Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-29 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] PM Tsipras to meet with Estonian counterpart Ratas [02] Greece has a strong negotiating position, gov't spokesman Tzanakopoulos says [03] President Pavlopoulos on the death of former PM Mitsotakis [04] FM Kotzias to meet UN envoy Eide on Cyprus issue --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] PM Tsipras to meet with Estonian counterpart Ratas Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet with Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas, at 11:00, at the Maximos Mansion. Estonia will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2017. [02] Greece has a strong negotiating position, gov't spokesman Tzanakopoulos says Greece has a strong negotiating position, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Monday in statements to ANT1 TV. As he said, the goal is a clear solution to the Eurogroup on June 15, in order to pave the way for the country's participation into the ECB's quantitative easing programme. "On June 15, we will do our best for an overall agreement and put an end to questions over the IMF participation in the programme," Tzanakopoulos said, adding that this would fully change the image of the Greek economy. The government spokesman underlined that the political forces all over Europe, as well as the foreign media, support Greece's political and moral right for a solution so that the country exits the impasse. [03] President Pavlopoulos on the death of former PM Mitsotakis Konstantinos Mitsotakis was a "leading political leader" who "left his mark on the political life of the country," the President of the Republic, Prokopios Pavlopoulos said on the death of former prime minister. "Konstantinos Mitsotakis left, as a leading political leader, his mark on the political life of our place. A mark of dedication to the democratic ideas and the principles of the parliamentary republic, as well as the defence of our country in terms of practical consistency and consensus,"Pavlopoulos said. [04] FM Kotzias to meet UN envoy Eide on Cyprus issue Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will receive on Monday the Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General, Espen Barth Eide, to discuss the Cyprus issue. The Greek Foreign Minister contacted Eide last Friday and invited him to Athens to discuss recent developments on the Cyprus issue, which is at a particularly critical point. The meeting will take place at 11.30.