Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-07-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] The country still suffering from the mistakes of the first memorandum, says President Pavlopoulos

[02] IMF report justifies government views, Finance Ministry officials say

[03] State Minister Pappas: Government's intentions are crystal clear

[04] Labour market developments satisfactory, minister says

[01] The country still suffering from the mistakes of the first memorandum, says President Pavlopoulos

"The country is still suffering from the mistakes of the first memorandum" said Pavlopoulos.

[02] IMF report justifies government views, Finance Ministry officials say

"The report noted that, among others, the Fund failed to adequately examine alternative routes instead of the "wrong" memorandum that was implemented in our country in 2010," the officials said, adding that "the big mistake, according to the report, was that there was no debt restructuring, as the IMF failed to convince the Europeans that this would not have any catastrophic impact on their economies. Of course, there is nowhere the view of the governments by New Democracy (ND) and PASOK. We remind that Samaras and Venizelos viewed the public debt as sustainable". The ministry officials stressed that the current government has set as a priority a debt restructuring -as agreed officially during the last Eurogroup.

The officials noted that the report confirmed -once more- that a debt restructuring was not agreed because European banks were "loaded" with Greek bonds. "They offered them the time, without any reaction from the governments of ND and PASOK, to "unload" these bonds and to burden the country's pension funds."

[03] State Minister Pappas: Government's intentions are crystal clear

Pappas called the result of September's general elections a rift to the political life in Greece noting that the mandate was exploited to the full by the government.

On labour issues and the trade unions law, he said that the government is optimistic that things will move towards the right direction for the country and the economy's benefit.

He sternly rejected main opposition New Democracy's (ND) accusations on government's initiative to bring the proportional representation in parliament noting that the government did it at a politically neutral time, three years before the next general elections.

Referring to the constitutional review and the Presidential elections, he said that the people understand that the government's proposals would make democracy more functional and prevent extremities in relation with the political selections. On the President's election

from the people, he noted that we must find a way the parliament not to be dissolved adding that the matter of the President's responsibilities is open and all the political parties will have the opportunity to state their opinion".

On the referendums on popular initiative, he said that a sincere discussion should be conducted adding that "our position is that the people should be able to call a referendum" adding that this would change the way the citizen sees politics and its participation in it.

Asked on the IMF after admitting again the mistakes in the Greek programme, Pappas said that the Fund is in the Greek programme because others asked for it stressing that the government's position is that EU can deal with the crisis with its own tools. He also noted that the government's intentions are crystal clear as well as its decision to respect its agreements.

On Bank of Greece governor Yiannis Stournaras' relations with the government, Pappas said that he is the central banker and the central bank is autonomous. "Our cooperation with Stournaras has much room for improvement" he said.

Asked on the latest developments in Turkey, he called them painful noting that the neighbouring country got in the range of destabilisation something that highlights Greece's role as pole of stability in the wider region.

On the repercussions on the refugees' issue, he noted that Greece has dealt with it successfully. All parts have shown that those agreed are followed adding that Greece is in alertness and in contact with its European partners to make sure that the agreements are respected.

On the TV licences, he said "We are within the timelines and the tender will be held before the end of August".

[04] Labour market developments satisfactory, minister says

The Greek minister noted that in 2016, for the first time, the number of registered unemployed people fell below the one million mark, while the balance between hirings and dismissals in the January-May period was the best recorded since 2001.

"Obviously, there is no time for jubilation as long as unemployment remains at current levels, especially unemployment among young people," Katrougalos said, adding that "the unemployment rate has fallen from 27 pct to below 23 pct, a trend that could be sustained in the coming years".

"Now is the time to take advantage of an economic recovery, along with a return to European social model which lead to a restoring of collective bargaining, to safeguard not only growth but a fair growth, whose benefits could be shared to the Greek people and all workers," the Greek minister said.

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