Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-12-17

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] THE PRIORITIES OF THE GREEK EU PRESIDENCY

[02] DISPUTE OVER THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY

[03] PROTOPAPAS ON THE YAKIS STATEMENTS

[04] KARAMANLIS CALLS FOR A CHANGE OF POLICY IN THE ECONOMIC SECTOR

[05] SMALL GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] PAPANDREOU: HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

[07] THE TURKISH PROVOCATION CONTINUES IN THE AEGEAN

[08] BOOK ON ANDREAS PAPANDREOU PRESENTED

[09] COMMISSION ASKS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY MEASURES

[10] HALF GREEKS DO NOT KNOW THEIR EU RIGHTS

[11] GREEK LEFT LEADER IN ANKARA

[01] THE PRIORITIES OF THE GREEK EU PRESIDENCY

The priorities of the Greek EU Presidency were outlined by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in statements he made after the cabinet meeting today. Mr. Simitis referred to Cyprus, pointing out that Greece will help the Cypriot Republic and the Turkish Cypriots because everybody has the right to a common future.

He launched a strong criticism against right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy and its leader Kostas Karamanlis for the stance adopted on national issues and in the sector of the economy.

Outlining the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency, Mr. Simitis referred to the preparation of the accession acts for the new EU members, the development of the Lisbon policy on the competitiveness of the economy, employment, social cohesion and sustainable development. Also, he referred to the measures that need to be taken against illegal immigration, and the strengthening of the common EU foreign and defense policy.

[02] DISPUTE OVER THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY

After expressing his satisfaction with the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis sparked dispute between the government and the Opposition on the true state of the economy, when he stated that the 2003 budget is factitious and stressed that it is proof of the dead ends created by the conservative financial administration of the past few years.

We did not, of course, expect Mr. Karamanlis to have the courage to directly congratulate the Prime Minister and the government for this great national success, as many members of his party have done, stressed government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas in response.

But we were expecting, at least this year, that he would not choose the part of the refuted Cassandra concerning the economy. Unfortunately, he has, he pointed out and added:

He does not understand that the country is developing at unprecedented rates, that we are converging with the other countries of Europe, that this year's National Budget includes an unprecedented redistribution of funds and secures the funding of the social security plan and tax reductions in favor of the people.

In any case, we were not expecting to hear any proposals or ideas on the economy or the budget form his direction. Just dead-end criticism, complaints and misery, ended Mr. Protopapas.

The Opposition responded with statements by New Democracy spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos who pointed out that reports from major and valid international organizations of the European Union, and the Director of the Bank of Greece, do full justice to what ND has pointed out on the true state of the Greek economy.

Just recently, Eurostat characterized Mr. Christodoulakis, indirectly but very clearly, as the forger of budgets and crucial financial data. He should at last come to terms with the fact that the lies are over and that all logistic alchemies have been used up, he added.

[03] PROTOPAPAS ON THE YAKIS STATEMENTS

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas characterized as significant the fact that Turkish Foreign Minister Yassar Yakis spoke of an occupation army in Cyprus. Such a reference, stated Mr. Protopapas, reflects the whole truth and favors all the efforts made for an understanding to be reached that will lead to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Protopapas stated that currently there is a special skepticism in Turkey and therefore, prudence, responsibility and caution are needed to be displayed on behalf of Greece.

[04] KARAMANLIS CALLS FOR A CHANGE OF POLICY IN THE ECONOMIC SECTOR

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis called for a change of policy in the sector of economy in statements he made after the meeting he had at his office in Parliament with Bank of Greece Governor Nikos Garganas.

In the meeting they examined economic issues in view of the budget discussion that will take place in Parliament tomorrow. Mr. Karamanlis stated that in a number of points shared the same views with Mr. Garganas.

The leader of the main opposition party accused the government of a political fraud stating that according to Eurostat reports, the so-called fiscal reform was a myth. It was also proved that the budgets of the past few years were factitious, stated Mr. Karamanlis.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that in reality the debts, the public debt and the hidden debts, undermine the course of the economy and Greece continues to be the poorest country in the Euro-zone. He also said that the pace followed by the government of the Socialist Party of PASOK will not allow for true economic convergence. He said that there is a need to realize that the policy that has to be promoted should bring speedy implementation of structural changes through the liberalization of markets, the strengthening of competitiveness and good and rapid exploitation of EU funds.

[05] SMALL GAINS IN THE ASE

The banks supported the Athens Stock Exchange today which recorded gains in the second session of the week characterized by limited fluctuations.

The general index rose to +0.47% at 1.825,89 points, while the volume of transactions was at 95.3m euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 85 recorded gains and 219 had losses, while the value of 75 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] PAPANDREOU: HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou spoke of a historic opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem responding to a question on the change in the position of the Turkish political leadership and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash favoring the promotion of the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In the past few hours, Mr. Denktash appears to have a conciliatory spirit and states that he will seat at the negotiating table.

Turkish Foreign Minister Yassar Yakis stressed that the Cyprus issue must be resolved otherwise the European Union will accuse Turkey of keeping an occupation army in a European country.

Mr. Papandreou stated that the specific period of time includes many opportunities for the solution of the Cyprus problem and stressed that still there are many steps that need to be made.

[07] THE TURKISH PROVOCATION CONTINUES IN THE AEGEAN

The generals in Ankara continue the provocation after the change in the position of the Turkish political leadership and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash who adopted a stance in favor of the promotion of the efforts aimed at the solution of the Cyprus problem.

A total of 25 Turkish fighter jets violated the Athens FIR in central and north Aegean today. The Turkish provocation was faced successfully by Greek fighter jets.

[08] BOOK ON ANDREAS PAPANDREOU PRESENTED

The life of Andreas Papandreou, form his birth to the rise of PASOK to government, is recorded in the first volume of Andreas G. Papandreou 1919-1996, a book by historian and political scientist Katerina Varela, which was presented at the Ianos bookstore.

[09] COMMISSION ASKS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY MEASURES

New measures on the restraining of pension expenses, the eradication of tax evasion and changes in the labor market to encourage increased employment and keeping older employees in the labor market, was asked for by the European Commission.

The basic argument offered by the European Commission for the new measures is that this is the only way that Greece can secure the viability of its pension and social security plan in the future, as was stressed in today's publication of the Imerisia newspaper.

The proposal for the additional measures to be taken in the social security sector as well as in the labor market, is included in the decision plan of the European Commission, which will be formally published at the end of the week. Essentially, it is the Commission's response to the recent securities reform and the Greek report on the pensions strategy, which was sent to Brussels two months ago, by the Ministries of Economy and Finances and Labor and Social Securities.

Although the EU recognizes that the recent securities reform in Greece serves some intermediate goals and solves certain problems, it underlined that the specific measures will not secure the viability of the social security system in the long run.

The two main reasons are the high cost of funding pensions in relation to the Greek GDP, and the demographic aging Greece will face in the coming decades.

[10] HALF GREEKS DO NOT KNOW THEIR EU RIGHTS

Half the people in Greece do not know their rights as European citizens, according to information of the Eurobarometer, which was presented in Brussels.

Specifically, according to the information, although Greeks are among the most enthusiastic Europeans, since the vast majority supports the idea of a united Europe, they do not really know what Europe means. Also, two out of three are not informed on issues concerning the fundamental rights of EU citizens, while only one in three knows that he can work in another country of the EU. Finally, only one out of three Greeks knows that foreigners residing in Greece can participate in municipal elections.

In order to ascertain the knowledge of community member citizens, Eurostat set 11 questions, on 8 of which Greeks recorded the lowest scores in all of the European Union, while the most well informed European citizens are the Irish and the Finnish.

[11] GREEK LEFT LEADER IN ANKARA

The President of the Coalition of the Left Nikos Konstantopoulos visited Ankara yesterday heading a party delegation. Mr. Konstantopoulos met with the winner of the Turkish elections, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, yesterday morning, and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakys. The President of the Coalition also had meetings with the head of the Republican Party of Deniz Baykal and other minor party leaders.

Mr. Erdogan praised the efforts made by Mr. Konstantopoulos and the Coalition over the past 4 years, to bring Greece and Turkey closer together, for friendship and cooperation.

The good relations of our neighborhood, the warm friendship that has developed over the past few years between our two countries will also help world peace. I think it will greatly contribute to the European prospects of Turkey, as well as the resolving of the Cyprus issue, he pointed out.

On his side, Mr. Konstantopoulos expressed his belief that the Copenhagen decisions have the dynamic to form a new atmosphere.

We want to take advantage of this momentum, for better Greek-Turkish relations, to support Turkey's European prospects and to resolve the Cyprus issue. Obstacles in the resolving of the Cyprus issue are harmful to Greeks, Turks and Cypriots alike.

Mr. Konstantopoulos and the delegation of the Coalition visited the Foreign Ministry separately, and met with the Turkish Foreign Minister and discussed the heartfelt and warm relations of the two countries, and the role of political parties in forming an atmosphere of friendship, cooperation and a good neighborhood between the two people and the two countries.

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