Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-07-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] New flare-up in northern Evia fire near Limni

[02] Greece 'a pillar of stability' in the Mediterranean,' Kammenos says in ANA interview

[01] New flare-up in northern Evia fire near Limni

The wildfire that started at noon on Saturday in Farakla swept across northern Evia throughout the night, burning roughly 2,000 hectares of forest on the island and reaching the seaside resort of Katounia in the Limni area. It was under control all along its length on Sunday afternoon, though the fire brigade warned of the danger it might rekindle as wind speeds strengthened in the late afternoon.

The first light of day on Sunday revealed "incalculable damages" and severe ecological destruction in the Limni area, authorities said.

[02] Greece 'a pillar of stability' in the Mediterranean,' Kammenos says in ANA interview

In a comment on the report and the mistakes made in the Greek programme by the IMF watchdog, the Independent Evaluation Office, Kammenos said this was a "vindication" for those that had always seen the decision to put Greece in the first memorandum programme in 2010 "as a political action on the part of George Papandreou."

The admission of the mistakes and their disastrous repercussions for Greece was an opportunity to seek reparations for the damage done, Kammenos said, while highlighting the possible role of the current U.S. administration in this effort.

"The forces in Europe have changed their stance in comparison with July last year and I am certain that our country will finally emerge from this tragic period for the citizens and the country," he said.

Kammenos also commented on the intervention of Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to "let off" Spain and Portugal from fines for missing deficit targets, noting that many decisions after 2015 were taken on the basis of political and not purely economic criteria.

On the recent events in Turkey, including their possible impact in relation to Cyprus, Kammenos noted that it was clearly "unpleasant" to have such events unfolding in a neighbouring country but that Greece's geopolitical signficance and stability was made stronger as a result, especially in the context of NATO and the European Union.

"Greece is now a pillar of stability in the broader region of the Mediterranean and an axis of stability with Greece at its centre is now formed, with Bulgaria and Romania to the north and to the south with Cyprus, Egypt and the Middle East countries, with which we have excellent relations, while at the same time having the capability to talk with and also have excellent relations with Israel," he pointed out.

This gave Greece the capability to undertake initiatives in order to resolve the refugee crisis with the return of the refugees to their countries of origin, he said.

"I consider that Greece's position is very important and recognisable by our allies in NATO but also countries outside NATO, such as Russia, Israel and the Middle East countries," Kammenos added.

On the Cyprus issue, the defence minister said the withdrawal of the Turkish occuption troops will be the key to resolving the Cyprus problem.

Asked about policy in NATO, Kammenos said weight should be given to the south and to fighting Islamic fundamentalism, which he described as "the real foe."

"The situation in North Africa and the Middle East, but also the terrorist attacks on European countries at this time, show all of us that the there must be a reinforcement of the Alliance focused on the south sector in order to deal with the issue of terrorism and to be able to normalise the situation in countries like Libya, to have the election of a democratic government and to stop the illegal funding of terrorism and ISIS that is taking place through the trafficking in oil, guns, drugs and people in the broader region of the southeastern Mediterranean," he said.

Kammenos also replied to questions regarding the revision of the constitution, noting that this should be a "new contract" with the citizens that would end a system where the constitution provided "special immunity" to politicians, such as the law on ministerial responsibility. He said the changes proposed by the government would help restore people's trust in politicians.

On the pay of the armed forces and the cuts to special wage scales, the minister said that Greece's armed forces were now on the smallest pay of any in NATO and had suffered cuts as high as 65 pct. "There are no margins any more," he added, noting that the prime minister and himself had promised that armed forces personnel wages and pensions will not be cut, regardless of the demands of Greece's creditors.

According to the minister, the money needed will be found by cuts in spending and by making more efficient use of armed forces resources and property to generate additional income.

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