Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-11-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis addresses Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce

[02] Cyprus president in Athens

[03] Greek-Egyptian trade talks

[01] PM Karamanlis addresses Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce

Karamanlis sent clear messages to bankers, businessmen, trade unionists and the opposition parties, calling on them to rise to the occasion, to place "us" in the place of "I" and to "consider what more can we offer."

The prime minister assessed that what is worse about the crisis is that it has no visible end and nobody can make a secure evaluation today nor of the duration, or of the intensity or of the trend that it might take, while stressing that the Greek economy's endurance in the face of the crisis vindicates the government's economic policy.

He made a brief account of the phenomena that led to the crisis and noted that now it has beeen conveyed rapidly to the real economy and has caused a vicious circle of interreactions in all economic activities in all the economies of the world.

"The global crises require global solutions," the prime minister said and emphasised that the eurozone is already on the threshold of recession and the Commission's predictions for 2009 are very pessimistic.

"Despite all this, the Greek economy, strengthened by the reforms of the past five years has proved, and is continuing to prove, stronger endurances, compared to many others," he said and stressed that "this truth vindicates the policy of the past years, on the one hand, and dictates an intensification of efforts on the other."

The prime minister further said that what is necessary are responsible policies and a deep sense of political and social responsibility.

[02] Cyprus president in Athens

In an exclusive interview with the ANA-MPA on Tuesday, President Christofias said his Athens talks would focus on Greek-Turkish as well as Cyprus-Turkey relations, in light of recent Turkish provocations.

He was referring to Turkey's recent provocations in Cyprus' territorial waters, when on November 13th, a Turkish warship forced a Norwegian vessel, which was conducting an exploratory survey on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus within its exclusive economic zone, 27 miles off the south coast of the island, to cease its operations and withdraw within the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus, fearing for the lives of its crew and the integrity of the ship.

The Cypriot president said that Athens and Nicosia should examine "in a greater depth Turkey's real, final, strategic target" regarding the protracted Cyprus issue "to see whether this tactic, which it (Turkey) follows today has any relation with this final aim."

President Christofias did not exclude in his interview the possibility of Ankara aiming "in one way or another at the recognition of the illegal entity in the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus and afterwards (the establishment of) some kind of confederation."

"Turkey has been until now sending such messages," Christofias stressed, adding that the Greek Cypriot side "can not accept such a thing".

The Cypriot president also believes that Turkish provocations in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone were probably linked with corresponding provocations in the Aegean.

President Christofias noted that during his Athens talks all possibilities regarding the course of ongoing direct negociations between him and Turksih Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat would be examined and concrete decisions would be taken.

Regarding the thorny issue of guarantees in an eventual solution of the Cyprus problem, President Christofias underlined that Greece's and Cyprus's joint position is that no guarantor powers are needed as regards a country which is a member of the European Union.

Asked to give an account of the up to date results of the direct talks with Talat, President Christofias said he "would have ecpected signs to be more positive".

[03] Greek-Egyptian trade talks

According to a foreign ministry announcement, it was stressed during the meeting that "the geopolitical and economic role of the two countries in the region is of strategic importance and we must urge the forces of the market to undertake actions that will achieve considerable results benefitting our peoples."

Rachid also gave a press conference in Athens on Tuesday focusing on the importance of further strengthening trade relations and investments between Egypt and Greece, through the framework shaped by the international economic crisis.

He referred to the improvement in trade and economic relations between the two countries since, as he pointed out, over the past years many Greek businesses have invested in Egypt in important sectors of the economy, such as energy, trade, shipping and banking.

Moreover, he noted that the activation of Egyptian businessmen in Greece, such as Nagib Sawiris is encouraging more Egyptian companies to come and invest in the country.

"The increase in trade and investments at bilateral level will benefit both Egypt and Greece, developing the economies and creating jobs," the Egyptian minister said.

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