Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-14 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] I feel proud of my declaration as an honourary citizen of Athens, says Gianni Pittella [02] ND leader Mitsotakis accuses government of delaying programme review [03] Passenger, cargo traffic in Greek ports up in Q3 2016 [04] Greek import price index up 12.1 pct in January --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] I feel proud of my declaration as an honourary citizen of Athens, says Gianni Pittella PARIS (ANA/O. Tsipira)---"Athens is for me the symbol of Democracy and I am proud of my declaration as an honourary citizen of this city next Friday," the president of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Gianni Pittella stated on Tuesday at a press conference in Strasbourg. "Everybody knows that I was one of Greece's warmer supporters during the huge challenge it faced in the European Union," he added. Referring to the discussions that have intesified lately on a two or more speed Europe, Pitella said: "A two-speed Europe should not be our first choice, and I say it here and everywhere, in the Parliament, in Athens, in Rome and to the Italian President. We should follow, all together, common policies not only in the sector of safety and defence but in the social, economic and tax security, in the battle against terrorism, the building of the bank union and then see how we will proceed. We should initially start by organising the policies we wish to succeed in," explained Pittella. "Let's set five major political sectors on the table and let's ask the 27 member-states which of them wish to proceed. I would be very happy if no one is excluded. If there are some that do not wish to follow, it would be their own mistake and their responsibility but they will not hinder the others from proceeding. The Socialists' position is very clear on this matter," concluded Pittella. [02] ND leader Mitsotakis accuses government of delaying programme review Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday accused the government of delaying the conclusion of the programme review which, as he said, has a cost for Greece and the economy. Mitsotakis is paying a two-day visit to Crete. The leader of the main opposition claimed that the offset measures will only be activated provided that the 3.5 percent surplus target is met. Referring to the bad loans, he said that New Democracy has submitted a comprehensive proposal which is simpler and more productive than the extrajudicial settlement proposed by the government. [03] Passenger, cargo traffic in Greek ports up in Q3 2016 Passenger traffic in Greek ports grew 4.7 pctin the third quarter of 2016, compared with the same period in 201, after a 3.0 pct decline recorded in the 2015/2014 period, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Tuesday. The statistics service, in a monthly report, said that cargo traffic in Greek ports grew 14.4 pct in the third quarter from a decline of 5.6 pct recorded in the 2015/2014 period. [04] Greek import price index up 12.1 pct in January Greece's import price composite index in the industrial sector grew 12.1 pct in January this year, compared with the same month in 2016, after a 6.7 pct decline recorded in the 2015/2014 period, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Tuesday. The statistics service, in a report, attributed this development in the so-called imported inflation to a 0.8 pct increase in the import price index from Eurozone countries and a 24.7 pct jump in the index from countries outside Eurozone. The index grew 1.1 pct in January from December 2016, from a decline of 1.9 pct recorded in the same period last year.