Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-09-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM calls next four years a high risk period

[01] PM calls next four years a high risk period

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday said that the next four years will be a high risk period, since national issues, the European position of the country and the development and prospects of society and economy are at stake.

In his inaugural speech at the 68th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (TIF), Simitis stressed that the issues at stake concern the future of the country and their outcome will be determined over the next four-year government term. The Athens 2004 Olympic Games, he said, was one of the country's top priorities.

Simitis noted that ''we should intensify the efforts, so as to succeed in organizing the Games''and noted that the effort, which was made up ''till now, has proven false all voices of danger-mongering''.

He added that the funds now used for the Olympic preparations stemmed from the national budget and that once the Games are over this development surplus will be funneled to the regions of the country.

The premier also focused on the Cyprus issue and the Greek-Turkish relations, two issues, he said, that should be settled, calling 2004 a landmark year for Greece and Hellenism during the past 30 years.

He said that in 2004 Turkey's contribution toward the resolution of the Cyprus issue and the Aegean continental shelf issue on the basis of International Law, will be assessed.

The resolution of these two problems will release funds and forces from today's huge defense spending and will direct those funds to other aims, that is toward the support of development and social policy.

A third issue at stake this next four-year term, Simitis said, will be Europe's Constitution and Greece's position in the European Union.

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