Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Economy grows 3.6% in Q4 '07

[02] FM addresses CSIS event in D.C.

[03] Euro-court ruling against OA

[01] Economy grows 3.6% in Q4 '07

The service said the 3.6-pct increase of the Gross Domestic Product mainly reflected a 2.8-pct rise in final demand, while investments fell by 4.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Exports grew by 10.4 pct in the October-December period, adding 1.6 percentage points to final demand in the economy, while imports rose by 0.3 pct over the same period. Spending on final consumption grew by 3.1 pct in the fourth quarter last year, adding two percentage points to final demand in the economy.

Eurostat also announced that Greek GDP grew by 3.6 pct in the fourth quarter of 2007. The EU executive's statistics agency said GDP growth in the Eurozone was 2.3 pct and in the EU-27 2.6 pct, with Slovakia (14.1 pct) and Latvia (9.6 pct) recording the highest growth rates, while Germany (1.8 pct) and Portugal (2.0 pct) the lowest growth rates. GDP growth in the US was 2.5 pct and in Japan 1.8 pct in the fourth quarter.

ANA-MPA file photo shows an aerial view of the port of Piraeus, Greece's largest.

[02] FM addresses CSIS event in D.C.

Former US national security advisor and CSIS Trustee Brent Scowcroft delivered an introduction of Bakoyannis, who reiterated Athens' standing position that regional stability and prosperity depend on respect of democratic principles and human rights, along with cultural and religious tolerance.

She also cited "significant progress" in terms of Turkey's reforms, saying Greece hopes that the former will contribute to a solution of the Cyprus problem so that "the European Union will meet its promises to Turkey".

Along these lines, she said Greece, as the most senior NATO and EU member-state in SE Europe, feels an obligation to help its neighbours attain Euro-Atlantic structures, as long as pre-conditions are fulfilled.

Bakoyannis called Serbia a "pivotal" country for the region, while she emphasised that any final status solution for Kosovo requires realism and must be linked with the EU's principles and democratic values related to tolerance, multi-ethnicity and multi-culturalism.

In terms of NATO's envisioned expansion, she said Croatia and Albania have achieved progress in terms of the good-neighbour criterion, something that has not occurred with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

The Greek FM said that despite Athens' positive overtures vis-à-vis the landlocked former Yugoslav republic, especially in the trade and investment sector, as well as the Greek side's volition to contribute to negotiations leading to a mutually acceptable solution for the 'name issue', the Skopje government has not responded and continues efforts to "monopolise" the Macedonian identity.

Moreover, she underlined that Washington's decision in November 2004 to recognise FYROM with its "constitutional name" was an incorrect decision that upset Athens, as it sent out a "wrong message" that Skopje does not need to seek a mutually acceptable solution to the "name issue" with Greece.

In other matters, she said Greece continues to back Turkey's European prospects, making it clear, however, that no future Turkish accession is possible without the prior solution to the Cyprus problem.

Continuing on the Cyprus matter, she said Kosovo is not a precedent for a currently divided Cyprus or Turkey's Kurdish regions.

Finally, she said Athens has not decided what its final stance will be on the possibility of a declaration of independence by Kosovo, emphasising that any decision will be taken in consultation with its partners and after a thorough assessment of the facts.

ANA-MPA file photo of Bakoyannis.

[03] Euro-court ruling against OA

"Between 1994 and 2000 the Commission took three decisions authorising public aid for the restructuring of Olympic Airways ... In December 2002, however, the Commission found that further aid had been granted to the airline which was incompatible with the common market ... and asked Greece to recover such aid. Greece failed to comply with this decision, which has in the meantime been largely upheld by the Court of First Instance on 12 September 2007. Following a judgment by the Court in May 2005 confirming non-compliance with the 2002 decision, the Commission filed an application for the Court to impose fines and periodic penalty payments on Greece, pursuant to Article 228 of the Treaty..." the press release read.

Gov't reaction

On his part, government alternate spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said the European Court's decision is "another unpleasant development," while he added that what is essential is a just and viable solution for the OA issue.

Antonaros' comments were echoed by Transport Minister Costis Hatzidakis, who noted that OA is now obliged to repay hundreds of million of euros in state aid.

Moreover, Hatzidakis said the government's priorities vis-à-vis OA include continued negotiations with the Commission; commencement of a "sincere dialogue" with employees; inaugurating a new company structure, one that is compatible and can "attract reliable investors", and, as the minister said, "we want to retain the name (Olympic) and logo, but not its problems and debts."

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