Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-10-07

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] REFORMS WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY

[02] THE SONG "XENO ROUCHO" WON THE FIRST PRIZE IN THE THESSALONIKI SONG

[03] INAUGURATION OF VESTRY DONATED BY THE CATALANS TO MOUNT ATHOS

[04] GREECE WILL BE THE GUEST COUNTRY IN MADRID'S "LIBER" BOOK FAIR

[05] ALOGOSKOUFIS ON FISCAL ADJUSTMENT

[06] GREEK GOVERNMENT REPORT ON PUBLIC FINANCES

[07] POLICE DELEGATIONS FROM GREECE AND ALBANIA MET IN GJIROKASTRA

[08] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT

[01] REFORMS WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis speaking in the formal dinner given in honor of the European Central Bank board of directors in the Ancient Agora in Athens stressed that Greece moves forward with determination and social responsibility with the implementation of reforms that were necessary for many years now to make its Economy more productive, more competitive, more extravert.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that the Economic and Monetary Union is the most promoted pylon of the EU and assured that Greece makes decisive steps in order to take advantage of its participation in the EMU more effectively and faster.

Mr. Karamanlis stressed that the monetary unification, the creation of a big common market and the single currency brought considerable benefits to all Eurozone member states. He said that the state economies were rid of the cost associated with the 12 different state currencies, while inter-border transactions, trade exchanges, and tourism were greatly facilitated. Medium-term and long-term interest rates were cut or kept at low levels a fact that contributes considerably to investments, economic and growth.

He said that price stability was achieved given the fact that inflation in the Eurozone is at the lowest point ever in spite of the unprecedented international oil price hikes.

The Prime Minister underlined that the investment environment in Greece has improved in the past year and a half and continues to improve.

He said that Greece is the gateway to Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and Europe adding that it is the only EU and NATO member state in a region with significant growth prospects, while it gradually turns into an international energy center.

He also referred to the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and the Greek-Turkish and Greek-Italian natural gas pipelines. Also, he referred to the Treaty for the establishment of the Energy Community in SE Europe to be signed in late October, the strong presence of the Greek banks in SE Europe, and the upward course of exports to SE Europe.

[02] THE SONG "XENO ROUCHO" WON THE FIRST PRIZE IN THE THESSALONIKI SONG FESTIVAL

The song Xeno Roucho performed by Stavroula Arvanitopoulou, music by Dimitris Livanos and lyrics by Christos Stavrakoudis, won the first prize in the revived Thessaloniki Song Festival yesterday. The song will compete with other 11 performed by well-known singers in the second part of the festival to take place on Sunday.

The second and third prize won the songs Kommatia gia sena written by Dimitris Laskaridis and performed by Sozos Liberopoulos and Choris esena written and performed by Efstathia Mantzoufa. The winners received money prizes of 20,000, 10,000 and 5,000 euros respectively.

[03] INAUGURATION OF VESTRY DONATED BY THE CATALANS TO MOUNT ATHOS

The formal inauguration of a vestry donated to Mount Athos by the Catalan government will take place on October 9 at Vatopedi Monastery in the presence of Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis, Deputy Culture Minister Petros Tatoulis, Ministry of Macedonia Thrace general secretary Loukas Ananikas, Mount Athos governor Giorgos Dalakouras and representatives of the Catalan government.

According to Thessaloniki daily Angelioforos, the story that led to the construction of the vestry is very old and can be traced back to the 14th century. Mercenaries from Catalonia arrived in Byzantium to back the empire which was in decline. The help was not effective and the Catalan mercenaries left Byzantium. On their way back to their homeland they engaged in extensive looting and the monastic community of Mount Athos was not spared.

Seven centuries later a Catalan government official visited the Vatopedi Monastery. Sometime in the year 2000, when the formal guest told the Mount Athos monks where he was coming from he was met with strong discontent in response to what had happened back in the 14th century.

The monks explained to the Catalan official where the discontent came from and when he returned back home he informed his government about it. The Catalan government took care of things by contacting the Mount Athos administration and offering the necessary funds to build the vestry in question.

[04] GREECE WILL BE THE GUEST COUNTRY IN MADRID'S "LIBER" BOOK FAIR

Greece will be the guest country in Madrid's 23rd International Book Fair LIBER on October 12-15. The exhibition is held every year in turns in Madrid and Barcelona and attracts the interest of professionals from Spanish-speaking and other countries from around the world. It is a professional exhibition where small or major deals are reached between publishing houses.

A total of 80 Greek publishing houses and 1,500 Greek books will be presented in the Greek pavilion as well as books published in the past decade and translated into Spanish and Catalan.

[05] ALOGOSKOUFIS ON FISCAL ADJUSTMENT

Deficit reduction is achieved through structural measures by three-fourths and securitization of past debts constitutes only one-fourth of fiscal adjustment, stated Minister of Finance and Economy Giorgos Alogoskoufis.

Referring to fiscal adjustment, the minister stated that the government inherited a tragic situation which had to be dealt with to avoid fiscal imbalance.

He said that mild adjustment was consciously sought because it leads to economic growth, employment rise and promotion of social cohesion.

Public deficit from 6.6% in 2004 dropped to 3.6% in 2005 and it is predicted to drop to 2.8% in 2006. Mr. Alogoskoufis also stated that the growth rate is at 3.6% and unemployment rate was cut by 1 percentage point.

The securitization of past debts will take place in accordance with the Eurostat rules, stated Mr. Alogoskoufis and if there is disagreement regarding securitization in 2006 it will be settled in the ECOFIN which made the recommendation to Greece.

[06] GREEK GOVERNMENT REPORT ON PUBLIC FINANCES

The Greek government will submit a report on public finances to the European Commission by the end of October. The report will be studied and by mid November the 2006 predictions will be made public, stated European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs.

Mr. Almunia had contacts in Athens with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis and leading Greek officials.

The European Commissioner assured that he will not propose measures that will hurt growth.

The 2006 budget draft plan is up in the air, commented Vasso Papandreou head of the Economy Sector for the main opposition Socialist Party PASOK.

The European Commissioner stated that he recognizes the efforts made by the government to improve public finances adding, however, that efforts must continue.

In a joint press conference yesterday with Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis, Mr. Almunia characterized certain of those measures as insufficient and added that fiscal adjustment in 2006 must be of a structural nature.

On his part, Mr. Alogoskoufis stated that the Greek Ministry of Finance had and continues to have very good cooperation with the Commissioner. He referred to the achievements of the Greek economy in spite of the very difficult circumstances and said that deficit from 6.6% in 2004 was brought down to 3.6% this year without putting at risk growth rate which is at 3.6%.

[07] POLICE DELEGATIONS FROM GREECE AND ALBANIA MET IN GJIROKASTRA

Police delegations from Greece and Albania met in the Albanian city of Gjirokastra and discussed issues of bilateral cooperation on border security, measures against organized crime and illegal immigration. Northern Greece Police Inspector General Efstratios Kiriakatis headed the Greek delegation, while Albanian Ministry of Public Order Organized Crime Enforcement Agency general director Costa Beliuri was in charge of the Albanian delegation.

Mr. Kiriakatis stated that the meeting confirmed the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation underlining that there is direct communication between the police authorities of the two countries and immediate exchange of information.

Within the framework of bilateral cooperation, the Greek side has undertaken to train Albanian police personnel.

The meeting was held within the framework of bilateral cooperation that was made closer last March when police authorities from both countries met in the northwestern Greek city of Ioannina, while a protocol of cooperation was signed in Tirana on April 22.

[08] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT

Greek Parliament President Anna Benaki Psarouda met with Romanian President Traian Basescu within the framework of her five-day formal visit to Romania.

In the meeting, the warm relations between the two countries were confirmed while the Romanian President thanked Mrs. Benaki for Greece's support to Romania's EU accession.

Mrs. Benaki also met with her Romanian counterpart and stressed that bilateral relations are at a very good level, adding that from her post she will contribute to the efforts to develop them even further. She added that Romania can count on Greece's support in this crucial period while trying to become an EU member.

Mrs. Benaki also met with Patriarch Theoktistos of Romania and referred to the support of the Greek Orthodox Church to Romania's European prospect adding that Greece will offer its experience to help in the EU accession process.

The Greek Parliament President will also visit Iasi, one of the most important centers of the Greek enlightenment in the early 19th century, where she will have meetings with members of the Greek community.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article