Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras: Program review will be completed on time

[02] Macedonia farmers open border posts for a few hours to facilitate traffic

[03] Greece gives green light for Paxi waterway

[04] Bank of Greece governor optimistic over Greek economic prospects

[01] PM Tsipras: Program review will be completed on time

He underlined that the agreement is met in full with priority given on the protection of the weakest citizens. "We are waiting for the institutions to recognise it," he said.

Tsipras also said that Greek islands are plagued by the refugee crisis adding that "the majority of the Greeks give an example of humanity worldwide. And this is happening in a Europe which seems to be in an awkward and bewildered position."

"Europe is in a vortex of multiple and parallel crises," the Greek prime minister noted stressing the importance of constant vigilance, perseverance and patience in order for Greece to cope with this.

He also confirmed that Greece will meet its commitments for the creation of refugees reception centres by next week. We are waiting from the creditors to do the same, because agreements cannot be "a la carte," he underlined.

"Despite its economic difficulties, Greece turns into what it ought to be thanks to its geographical position, a country-bridge between West and East," he added referring to the relations with Palestine, his visit to Iran during which important steps were taken towards the deepening of the two countries' relations.

On the Cyprus issue, he said that the strategic aim is to find a solution on the basis of UN resolutions and stressed that the government is fighting for a just solution that starts from the withdrawal of the occupation troops from the island.

[02] Macedonia farmers open border posts for a few hours to facilitate traffic

The farmers' block at Exochi on the Greek-Bulgarian borders opened late Tuesday and closed again at 11:00 on Wednesday.

Two blockades have been set at Kilkis region at Evzoni border post (Greek-Fyrom border) and at Doirani (Greek-Fyrom). Farmers will close on Wednesday Evzoni post from 13:00-15:00 and 20:00-22:00 and Doirani checkpoint from 18:00-22:00.

Meanwhile, farmers continue to keep Niselio interchange and Malgara toll station on Egnatia motorway closed.

Finally, Western Macedonia farmers have set nine blockades and according to the blocks' coordinator Dimitris Moschos the border post at Krystallopigi (Greek-Albanian borders) and Niki (Greek-Fyrom borders) will be closed from 11:00-23:00 on Wednesday.

[03] Greece gives green light for Paxi waterway

This waterway will operate within the zone of Port Gaius, which is a Natura 2000 area, designated as Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the provisions on Biodiversity.

"The aim of the ministry is to have created a waterways network by next summer that will bring substantial benefits to the economy, create jobs and contribute to the interconnection of small and isolated islands as well as the development of local communities," Energy Minister Panos Skourletis said.

On his part, the president of the Hellenic Waterways, Anastasios Govas, said: "The fact that the waterway in Paxi was approved to operate within a Natura 2000 area proves that seaplanes are among the most friendly environmental ways of transport. This is a benchmark decision that will help remove any doubts and accelerate environmental licenses for waterways."

[04] Bank of Greece governor optimistic over Greek economic prospects

"All these will bring the Greek economy back to normality, offering more favorable conditions of funding the economy and strengthening its course towards growth," Stournaras said, and stressed the need for political stability and social consensus.

The central banker said that the distance needed to be covered to exit the crisis was relatively small. "We musts avoid at any cost a new setback, a new vicious cycle," Stournaras said, while he underlined the dangers to the economy from any possible negative developments in the migration issue.

"To cover this distance, it is imperative to deal with various issues, such as non-performing loans, to promote reforms in the public sector, privatizations and exploiting state assets," the central banker said while he urged the Greek government to follow the example of Ireland "which entered the memorandum after Greece and exited earlier".

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