Politics

"We emphasise once again that we have only one dispute with Turkey, the determination of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, and that we will never bring sovereignty issues to the table or cross our'red lines,'" said Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis. In a press conference with political editors, Marinakis confirmed that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on February 11 for the sixth meeting of the Turkey-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council, the ANA-MPA news agency reported.     ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA Source link

The Greek prime minister on Thursday spoke at length about his upcoming visit to Ankara next week, as well as the only difference he insists separates Athens and Ankara, i.e. delimitating maritime regions, such as the continental shelf in the Aegean.Asked by the Foreign Policy (FP) editor in chief about this week’s tragedy just off the eastern Aegean Island of Chios, where 15 migrants died after their boat collided with a Greek coast guard vessel, Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined the need for a “full investigation”.  “My preliminary, and I stress this, information is that essentially our Coast Guard ship was rammed by a much smaller boat. We don’t know why this happened” he said.Mitsotakis added that such incidents occur frequently in the Aegean, blaming smugglers for endangering lives. “You...

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in his weekly Facebook review, placed reforms in education, labor market developments and key policy challenges—including migration, regional development and technology—at the center of the government’s agenda, while stressing the need for institutional resilience in the face of new-era challenges.Referring to the ongoing dialogue on constitutional revision, the prime minister said the government would present its final proposal in March, expressing hope that political forces would approach the process with a spirit of cooperation, free from dogmatism and partisan calculations. He also outlined ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting citizens.On education, Mitsotakis argued that the sector should remain outside ideological disputes and electoral cy...

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to meet a delegation of livestock farmers at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. The meeting, long anticipated, will focus on the ongoing challenges posed by a recent outbreak affecting goats and sheep.Farmers are expected to present specific requests for income support, reflecting broader concerns over sector stability. Authorities have emphasized that tackling the outbreak requires strict adherence to scientifically backed measures rather than choosing between vaccination or biosecurity alone. This approach involves coordinated action from the Ministry of Rural Development, regional authorities, the police, and the coast guard.Ahead of the meeting, farmers in Serres staged a demonstration with tractors, rallying under the ...

January 22, 2015ECB Announces Quantitative EasingFaced with deflation and economic stagnation in the eurozone, the ECB announces a 1.1 trillion euro (more than $1.2 trillion) program of quantitative easing (QE) to spur inflation and growth. Under the program, the ECB will purchase 60 billion euros in financial assets, including sovereign government bonds, each month. Under ECB rules, however, Greek bonds are not eligible.January 25, 2015Syriza Wins Snap ElectionsThe head of the left-wing Syriza party, Alexis Tsipras, addresses supporters after his party’s victory in January 2015 elections. Marko Djurica/ReutersThe left-wing, anti-austerity Syriza party wins a resounding victory in snap elections, breaking more than forty years of two-party rule. Incoming Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says ...

The Greek government has issued a strong statement of support for His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, following accusations levelled against him by Russian state agencies. Greek Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, speaking during a briefing of political editors, described backing the Ecumenical Patriarch as “a sacred duty of all Orthodox Christians.” He said Patriarch Bartholomew is “a person who, beyond the credentials he has demonstrated as the leader of our Church, has consistently taught faith and humanitarian values.” His comments were made in response to a statement issued on January 12 by Russian intelligence services, which accused the Ecumenical Patriarch of attempting to undermine unity within the Russian Orthodox world through engagement with Balti...

Farmers across Greece have blocked major highways, road junctions, and border crossings with tractors and other equipment, causing serious difficulties for domestic travel, freight transport, and cross-border trade. The Greek government is ready to take action against national blockades by farmers that disrupt travel and trade, while continuing to seek dialogue, but is also prepared to enforce the law if talks fail. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis. In an interview with Sky TV, Hatzidakis stressed that the confrontation is entering a decisive phase and that after many days, the time has come to resolve the issue. He pointed out that the government's preferred approach remains calm and consensus, but if this is not possi...

Greek officials prepare to confront farmers after failed talks, with blockades set to intensify over subsidy delays and financial pressures.ATHENS: Greek officials are preparing for a direct confrontation with protesting farmers who have blockaded motorways for weeks.Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said authorities would “not allow the country to be cut in two”.He told Mega TV there was no room for additional measures for the farmers.The farmers have rejected government proposals including cheaper electricity and fuel.They plan to step up their roadblocks over a two-day period.The protest began in late November and has seen several motorways and border crossings intermittently blocked by thousands of tractors.Blockades were eased during the Christmas holidays to allow travel.Farmers ...

Varoufakis criticized his opponents as “hypocrites” who claim to wage a “war on drugs” while their policies keep the youth “shackled to drug dealers.” Credit: AMNA A public prosecutor has ordered a preliminary investigation following a televised interview in which Yanis Varoufakis, leader of the MeRA25 party and former Finance Minister, admitted to using ecstasy in his youth, describing the sensation as an “amazing experience.” The inquiry focuses on potential violations of Greek law regarding the promotion or advertisement of narcotics. Authorities are examining whether Varoufakis’s candid remarks constitute a public encouragement of drug use, though investigators may look into other related offenses as the probe unfolds. Yanis Varoufakis: I did inhale ecstasy The controversy stems from a...

Greece’s Parliament is opening its first official inquiry on Monday into the long-running scandal at OPEKEPE, the agency responsible for managing farming subsidies. The special investigative committee will examine alleged mismanagement stretching back to 1998, in a process expected to fuel heated political debate.The committee, convening at noon under the invitation of Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, includes MPs from across the political spectrum: 17 from the ruling New Democracy party, 4 from PASOK, 3 from SYRIZA, 2 from the Communist Party, and one each from smaller parties and independents. Some insiders suggest additional figures may make appearances despite not being formally invited, hinting at possible surprises in the opening session.Early political battlesT...