Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-03-09

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] RECOVERY IN TWO YEARS

[02] TURKISH PROVOCATION IN N. AEGEAN

[03] KARAMANLIS-DULES MEETING

[04] ARAB-GREEK BUSINESS DEAL IN THE SECTOR OF TEXTILES

[05] PERSISTENT EFFORT FOR ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT

[06] THE ACTING GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE

[07] THE PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT MADRID

[01] RECOVERY IN TWO YEARS

We are determined to implement our program. This, I regard to be my national obligation, stressed Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis making an assessment of the government work in the first year of its four-year term in power speaking in the Foreign Press Correspondents Association yesterday.

I will work hard to deal with the problems, underlined Mr. Karamanlis and pointed out that based on the state of the economy, the government makes every effort to avoid as much as possible to put a burden on the citizens.

The Prime Minister expressed the belief that Greece can achieve an economic miracle while he pointed out that the mild economic adjustment does not mean lack of boldness or inaction.

Mr. Karamanlis admitted that the problem of the deficits was much larger than estimated by the government and therefore, the process of the economic data report was necessary adding that the government does everything it can to deal with the problems faced by the people through cutting deficits and implementing an economic development policy.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that at the end of the four-year term of his government everything will be better.

Referring to the state of the economy, he stressed that there was a lack of institutional framework for investments and very small productivity in the public sector, which was a kingdom of bureaucracy and corruption.

Responding to a question on Kosovo and the handing over of Haradai to be tried by the International Tribunal, Mr. Karamanlis underlined that international law must be observed.

He pointed out that the criteria that will safeguard equality before the law, a multi-ethnic character and respect of the human rights must be met by Kosovo. The Prime Minister pointed out that Greece has the role of an active partner in the effort for peace and stability in the Balkans. He reiterated his support to the European prospect of the countries in the region and underlined that the final status of Kosovo must be within the framework of the UN resolutions and in accordance with the European values.

On the Greek-Turkish relations, he said that for the past few years there is improvement in the atmosphere but this does not mean that all problems have been resolved. He added that more efforts need to be made and stressed that he is neither optimistic nor pessimistic.

[02] TURKISH PROVOCATION IN N. AEGEAN

The Greek National Defense General Staff announced that a Turkish Navy exercise takes place in a predetermined region at the inlet of the Xiros Bay (North Aegean).

Within the framework of the exercise yesterday March 8, 2005 at 22:40 a helicopter took off from a Turkish frigate without a permission by the Greek Air Traffic Authorities.

After that, two Greek F-16 fighter jets took off and identified the Turkish helicopter.

[03] KARAMANLIS-DULES MEETING

Human Rights Union Party President Vangjelis Dules briefed Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on the problems faced by the ethnic Greek minority in Albania.

After the meeting with Mr. Karamanlis, Mr. Dules told reporters that he briefed the Prime Minister on the recent developments regarding the ethnic Greek minority human rights situation and the minority's concerns.

They also discussed issues concerning Albania's European prospect and the support systematically offered by Greece toward this direction.

Mr. Dules stated that the goal is a strong ethnic Greek minority regardless of where its members are. He clarified that here in Greece they should enjoy the appropriate treatment while in Albania all preconditions for their survival should be met.

[04] ARAB-GREEK BUSINESS DEAL IN THE SECTOR OF TEXTILES

The textile company Uranio Toxo, based in Kolchiko, Langada near Thessaloniki and the Arab group SGT signed a deal for joint business action in the sector of textile in the region of the Persian Gulf and the Balkans. This is the first business deal between a Greek textile industry and a United Arab Emirates company.

In a press conference in Thessaloniki today the two parties announced that an office will open in Dubai in early April to launch the import of Greek textiles.

Later on, possibly during the summer, the two companies plan to found a production unit in Dubai to process and trade dyed and printed textiles.

[05] PERSISTENT EFFORT FOR ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT

Bank of Greece Governor Nikos Garganas called for the acceleration of structural changes and stressed that there is a need for long economic adjustment, briefing the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs today. He made the comments speaking in the debate on the annual report issued by the Bank of Greece on the 2004-2005 monetary policy.

The Greek economy is not in a crisis. All international economies face a slowing down in the growth rate, stressed the Bank of Greece Governor.

Mr. Garganas also stated that there is a need for a long economic adjustment while he gave an emphasis on spending and public deficit cuts as well as the acceleration of structural changes.

[06] THE ACTING GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE

The government's goal is to revive the economy and in order to do that competitiveness must be boosted and structural changes are necessary, stated acting government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros responding to a question by a reporter in the regular press briefing today on the statements made by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in the press conference he gave in the Foreign Press Correspondents Association yesterday.

Mr. Antonaros also stated that transparency and the efforts against corruption will continue.

[07] THE PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT MADRID

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will be in Madrid tomorrow to attend the Club de Madrid International Conference events.

Mr. Karamanlis will meet, among others, with the Prime Ministers of Spain, Romania and Poland.

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