Greece backs EU membership for SE Europe 02/18/2007

Greece backs EU membership for SE Europe
02/18/2007

Greece backs EU membership for SE Europe
Greece's aspiration is to create necessary conditions so that southeastern Europe comprises a region of stability, peace, economic cooperation and growth in tandem with its participation in the European Union, "as it deserves", Greek President Karolos Papoulias said Friday in Bucharest, winding up a three-day state visit to Romania. Papoulias delivered a greeting on Friday morning to a Greek-Romanian business forum, while earlier he met with Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, with whom he had a discussion on bilateral relations in all sectors, with an emphasis on investments and trade, as well as on the major problems of the region. The meeting was also attended by Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalantzis, Deputy Development Minister Tassos Nerantzis and Deputy Economy Minister Petros Doukas. Addressing the Forum, Papoulias recalled that Greece has drafted and was implementing programmes for development cooperation with the countries of SE Europe and was also "contributing to the progress and economic growth of the region through the Greek Plan for the Reconstruction of the Balkans". He also stressed that Greece-based entrepreneurs were amongst the first to start up activities in Romania some 15 years ago, because "they believed in the abilities of the Romanian people and sought opportunities". Papoulias also described as significant the fact that prominent Greek businesspeople have entered the Romanian market, stressing that "this constitutes the best example of the respect and immense confidence the Greek business world has in the Romanian economy". Romania today is one of Greece's most significant trade partners, and vice-versa, while bilateral trade ties are estimated at nearly one billion euros, which Papoulias said could be improved now that Romania is an EU member-state. Greece ranks among the three biggest foreign investors in Romania, with invested capital exceeding three billion euros, whereas those investments have resulted in the creation of tens of thousands of jobs. At present, seven Greek banks are active in Romania and, via a network of 270 branches, provide employment for 6,000 people, Papoulias continued. He also noted the equally significant presence of Greek construction companies that have undertaken major projects in Romania. Apart from his official talks with the Romanian prime minister and President Traian Basescu, Papoulias also paid courtesy visits to the 92-year-old Orthodox Patriarch of Romania, Theoktistos, and Bucharest Mayor Adrian Videanu. He was also due to meet with Romanian Senate president Nicolae Vacaroiu on Friday afternoon, before attending a concert by pianist Dora Bakopoulou and singer Elli Paspala, before departing on Friday evening for Athens. Later comments Speaking to Greek reporters at the end of his weeklong trip, Papoulias expressed satisfaction with results of his meetings, calling his tour "absolutely necessary" following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania into the European Union on Jan. 1., 2007. He also emphasised that Athens, Sofia and Bucharest, which now constitute the Union's unofficial "Balkan core", must increase efforts to achieve goals outlined in the "Thessaloniki Agenda", namely, the EU accession of other western Balkan states.