Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-04-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Obama-Varoufakis discuss management of crises

[02] Labour Min. expresses optimism over successful outcome of negotiations

[01] Obama-Varoufakis discuss management of crises

We made a comparison of our own experience, which is similar and very different at the same time. We exchanged some ideas about what this means for Greece in relation to the difficulties he had faced, Varoufakis said. President Obama faced great difficulties related to the management of Wall Street, Varoufakis noted, and we have to face difficulties as a result of memoranda that essentially rolled over the private losses to the taxpayers of Greece and the eurozone.

Obama and Varoufakis agreed that they can find practical ways to avoid destabilisation either by accident or because of uncontrolled processes. Moreover, both sides expressed the need for flexibility.

The US President expressed the support of himself and of his government and assured that the cooperation will continue.

On his part, Varoufakis said that the US President did not point his finger to us nor did he tell us what to do. We must be absolutely committed to our goal and perfectly integrated in the process in which we participate with the IMF-ECB-EU, he stated, adding that foreign forces ought to help.

Referring to the negotiations with the partners, Varoufakis underlined that there is never a key date, all things should be viewed in combination and cumulatively and added that on April 24 there will be no resolution, there will be progress.

The question is what we will do in the post-June period. Our goal is a good deal for the post-June period, an agreement on a different concept from the previous ones, which extended the problem, the Finance Minister said stressing that the government will do everything possible in order to find a solution.

[02] Labour Min. expresses optimism over successful outcome of negotiations

He referred to frank negotiations with the partners and expressed his view that there will be an agreement. "They will not assume the responsibility of destroying Europe," he estimated and reiterated that "the government will not back down from its red lines."

"An agreement that will increase poverty will not exist," he underlined.

He cleared out that the government does not intend to proceed to elections or a referendum, stressing the need to put an end to uncertainty.

Skourletis added that a legislation on the restitution of the minimum wage in two phases as well as the collective agreements will be tabled on April 20. The Labour minister also ruled out the possibility of further pension cuts.

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