Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-05-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Determination on reforms for today, the future

[02] Papandreou to meet Serbian Socialist Party leader

[01] PM: Determination on reforms for today, the future

At noon on Friday, he will visit the 424 General Military Hospital in Thessaloniki, followed by a visit to the Prespes National Forest's agricultural cooperative in Florina.

At noon on Saturday, Karamanlis will address a two-day event organised by the Constine Karamanlis Foundation (on the theme Karamanlis in his home town, 10 years after his death), and in the afternoon will attend the unveiling of a bust of the late statesman in his birthplace, the village of Proti in Serres.

Karamanlis addressed the General Assembly of the Association of Greek Tourist Businesses (SETE) on Thursday, stressing that his government would continue with "determination the reforms for the present and the future, for the generations of today and of tomorrow".

"Our strategy is steadfast and non-negotiable. It is the strategy of changes and of reforms, far from doctrines and rigidness. It is a strategy that places the social result first. A creative and progressive strategy. And this strategy will not be abandoned, obstructed or suspended," he said.

Karamanlis referred to the importance of tourism for the Greek economy and said that it is common knowledge that tourism constitutes something more than an important economic activity in the country.

Appealing to professionals in the sector, the prime minister called on them to restrain prices, speaking of the need for tangible support for internal tourism.

"In restraining prices, the Greeks are enabled to 'choose Greece' in time all the year round. In restraining prices, the economy stands to gain, as well as Greek society in its entirety. All of us together can turn the international challenge into a national opportunity. All of us, everyone from the position he is in, must prove, in practice, substantive social responsibility," he said.

Karamanlis further said that the international conjuncture "is not favourable" for Greek tourism, as a result of the fiscal crisis in the United States and inflationary pressures in Europe.

The prime minister revealed that about 880 million euros have been earmarked so far to support businesses in the tourist sector and about 6,000 tourist businesses have benefitted.

He also said that "at the same time, structures and modern infrastructures are being promoted which serve common goals," while adding that a modernisation plan for a number of airports is being prepared and the designing of tourist ports is also proceeding in parallel.

Caption: Prime minister Costas Karamanlis in a recent photo, addressing parliament. (ANA-MPA/K. Mavrona)

[02] Papandreou to meet Serbian Socialist Party leader

The meeting will take place in Papandreou's capacity as Socialist International (SI) president.

Papandreou will later host a working luncheon for Dacic, which will also be attended by visiting Luxembourg minister of foreign affairs and immigration Jean Asselborn.

Caption: File photo of main opposition PASOK leader and Socialist International (SI) president George Papandreou. (ANA-MPA/P. Saitas)

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