Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsakalotos: I believe we can make progress on all pending issues

[02] Dijsselbloem: Talks between Greece and its creditors to continue in Brussels

[03] Greek employers, trade unions agree on new general collective labour agreement

[04] Greek director withdraws film from theatres to aid police investigation of taxi-driver's murder

[01] Tsakalotos: I believe we can make progress on all pending issues

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels after a meeting of Eurozone ministers, Tsakalotos said he, Labour Minister Efi Achtsioglou and his deputy finance ministers will remain in the Belgian capital to discuss outstanding issues.

He also said the final details of a global deal could be put in place at the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) spring meeting in Washington in April, adding that the economics team will remain in Brussels.

[02] Dijsselbloem: Talks between Greece and its creditors to continue in Brussels

Dijsselbloem said talks will continue at a technical level in Brussels, adding that things are going well on a fiscal level and there are no problems.

On his side, Moscovici said that the issues that remain open are pension reform and labour laws, noting that closing the deal as soon as possible will have positive effects on growth for Greece and investments.

Regling warned that further delays in the closing of the program review could have negative consequences on the Greek economy. He said progress has been made compared to the previous Eurogroup and that it is important to maintain this trend.

[03] Greek employers, trade unions agree on new general collective labour agreement

The social partners were in unanimous agreement on the need to sign a new general collective agreement with the same terms as those in previous years, both to protect the rights arising from these and ensure the continued existence of a minimum legal framework for low-paid private-sector employees.

GSEE also highlighted the present government's responsibility for failing to honour pre-election pledges to restore labour laws for collective bargaining, as well as promises to restore a minimum wage of 751 euros a month. As a result, said GSEE President Yiannis Panagopoulos, the negotiations for the new national general collective labour agreement did not set a minimum wage, while Monday's agreement called for the extension of the existing labour agreement within the legal deadlines.

There would be provision, he added, to immediately begin negotiations on a minimum wage if the legal environment should improve.

[04] Greek director withdraws film from theatres to aid police investigation of taxi-driver's murder

"In recent weeks I have been following developments concerning the case involving the murder of a taxi driver in Kifissia. Last week, members of the audience that watched the screening of the film in an Athens cinema on February 7, 2017 said that a man fitting the description of the alleged perpetrator asked me a specific question during a discussion with the audience after the film was shown.

As part of the investigation, I was asked to confirm the information received and hand over any material from the specific event in order to assist in the investigation - a request that I complied with, hoping that the man who asked the question on the night of February 7 will come forward in order to show that any link between the perpetrator and the film is just a tragic coincidence.

In light of the latest developments, I have decided to withdraw the film from cinemas. Not because I am aware of any link between the Kifissia perpetrator - as I have stated, in any case, real life and fiction are two parallel paths that never meet - but so that my own intentions and those of my associates in our efforts to assist the investigation are not misunderstood." Tsafoulias said.

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