Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-02-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Up to Athens to decide the measures in the 'positive package' using fiscal space, Dijsselbloem says

[02] Anastasiades to ANA: 'A solution made to Turkish specifications...cannot be a solution for Greek Cypriots'

[01] Up to Athens to decide the measures in the 'positive package' using fiscal space, Dijsselbloem says

"It is first of all up to the Greek government how they want to reinvest fiscal space, how they want to use that," Dijsselbloem said.

He explained that Athens will talk to the institutions about it and come back with an investment package, a "positive package" using that fiscal space. "It is not for me to decide how they should spend that money," he added.

In reply to other questions, he repeated that the institutions will be returning to Athens in the near future while noting that there was "it still requires a lot of work," with reforms that involved the tax system, pension system and labour market.

"These are big reforms and I am sure that there will be a lot of technical work still in Athens," he said. This would be done as soon as possible, Dijsselbloem said, while noting that there was "no super urgency" and no liquidity problem for the Greek government as "long as things are on track" and confidence is protected.

[02] Anastasiades to ANA: 'A solution made to Turkish specifications...cannot be a solution for Greek Cypriots'

The major question, he noted, is the kind of solution Turkey wants. "If this is a solution made to Turkish specifications, this cannot be a solution for the Greek Cypriots," said President Anastasiades.

He explained that the Akinci map was not satisfactory, because "it does not include critical areas that will enable a greater number of Greek Cypriots to once again come under Greek Cypriot administration."

Also, President Anastasiades stated that:

- The Turkish guarantees and continued presence of Turkish armed forces, after the solution of the Cyprus problem, create a sort of dependency of the state under guarantee, on the one hand, and a clear threat against the Greek Cypriot state, on the other hand.

- Giving the four basic EU freedoms to Turkish nationals would put the existence of Cypriot Greeks in jeopardy.

When asked whether the climate will be suitable after October 2017 for a referendum on Cyprus, in view of the presidential elections early next year, President Anastasiades replied: "I do not see a time limit, as long as the solution meets the expectations of the Greek Cypriot community, without neglecting those of the Turkish Cypriot [community]."

Finally, Cyprus' president stressed that there is "full cooperation" with the Greek government, without the slightest disagreement on the aims and handling of issues.

The full interview is available in Greek at ANA's website.

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