Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-05-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] DM Meimarakis discusses bilateral issues with Bulgarian counterpart

[02] Exhibition of works of noted Greek painters in Thessaloniki

[03] Political response to crisis

[01] DM Meimarakis discusses bilateral issues with Bulgarian counterpart

Tsonev gave Meimarakis the First Order Medal of Saint George for his contribution to the promotion of bilateral relations between Greece and Bulgaria in the sector of defence cooperation.

The medal in question is the highest distinction that can be given by the neighbouring country's defence minister.

[02] Exhibition of works of noted Greek painters in Thessaloniki

The exhibition, hosted by Hellenic Auctions, will open on Sunday, May 17 and close in the afternoon of the following day with an auction of the exhibited works, including for the first time paintings by world renowned artist Konstantinos Volanakis (1837-1907). Among the exhibits will be works by Parthenis, Maleas, Papaloukas, Steris, Bouzianis, Tsarouchis, Tsoklis and Fasianos.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Municipal Nursery "Aghios Stylianos", which will also offer for auction the work titled "Angel of love" by Thessaloniki-born painter Yannis Nikou.

[03] Political response to crisis

Speaking in the presence of New Democracy (ND) party honourary president Constantine Mitsotakis, Deputy Agricultural Development Minister Costas Kiltidis, Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis, Foreign Ministry Secretary General Theodoros Skylakakis, U.S. Ambassador to Greece Danel Speckhard and British Ambassador Dr. David Landsman, Bakoyannis analysed the main causes of the crisis, placing emphasis on "cheap borrowing" and fictitious prosperity, the slackness of controlling apparatuses and the spreading of the crisis to the globalised environment.

"The international economy is in the middle of the biggest economic crisis since 1930," she said, adding that "only yesterday it was confirmed by the most official lips that the European Union is in a deep economic recession."

Bakoyannis said that overborrowing, easy excess profits based on minimum effort must be left behind once and for all and new priorities must be targeted, terming innovation, extroversion and the changing of the old mentality as the locomotive of tomorrow's development.

She further said that the government bases its economic policy on the triptych "structural changes - development initiatives, monetary stability and tangible solidarity for those having the greatest need."

Bakoyannis placed particular emphasis on the need to change the mentality of the minimum effort in politics, the economy, science, culture and in labour. She added that this mentality operates as a burden that allows nothing to change and nothing to develop and that "it refuels vicious circles for our society in its entirety. It annuls our prospects and intensifies our pessimism."

Concluding her address, Bakoyannis stressed that "today, more than ever, we must invest at last in the forces of creation. We must give them the podium and the space to develop. We must break antiquated dividing lines and create a new strong alliance. We must create a system which will be based on the principles of responsibility, accountability, justice and meritocracy."

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannnis

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