Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government urges bankers to talk with unions on labour pacts

[02] Cyprus anticipates Greece will keep same policy

[03] US secretary of state congratulates new Greek counterpart

[04] Greece sends condolences, aid to Philippine govt

[01] Government urges bankers to talk with unions on labour pacts

"We are speaking to everyone, in order to inform them that leeway for understanding still exists. Those who were favoured in previous years should contribute and make further sacrifices, and these people are not the employees," Tsitouridis told reporters in reply to a question.

In a speech to a meeting in Lamia of the ruling New Democracy party, the minister charged the previous government of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) of implementing policies that enabled the wealthy to become wealthier.

"We are aware of the difficulties and problems faced by many Greeks. We are aware of the problems of the underprivileged, people who are weaker financially, low wage-earners, those on low pensions, farmers and the unemployed," he noted.

"The people who were comfortable, complacent and privileged were with PASOK," Tsitouridis said.

At the same time, the minister told trade unionists that there was no room for intransigence, as it was essential to reach understanding.

What the government wanted to achieve was a state that would work in solidarity with more vulnerable economic and social groups while allowing the economy to meet competition; and radical change was needed.

"This rational mix is at the heart of our policy," the minister added.

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[02] Cyprus anticipates Greece will keep same policy

"It is a cornerstone for us and we anticipate that good cooperation on the agreed line with Greece on the Cyprus issue will continue with the new government and new foreign minister," Papadopoulos told the Ethnos newspaper in an interview.

"I do not think that (prime minister) Costas Karamanlis has deviated in the least from what he has asserted. I am sure that the same policy and same effective cooperation will also continue with Dora Bakoyiannis," he added.

Speaking a few days before a key meeting on the Cypriot issue with UN secretary general Kofi Annan, the Cypriot president also stated: "I believe that we should not have accepted the process of mediation" in New York in February 2004. "We accepted mediation having confidence in the United Nations. That mediation would have been limited only to a few issues, that is, to those issues on which, after substantive talks, differences would have been narrowed, and that in any case, all its (UN) decisions as 'mediator' would have been within the framework of the Annan plan. These were the conditions that we set and to which the secretary general agreed. In the end, however, mediation had not taken place under the conditions we had accepted," Papadopoulos added.

He also said that the Annan plan had not died.

On the framework that he will pose to UN chief Kofi Annan for resumption of the process, Papadopoulos said: "There will be no mediation, no timescale, the talks will not be indefinite, and only an agreed solution will again be put to the people in a referendum."

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[03] US secretary of state congratulates new Greek counterpart

In a telephone call on Saturday, Rice told the new minister that she anticipated a maintenance of communication and mutually constructive cooperation as part of very good ties between the US and Greece.

The two officials agreed to meet at the first available opportunity in coming months, the statement said.

Also contacting Bakoyiannis to wish her well in her new duties were the president of the European Commission, Jose Barroso; and the United Kingdom's secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, Jack Straw.

Finally, the new minister received telegrams or letters of congratulation from Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos; Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania; and Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece.

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[04] Greece sends condolences, aid to Philippine govt

Bakoyannis also expressed her support and solidarity in light of the tragic events that have killed hundreds in Guinsaugon.

Additionally, the foreign ministry also announced its plan to contribute â¬300,000 through its Hellenic Aid Agency to the Philippine government in order to cover immediate needs.

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