Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-09-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Samaras calls on Greek-American entrepreneurs to invest

[02] "Elections in a democracy are a blessing and not a curse," SYRIZA's Tsipras says

[03] Only SYRIZA and Chryssi Avgi want early elections, government spokesman Kedikoglou says

[04] Greek bond prices up, on speculation of credit rating upgrade

[01] PM Samaras calls on Greek-American entrepreneurs to invest

"The country has a strong and stable government supported by two political parties that agree on its European prospect and I invite you to come and see for yourselves that the situation has changed," Samaras said, adding that the situation in the greater region is favourable for Greece as it is reflected in this year's tourist arrivals that are close to 18 million.

"Greece is emerging as a country that attracts entrepreneurship because it is necessary for us in order to survive in a competitive world," the prime minister said, noting that Greece's attitude toward entrepreneurship is changing and is not as reserved as it used to be.

"Investors are being met with a red carpet instead of the red tape that existed in the past," he underlined.

He noted that the government is making specific moves like, the investment law and the reduction of red tape thus offering incentives and lifting past obstacles and dysfunctions. He also said that his office is open to representatives of major companies from around the world, noting that he recently met with the head of IBM.

Samaras also said that there are difficulties as a result of the situation the country is in and repeated his goal for a 15 pct flat rate tax which for the time being is impossible because of the present circumstances.

He also said that a new real estate taxation law will be adopted that will favour the specific market and boost the construction sector which is a key factor for economic growth. He also said that 70 pct of the primary surplus that will be achieved will be used to support the financially weak.

[02] "Elections in a democracy are a blessing and not a curse," SYRIZA's Tsipras says

Addressing SYRIZA's youth movement festival, Tsipras underlined that "we are not being anxious to govern. It is Greece that can no longer stand to be governed by those who led it to disaster".

Tsipras welcomed the arrests of the ultra-right Chryssi Avgi (GD) leadership and noted that Prime Minister Samaras was forced to dismantle Chryssi Avgi as a result of the international pressure exerted.

He said that the murder of Pavlos Fyssas will be written in history with the murders of Petroulas, Lambrakis and Temponeras, adding that the blood shed became a river that drowned the neo-Nazi monstrosity.

Tsipras also underlined that there are major interests that financed, supported and beautified Chryssi Avgi to use it against the labour movement and the Left.

The SYRIZA leader noted that Prime Minister Samaras' kind of justice "can tolerate passing legislative acts and limit freedoms and rights. It can tolerate authoritarianism and oppression practices, the camps set up for immigrants and can show tolerance toward the Nazis... Can tolerate everything but cannot tolerate elections".

He also said that elections will be a salvation and bring relief and liberation in view of the memorandum-caused asphyxiation and loss of sovereignty, noting that SYRIZA is set for a sweeping election victory.

[03] Only SYRIZA and Chryssi Avgi want early elections, government spokesman Kedikoglou says

Kedikoglou said that Tsipras was in a state of unacceptable, divisive delirium, proving that slander, political degradation and extreme behaviour are in the DNA of SYRIZA's leadership.

He also noted that in a period when a measure of responsibility is needed "the monotonous demand for immediate elections confirms that the only goal of the SYRIZA leadership is to cause political anomaly".

[04] Greek bond prices up, on speculation of credit rating upgrade

Analysts expect that Moody's could raise the country's credit rating by five notches to B-, a category; however, that will be three notches below Portugal's credit rating.

An upgrading of the country's rating is necessary precondition to allow the country to return to capital markets in 2014 and to cover a funding gap with new borrowing. The IMF estimates this funding gap to around 11 billion euros in the two-year period from 2014 to 2015.

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