Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-04 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Investment in 14 Greek airports to be completed in 15 days, State Min Flambouraris says [02] Tsakalotos, Achtsioglou to meet with heads of the institutions on Tuesday in Brussels, European sources say [03] Greeks residing or visiting St. Petersburg are safe and sound, General Consul Beglitis tells ANA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Investment in 14 Greek airports to be completed in 15 days, State Min Flambouraris says Investment procedures for the 14 Greek regional airports will be completed within the next 15 days before the Easter holiday and the Greek state will collect 1.233 billion euros, ̀inister of State and president of an Interministerial Investment Commission Alekos Flambouraris said on Tuesday. "Procedures were arduous and complex, because of significant omissions during the signing of the first contract by the Samaras-Venizelos government in 2014. The government has made efforts to change terms covering workers, the necessary investments to improve the 14 airports, medical services, security and the presence of fire fighters in every airport. We achieved all this and now we move forward to completing the contract," Flambouraris said. [02] Tsakalotos, Achtsioglou to meet with heads of the institutions on Tuesday in Brussels, European sources say BRUSSELS (ANA/M.Aroni)--- The heads of the institutions will meet on Tuesday in Brussels with Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, Labour Minister Efi Achtsioglou and Alternate Finance Minister Giorgos Chouliarakis, European sources said to Athens Macedonian News Agency. Eurogroup chief Jeroen Djisselbloem, European Central Bank member of the board Benoit Coeure, the head of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Klaus Regling and European Commissioner for Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici will be present at the meeting while who will represent the IMF is not known yet. On her part, European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici spokesperson Annika Breidthardt did not confirm the meeting, however she noted that the "contacts between the Greek government and the institutions continue with aim the conclusion of the second review of the Greek programme as soon as possible". Economic and political rationale to conclude the programme review remains the same, senior eurozone official says BRUSSELS (ANA/ Ch.Vassilaki) - The programme review needs to conclude as soon as possible, a senior eurozone official on Tuesday said ahead of the Eurogroup meeting on Friday in Malta. "The economic and political rationale behind the need to swiftly conclude the programme review remains the same," the same official said adding that it is fruitless to make assumptions that the review is delayed as a result of the elections in Europe or the existence of enough cash that allow the country to meet its loan obligations in July. "Following an accounting method will not help the situation. That would be disastrous for the country's economic situation, and would affect the tax, consumer and business confidence," he noted, adding that the country's economics would dramatically change and everything should be redefined from scratch. The official reiterated that the agreement on the measures is "technically easy" but some "politically sensitive" issues such as tax reforms and pension issues remain open. However, he stressed that "significant progress" has been achieved compared to the previous month. Regarding the arrival of Greek ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, he said that it is an "important step" made towards the settlement of the open issues, adding however that miracles are not expected. What can be agreed by the Eurogroup on Friday, he stated, is the return of the heads of the quartet in Athens. [03] Greeks residing or visiting St. Petersburg are safe and sound, General Consul Beglitis tells ANA Greek nationals that live or are visiting St.Petersburg are safe and sound and the city is trying to return to normality following Monday's terror attack at the metro, General Consul of Greece in St.Petersburg Panos Beglitis on Tuesday said to the Athens Macedonian News Agency. We are in contact with all the Greeks that are in St.Petersburg, I believe that things are going well, noted Beglitis. The metro in St.Petersburg opened on Monday at 22:00 under strict security measures.