Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Results of EU South summit in Madrid 'fully satisfactory,' government sources say

[02] Crisis preventing Greeks from monitoring and treating high cholesterol, survey finds

[01] Results of EU South summit in Madrid 'fully satisfactory,' government sources say

This was a goal steadily pursued by the Greek side, the sources said, while the declaration also included Greek positions on the refugee and migration crisis, especially in relation to revising the European asylum system on the basis of solidarity.

The sources also pointed to the positions in favour of giving new impetus to economic convergence between member-states, noting that this was a political priority for fighting unemployment.

As announced earlier, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had raised the issue of the Syrian crisis during the meeting and called for EU diplomatic initiatives, noting that a failure to do so would be an admission of weakness.

Included in the Madrid Declaration, they added, was a reference stating that the solution to the conflict in Syria cannot be military and that only a credible political solution, as outlined by UNSCR 2254 when the roadmap to the Syria peace process was unanimously accepted, could ensure peace and stability in Syria, and make possible the decisive defeat of ISIS and other terror groups in Syria.

The sources went on to highlight the significance acquired by the EU southern countries summit, which was becoming a permanent institution and improved the coordination of the EU's south for both Europe's present and Europe's future.

The same sources also responded to statements made by the German finance ministry, repeating the main points of the Malta agreement 'roadmap' in order to "avoid misinterpretations".

This called firstly for the completion of the Staff-Level Agreement on the measures included in the current programme and the positive measures and reforms for the years 2019 and 2020. Following this, the medium-term measures for easing Greek debt, which will be implemented after the end of the current programme (September 2018), will be made specific by a subsequent Eurogroup in order for the IMF to be able to to draw up a positive sustainability report on Greece's debt and thus be able to participate in the Greek programme. The third step after the implementation of the medium-term measures for the debt (in September 2018) will be the implemenation of the reforms and positive measures in the Malta Agreement as of January 1, 2019.

"This is the road map and it is not questioned by anyone: not even Mr. Wolfgang Schaeuble, who described exactly this agreement in his statements today," the sources added.

[02] Crisis preventing Greeks from monitoring and treating high cholesterol, survey finds

Presenting data collected via its 11-year "Cholesterol Control Month" programme, the foundation said this painted a picture for the cardiovascular risk faced by Greeks that was "unexpectedly alarming."

The data showed that only half of those questioned knew whether their cholesterol levels were normal or too high. Even among those aware of a problem, however, on 31 pct were taking any action to lower their cholesterol levels and roughly a quarter had never consulted a doctor about it. One in six Greeks that begin a course of treatment to lower cholesterol are forced to stop due to their inability to cover the cost.

The "Cholesterol Control Month" programme has data collected from a sample of 60,000 individuals, creating the largest database of cardiovascular risk factors for the population of Greece.

The findings were presented by the head of the Henry Dunant Hospital cardiological clinic Dr. Georgios Andrikopoulos during a press conference to announce the 32nd Cardiology Clinic Conference taking place in Athens on April 21-22.

The conference will focus on the latest information relating to cardiovascular risk factors, which in recent years has focused mainly on how environmental factors and pollution impact heart health. He also referred to the study "Korinthia" monitoring 1,700 volunteers from various regions of Corinth, which has revealed the important role played by diet and especially the importance of eating breakfast.

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