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Tuesday, 26 November 2024
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-24Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Pavlopoulos stresses need to stop those working for the dissolution of Europe"We, the European people, are determined not to let those (the remains of Nazism) who work for the dissolution of Europe to succeed. This is the meaning of the result of the French elections. Civilisation contributes to this" Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos on Monday said in his address at the opening of the "Ancient Civilization Forum" held at the Zappeion Mansion."Every real civilization intention is to build communication bridges with the other real civilizations and not to raise walls of isolation," Pavlopoulos stressed. Referring to the historical link between the current global turmoil and its dangers and the course of other civilizations, the President pointed out that the global turmoil and its dangers have their roots not in the conflict of civilizations but because these civilizations are alarmingly degrading. And because of this degradation, they are not any more in the position to carry out their natural peace mission through the co-existence and collaboration at a global level. Welcoming the opening of the "Ancient Civilization Forum", Pavlopoulos also recalled the initiative taken in 2015 by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, who organised the International Conference on "Religious and Cultural Pluralism and Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East." "Everybody understands that the resounding response of the coexistence and dialogue of the civilizations can turn into a powerful and effective antidote against the scourges of war and terror barbarism that have been plaguing the Middle East for years. Within this framework, Athens hosts the "Forum of Ancient Civilizations", considering that it fulfills a crucial mission that is directly linked with the emblematic past and Greece's historical perspective," Pavlopoulos added. [02] "We must escape a climate of introversion," Mihalis Sallas saysGreece has already made some significant fiscal steps and now needs tranquility to send a message that it can implement the necessary reforms and attract investors to restart growth. "We must escape a climate of introversion. It is not easy. But it is necessary," Mihalis Sallas, a Greek banker, said on Monday.In an interview with ANA, the Greek banker referred to his business plans and said: "Our development is everyone's concern and I was always concerned. I cannot see business activity statically. Piraeus Bank became big because it was integrating the dynamism of its executives and the businessmen who supported the bank. It is the bank that offers 20,000 job positions in this difficult period for the economy and during all those years of crisis it tried to help Greek businesses within a binding -for the banking system- framework. Now, this new endeavour does not lack banking "aroma" but it is different. Sallas said his investment plans are implemented through Lyktos Group and are a sign of confidence in the prospects of the Greek economy with investments in Asset Management through a wealth management company (200 million euros capital under management), in winery through Semeli SA, in security services through the purchase of a majority stake in ESA Security Solutions, in tourism and in innovative technologies and the banking sector as a strategic investor in Pancretabank, a Cooperative Bank. Sallas said the latter investment is a development challenge aimed to support and strengthen local business activity. The primary sector and the manufacturing activity in the agro-food sector, tourism, transport, culture, etc, are some of the pylons on which a regional bank can invest. Sallas dismissed press reports alleging he and other Piraeus Bank executives have been involved in illegal activities during their tenure in the bank. "I will not get tired of saying that neither myself or anyone else involved in these cases have done anything wrong," he noted. "I have confidence in reasoning and Greek Justice and I think that everything will be examined and judged properly," he added. Sallas stressed that all this was negatively affecting investment climate in the country. "We seek investments. Domestic and international. We want them to create new job positions and at the same time we create a climate of suspicion, with prosecutions -of this type- of businessmen, bankers and investors. We finally create a hostile environment for investments and entrepreneurship by "shooting at our own feet". "All these, regardless of the purpose they serve, have a heavy burden on the economy and growth as a result," he noted. [03] Greek public debt rose to 314.897 billion euros in 2016Greek public debt totaled 314.897 billion euros at the end of 2016, from 311.668 billion a year earlier, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Monday.The statistics service, in a quarterly report on general government's non-financial accounts, said that general government's revenue totaled 25.508 billion euros at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016, from 28.076 billion a year earlier. Income and property taxes totaled 4.127 billion euros (16.2 pct of total revenue) from 4.174 billion (14.9 pct) in the fourth quarter of 2015. Taxes on production and imports totaled 9.186 billion euros (36 pct of total revenue) in 2016 from 10.040 billion (35.8 pct) in 2015. The general government's primary spending amounted to 23.584 billion euros in 2016 from 30.484 billion a year earlier. Payroll spending totaled 5.599 billion euros (22.4 pct of total spending) from 5.668 billion in 2015 (17.7 pct of total spending). Spending on social benefits totaled 10.705 billion euros in 2016 (42.9 pct of total spending) form 10.262 billion (32 pct) in the previous year. [04] The result of the French elections is the defeat of the extreme right, Administrative Reform Min Gerovassili saysThe defeat of the extreme right is the result of the French elections, Administrative Reform Minister Olga Gerovassili on Monday said in an interview with the Athens Macedonian News Agency's radio station Praktoreio 104.9 FM.She also said that the terror attacks in Paris contributed to the election result of the first round. Gerovassili explained that the big parties are the big losers and especially the socialists suffered an electoral crash. Asked on the return of the institutions to Greece, she replied: "The effort for a comprehensive agreement is coming to an end. The tough negotiation brings results for a sustainable agreement that will also include the debt settlement. The efforts were made in order to achieve a sustainable agreement and positive results for the society after 2018." [05] Tourism Min Kountoura meets with AHEPA delegationTourism Minister Elena Kountoura met with the chairman, the executive director and a delegation of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) that visited Greece.The minister referred in detail to the development course of Greek tourism sector and the successes of the last two years thanks to the implementation of the national tourism policy. Kountoura underlined that tourism demand has exceeded expectations in 2017. She specifically referred to the increase in tourists from the US, presented the policy for the next years and called on the Association to contribute to the effort to promote Greece in the US market. The president of AHEPA Andrew Zachariades congratulated the minister on the positive results and stressed the excellent cooperation with the Tourism ministry. He also pledged to support the work and the efforts made for the promotion of Greek tourism and the expansion to the US market. [06] Dead refugees wash up on Mytilene beach after boat sinks off MythimnaThe bodies of five migrants were located on a beach near Mythimna, Lesvos island, early Monday. A pregnant woman was found alive and was transferred at Petra port with a Frontex Swedish vessel.According to Shipping Ministry, a man, four women and a young boy are among the dead. The number of migrants or refugees that were on the boat that capsized early Monday in the sea region off Mythimna is still unknown. A rescue operation is underway to locate any missing refugees or migrants. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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