Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Handover of P. Melas camp a government pledge becoming action

[02] Greek GDP volume unchanged in 2016

[01] PM: Handover of P. Melas camp a government pledge becoming action

"Sometimes, some struggles are vindicated...today we have taken a step [forward]. I am happy because a government pledge is becoming action and this historic, crucial space for the city of Thessaloniki of 33.6 hectares is today turned over to the area's citizens," he said.

The former camp was an "emblematic space linked to the entire recent history of the city of Thessaloniki," Tsipras said, noting that it would become a valuable green space for the Thessaloniki area as a whole. He thanked the political and military leadership of the Armed Forces and also welcomed a decision to establish a National Resistance Museum on the site. "It is an important decision to operate one more museum dedicated to Pontic Hellenism," he added.

Tsipras said the museum will become a cultural and recreational centre, and was thus an important step for improving quality of life in Thessaloniki.

"An expanse of 336 stremma (33.6 hectares) is given as a concession to the Pavlos Melas Municipality for 99 years for social, environment and cultural activities," he tweeted in the official Greek premier's account @PrimeministerGR.

The prime minister also highlighted the irreplaceable role of social movements in the effort to give the camp for use as an open space by citizens and prevent it "from being converted to concrete but become a space of recreation for all." He said the government will support the municipality's efforts, while thanking it for its "cooperation and persistence that led to this result."

Finally, he highlighted the potential that the armed forces can have to contribute to quality of life and care for social cohesion.

"We are beginning an ambitious project and will soon hand the project over to the municipality and the citizens, when we will have a big celebration," he added, noting that this would be in the summer.

[02] Greek GDP volume unchanged in 2016

The statistics service, in its provisional report on annual national accounts, said the GDP data incorporated monthly data (balance of payments, external trade) and quarterly data (turnover in services, employment data, general government). The statistics service will publish its second estimate in October 17, after the incorporation of annual data.

Provisional figures showed that final consumption spending grew 0.6 pct in 2016 from 2015 (household consumption up 1.4 pct and general government consumption down 2.1 pct), private investments (gross capital formation) fell 0.8 pct, exports of goods and services fell 2.0 pct and imports eased 0.4 pct. In market prices, the country's GDP grew a nominal 0.1 pct in 2016 to 175.9 billion euros, from 175.7 billion in 2015.

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