Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-01-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK on shipowner's abduction, economic policy

[02] Greek envoy reiterates support for Serbia's European course

[03] FinMin optimistic economy will grow

[01] PASOK on shipowner's abduction, economic policy

Referring to economic issues, the spokesman said that "Greece is participating in the counci of finance ministers in Brussels under the weight of the European Commission's extremely unfavourable report for our country," while underlining that "this data rejects everything that the government was trying to tell the Greek citizens over the past years."

Papaconstantinou further said that "in simple language, the Greek citizens have realised very well that the prime minister has deceived them repeatedly, over the past five years, presenting a picture of the Greek economy which is very distant from reality."

He also criticised the government for its economic policy in its entirety and wondered "where exactly does the borrowed money of the Greek government go" and referred to remarks made by the government spokesman on PASOK's economic proposals, saying that "either Mr. Antonaros does not read my statements or he pretends not to understand."

[02] Greek envoy reiterates support for Serbia's European course

Panagopoulos also promised that Greek support for the Serb economy will continue, mainly through investments, and stressed that major possibilities for cooperation in the sectors of energy, tourism, telecoms and infrastructure projects.

Dejanovic thanked the Greek envoy for the progress achieved during his tenure in relations between the two countries, ones linked by historic bonds of friendship.

The Serbian Parliament president also informed Panagopoulos that she has accepted an initiative by Greek Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas for a conference of Parliament presidents from SE European countries on the Middle East crisis.

[03] FinMin optimistic economy will grow

Speaking to reporters after an ECOFIN meeting in Brussels, the Greek minister stressed:

"All those betting against Greece will lose," he said, adding that gloomy predictions would be dismissed exactly like what happened a few years ago when a portion of the international press lathered over a Greek failure in organising the 2004 Olympic Games, or predicting that because of overspending in the hosting of the Games the country would be lead to financial ruin.

"Greece successfully hosted the Olympic Games and recorded one of the highest growth rates in the Eurozone and significantly cut unemployment," Papathanassiou reminded.

He underlined that Greece is one of the five Eurozone countries with positive growth rates, while its fiscal deficit and unemployment rates were below Eurozone's average rates. "Greece has all the reserves needed to deal with difficult situations like the one witnessing currently," he said, adding that a three-year consolidation program, to be submitted with the European Commission by the end of the month, would include policy directions aimed at strengthening fiscal consolidation and ensuring support for the real economy and weaker population groups.

Papathanassiou said the ECOFIN meeting mainly discussed ways to restore smooth operations in the financial system. "Greece, in contrast with other countries, enjoys a healthy financial system and with the help of a plan to boost liquidity and other development policies, we believe we can manage to achieve a higher growth rates compared with EU forecasts," the Greek minister said.

The Greek financial system is based on solid bases and there is not danger of insolvency or collapse, Papathanassiou said, expressing the confidence that economic growth rates would exceed Commission's forecasts for 2009.

Commenting on the implementation of rules by the EU Stability and Growth Pact, the Greek minister said the meeting reached a consensus on adhering to the Pact's rules, although with flexibility.

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