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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-09-25Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM on contacts at UN, Washington; Qatar dealNEW YORK (ANA-MPA) -- Prime Minister George Papandreou on Thursday briefed reporters over his whirlwind round of contacts with international leaders on the sidelines of the 65th UN General Assembly, including a brief meeting with US President Barack Obama here, and during a lightning trip to Washington D.C. for talks with US leadership.Papandreou emphasised what he called the positive results posted by the Greek government in meeting debt-reduction and fiscal consolidation targets, which he said were highlighted in meetings ranging from US Vice-President Joe Biden to Wall Street and contacts with investors and financial analysts in the US metropolis. Moreover, turning to a timely agreement signed in Manhattan with Qatar over investments in Greece totalling five billion euros, Papandreou emphasised, when queried about press speculation over the building of a casino in southern coastal Athens: "A government that wants to can stipulate conditions and a development mode; whatever happens within a philosophy of green, viable development and not concrete. Whatever we do there will be mutual benefit and high-quality tourism, along with renewable sources of energy and the development of region that will add quality of life to our cities. This (agreement) was a vote of confidence for our country," he said. Asked about a reference by Turkish President Abdullah Gul for the need to implement international law, the Greek prime minister said the "reference to international law is a positive development". Finally, asked about his high-level contacts in Washington and if talks touched on the long-standing Cyprus issue and the nagging fYRoM "name issue", Papandreou said the "United States has its own priorities, and they have many issues to deal with. The reaction by the American side was positive, because we are taking initiatives, making moves to find solutions, defending our interests; and this is recognised by the Americans." More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [02] FinMin �n fiscal deficitANA-MPA/Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou, speaking at an event of the Economic Studies Centre headquartered in Frankfurt, expressed certainty that the target of a decrease in the fiscal deficit for 2010 and 2011 will be achieved, stressing that we might even find ourselves ahead of the target.Papaconstantinou ruled out categorically once again the possibility of restructuring the debt. "We did not enter this laborious procedure to be led to a restructuring of the debt. This is inconceivable, improbable and unworkable," he said. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |