Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM and visiting leftist leaders discuss options for stemming rise of the far-right in Europe

[02] Mitsotakis says Greece needs political change; notes 'ideological' battle to bring growth

[01] PM and visiting leftist leaders discuss options for stemming rise of the far-right in Europe

The Greek prime minister had successive meetings at the Maximos Mansion with the secretary-general of the Cypriot leftist party AKEL, Andros Kyprianou, French Communist Party National Secretary Pierre Laurent and leading member of Germany's Die Linke party Gregor Gysi.

The discussion with Laurent focused on the challenges facing a leftist party that finds itself in power within a European framework, while they also discussed the need for debt relief for Greece, in order to give investors a signal that Greece was turning things around. They further discussed ways in which the left in France, in collaboration with other progressive forces, might stop the rise to power of Marie Le Pen's Front National (FN) party, ahead of the presidential elections in 2017.

Rising nationalist and populist tendencies also dominated the meeting with Gysi, as well as the prospects for cooperation between the Left, social-democrats and greens in Germany. Talks for the formation of such a ruling coalition of the left, greens and social democrats are currently underway in Berlin, following recent regional elections.

The talks with Kyprianou were more focused on the negotiations for a solution on the Cyprus issue, which are currently ongoing, with AKEL's leader briefing Tsipras on his party's positions.

[02] Mitsotakis says Greece needs political change; notes 'ideological' battle to bring growth

"We need political change that will come from elections which must be held as soon as possible," Mitsotakis was quoted as saying in an interview with "The National Herald" during his visit to Boston where he attended two conferences in Harvard and Tufts, where he was invited to make keynote speeches.

"Only the social economy of the market can produce wealth for everyone, attract investments and create new jobs," he added, noting the battle is "deeply ideological" and is about returning society and the economy "to creative values such as meritocracy, transparency, hard work, creative ambition, trust in institutions, solidarity and cohesion, as well as the promotion and support of excellence".

Mitsotakis criticized the government for not being able to create the circumstances that will lead Greece out of the crisis and return to sustainable growth, noting that populism has brought many evils to the country.

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