Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-09 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] The programme review will be concluded in January, Labour Min Achtsioglou says [02] Meeting between PM Tsipras and ND leader Mitsotakis cocluded --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] The programme review will be concluded in January, Labour Min Achtsioglou says The government is working hard to achieve an agreement as soon as possible and have the programme review concluded in January, Labour Minister Effi Achtsioglou on Monday said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency's radio station Praktoreio 104.9 FM. "We estimate that the contingent mechanism will not be implemented. We already had a surplus that gave us the opportunity to allocate a social benefit. We firmly believe that we will meet the primary surplus targets," she underlined. Asked whether the programme review will be concluded with the implementation of new measures, she said that the majority of Europeans want the programme review to close as soon as possible, adding that a balance is being sought so that it is concluded as soon as possible without new measures and the restoration of the labour relations. She also said that the IMF demands as regards the labour issues are unreasonable and called on the Fund to respect those agreed in the 2015 agreement. [02] Meeting between PM Tsipras and ND leader Mitsotakis cocluded A meeting between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis is concluded. The prime minister discussed the Cyprus issue with Mitsotakis ahead of the negotiations in Geneva and the critical conference on Thursday. Mitsotakis reiterated that New Democracy is committed to a fair and viable solution in the framework of a bicommunal, bizonal federation. New Democracy's fixed position is that the status quo in Cyprus is not acceptable and must be changed.