Selection: Michalis Katsigeras

KARAMANLIS AT THE TRADE FAIR: Speaking last night during a dinner in his honor at the Thessaloniki Trade Fair and in response to a toast by the president of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Dimitrakopoulos, the prime minister, Mr Constantine Karamanlis, took the opportunity to sum up the government’s achievements in the economic sector since the elections six months ago. After giving an optimistic forecast for the country’s economic future, the prime minister referred to the Cyprus issue, expressing his faith in the final outcome of the issue. However, he pointed out that since it would be a long-term struggle, as all of the nation’s liberation struggles, it called for nerves of steel, self-control and great fortitude. Karamanlis also gave the assurance that Greece would proceed along this difficult road united and strong and would not lay down the banner of the Cypriot struggle. Meanwhile, the prime minister also talked about bank deposits, fiscal improvement, investments and electricity supplies, among other subjects.