thanks for joining our team at half past the hour i'm karen terribly with a quick look at your headlines at the syrian government says yes to kofi announce peace plan for a negotiated end to the bloody conflict as quarrelling opposition leaders seeker unified front against the assad regime. guarantees or an arms race a clear choice is delivered by to meet the needs of a difference to washington over its missile defense system in europe perhaps as the russian president sounds out the results of the nuclear summit in seoul. and it's

not the summits agenda which grabbed the media's attention that triggered a storm on capitol hill but a conversation between obama and medvedev which wasn't supposed to go public. next spotlight examines how the crowd greece's pivotal tourist industry has been influenced by the country's financial turmoil stay with us. oh yeah welcome to spotlight. today yes is he on his list. as greece keep struggling to avoid

a catastrophic bankruptcy it's lawmakers approved a new bailout. stronger economies are eager to help their neighbors but then again in exchange for spending cuts and austerity measures tourism greece is main income source for many years. but has the crisis goes along with strikes and clashes tourists are not that willing to raise. so what's the remedy is there any chance to save the country and the story in the street from the economic turmoil we'll discuss it with the. mayor of a popular tourist city called. the economic crisis in greece has vicious spiral. spending. the last few years the. protests have damaged the greece is welcoming tourist

destination and some people are afraid to visit. the country. trying to get the industry back on track they say prices are reasonable and service remains high moreover in the tourist. cretin. the whole experience is the same as it ever was as they helped untouched by the turmoil in the mainland . mr revis calumet a sad. day and spicy bush personally thank you for being with us today. also like this starts with the image of greece which we have been seeing in the media lately. it doesn't look very optimistic with news of the crisis mass protests and unrest in the streets talk how does that affect the inflow of tourists

from which a vital for the greek economy especially in your part of the country. he your eight those media reports about greece having a hard time this is seriously a terror image especially as a tourist destination after in fact. in greece in general is a very friendly region. we have been into or is in for many years. and we have made a name as good hosts to anyone who comes for a holy spirit. to invest in our economy yes. we are always happy to host them for and offer them the best we have. there was a period when the media around the world were running stories about strikes in unrest in greece. although it was not really their dramatic sort of of course it was really bad for our image as a nation. it was the same footage circulated all around the world after

making it look like all doom and gloom for greece you prefer. i would like to tell you as a mere they were actually doing much better then they say. we have very warm relations with russia. a culture we share yes you come on religion. christianity and history a friendship they dates back centuries historia loans to some i spent my holiday in cold siegel which is also struggling through serious crisis now when they're expecting to see prices plunge of hotels restaurants and thanks to services so that new person was the opposite the prices had gone up. and when i asked the locals about it they said it was because of the crisis as a portuguese phenomenon or is it the same in greece. because the trend is

absolutely the same in greece. i'm glad you're already familiar with this phenomenon. some are everything was perfect and we had no price spikes in greece to get. thousands of tourists from russia and the rest of the world can testify to that. you know many people are regular visitors to greece. in particular . and many of them make it their holy home buying property and enlisting money in our economy. as you can imagine they would never do that unless they felt that our region is safe and stable. and there is very important to us and we want people coming to greece to feel safe and secure. because we will you all of our guests agree deal subscript isms. with all the bailout money greece has

recently received from the european union the i.m.f. it's still struggling hard to find a way out of the economic crisis spotlights in the media has more of that issue. the greek economic tragedy started unfolding and it's the global financial downturn back in two thousand and nine the rescue plan was outlined the following year austerity measures at home along with a multi billion euro international aid package economists who predicted the european bailout plan would only keep greece afloat for a while proved right the risk of default came back this year the apocalypse was scheduled for the end of march that's when the international community stepped in and agreed and even began rescue package exceeded one hundred seventy two been any use in return athens had to pose even tougher sterrett imagine. the six ratings agency reacted with upgrading greece's credit rating to of the minus

asenath a stable outlook status analysts are still cautious i think the greek woman is not going away it will not go away until greece first of all it uses that. reduces its deficit and becomes more competitive. by implementing all the reforms. that gold so far have ensured that the greek optimistic on. export oriented unless the mess to clean. up. the bulk of the gern for stabbing lies in the economy is on the shoulders of the greek public sector workers jobs and wages have been cut while taxes have been raised a government has not like and that's and result in the numerous strikes demonstrations and occasionally violent unrest and now more protests are scheduled to take place

against the next round of cuts as people see the bailout bring in little benefit to their lives. the world of the business is down there is no profit is few time. in the past you could make money and now you can't with. the food stamps substantial risk to food remains and these are urging the government to implement further reforms they're breaking the agency says if this happens greece could reduce its that burden by sarah by twenty twenty well grooved grizzlie right twenty four to. have heard it's more than once in media reports and you must have heard it too that's one of the reasons for the economic problems that greece is experiencing is that despite all the aid greece just can't be bothered to work all the like to do is drink wine with tourists is that true. i think this perception of the greek

people is extremely unfair because so while there are greeks feeling all over the world there were a reputation for being educated hardworking people who contribute to economic development in the respective host countries. greece draws most of its revenue from tourism industry and as you can see for yourself well holiday is the tourism business is hard work was there were people in hospitality jobs working more than twelve hours a day seven days a week so we greeks are very hard working in an image of us as you described is grossly unfair unfortunately it has been or economic policy in recent years to reduce our own production then increase our imports that leaves tourism our only option for survival because of our situation has also been aggravated by us being

forced to seek huge in burdensome loans which. greece has become very dependent on germany rumor has its the us. the germans nearly half of the country. the crisis is we're witnessing this is an attempt to break free from the clutches of german capitalism or will it actually make greece even more dependent on german interests. or. the resort. cut out of it i believe that greece has realized by now nixie that it needs to be seen as soon interests without limiting itself sees to the bilateral format of cooperation with germany after he said before all the more so considering the any huge we're seeing from the european union because you know. that summit so this crisis is an opportunity for us as an economy that will years to launch

a new policy most of the insert working towards our own perspire he says in fact people in germany has sought to use or crisis in their own interest or minister salaries for years to get pension from just to resolve. as a nation and it is a safety. to get ourselves through this crisis where only has to lend. on tourism. and we hold to receive even more too is from russia this year. soft as this period we surely need to have more people choose greece is their holy destination to help us recover from this downturns. sez he one step back this mayor of the city of spotlight will be back shortly after break self stay with us ok.

wealthy british style. is not on. the. market finance come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with my stronger or no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune in to kaiser report on our cheap so for assistance a new job the rates of. growth of leukemia for example a thirty eight times expect. breast cancers more than sends ons

told cancers fourteen times i was forget the exact duces bullish huge numbers there's not nothing that you have ever found in any of the dim emotional study to be wherever there is a wedding that brings victory. to its creator. he's not alone some are more severe than others we have sunday abs born without skulls without organs and sometimes with their legs totally to mr blood means death to those who it's point is such a and. thousands to those who choose this window. and the celebrates and they don't realize it said stan looking at their own future cuts so. this is just a fast food so sides.

i have. leakage and i'll show you so the extent how much i have leakage. mission free accreditation free instruction free from ancient greece. free. free. free broadcast clothing video for your media projects free media john darche dot com. welcome back to the spotlight i am all going over and just a reminder that my guest in the studio today is. mayor of the city of course.

as far as. twenty two percent of the greeks are employed in summer isn't related industries that share is probably even great sink or full share which would you say cheese seventy percent. people of the minutes are going to go get everybody your rate is about seventy percent. perhaps even more equal mia all the other jobs we have in core four are also related to tourism in one way or another. reason is indeed our backbone industry that allows us to make a living. and it is also our major a.b.l. response to the growing unemployment to the small harshaw in what is the share of russians among the tourists who come to greece also i suppose germans must be the number one visitors. we saw that it was yuri of tourists who is of course come from

britain still in c. mess britain holds a leading position to its markets. germany second and russia is rated third in recent years. but he adds i got on the best years has seen a sharp increase over thirty percent and then revisit this from russia and let me go there is currently a greek travel exhibit being held in moscow or we are participating. in his appearance that we're looking at a great influence interests. it means that russians of course food in previous years enjoyed their stay with us and see the injury or island our nature and see. ireland is green sees very beautiful us to be she's our clean. the old town has been included in the unicyclist of cultural and historical heritage. as you know of

a sense period in our preserves in core for. this saint is very special for russian tourists. almost all russian tourists who come to core for visitors to the church spirit in is period. we have many other historic links for the russians. for example is there is this view on his company's ts it was a native of course for with the foreign minister of imperial russia was the marcos diskette class later he became the first president of independent greece. another famous name. of. what is a monument to chicago from core for us capital we continue our longstanding relationship with russia because so much we organize annual events question tourists we have any russian we can course we scenes in school in popularity. year by year. there's whackers in addition to that. of artistic events pushing

russian musicians and then. last year we opened a monument to enter luzhkov. on a small island video and off the shore of course. is no kind of appreciation and gratitude of our people for the admiral's exploits. here for. i have been hearing a lot of that. in connection with khufu lately do people of color food really remember and respects the russian admiral so much for his victories in fighting the french navy. or is it more of a gimmick really just to attract the russians tourists. oh here we had words and money meant for over fifteen years. there is also another money meant to him in court for. a long time ago. i think it is

a commonly known fact that core food has a bond with russia has. perhaps the most important thing that you know it says is orthodox christianity. we think it will shock of was fighting his great battles over the sure of course. he was doing it not so much for. i win yes but for greece dragons in the people of course for. which we steal the prescience. of liberated from the french. he was a great event they put him forever in the hearts of the people of course you know. you have mentioned an exhibition held in moscow. as far as. such travel exhibitions also exhibitions a more about business this is where people come looking for example. do you have any projections to be asked to that

tsuris traffic you're looking at next summer. are you expecting more a few or two or ists compared to last season and most of the prospects for legree tourism industry in general. i expect a significant increase in the number of tourists coming from russia. is i said before i hope to see a spike upwards of thirty percent you're getting i'm talking about the core for ireland specifically. besides we had some positive news coming in from germany in the united kingdom yet there were few tourists coming from these two countries last year but hopefully this seems to be. no. travel operators in germany and the u.k. seem to succeed at convincing tourists. as well in greece and the country is safe

to travel to new gov. reports came out recently and greases the privatization fund altering all of the land plots along the coastline. of quarter four in course for. this offer of interest to russian investors who generally like buying real estates in greece. we would certainly like russian customers. to buy houses and perhaps really stayed in course for. the person we look forward to russian investment. as for this specific property being sold by greece remember occupy is the mirror. to this steel was just get your ass we're talking about a very large internet you can plot of land which is a great deal you as a neutral lend more. if this priest to lend to get develops into

a residential area. its natural beauty would be destroyed. and that would be a loss after all of course for six passes as a near center no to the government's. position to this deal and that's as a mayor can you determine the use of certain plots of land will they be developed into a villa or a hotel or say a gas station. it is in the power of the near the city council to determine in which way the island is to develop. there are three small islands around core for. it we would like. in these islands to develop in an environmentally friendly way. for his great prospects for development. if you design of space to build

a large hotel complex as this which we do not have enough of at the moment. you know this is the direction we must follow now. we already have some great investment proposals in this area to build several large four in five star hotels. as a mere i would like to invite russian investors interested in core for. i promise to use my influence this is investors in solving whatever problems and impediments mere ice. we already cooperate with some russian businesses and we hope that this cooperation will continue. this. as far as. being advanced is not an all for to sell the land to lease it for one hundred years right. who happened that real estate all towards will the government just take it

away let's buy it back from the leases. well that's lead. after. the government sells leases outlane plots and different terms. but some are sold completely as well others i leased for thirty forty or fifty years these years it all depends on the situation personally suggest the following framework there's you policyholders we provide a link and investors use it to build a hotel complex is michael poses for commercial property they don't accept it he would love it if russians. or noon for their funders of cypress in crete that year would also turn their attention. to real estate in course for almost the same and i will not be completely c.t.

scan we have many advantages for you to go to particularly picturesque wildlife center and amazingly clear see. the historical town my name listed as a unicycle here is the site. of two inch unfortunate is. in much much more. humid awfully imus. thank you thank you very much for being with us and just to read that my guest today was and he still expects mayor how the city of course puts that's it for now from all of us here if you won't have yourself a spotlight or maybe at someone in my thing you think i still see you next time to drop me a line at al gore enough and. are you a landscape spotlight interactive we will be back with more personal comments on what's going on in and outside russia until then stay on r.t. and take care of president.

if. the problem isn't. easy to implement. a little.

home. from.