giorgos Chalkias said, adding the new measures will destroy the farming sector.

After gathering at Vathis square, farmers will march towards the ministry of Agricultural Production.

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