Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis says government moving firmly ahead with reforms

[02] Greece welcomes rise in trade with Arab countries

[01] PM Karamanlis says government moving firmly ahead with reforms

Addressing a meeting of the ruling New Democracy party parliamentary group, Karamanlis referred to the streamlining of the DEKO public utilities and organisations in order to reinforce their social role, with respect for the taxpayers' money and increased productivity, as well as healthy competition.

Karamanlis said he had taken over, from the preceding government, a difficult web of challenges and problems, adding "we know where w want to go, we have a concise action plan, and are proceeding with prudence and daring".

On foreign policy, he reiterated that Greece backs Turkey's EU prospect, had waged a battle with Cyprus to secure the two countries' interests in the text of the framework being set by the EU for Turkey's accession course.

He noted that, provided Turkey met all the conditions put forward by the EU, it had the right, at the end of a long course, to become a full member of the EU.

Monday's meeting of the parliamentary group had a symbolic, anniversary nature, as it marked the 31st anniversary of ND's founding.

[02] Greece welcomes rise in trade with Arab countries

In 1997 the trade total was 2.06 billion euros, rising to 4.0 billion euros in 2004, Stylianidis told a conference on trade and investment in the Arab world arranged by the Arabic-Greek Chamber and Federation of Greek Industry (SEB).

"Despite a major increase in our exports in this period, especially to these countries, the rate of growth of imports from the Arab countries was more than double the rate of increase of our exports. The rise in our imports came to 106.52%, or 1.67 billion euros, while the increase in our exports was 53.52%, or 263.37 million euros," he noted.

In January-April 2005, Greece's largest trade partners in the Arab world were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Libya and Egypt.

Stylianidis called on Greek companies to make contact with the Arab market.

In addition, Greek aid to the region was 92 million euros in 2000-2004. Of the total, 81 million euros was in development aid (technical aid, construction projects and infrastructure), with the remaining 9.0 million euros in humanitarian aid, he noted.

The conference included a round-table debate on promoting Greek products and investments in the Arab countries. The session was attended by the ambassadors and charge d'affaires of all Arab countries represented in Greece, who called on domestic firms to take the risk and invest in their countries. Hazards were mostly isolated instances within a climate of overall security, they said.

The head of SEB, Odysseas Kyriakopoulos, outlined Greece's advantages as an investment venue.

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