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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-12-10Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM: Gov't will make major changesBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/V. Mourtis) - Prime Minister George Papandreou, who arrived for a European Union summit here on Thursday evening, stressed that the Greek government is ready to make considerable and major changes that will lead the country to a new era of growth.Papandreou added that the government is absolutely determined and believes that with this effort it will also receive strong support by the EU for the changes that it intends to implement in the country, for the benefit of the Greek people and, of course, for the benefit of the European family. The prime minister also pointed out that the new Greek government is fully aware of its obligations for the recovery of the Greek economy, as well as efforts to modernise the public sector and combat long-standing problems, such as corruption and clientele relations. [02] Samaras contacts at EPP summitBONN (ANA-MPA/S. Goutzanis) - Main opposition New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras on Thursday held a series of meetings with centre-right and Christian Democrat leaders here on the sidelines of the European People's Party (EPP) conference.Among others, Samaras met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EPP President Wilfried Martens. According to reports, the situation in terms of the Greek economy dominated Samaras' bilateral contacts. Earlier in the day, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the conference that, "what happens in one country affects the rest as well; and for this we all have responsibility." Barroso also referred, in a statement, to the issue of the Greek economy and the fact that he had met with Samaras earlier. "The European Union's finance ministers explained to Greece which efforts it must make for its own good and to improve its public finances. I am convinced that Greece will take the measures in its interests and in the interests of the eurozone and we have the apparatuses to tackle its problems," Barroso said. [03] Exports down 26.7% in Oct.The total value of exports-dispatches in October 2009 amounted to 1232.5 million euros against 1680.3 million euros in October 2008, recording a drop of 26.7%, according to estimates released by the national statistics service ESYE on Thursday.Also, the estimated total value of imports-arrivals in October 2009 amounted to 3328.8 million euros against 5444.9 million euros in October 2008, recording a drop of 38.9%. Further, the total value of imports-arrivals for the 12-month period of November 2008-October 2009 decreased by 29.2% compared to the corresponding 12-month period of November 2007-October 2008. [04] Party leaders to meet on Tues.President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias will convene a meeting of Parliament-represented political party leaders on Tuesday on the issue of "transparency and combatting corruption."Earlier on Thursday, Papoulias accepted a relevant proposal by Prime Minister George Papandreou. The meeting will be attended by Papandreou, main opposition New Democracy party leader Antonis Aamaras, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) party leader George Karatzaferis and the head of the Radical Left Coalition's (SYRIZA) Parliamentary group Alexis Tsipras. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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