International

UN envoy Matthew Nimetz, in ideas presented to Athens and Skopje, calls for FYROM’s new name, if a settlement is reached, to be used by all, but with exceptions within FYROM, as To Vima’s exclusive report on the core negotiating document indicates.

'The only ones who reacted to that anti-Semitic and fascist invasion of the inter-war period was the then newfangled General Confederation of Greek Labour,'

In a harsh attack against the government, main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis charged that the massive protest demonstrates that Greeks do not trust the government to handle crucial national issues.

The massive demonstration, the second such after the huge rally in Thessaloniki, comes amidst feverish talks between Athens and Skopje on the naming issue and on eradicating irredentist elements from FYROM’s Constitution, school books and maps.

'I have a responsibility to the country,” was Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ statement, on the need to settle disputes with Skopje.

'Based on the briefing I received on the discussions Mr. Nimetz had in Skopje, I expressed with the greatest clarity the position that the negotiations cannot but be conducted as a continuation of all that was agreed to in Davos,' Kotzias said.

ECB’s Coeure warns a prospective future crisis could rock Europe

“Greece’s current programme runs until August, and the country can also make a successful exit, if it continues to implement the reforms that are part of the programme,” Regling said.

For his part, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, speaking to Reuters, expressed certitude that a settlement will be reached before the next Nato summit, in July, when Skopje hopes to be invited to join the Alliance.

The minister said that the government will devise its own programme, with growth targets and social welfare measures, by spring.

Asked about FYROM related threats from the anti-authority Rubicon group, Toskas said that, “An effort is being made after 25 years of stagnation to solve a problem. The foreign ministry is conducting the talks based on directions from the prime minister, and the predominant climate is not determined by extremists, on one side or the other, or by letters."

In December alone, citizens’ overdue tax debt rose by 1.3 billion euros. For all of 2017, that amount was 13 billion euros. It is blatantly obvious that the endurance of households and professionals has been exhausted.

“Collective efforts by the EU to manage migration more effectively and protect our borders over the last years have produced results,” the European Union's Commissioner for migration said.

“We Greeks, having deep roots of historical presence and cultural continuity in this corner of the Balkans and the Mediterranean, are decisive about creating a better future for the coming generations,” Pavlopoulos said.

Wieser believes that bailout programmes can achieve corrections in the existing system, but are unable to achieve truly deep reforms in society, which is the job of the domestic political establishment.

Private sector bank deposits increased by nearly six billion euros in December, 2017, leading the credit ratings agency Moody’s to give Greek banks a credit positive rating today.

Costello underlines the strong challenges and hard work that are required to secure viable development.

Without a plan, without a programme, and with enormous political tensions, the danger of the country remaining in a state of problematic stagnation confronts us.

Tsakalotos said discussions would soon commence with euro zone lenders on debt relief along the lines of a French proposal to link the level of debt restructuring to economic performance.

The European-wide bank stress tests begin today, and in Greece it will determine whether the country’s four systemic banks need fresh cash before Athens exits its bailout programme in August.