Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Programme review must be completed quickly, gov't spokeswoman says

[02] Interior Minister Kouroumblis: Some EU countries have an appropriate and irresponsible attitude

[03] Rhodes island coasts swamped with fish

[01] Programme review must be completed quickly, gov't spokeswoman says

"Any differences need to be bridged; the ball is now on the institutions' court, that need to show a constructive stance," Gerovassili underlined.

On pension reforms, she stated that the new proposal of the government supports the low and middle incomers, while there are gradual increases to the high incomes.

She also said that the government is open to dialogue with the farmers. "Our aim is to find the best possible solution," she stressed.

The government spokeswoman noted that Greece will be ready ahead of the European Council meeting on February 18, but what matters is that EU countries meet their commitments since this is the key to reducing refugee flows.

She said that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a phone contact with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in order to be briefed on her visit to Turkey.

Tsipras made clear that any involvement of the NATO will concern the Turkish territorial waters and should by no means affect Greece's sovereign rights, she underlined.

Gerovassili also stated than the issue of joint patrols in the Aegean has not been raised.

Referring to Tsipras' visit to Iran, the government spokeswoman said that it is part of a wider framework of initiatives for upgrading Greece's international relations. Gerovassili said the visit to Iran was successful and strong investment interest was expressed from both sides, especially in the technology sector, oil, manufacturing, energy and transport adding that significant agreements have already been signed between Greek and Iranian businessmen.

[02] Interior Minister Kouroumblis: Some EU countries have an appropriate and irresponsible attitude

Kouroumblis was answering a question on whether there are centers in the EU that want Greece outside the Schengen zone.

He lashed out at those who accused Greece of deficiencies over the handling of the refugees issue and referred to unfulfilled, as he called them, European promises. "We rescued 130,000 people that were in the waters," he underlined adding that Greece had to offer shelter and transport to these people.

"They had promised to give us 200 identification machines and they have sent us only 100 and voices wanting Greece out of the Schengen zone continue to exist in Europe," he noted while referring to the islanders he said that they should be awarded the Nobel prize because they "saved Europe's dignity."

Commenting on the locals reactions on the construction of hotspots, he claimed that the Greeks should not be trapped in fear. "We were always an open society," he underlined.

On the new election law, he pledged that the government will table it on time because, as he noted, it does not seek to take anyone by surprise, stressing that it will seek the best possible consensus of all parties.

[03] Rhodes island coasts swamped with fish

According to estimates, the school of fish probably escaped from a nearby Turkish fish farm.

The same incident was observed in the same area two years ago.

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