Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-06-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras calls for talks to start on Greece's transition to growth

[02] Greece 'won't take whatever it's given' at next Eurogroup, Tzanakopoulos says

[03] Athens Open Air Film Festival kicks off for 7th year in June

[04] Colombian drug cartel behind hospital heists in Greece, police say

[01] Tsipras calls for talks to start on Greece's transition to growth

The prime minister noted that the country is suffering the consequences of wrong choices of either previous policies or of Greece's creditors who suggested the wrong recipe for overcoming the crisis.

Commenting on the ongoing negotiations on Greece's program and debt, he said that "a decision on June 15 that will resolve definitively the Greek issue is more necessary but also more feasible than ever."

"In the coming days, we have the opportunity to take these decisions. We will bring specific solutions at the Eurogroup. There's a way out, as long as it is not blocked by political expediencies," he added and reiterated his position that it is the creditors' turn "to do what they can and what they ought to do".

Tsipras also noted that this is an opportunity for the government, the institutions, society and the sector of healthy entrepreneurship to join forces to create new wealth and new jobs for the country. "Our partners will do whatever is necessary to place growth in the agenda of priorities," he said.

Discussing Cyprus, the prime minister asked for the withdrawal of Turkish troops, adding that Greece maintains a bilateral dialog with the neighbouring country and supports like no other European country the EU-Turkish cooperation. He also said Greece supports Turkey's EU accession talks and insisted on bringing about the difficult but necessary EU-Turkey deal on migration which cut refugee flows.

[02] Greece 'won't take whatever it's given' at next Eurogroup, Tzanakopoulos says

"We will not take whatever we are given. The next milestone is the summit meeting on June 22," he told reporters. The decisions on the Greek programme concern all of Europe, Tzanakopoulos added, and had a political aspect that should concern the Eurozone at the highest possible level.

He denied the existence of "united fronts" against the Greek positions on the debt and cited statements by European Central Bank (ECB) officials saying that the ECB will draft an independent debt sustainability report on Greece that takes the Eurogroup decision into account.

The spokesman also criticised the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for pressing hard when it came to austerity reforms but "giving in" easily when demanding debt relief. "In our opinion, this does not help," Tzanakopoulos commented and repeated that the Greek side wants a "clean solution".

"The decision for Greek debt relief was taken on May 24, 2016 when it was decided that the criterion for debt sustainability was that the gross financing needs of the country cannot exceed 15 pct of GDP in the medium term. This is the fundamental framework in which the entire discussion on the debt is being conducted," he said.

The same Eurogroup meeting had also decided that there three tools available for alleviating Greek debt, namely to extend the maturity of Greek bonds, introduce a grace period for interest rates and return any profits made on bonds held by the ECB.

"The discussion now is about further specifying the degree to which we will use these tools, which will go into effect and be implemented after the end of the Greek programme. In order for the IMF to participate in a programme, it must have a positive debt sustainability analysis," Tzanakopoulos added.

The measures had to be clarified sufficiently so as to provide a final and sustainable solution to the Greek problem, guaranteeing the Greek economy's growth and Greece's access to financial markets on sustainable terms, he said.

On whether Greece will qualify for the ECB's quantitative easing programme, Tzanakopoulos said that no Eurogroup decision could determine this in advance and that the ECB would arrive at its decision independently.

"We seek the greatest possible clarity on the medium-term [measures] so that the ECB will consider the debt sustainable," he said.

On other issues, Tzanakopoulos denied reports that the Greek government was behind "pushbacks" of Turkish nationals seeking asylum at the Greek borders, who were returned without undergoing the asylum application process.

Earlier in the press briefing, Tzanakopoulos said that Greece's economy currently shows great potential but much depends on the decisions that will be taken on a European level regarding the debt and for boosting growth. He said the lenders and the institutions now had an obligation to "make the required decisions that will guarantee the return of European normality to our country."

Read also: Tzanakopoulos: Creditors must now take decisions for Greece's economic recovery

[03] Athens Open Air Film Festival kicks off for 7th year in June

The film festival, organised in collaboration with the British Council, will this year also feature a selection of British Gothic-horror films screened in Greece for the first time. All the films shown will be digitally restored copies, allowing audiences to enjoy them in their original cinematic glory.

The programme will also be enriched by critically acclaimed dramas and award-winning films made throughout the world, including timeless cult movies, Greek films and little-known "diamonds" of the seventh art, accompanied by live music.

For the full programme, visit the website: http://www.cinemag.gr/aoaff/summary.asp?catid=42643

[04] Colombian drug cartel behind hospital heists in Greece, police say

The gang stole instruments worth hundreds of thousands of euros from Aghios Savvas state hospital in Athens and state general hospitals in the Greek cities of Larisa, Lamia and Volos.

According to the head of the Attica Security Police Christos Papazafiris, the fourth suspect was a woman, who is now being interrogated by Colombian authorities.

The four suspects are believed to be members of a cartel that had carried out similar heists throughout Europe.

While in Greece, the ring stole 500,000 euros of medical equipment and supplies from Aghios Savvas on May 15, another 115,000 euros from the Lamia and Larisa General Hospitals between May 19-22 and two gastroscopes from Volos General Hospital on May 21.

Based on an investigation by the Crimes Against Life and Property department of the Attica Security Police, and in collaboration with police forces abroad, it is believed to be the same ring that also stole medical equipment from Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Croatia and Lithuania.

Following up information supplied by French police that packages of medical instruments were posted to Colombia, the Greek police tracked the movements of the suspects and found that they had entered Greece via Turkey, renting an apartment via the internet. They also used rented cars to travel about and locate cities with hospitals they could target.

In the Athens area, police believe they "cased" Aghios Savvas, Euroclinic and Laiko Hospital and that they gained entry into Aghios Savvas hospital by posing as patients in need of treatment.

Authorities believe the instruments and supplies stolen are used to facilitate the secret transportation and recovery of ingested drugs being smuggled across borders.

Members of the ring operating in Greece sent two packages of the stolen medical equipment to Colombia via courier, each time to the same recipient from the same sender. They then left Greece using fake travel documents on May 25, flying to a Latin American country via Spain. One of the packages they posted, containing goods stolen from Aghios Savvas and Larisa has been recovered, in collaboration with police in Bogota.

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