Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Govt's goal is fiscal restructuring combined with strong growth prospects, Greek PM says

[02] PM visits pavilion shared by ANA-MPA at TIF

[03] EAB and Finmeccanica sign cooperation deal for aircraft parts construction

[04] PASOK leader addresses Global Progressive Forum in Milan

[05] Alexandria Patriarch visits monastic community on Mount Athos

[01] Govt's goal is fiscal restructuring combined with strong growth prospects, Greek PM says

The Greek PM said that the government would support the Thessaloniki International Fair and urged its managers to seek more ambitious goals.

"The country must be competitive because for many years it failed to produce as much as it should, while exports and investments are low. And this wager we must win. We are determined to do everything possible to win it. This is the main message coming from the inauguration of this year's Thessaloniki International Fair," Karamanlis said.

The Greek Premier stressed that the Thessaloniki Fair has a very important role to play towards this goal since one of the keys to the success of Greece's ambitious strategic and national goals was to make the economy more export-orientated and the Fair to become the starting point for Greek exports.

TIF's president Aristotelis Thomopoulos told the Greek Premier that the fair has managed to attract more visitors (up 45 percent last year) and to improve its quality characteristics. "Our aim is to become an international trade fair centre," he said. Helexpo's president Dimitris Bakatselos said that TIF would report profits for the first time this year although he noted that major renovation works were needed in its facilities.

[02] PM visits pavilion shared by ANA-MPA at TIF

Karamanlis was briefed on the services provided by the two Greek news agencies, which are on the verge of a merger, especially a Balkan News Bulletin that is already being sent out and the plans to soon establish multi-media news formats.

The prime minister, who was accompanied by Macedonia-Thrace Minister Nikos Tsiartsionis, congratulated ANA general director George Tampakopoulos and MPA general director Spyros Kouzinopoulos, wishing them good luck in their work.

[03] EAB and Finmeccanica sign cooperation deal for aircraft parts construction

With the agreement, EAB gains a contract worth â¬300 million for the next three years that seals the intentions of the two companies to cooperate in specific areas of mutual interests, such as aircraft construction, aircraft conversions and refits, satellite and space systems, etc.

Also present at the signature of the agreement were Defence Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos and Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas/

Earlier, Spiliotopoulos had inaugurated the pavilions of EAB and the Hellenic Arms Industry (ELBO) and had visited the pavilions of the Greek Post Offices and the joint ANA/MPA pavilion, where he was briefed by ANA general director George Tampakopoulos and MPA general director Spyros Kouzinopoulos on the imminent merger of the two news agencies and their new services.

[04] PASOK leader addresses Global Progressive Forum in Milan

Other participants in the forum included former Danish premier and President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Paul Rasmussen and the head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Pascal Lamy.

Speaking after the end of the day's work at the forum, Papandreou stressed that "humanity is now in the position to plan its future" and that the leftist, democratic and socialist forces gathered at the meeting "are the ones that can answer the great and difficult problems of humanity."

He said the parties gathered in Milan had reconfirmed their desire to work together to put their ideals and values into action.

The forum will continue in the afternoon, coming to a close on Saturday night.

[05] Alexandria Patriarch visits monastic community on Mount Athos

Theodoros arrived at the capital of Mount Athos, Karyes, at 11:00 in the morning, when he was met by a welcoming committee. The mood was strongly emotional, since Patriarch Petros and the other 16 people killed in the accident had been heading to Mount Athos for an official visit.

Sunday's service will be held at noon, near a monument being erected in memory of the 17 victims of the helicopter crash, after which the Patriarch and other officials will take a coast guard boat from the harbour of Porto Koufo to the site where the helicopter went down in the sea and cast wreaths into the water.

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