Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras: Structural reforms are necessary for the viability of the pension system

[02] Mitsotakis to Tsipras: 'You turned hope into despair'

[03] One infant dies in new refugees boat tragedy

[01] Tsipras: Structural reforms are necessary for the viability of the pension system

"If future generations are to have social insurance, there is no room for stalling or prevarication," Tsipras said, pointing out that the system is not currently viable. "Unless we take measures, it will collapse," he underlined.

The prime minister blamed 40 years of state pension fund mismanagement and "looting" under New Democracy and PASOK governments for the system's current problems, as well as an aging population and "political choices in the year of crisis that shrunk GDP by 25 pct and shot unemployment up from 7 pct to 25 pct."

He blamed some parts of the population of denying the dialogue with the government and added: "We are open to dialogue, we are not in conflict with the farmers." Tsipras recognised that there are some "grey zones" which should be put in order, stressing that farmers do not have anything to fear, but the intermediaries that have undeclared high profits.

The prime minister accused main opposition New Democracy newly elected leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis of having adopted the most extreme positions of the creditors and specifically the IMF.

He also stressed the importance of giving a fight so that pensions are not cut. "We must not destroy social cohesion. We need social consensus in a brave reform effort so that the social security system becomes viable," he underlined.

[02] Mitsotakis to Tsipras: 'You turned hope into despair'

"You are the most pernicious government in Greece's history [after the fall of the junta in 1974]. You have led the country to the verge of exiting the Eurozone, closed the banks and signed a third memorandum," he said.

On the issue of pension reform, Mitsotakis noted that a solution for the country's pension system required a new social contract. He also admitted that mistakes were made in the past and that he had made a commitment, as the party's new leader, not to repeat them. "You, however, do not assume your responsibilities, and don't tell us that you have none," he added.

Referring to ND's efforts to address the pension system's problems, he said that steps of progress toward reforming the system had been made leading up to 2015. The third memorandum clearly stated that the reforms of 2010 and 2012, if implemented, would improve the system's viability, he added. There was no need to cut pension or pressure from the institutions for cuts in 2014, Mitsotakis pointed out.

"The 1.8 billion euros in additional measures were created by your ineptitude. You are part of the problem, you are not part of the solution. You did not take us forward, you took us two years back and society is turning its back to you," he said.

Mitsotakis also criticised Tsipras for what he called a "divisive attack" in speeches on Sunday, during the first anniversary of SYRIZA's government, accusing him of "poisoning society with class hatred."

"The dilemma today is between the yesterday of populism and the tomorrow of truth and reforms," he said.

ND's leader criticised the government's proposals on pension reform, saying that the government plan skewed the reciprocity of the system and eliminated incentives to continue working, since additional years did not increase the size of pensions. He also deplored the government's failure to make any progress on the minimum guaranteed income, which he said was "abandoned".

"What will happen to main pensions in 2019? The 'personal difference' simply transfers the problem to the future. You plan is not costed and without any financial validation. The refusal or inability to cost is delaying the negotiation and creating tension in society. You ask the opposition for an alternative proposal. We could reply that we did not create the problem of 1.8 billion euros but we won't," he said.

[03] One infant dies in new refugees boat tragedy

One of the passenger that managed to reach the coast showed to the Coast Guard officers area of the wreck.

A Greek Coast Guard vessel, a frontex patrol boat assisted by a super puma helicopter are currently searching the area to locate the missing migrants.

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