Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras says SYRIZA has 'historic duty' to win the fight; second program review will conclude in time

[02] Mitsotakis: 'Populism is effective in opposition and ineffective in government'

[03] Government sources on Wikileaks claim, alleged Tsipras request to Putin

[01] Tsipras says SYRIZA has 'historic duty' to win the fight; second program review will conclude in time

"Three years after SYRIZA's founding conference we prove that there's a Left that doesn't hesitate to take on its historic duty. To carry on its shoulders the responsibility for an exit from the crisis, with society standing on its feet. We have an obligation not to abandon this fight. We have to win this fight. It's a historic duty. And we will win it," Tsipras said in his speech at the Tae Kwon Do stadium in southern Athens.

He said the globalized economy forces the country to fight step by step for a change in politics both in Greece and Europe. "We work hard for a realistic road map for the recovery of the economy, so that we can exit from the clamp of guardianship," he said.

Tsipras said the second program review will conclude in time and will be less difficult than the first one. "At the same time, the measures for debt relief will be set. At the same time, we'll be included in quantitative easing. There's no 'we'll see'," he said.

[02] Mitsotakis: 'Populism is effective in opposition and ineffective in government'

"Populism is effective in opposition and ineffective in government," he told attendees and separated his party's position from populism saying its aim is to offer a new vision of politics. "Our first priority is to show the world we recognize the mistakes of the past. To restore its trust. To convince we're changing. With new ideas, new people, new policies," he said, adding ND took a risk to try and build a "culture of hope" based on the truth.

Mitsotakis said tackling populism constitutes a crucial issue for Greece whether it comes from the Left of the Right. "SYRIZA was elected supported by a big lie. Inevitably, the country collided with reality. We had to sign a third memorandum. The economy remains in recession. Six years after the outbreak of the crisis, Greece remains in aid programs. 90% of the population believes the country is heading in the wrong direction," he said.

Concerning his party's recipe for an exit from the crisis, the ND leader said Greece needs a new policy mix that will include cutting taxation and government spending to bring growth.

"At the same time, we stressed the need to attract foreign investment to create new jobs. We have to stop the brain drain immediately. Greece has comparative advantages and these must be highlighted," he said, adding that this requires a political change.

Mitsotakis also explained that Greece must negotiate with its lenders to lower the agreed targets for primary surpluses, as it is very difficult for the economy to recover with a target of a 3.5 percent surplus for the next decade.

"Such high surpluses can undermine reforms. Primary surpluses are directly inked with the issue of Greece's unsustainable debt," he said.

[03] Government sources on Wikileaks claim, alleged Tsipras request to Putin

Replying to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA), the source said that there had been contacts between the two leaders at that time "but at no time was such an issue raised by the Greek prime minister. On the contrary, it was commonly agreed that the only realistic path was for Greece to remain in the Eurozone."

According to the book on Hollande, the French president allegedly mentioned that Putin had told him that "Greece asked us to print drachmas in Russia because they do not have such a press."

Government sources also provided clarifications, in response to ANA questions about the Podesta e-mails posted by Wikileaks on October 7, noting that Tsipras contacted former U.S. president Bill Clinton before Greece's July 2015 referendum on bailouts but spoke only to U.S. President Barack Obama afterward. The leaked Podesta e-mails revealed that Obama's office had reached out to Bill Clinton via John Podesta, Clinton's former chief of staff, asking whether he might be able to persuade Tsipras to sign a bailout deal.

Podesta, who currently heads the Hillary Clinton campaign, is shown contacting Clinton's office to ask whether the former president, referred to as WJC for Willian Jefferson Clinton, was willing and able to step in.

"i'm on a train and hard to talk by phone. White House asked me whether WJC had enough of a relationship with PM Tsipras to call him and counsel him to make a deal. Can you ask him whether that's in the realm of possibility. If yes, I can talk to him after I'm off the train and explain their thinking and what they are hoping to accomplish. Thanks."

Clinton's office sent a message back indicating that Clinton was initially amenable but requesting additional information, including whether the same pressures would be applied to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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