Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-21 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Tsipras: Democracy and solidarity is the only way to the future [02] Digital Policy Min Pappas: No more time to be wasted for review conclusion --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Tsipras: Democracy and solidarity is the only way to the future "The 21st of April 1967 is the day when democracy was abolished in our country and political freedoms were completely suppressed. It took seven years of struggle to restore parliamentarianism and pave the way for the consolidation of Democracy in our country. It took even more years to put aside the civil warfare that some have recently discovered to serve their political interests," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday said on the occasion of the 50 years since the coup d'état. "Today we pay tribute to those who have contributed to the anti-dictatorship struggle. But we must also be vigilant, as the multi-faceted political and economic crisis in Europe brings back the danger of a serious backwardness, both for the democratic acquis and for the guaranteed individual and social rights. The anniversary of April 21 should remind us that the only way to the future, both in Greece and in Europe, is the road of democracy and solidarity," he added. [02] Digital Policy Min Pappas: No more time to be wasted for review conclusion No more time must be wasted for the conclusion of the programme review because the IMF and Germany disagree on the Greek debt, Digital Policy Minister Nikos Pappas on Friday said. In reply to a question about what Greece can expect from the IMF spring meeting, Pappas said there is evidence lately that creditors acknowledge that Greece meets its targets and that the government's main priority is the return of the economy on sustainable growth track. He also said that a lot of people will be surprised by the positive primary surplus figures announced today. Finally, he stressed: "We must not allow the disagreements among the institutions to delay the conclusion of the programme review. No more time must be wasted because the IMF and Germany have expressed a specific proposal on the Greek debt."