Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-21 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Greece records primary surplus of 3.9 pct of GDP in 2016 [02] We are ready to enter a growth path, PM Tsipras tells WSJ [03] Greek Foreign ministry condemns terror attack in Paris [04] Parliament President Voutsis meets Cuban FM Bruno Rodriguez Parilla [05] Migration Min Mouzalas praises the work of asylum service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Greece records primary surplus of 3.9 pct of GDP in 2016 Greece recorded a primary surplus of 3.9 pct of GDP in 2016, official figures showed on Friday. Hellenic Statistical Authority, in a report, said the general government recorded a primary surplus of 3.9 pct of the country's Gross Domestic Product. The figure referrs to the excessive deficit procedure, as measured by Hellenic Statistical Authority and Eurostat and it is not related with the surplus based on the adjustment program. [02] We are ready to enter a growth path, PM Tsipras tells WSJ "We are committed to honor our obligations to our creditors, despite the political costs that may entail. But the safest path to this goal is to foster growth and end the punitive approaches of the past," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in an interview with Wall Street Journal. "The clash between the EU and the IMF over Greece's public debt deprives our economy of invaluable time, which would set back the long-awaited return to growth," said Tsipras urging for timely specification of medium- and long-term debt-relief measures to bolster fiscal stability and allow for sustainable growth. "As an advanced economy and member of a strong currency club that has achieved high growth rates in the past, we are ready to enter a growth path," Tsipras stressed in WSJ article. [03] Greek Foreign ministry condemns terror attack in Paris "We strongly condemn terrorism and stand at the side of the French people," the Greek Foreign ministry on Friday posted on Twitter. "Democracy cannot be intimidated," it added. [04] Parliament President Voutsis meets Cuban FM Bruno Rodriguez Parilla "We honour the struggles of our people, the solidarity and the international support that brought the fall of the junta," Parliament President Nikos Voutsis on Friday said on the occasion of the 50 years since the coup d'état. Voutsis was meeting with the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parilla. "We are happy to welcome the Foreign Minister of Cuba for the first time in the Greek Parliament. It is a significant day because it marks 50 years since the sad anniversary of the imposition of the seven-year dictatorship in 1967 on our country and that is why we honor the struggles of our people," he said. "We have a long-term friendship and solidarity relations and we believe that in the current phase that the international relations are on a transitory phase, the peace, friendship, and solidarity are principles on the basis of which our people must proceed in the international scene," he stressed and added: "The scope of cooperation between the two countries is wide." On his part, the Cuban Foreign Minister said that he was honoured to attend the Hellenic Parliament. "I am at the Parliament of a particularly friendly country, we have close ties and I believe we can live in this friendly environment in peace." [05] Migration Min Mouzalas praises the work of asylum service 12,000 relocations have already been carried out in EU countries, while another 2,500 relocations will be held in the next period, Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas on Friday said in Parliament. "The system has become more efficient," Mouzalas underlined and added that the asylum service has reunited 6,500 families while 6,500 people have voluntarily returned to their homes. "It is a valuable service. A total of 25,000 people have found a better life than the one they would have here (in Greece)," the Minister for Migration Policy said. Moreover, he noted that the asylum service started with 200 persons and now it employs 700 persons adding that the staff will increase by another 30 pct. Finally, he noted that asylum applications have reached 56,000.