Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-05-22

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] SYRIZA's Tsipras addresses crowd in Thessaloniki's main square

[02] Venizelos: Stability is the key issue in the aftermath of the elections

[03] DIMAR leader Kouvelis on relations with Golden Dawn

[04] Greek current account deficit halved in Q1‏

[01] SYRIZA's Tsipras addresses crowd in Thessaloniki's main square

Tsipras added that "Greece of Mr. Samaras', Mr. Venizelos' and Mr. Baltakos', who conversed with the fascists, belongs to yesterday," and accused the coalition government of "wanting Greece humiliated at the feet of Mrs. Merkel, Mr. Schaeuble and Mr. Juncker, who appear to be giants but are political dwarfs."

The opposition leader stressed that Sunday's Euroelections are a referendum "not on which party we want, but on which Greece we want." He added that "the referendum that did not take place in May 2010 on the bailout memorandum will take place in May 2014."

Tsipras criticised Prime Minster Antonis Samaras and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, saying that they are "accountable" for a bigger scandal and will "pay" on Sunday because "together with the bailout memorandums they cosigned Greece's exile from Europe, discredited Greece in Europe and took Greece out of Europe".

Referring to the prime minister and Tuesday's presentation of the new growth model, he spoke of a ‘mockery' and accused him that two days before the elections he came to lie again.

Lastly, focusing on the second Sunday of the local elections, Tsipras called on citizens to vote against Samaras' and Venizelos' "chosen ones."

[02] Venizelos: Stability is the key issue in the aftermath of the elections

"We are interested in an overall combined result, a feeling so that no one could say in the aftermath of the elections there is a problem of legitimacy and strength of the country. Are we, Greeks, going to move forward smoothly and being united or are we going to talk about a crisis and escalate controversy?" Venizelos, who is also Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister, said.

On the centre-left wing deliberations after the elections, he said "we are talking of a responsible, Europe-oriented centre-left wing, which will assume the cost of the country exiting the crisis."

He also underlined that the key issue in the aftermath of the elections is "to have stability, security and exit the crisis" and that it is the party's concerns and priorities that matter but "the economy, the society, what happens with growth, employment, the change of climate in the country."

Regarding talks over Golden Dawn voters ahead of the second round of local administration elections, Venizelos said that no one claimed that Golden Dawn voters are "fascists, nazis or supporters" of the party.

"We must be clear with the people that made that choice in the municipal elections. We need to explain to them that this is an anti-democratic choice, that they encourage a fascist, violent behavior, that the whole Europe is pointing at us for having one of the most powerful extreme-right parties of the continent."

He noted that there is no need for a nominal haircut, as SYRIZA has claimed, that an unprecedented in world economy debt haircut has taken place.

[03] DIMAR leader Kouvelis on relations with Golden Dawn

"Any kind of relationship with the Golden Dawn, direct or indirect, is absolutely unacceptable," Kouvelis said in a statement.

"Any 'wink' to its members and voters offends democratic citizens. The political forces that constitute the democratic arc in our country ought, without second thoughts or half-truths, to distance themselves clearly from phenomena and practices that undermine democracy," he underlined.

[04] Greek current account deficit halved in Q1‏

The central bank, in a report, attributed this positive development to higher surpluses in the balance of services and current transfers and a reduction in the income account deficit while the trade deficit remained almost unchanged.

Specifically, regarding the trade deficit, higher net payments for purchases of ships (up by 212 million euros) offset the lower net oil import bill and the slightly contracted trade deficit excluding oil and ships, which is largely due to a decrease in the corresponding import bill. Receipts from exports of goods excluding oil and ships did not change considerably.

The rise in the services surplus (up by 464 million euros) in the first quarter of 2014 is attributable to increased net receipts, primarily, from transport services and, secondarily, from travel and other services. More specifically, travel spending in Greece by non-residents rose by 22% year-on-year, reflecting a 16 pct increase in non-residents' arrivals; at the same time, residents' travel spending abroad rose by 16 pct.

The income account deficit fell by 245 million euros year-on-year, owing to a decline in net interest payments.

Finally, the current transfers balance showed a surplus of 2.2 billion euros, up by 518 million year-on-year. This development is mainly due to higher general government net transfer receipts (mainly from the EU).

In the first three months of 2014, non-residents' direct investment in Greece showed a net inflow of 288 million euros, while residents' direct investment abroad recorded a net outflow (increase) of 195 million.

Under portfolio investment, a net inflow of 310 million euros was observed, mainly on account of a rise in non-residents' purchases of shares of Greek firms and a decline in residents' investment in foreign bonds and Treasury bills. These developments were partly offset by a drop in non-residents' holdings of Greek government bonds and Treasury bills (outflow).

Under "other" investment, a net outflow of 584 million euros is mainly attributable to a decrease in the net outstanding debt of the public and the private sector to non-residents.

At end-March 2014, Greece's reserve assets remained unchanged year-on-year, at 5.5 billion euros.

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