Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-02-24 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Mitsotakis: 'I neither invest nor rejoice in the government's failure' [02] Tzitzikostas, Boutaris discuss investments, Holocaust Museum with U.S. ambassador --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Mitsotakis: 'I neither invest nor rejoice in the government's failure' Greeks need to know the truth, which is that nobody knows when, how and if the second review will be completed, main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday. "I neither invest nor rejoice in the government's failure. I do, however, have a national obligation to tell the Greek people the truth promptly, with maturity, wisdom and responsibility, so that all sides can assume their responsibilities," Mitsotakis said. Greek society was sinking ever deeper into insecurity and uncertainty, ND's leader said, and Greeks were seeking the truth about the real state of the country. He accused the government of having committed to additional harsh measures, with higher taxes and lower pensions, while essential goals for avoiding a fourth memorandum, such as Greece's inclusion in the ECB's quantitative easing and debt relief, were receding below the horizon. [02] Tzitzikostas, Boutaris discuss investments, Holocaust Museum with U.S. ambassador Boosting investments in Macedonia and the creation of a Holocaust Museum in Thessaloniki was discussed in a series of meetings between U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, and the regional governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas and city mayor Yiannis Boutaris on Friday. During the meeting with Tzitzikostas, American diplomats presented the projects supported by the United States in Greece, according to a press release by the regional government. "Mr. Tzitzikostas told the American diplomats that Central Macedonia could attract important investments in the coming years in various sectors in which the United States are interested in and have innovative businesses. He also explained the efforts to ensure that the region of Western Macedonia will be the first to exit the crisis," the press release said. The meetings were also attended by the U.S. Consulate General to Thessaloniki, Rebecca A. Fong. In Pyatt's meeting with Boutaris, the mayor expressed his intention to speed up the creation of the Holocaust Museum, noting the aim is to promote the city's history and spread the message of "Never again". He also said the Holocaust is an event of exceptional importance for Thessaloniki, as a large part of its population perished. Concerning the issue of refugees, Boutaris briefed the ambassador on the REACT program which is being implemented by the municipality in cooperation with the UNHCR. On his side, Pyatt said he wants to make Thessaloniki known as a gateway to the Balkans and informed about his country's intention to offer know-how for the Holocaust Museum, the municipality said.