PM: We’re working hard against terror
Prime Minister Costas Simitis appeared uncharacteristically upbeat yesterday that Greece might make progress in its fight against domestic terrorism, telling Japanese journalists in Kyoto that Greece was «working very hard» to detain the terrorists. «You might know that in the past there were terrorist attacks in Greece,» Simitis volunteered in reply to a question on international terrorism. «Now we are doing everything possible to catch these people. We are working very hard in this direction, and when someone works very hard he will have success in the end,» he said. Simitis yesterday concluded a six-day official visit to Japan, during which he met with Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The two countries also signed a Joint Action Plan to promote economic, cultural and other ties between them. Regarding the terrorism that Japanese journalists were more concerned with – related to the security of the Athens 2004 Olympics – Simitis said that the government considered security «an issue of exceptional importance, long before the events of September 11.» «That is precisely why we drew up such a detailed plan, so that any terrorist threat will be inconceivable during the Olympics in Athens,» he added. «We did not change our plans because of September 11, because the security measures for citizens and for the Games were already the best possible. Of course, we have to take into consideration new kinds of threats.» Simitis stressed that Greece was working with the representatives of seven other countries «in order to achieve the greatest possible security.» These are the USA, Britain, Spain, Germany, France, Israel and Australia. Regarding Greece in a changing Europe, Simitis said, «The Greek economy’s stability was secured with our entry into the (EU’s) Economic and Monetary Union. The Greeks have every reason to feel optimistic over the potential of the Greek economy.»
