Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tzanakopoulos: Policy mix in final agreement will be 'far better' than opposition hopes

[02] Greece should re-examine relations with Turkey, ND's Koumoutsakos tells ANA

[01] Tzanakopoulos: Policy mix in final agreement will be 'far better' than opposition hopes

In an interview with the Greek radio station 'Alpha 989', Tzanakopoulos said that current conditions made it possible to reach an agreement with the institutions - both on a staff-level agreement (SLA) and on the positive measures and reforms going forward - before the Eurogroup on March 20. This was the goal of the Greek government and the institutions involved, he added, and would open the way for a discussion on Greece's debt and the size of primary surpluses, leading to a comprehensive agreement.

The mistake that Greece must now avoid repeating, as had been happening for many years in the negotiations on the Greek programme, Tzanakopoulos said, was to rush under the pressure of time and the uncertainty caused by a failure to complete the review and postpone the problem for two, three, four or five months later.

"At this time, the central goal must be a comprehensive solution that will finally open the way for a final exit from the memorandums," he said.

This would require calmness and a more low-key tone from the opposition at home, the spokesman added, though noting that main opposition New Democracy appears not to share this view. "We must all understand that the Greek economy needs a comprehensive agreement that will final untie the various Gordian knots that have accompanied the Greek programme since the start of the crisis," he said.

Regarding the policy mix, he said this would include more austerity and reforms but also equivalent measures counteracting this, either in the form of lower taxes or by increasing social spending, in order to create a socially sustainable and balanced fiscal mix.

Asked about the issues now under negotiation, Tzanakopoulos singled out that of labour market reforms, where he said Europe must "assume its political responsibilities. According to the spokesman, the IMF was demanding things that are "outside the European social model, violate the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and cannot therefore be accepted, not just by Greece but also by Europe, to the extent that Europe wants to continue respecting itself."

"In this sense, there are discussions on all levels and we will strive for the greatest possible consensus in order to support our positions about the need to restore collective bargaining and the need to re-regulate the labour market in Greece," he said.

[02] Greece should re-examine relations with Turkey, ND's Koumoutsakos tells ANA

Koumoutsakos pointed to an escalating deterioration of relations between the EU and Turkey, most recently in Ankara's confrontation with the Netherlands after Dutch authorities refused to allow Turkish ministers to visit and campaign for the Turkish referendum.

He noted that the distance between Turkey and Europe was constantly widening and forecast that this was not a good development for Greece and the region. In this context, Koumoutsakos said, Greece's policy must adapt to the new facts created by Turkey, which was becoming ever more Eastern and less and less Western.

Focusing on Turkey's escalating aggression and provocativeness toward Greece, Koumoutsakos said Ankara's behaviou was "unacceptable" and said the period leading up to the Turkish referendum was exceptionally crucial "since no one can predict how far the Turkish leadership will go in its effort to extract nationalist votes."

Even more crucial, he added, will be the period after the referendum if a 'no' vote prevails.

Koumoutsakos criticised a recent Turkish foreign ministry announcement targeting Greece's president Prokopis Pavlopoulos as "dangerous" and "unacceptable brazenness", and said it was part of a constant effort to artificially stoke tension. At the same time, he also criticised Greece's Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and noted that "defence ministers should not make statements at times of tension."

The New Democracy MP also referred to Greece's role in the EU and the Eurozone, noting that Greece must remain among the 'core' countries as the only strategic choice. If Greece were to become established in the 'second speed' or 'second circle,' this would greatly weaken the country, he said.

"It would be a prologue to our return to the margins of Europe, our return to the Balkans," he added, while also expressing concern about the increasingly volatile situation in the western Balkans and the flare-up of nationalist and ethnic tensions.

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