Press on Greek Prime Minister's meetings in Tokyo

 
KATHIMERINI,  SATURDAY 12, 2005

http://www.ekathimerini.com

 

Greece touts its Balkan role, investment climate in Japan
Karamanlis stresses improved prospects after successful staging of Olympics

ANA

By Elli Triantafyllou - Kathimerini

TOKYO - In a series of meetings yesterday, Japanese and Greek political and business leaders focused on possible fields of bilateral cooperation in the Balkans and the southeastern Mediterranean, with Greece serving as a base.

During talks with counterpart Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis set out the main points of his government’s policy, which aim to create a stable and attractive investment environment. He also pointed out Greece’s comparative advantages, particularly the country’s proximity to new consumer markets.

Karamanlis said “the successful staging of the Olympic Games has created a new environment for tourism and investment” — a statement which went down especially well with his Japanese interlocutors.

Proposals for forging closer ties were also well received. Karamanlis invited Japanese entrepreneurs to participate in Greek investment and privatization programs, discussed at a working lunch at the Tokyo Chamber of Industry. He also laid out the Greek government’s plan for public/private partnerships, focusing heavily on the construction and energy sectors, as well as wind parks, the energy-producing areas of particular interest to Japanese companies which have submitted plans worth about 300 million euros. So far, these plans have gone nowhere because of bureaucracy and no clear zoning plans.

The Greek premier also urged Japanese entrepreneurs to bolster their business presence in the broader region of the Balkans, the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea by utilizing Greece’s strategic position. The two sides agreed to explore the potential for making the port of Thessaloniki an entry point for Japanese products to the European and Balkan markets.

A significant portion of the discussions concerned bilateral deals in the construction and use of Greek merchant ships. Japanese shipyards have built more than 1,500 vessels for Greek shipowners in the last 50 years.

It was also agreed to speed up the conclusion of an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, which has been shelved for years.

Karamanlis presented his guests an attractive case containing samples of olive oil and olives. The Japanese want to see more aggressive advertising of Greek farm products.

Karamanlis and his wife, Natassa, were received by Emperor Akihito. Sources said the two men discussed topics including the Olympic Games and environmental protection. The Japanese emperor is known to have a keen interest in issues pertaining to the Kyoto Protocol.

 
DAILY YOMIURI, SUNDAY 13 NOV. 2005

YOMIURI SHIMBUN

November 13 (Sunday), 2005

 

 

Greek Prime Minister visits Japan

“Riots in France prove to be a difficult issue for Europe”

Immigration policy should be “EU common policy”

 

Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis accepted an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun at Imperial hotel on the 12th   in Tokyo.

 

In the aftermath of the riots by young muslim people in various areas of France, Prime Minister Karamanlis pointed out that “the time has come for the European Union to establish a common immigration policy" and explained his ideas regarding the implementation of an EU common immigration policy .

Prime Minister Mr Karamanlis expressed his concern about the recent riots in France, which have revealed to be a thorny issue for the future of European society.

He said that the Europe is not anymore in a position to assimilate possible future flows of immigrants from African countries, swelling up to millions in the EU. This is a problem that EU countries cannot tackle effectively on an individual basis, because movement of people is free within EU .

Furthermore, he emphasized the necessity of the establishment of a common EU policy based on the spirit of principles of tolerance, diversity of culture and respect of human rights, stressing out that EU, which in the past has inevitably been receiving immigrants, now has to focus on establishing mechanisms to ensure their peaceful coexistance within EU society .

 

On the other hand, concerning the issue of the accession talks of neighbouring country Turkey, he reconfirmed the basic policy of the Greek government to support the accession of Turkey in EU. He explained that the broader area as well as  neighbouring countries to Turkey will benefit from a “westernised” Turkey .

 

Greece, which is in EURO zone, has had problems with keeping its economy within the EU criteria on economic stability and growth and is trying to deal with this problem over the last five years. The fiscal deficit of Greece exceeded 3% of the Gross Domestic Product mainly because of the sudden dramatic increase of the annual expenditure due to the preparation of the Athens Olympic Games, etc.  The EU Council of Finance Ministers has warned that penalties will be imposed if Greece cannot achieve the required standards by the end of 2006.  Regarding the latter, Prime Minister Karamanlis emphasized that Greece has established specific measures to deal with this issue, such as the cut down of government subsidies, as well as the measures towards achieving an efficient government bureaucracy.  He stressed that "fiscal deficit will be reduced to 3% or less of the GDP, and Greece will achieve the EU standards in 2006".

 

                                                                  (Michio Hayashi, International Dept.)