Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-11-28

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou on Cyprus issue

[02] FinMin Alogoskoufis addresses Constantine Karamanlis Institute

[01] Papandreou on Cyprus issue

"Turkey's stance at present in both the Aegean and in Cyprus is not at all positive," Papandreou told reporters after talks with visiting Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.

"Turkey's questioning of the Cyprus Republic's sovereign rights, that is, its right to exploit its marine wealth according to international law, is unacceptable," he added.

The main opposition leader said that Greece should continuously highlight that the problem of Cyprus is the ongoing Turkish occupation and that "President Christofias has repeatedly expressed his will for a solution in the framework of United Nations resolutions and always in full respect of European values and acquis."

"Turkey must change its conception, change its strategic conception, while it will need to adopt principles which all of us in Europe respect...Turkey must adopt European values in order to have regional cooperation and peace consolidated and thus being able to look forward to a European course," Papandreou also noted.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou

[02] FinMin Alogoskoufis addresses Constantine Karamanlis Institute

Alogoskofis added that the effective handling of a crisis, such as the one being experienced, requires wider consensuses in society and social groups are required to place national interest above trade union interest.

The minister called on the social partners to jointly mobilise themselves in a national effort and to follow the path of seriousness and responsibility so as to protect the citizens and their interests.

Alogoskoufis then determined the two major and longlasting weaknesses of the Greek economy, which, as he said, are low competitiveness and the huge public debt. He also said that the crisis will not be handled in the long term if efforts to confront these weaknesses are not continued.

He also underlined that no country, no matter how big it may be, can handle the current crisis by itself and what is necessary is a coordinated policy at global level.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article