| Green economy, cooperation against speculators answer to crisis: Greek PM |
| Date: 2010/5/21 Click: 2332 |
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Prime Minister George Papandreou stressed on Wednesday the need for a new ¡°green¡± economic development model and closer international cooperation against speculators.
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¡°The focus on green economy is no longer just a case of sensitivity towards the environment, but an issue of creating a sustainable economy also,¡± Papandreou told the 3rd Climate and Energy Security Summit for Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean.
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That rule applies to Greece which this year faces a severe economic crisis that has alarmed European partners, as well as at an international level, Papandreou said.
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¡°Due to the experience of the ongoing economic crisis, we realized that a closer international cooperation is needed to develop forward-thinking energy policies, as well as face the speculators who now attack Southern European countries,¡± Papandreou said.
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In the framework of the new development model, countries worldwide could address more effectively the problem of poverty and growth, he said, referring to a ¡°great challenge¡± that can not be tackled by states on their own.
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Papandreou said a good example of bilateral cooperation toward that direction was a new Greek- Turkish initiative to boost collaboration on the tourism and energy sectors in the eastern Mediterranean.
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Greece and Turkey signed a series of agreements last week during the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan in Athens.
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Papandreou added that he will discuss this initiative with his Libyan and Lebanese counterparts during meetings this week.
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Asked about the Greek financial crisis, the prime minister called on foreign investors to ¡°invest in Greece of tomorrow which can be a model of the world of tomorrow".
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Referring to austerity measures his government introduced over the past few months under international pressure to put its finances in order, Papandreou acknowledged that the steps were painful for ordinary Greeks.
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¡°But this pain increases our determination to make changes, so Greece will not face such a crisis ever again. Let¡¯s relaunch Greece,¡± said Papandreou.
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However, labor unions of private and public sector employees were organizing a new nationwide general strike for Thursday to oppose the austerity measures. |
