Monday, September 8, 2014
The fair is a prestigious commercial event, established in the economic areas of the Balkans, the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean and starting a new chapter in its history, enriched with new thematic areas and numerous activities. The TIF continues through September 14.
- Tax Cuts Promised
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced a package of tax cuts and stressed that hyper-taxation must end in his inaugural speech. He said that a special consumption tax on heating oil did not offer expected results.The government will cut this special tax by 30% and maintain all heating oil subsidies. The premier also announced a reduction to a solidarity tax on income, the size of which is to be determined when the state budget for 2015 is drafted in October.
- Talks with Turkish President on Margins of NATO Summit
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras had a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 5, on the sidelines of the NATO summit taking place in Newport, Wales. During the meeting he reaffirmed Greece's standing positions on issues such as Cyprus and airspace violations over the Aegean.
Samaras emphasised that "we must not, through our actions and statements, create an environment that poisons our relations." He made a special reference to the violations and infringements in the Aegean and asked the Turkish president to fully exercise his influence to avoid flare-ups in the region. On the issue of Cyprus, meanwhile, Samaras said that Greece fully supports the initiatives taken by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades for a solution to the problem and that talks must be encouraged. He called for full implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions and a solution to the problem that was in accordance with the European Union's acquis.
Samaras emphasised that "we must not, through our actions and statements, create an environment that poisons our relations." He made a special reference to the violations and infringements in the Aegean and asked the Turkish president to fully exercise his influence to avoid flare-ups in the region. On the issue of Cyprus, meanwhile, Samaras said that Greece fully supports the initiatives taken by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades for a solution to the problem and that talks must be encouraged. He called for full implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions and a solution to the problem that was in accordance with the European Union's acquis.
The NATO leaders at the Wales Summit on September 4 pledged to provide strong support to help Ukraine improve its own security at a meeting with Ukraine President Poroshenko.
