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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-01
CONTENTS
[01] Tsipras on Istanbul terror attack: Greek people stand in solidarity
to the people of Turkey
[02] Stathakis to ANA: Government decides on top issues; will continue
policy of redistribution
[01] Tsipras on Istanbul terror attack: Greek people stand in solidarity
to the people of Turkey
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras send his sincere condolences to the
families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Istanbul on Sunday
which claimed the lives of 39 people and injured 69, according to
information so far.
"Sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the heinous
terrorist attack in Istanbul. The Greek people stand in solidarity to
the people of Turkey in these difficult times. We must increase our
cooperation so that 2017 is a year of peace and security," he tweeted.
Earlier, the prime minister had expressed his condolences to Turkey's
Ambassador to Greece, Yaşar Çevik, though his diplomatic office.
[02] Stathakis to ANA: Government decides on top issues; will continue
policy of redistribution
The government is the one which takes decisions on issues of top
priority, Environment and Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis told
Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) in an interview published on Sunday,
adding a pension bonus could be redistributed this year if conditions
allow it.
Commenting on the recent clash with the institutions over the pension
bonus and the suspension of the VAT for some islands, the minister said
the government never violated any agreement with its lenders and cited
the unblocking of Greece's debt relief measures by EU bodies.
"It is certainly useful to have a climate of mutual cooperation and trust
but in the core of it it's the government itself which takes decisions
for issues it considers of top priority," he said.
Asked whether the government is considering distributing again a pension
bonus in 2017, Stathakis responded positively. "The government has
clarified that overachieving fiscal targets implies redistribution in
favor of the weaker social groups. And it will continue to do so. If
everything goes well, we'll continue in the same framework," he said.
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