Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsakalotos: Government's aim is to exit the adjustment program in 2018

[02] Authorities will not tolerate violence from extreme right-wing elements, says Toskas

[03] French ambassador Christophe Chantepy visits Patras, meets mayor and Katsifaras

[01] Tsakalotos: Government's aim is to exit the adjustment program in 2018

"Our aim is to exit this program in 2018 […] to leave the extreme supervision and enter a different path. And for this other path we need a solution on debt so that it is sustainable, we need to tap the markets," he said.

The minister said the government does not claim to have achieved a "success story", as previous governments have in the past, noting there are "many things in the agreement that will sadden people" but there are also "things for which we can be pleased about".

"This is why we say the main battle is the fight against supervision," he explained, adding that "there will be gray areas" even when the country completes its aid program.

Commenting on the lengthy negotiations with the institutions, Tsakalotos asked whether the opposition believes it would have been better if they had concluded last December without the offsetting measures included in this deal. He also rejected New Democracy's claim that to implement the offsetting measures the country will need to overshoot its fiscal targets, saying that the government will simply have to meet these targets.

[02] Authorities will not tolerate violence from extreme right-wing elements, says Toskas

The statement responded to a news report published in "Efimeritha ton Syntakton" on Sunday which presented evidence linking an active police officer with the extreme-right Golden Dawn party and to Sunday's attacks against migrants in Aspropyrgos.

"You know what the situation was previously and what is now. Therefore, every Greek citizen can make the comparison. We are not willing to tolerate the slightest violence by extreme elements against any immigrant. In this country the law must be enforced and will be enforced," he said.

"And the law will be harsh in dealing with those who commit violence. The same applies to any extreme right-wing element, whether it appears with a legitimate façade or not," he added.

[03] French ambassador Christophe Chantepy visits Patras, meets mayor and Katsifaras

Chantepy and Katsifaras discussed the prospects for lasting cooperation in tourism, the agricultural economy, research and innovation. With respect to tourism, the French ambassador noted that western Greece was an extremely popular tourism destination for the French due to its natural beauty and great cultural interest, the regional authority said.

They also discussed the Network for Alliance and Entrepreneurship in Western Greece set up by the regional authority and explored the possible participation of the French embassy in a conference that will take place at the end of the year.

In a meeting with Peletidis, the French ambassador was briefed on the port city's problems and the mayor proposed closer cooperation in culture.

Chantepy also visited the French Institute in Patras, which he said acted as a bridge between Western Greece and France.

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