Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras on Constitutional Revision

[02] Institutions remain in Athens, says EC spokeswoman Breidthardt

[03] We are sending a double message to all directions, but mainly to our neighbour and friend Turkey, says President Pavlopoulos

[04] We would like the second programme review to have been already concluded, Administrative Reform Policy Min Gerovassili says

[05] FM Kotzias and Georgian counterpart Janelidze: Greek-Georgian relations strategic

[06] Lecture on Rodin's sculpture and its connection with Ancient Greece at the National Archaeological Museum

[01] PM Tsipras on Constitutional Revision

Tsipras described the committee on the revision of the constitution as the link between the citizens and the institutional procedure in parliament. He underlined that the citizens must have a word on the Constitutional Revision because their participation is the most direct, clear and essential discussion on Democracy.

Democracy is not threatened by the citizens, Tsipras said adding that a balance must be found between the aspect that the citizens are always right and the aspect that the citizens must have a word once every four years.

"The dialogue for the Constitutional Revision is a wager for the quality of Democracy, a discussion on the institutional reform, a new regime, and how we want our country after 2021, which is the 200-year anniversary from the revolution of 1821," the Prime Minister noted.

"Dialogue and conflicts should not scare us," he stated and added: "We are now aiming at helping the economy return to normality, taking the country out of the crisis and strengthening Rights, Transparency and Justice."

[02] Institutions remain in Athens, says EC spokeswoman Breidthardt

Asked to comment on Greek press report claiming that the institutions are expected to depart from Athens on Tuesday she replied that "they remain in Athens to continue the progress towards the conclusion of the review" adding that "we are working closely with the other partners so that progress continues."

[03] We are sending a double message to all directions, but mainly to our neighbour and friend Turkey, says President Pavlopoulos

Pavlopoulos is visiting Kalymnos for the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Dodecanese Integration.

"We are sending a double message to all directions, but mainly to our neighbour and friend Turkey," he said and added:

"First, we are sending the message that Greece seeks to develop close and good neighborly relations and sincere friendship with Turkey and to support its accession to the European Union. Secondly, that Greece is determined based on the international law and the Treaty of Lausanne as well as the European law to fully defend its borders, its territorial integrity and its sovereignty and consequently the borders, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the European Union."

[04] We would like the second programme review to have been already concluded, Administrative Reform Policy Min Gerovassili says

She underlined that the government will not accept extreme positions.

"A last meeting with the institutions has been scheduled for Tuesday. It remains to be seen if they will leave and when they will come back," she stated and stressed that progress has been made without however having achieved total convergence.

Referring to the IMF's strict stance, she said that everyone can decide what stance he will keep until the final result. As he said, the European partners are keeping a neutral stance for the time being, but it remains to see the next steps.

Asked whether the government is to blame for the delay in the conclusion of the review, she said: "If we had accepted extreme positions, the negotiation would have been concluded."

[05] FM Kotzias and Georgian counterpart Janelidze: Greek-Georgian relations strategic

"Our meeting was productive and with positive energy," said Kotzias adding that "we agreed that the Greek-Georgian relations are strategic relations".

He explained that a strategic relation means a coordinated effort to promote the relations between the two countries in all sectors, economic, educational, energy, research but foremost means that Greece will do whatever possible in order for Georgia to come closer to the EU. "I deeply believe that Georgia is a country that belongs to Europe" said Kotzias and referred to the deep and long historic bonds between the countries. "Greece is a country that supports and is based on the international law and therefore we support Georgia's sovereign rights and independence".

Kotzias invited Janelidze to visit Greece adding that until then their cooperation can proceed at ministerial level.

Finally, he congratulated the abolition of short-term visa for Georgian nationals in EU which Greece supported strongly which may give a boost to tourism relations between the two countries.

On his part, Janelidze welcomed Kotzias adding that it is the first Greek foreign minister's visit to Georgia. He thanked Greece for its support to Georgia course's to the European integration and him personally for his contribution to the abolition of the short-term visa for Georgian citizen in the Schengen zone.

The Georgian foreign minister said that their talks focused on Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity noting that they must be solved peacefully according to the international law. "Greece and Georgia would do whatever possible for peace and stability in the region" concluded Janelidze.

[06] Lecture on Rodin's sculpture and its connection with Ancient Greece at the National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum is hosting since summer 2016 works of August Rodin in its permanent exhibition halls which were sent as gifts , in rental form, for the 150th anniversary of the museum from the National Museum of Western Art of Tokyo, the National Gallery and Alexandros Onassis Foundation.

"The thinker, the kiss, the prodigal son are inteacting with exhibits from different eras of ancient art. The works will remain at the museum until April 3.

The lecture will be combined with a tour in the halls that Rodin's works are displayed.

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