Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-07 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] IMF demand for measures in 2018 is absurd, gov't spokesman says [02] FM Kotzias: Greece always supported Cyprus --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] IMF demand for measures in 2018 is absurd, gov't spokesman says "The IMF demand for more measures in 2018 is absurd," State Minister and government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos on Saturday said in an interview with Kontra News newspaper. He also stressed the importance of concluding the economic programme review as soon as possible. Tzanakopoulos underlined that the government's aim is to discuss the long-term and short-term measures on debt as well as the primary surpluses and their reduction, which is necessary, after 2018. [02] FM Kotzias: Greece always supported Cyprus "Greece has always supported and supports Cyprus based on the interest of Cyprus itself and the people of Cyprus," said Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, after marathon contacts he had New York ahead of the critical conference on the Cyprus issue in Geneva. "We are against issues that have to do with the security, ie guarantees, intervention rights and the occupation army, and this is a policy that we follow consistently from the beginning," he stressed.