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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-06-27
CONTENTS
[01] Balkans offer major opportunities, FinMin says
[01] Balkans offer major opportunities, FinMin says
"The Balkan region offers major economic opportunities as all countries
in the region are striving towards EU accession," Economy and Finance
Minister George Alogoskoufis said on Wednesday in an address to the 4th
Conference on Strategies to Reduce Poverty in the Balkans, organised in
Athens by World Bank and the IMF in cooperation with the Greek
government.
In other comments, the Greek minister said the conference was very
important to western Balkans, a region that suffered greatly from
political, social and economic problems over the last 15-20 years.
Alogoskoufis stressed that all countries in the region have entered a
reforms process aiming to open up markets, achieve economic growth and
social cohesion, adding that "many of the political problems of the
past have been resolved. There are still some political problems in the
region, but I believe that a sense of cooperation developed over the
last few years that could help resolve these problems as well".
"Greece supports all reform programmes by our neighbours and their
European prospects. Support was evident through the public sector, in
procedural policies, European procedures, but mainly through
participation of the Greek private sector and investments in the wider
region," he said, adding:
"It is certain that the western Balkans and the southeast European
region can become Europe's economic miracle in the next 15-20 years,
contributing both to the improvement of living standards in their
countries and to the development of the EU as well."
Caption: Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis. ANA-MPA
photo
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