Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-30 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Tsipras to 'Politika': Only mutual respect can built sound bilateral relations [02] Moscovici: Greece and institutions not far from agreement on 2nd review --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Tsipras to 'Politika': Only mutual respect can built sound bilateral relations BELGRADE (ANA/N. Papadimitriou) – Good bilateral relations between countries can only be established on the basis of mutual respect, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was reported as telling Serbian newspaper "Politika", in an exclusive interview on Monday. The paper asked Tsipras about the problems facing Greece with three of its neighbours – Turkey, Albania and FYROM – the first of which is "claiming the revision of the Lausanne Treaty and is not abandoning its aspirations towards the Greek islands." "Greece has specific and fixed positions on foreign policy, particularly with regard to relations with neighboring countries. We actively promote peace and cooperation but, at the same time, we firmly maintain our sovereign rights based on international law. Only on the basis of mutual respect can we built sound bilateral relations," he was quoted as saying. "A revival of nationalism by questioning, among other things, international treaties on which our diplomatic relations have been established, undermines our structural efforts over the years to strengthen good neighborly relations and regional cooperation," he added. [02] Moscovici: Greece and institutions not far from agreement on 2nd review BRUSSELS (ANA/ M. Aroni) European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici on Monday repeated his conviction that Athens and the European institutions were "not far" from being able to conclude the second review of Greece's adjustment programme. Moscovici was speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels, during a discussion with MPs and MEPs on the upcoming six months in Europe. Moscovici said the European Commission wants to work with Greek authorities for a conclusion of the second review as soon as possible and desires a resolution of the debt issue. He also noted that Greece was "a source of concern" for the Commission, which was doing its utmost to keep the country in the Eurozone. The Commission "supports the integrity of the Eurozone," he added, noting the need for comprehensive solutions and a "reformed Greece with growth and jobs." The convergence of Eurozone economies was very important for its stability and impetus, he said and admitted that the divergence of economies was a problem. For this reason, he added, the European Commission wanted to address the issue of macroeconomic imbalances and urged the countries with sufficient fiscal margins, such as Germany and the Netherlands, to make use of them.