Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-05-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsakalotos: Greek debt recognized as not viable; bonds could soon qualify for ECB's QE

[02] Russian President Putin visits Athens on Friday; will sign agreements with Tsipras

[03] Council of Europe SecGen, Alt. FM Xydakis discuss refugee crisis

[01] Tsakalotos: Greek debt recognized as not viable; bonds could soon qualify for ECB's QE

Speaking to journalists along with Alternate Finance Minister Giorgos Chouliarakis, Tsakalotos said the Eurogroup meeting ended a crucial circle in the path to economic recovery and although more program reviews will follow, this was the "most complicated, difficult and important".

This is because Greece completed the fiscal adjustment program and no additional measures will be needed until its end, while the country will receive a loan installment equal to about 2 pct of its GDP to cover state arrears. The conclusion of the review also fulfills three basic conditions for recovery, the minister said: bank recapitalization, improvement of liquidity, restoring of stability and removal of uncertainty for the economy.

"The Eurogroup decision has compromises. We didn't do what we could have done, obviously we also compromised. But the people will see that the conditions are in place to change the vicious circle into a virtuous circle," Tsakalotos said.

Commenting on the decisions on the country's debt, Tsakalotos said for the first time there is an official recognition that it's unsustainable, noting that if there was a pledge on debt since 2011, then Greece's financing needs would have been lower by 18-27 billion euros annually.

Asked on the government's plans towards capital controls, the minister said lifting them will depend on the return of bank deposits and assurance that banks are fully secured. "What we are discussing is the speed with which capital controls will be fully revoked," he said.

Commenting on when they expect the country to return to the markets, the minister said: "Our aim is to return to the markets slowly, within 2017. We don't want to exit quickly, but to consolidate a climate of trust," he said.

He also clarified that the VAT hike in islands will not be revoked. "I'd like to convince ANEL [the gov't coalition party] and my own party that the revenues can be used for a targeted island policy and as assistance towards citizens for growth. This policy will be more effective."

[02] Russian President Putin visits Athens on Friday; will sign agreements with Tsipras

Putin is arriving at the Greek capital in the afternoon and will immediately meet President Prokopis Pavlopoulos. He will then be welcomed at Maximos Mansion for a private meeting with Tsipras, which will be followed by talks with the two delegations.

According to the same sources, the Russian president is visiting Greece as part of the Greece-Russia Year and following Tsipras' visit to Moscow and St Petersburg in 2015 and Pavlopoulos' visit to Moscow in January.

The agenda of the two leaders and their delegations will focus on: 1) Strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations (attracting Russian investments, promoting Greek products, mainly agricultural, energy and tourism), 2) upgrading political dialog on international and regional developments, as well as EU-Russia and NATO-Russia relations, 3) Cooperating on culture, education, science and technology.

Putin will be accompanies by a numerous government delegation that will include the ministers of foreign affairs, energy, transport, culture, economic development, agriculture and the government spokesperson. The delegation will also include the CEOs of gas and oil giants Gazprom and Rosneft, as well as other businessmen.

[03] Council of Europe SecGen, Alt. FM Xydakis discuss refugee crisis

Replying to a question from the ANA-MPA, Jagland said that the refugee issue is a European problem and Greece should not be left to handle it unaided. The other EU member-states and European institutions should give even greater support to Greece, he added. In this context, he also included the difficulties with the relocation of refugees to other EU countries, especially children, and promised to convey this message to the 47 CoE member-states when he returned to its base in Strasbourg.

Jagland, who had earlier visited a centre for unaccompanied migrant children in Ano Petralona, noted Greece's efforts to support unaccompanied minors and said the country was making every possible effort to allow all refugees to submit their application for asylum.

Xydakis said the Council of Europe could provide Greece with invaluable assistance through its broad network for information and strategic thinking, as well as the secretary general's own experience and his knowledge about Europe and Greece, providing very useful insights to help Greece formulate its own views and policies.

"It is an organisation that has always stood by the Greek people and Greek democracy when this was hurt," he said.

Jagland has been in Athens since Wednesday, when he met President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and other members of the government. On Friday he will go to the coastal town of Nafplio to take part in a two-day conference on "Protecting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants; lessons from the recent crisis and prospects for coordinated action by international organisations." On Saturday, he is to be named an honorary citizen of Nafplio.

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