Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek, Serbian businessmen called on to make new investments

[02] Commissioner Hubner meets FinMin

[03] Archbishop of Albania honoured by Athens Academy

[01] Greek, Serbian businessmen called on to make new investments

The two mnisters called on businessmen attending the Council session, most of them Greek, to take advantage of the excellent political climate and legislative framework provided by the two governments in order to proceed with new investments.

Stylianidis said that at the front-line of investments were the sectors of transport and energy, and stressed the iimportance of the agreement to be signed in Athens on October 25 on the unification of SE Europe in the energy sector.

He also reiterated the commitment of Greece and prime minster Costas Karamanlis for implementation of the Greek Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans (ESOAB), under which 250 million euros are earmarked for Serbia. He further stressed that "Axis 10" that will link Thessaloniki with central Europe was a project of absolute priority.

Referring to Serbia-Montenegro's European prospect, Stylianidis said that "we are following Serbia's course with vital interest and will back its European prospect with all our strength".

Parivodic announced that the Karamanlis-Kostunica meeting will take place on October 31, and expressed appreciation for Greece's backing of his country's European prospect, adding that "we also hope to have Greece's support for our membership to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which we desire as soon as possible".

Parivodic called on Greek investors to invest in Serbia which, according to a recent World Bank report, was the top country in speed of reforms in 2004.

The Serbian minister noted that whereas total Greek investments in the Balkans stood at 7 billion euros, Greek investments in Serbia alone stood at more than one billion euros, adding that he would be "satisfied" when Greek investments in his country reached the 2.5-3 billion mark, in other words one-third of overall Greek investments in the Balkans.

Turning to the Greek businessman, he said that neither the referendum on Montenegro, nor Kosovo, would negatively influence the investments, and placed particular weight on implementation of the ESOAB.

[02] Commissioner Hubner meets FinMin

Alogoskoufis told waiting reporters after the meeting that the discussion had been "constructive", and reiterated that Greece's fiscal deficit would be contained at 2.6 percentage points of GNP in 2006, noting that the reduction would be achieved through cutbacks in expenditures.

He also said that there was a "very good and constructive collaboration" with the Commissioner, adding that all the major problems inherited from the past were being tackled.

Alogoskoufis further said that it was important for decisions to be taken on the EU's fiscal prospects for the period 2007-2013.

Hubner told reporters that the solutions being advanced on the structure of the Third CSF mechanisms aimed at not one single euro being lost vis-a-vis development.

She described the coordination at the national economy ministry as "good".

Hubner is also slated to meet with environment, town planning and public works minister George Souflias, development minister Dimitris Sioufas, economy deputy minister Christos Folias, and deputy foreign minister George Valynakis.

[03] Archbishop of Albania honoured by Athens Academy

An announcement by the Academy said that honorary membership was awarded to Greeks and foreigners that had made a significant contribution through their works or donations to the Greek nation, the Athens Academy or humanity in general.

Archbishop Anastasios has had a long and distinguished career as a theologian and senior cleric, both in Greece and abroad.

He has been an honorary member of the Moscow Theological Academy since 1998 and received the Dimitriu Staniloae diploma - the highest distinction for theologists established in Romania - in the year 2003.

In 2004, meanwhile, he was elected vice-president of the Meeting of European Churches.

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