Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-02-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Good and bad news from Mosovici, Potami leader tweets after meeting Commissioner

[02] FM Kotzias continues Vietnam trip with visit to Ho Chi Minh City

[01] Good and bad news from Mosovici, Potami leader tweets after meeting Commissioner

"The good news from Moscovici is that he believes we have time to complete the review within February," Theodorakis said in a post on his Twitter account. "The bad news from Moscovici is that he believes it will be very difficult to conclude the review in March, April or May," he added in a second post.

In statements after the meeting, Theodorakis called on the government to not miss the February deadline so that "we don't miss quantitative easing in March and Greece is not swept up in the vortex of election battles in the Netherlands, France and Germany." He stressed that only a few days remained.

"The opportunist scenario of delays that some in the government are discussing must be abandoned. No more crapshoots with the lives of the Greek people at stake," he added. At the same time, he noted that the IMF must stop demanding "irrational" measures and align itself with the European institutions.

"This is what we discussed with Mr. Moscovici, who has an important role in these critical times. And his view, though naturally I cannot speak on his behalf, is that the IMF must accept the Commission's forecasts for Greek growth and not insist on figures and forecasts that have been proved wrong in the past. Unfortunately, the government has once again wasted precious time and the country now finds itself with its back against a wall," he said.

In addition to Moscovici, Theodorakis' meetings on Tuesday included the head of the European People's Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament Martin Weber, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources Günther Oettinger and European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Crețu.

[02] FM Kotzias continues Vietnam trip with visit to Ho Chi Minh City

During the meeting, Kotzias referred to his talks with government officials in Hanoi and his plans to try to organise a Greek-Vietnamese business forum as part of an effort to further develop bilateral cooperation in shipping and other economic affairs. He said that Greece wished to act as Vietnam's gateway to the EU through cooperation in the transport sector and also make use of the business opportunities offered by Vietnam. He highlighted the potential for cooperation and the knowhow Greece can offer in areas such as construction, tourism, culture and maritime transport, especially through cooperation between ports in the two countries.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's economic "powerhouse" and generates a quarter of the country's GDP, while businesses from more than 85 countries have invested there. There are currently 250,000 firms operating in the city and the government's aim is to double this number by 2020. The minister will depart for Athens on Wednesday, following a visit to the city's techology park and war museum.

Earlier, before departing from Hanoi, Kotzias laid a wreath at a monument erected in honour of the casualties of Vietnam's war of independence and then laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Writing in the visitors' book, Kotzias said that the visit realised "the dream of a lifetime for me, to pay homage to a historic leader, Ho Chi Minh, who led his nation's struggle to defend its dignity and to preserve its national unity and sovereignty. A leader who was an inspiration for us."

The minister also visited the home of Vietnamese general Võ Nguyên Giáp, who led Vietnam's forces in their successful campaign against the French in 1954, and spoke with his son.

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