Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-05-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Valynakis on Bulgarian and Romanian EU accession

[02] PM confers with health minister on reforms programme

[03] PASOK Parliamentary Group coordinating body convenes

[01] Valynakis on Bulgarian and Romanian EU accession

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis said on Wednesday that the European Commission's report confirms the correct direction that Romania and Bulgaria are finding themselves in as regards the completion of their European Union accession course.

The European Commission ascertains certain delays in the adoption and implementation of the acquis communautaire by the two countries, by Bulgaria in particular, he added.

"However, we believe that in the time that remains it is possible that these shortcomings can be covered and the two countries can join the EU on January 1, 2007," Valynakis said expressing hope "that we will welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full EU members this coming January."

The deputy foreign minister further said that consistency regarding the fulfillment of their commitments will result in the rewarding of the efforts of the Bulgarian and Romanian people and stressed that their accession will constitute a message concerning the European prospects of the Western Balkans and the possibility of all candidate countries to become members of the European family, given that they accept and implement the acquis communautaire and completely fulfill the criteria and conditions set by the EU.

Valynakis said that the "strategic option of our country is to turn the Balkans into a European neighbourhood of peace, cooperation and development and to promote Greece as a guide of these changes through this process of European adjustment of our neighbourhood."

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[02] PM confers with health minister on reforms programme

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Avramopoulos said that in the three months he has been at the ministry's helm he has acquired a deep knowledge of the sector, and stressed his volition to carry on the government's programme based on respect for human dignity but also intensification of the structures, mainly in the periphery, where he said weaknesses have been ascertained.

Avramopoulos said that it is quality that determines the services, noting that the Greek citizens "must find us at their side when they need us".

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[03] PASOK Parliamentary Group coordinating body convenes

Alternate Economy coordinator Costas Spiliotopoulos proposed that a special session of the coordinating body be held to discuss the state of the economy, because, as he said, "the government is presenting ficticious data which concern economic growth."

As for the alleged abduction of Pakistani immigrants by "secret services", coordinator Miltiadis Papaioannou said that "this issue burdens overall the government and therefore all the responsibilities should not be directed only towards (former public order minister) George Voulgarakis and maybe PASOK should not continuously ask for his resignation."

Meanwhile, PASOK Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis, in reference to the issue of the Pakistanis, on Wednesday referred anew to the matter "of the stay in the government" of current Culture Minister George Voulgarakis. Athanassakis termed the issue as "political" and not judicial.

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