[originaltext]Journalist: Is it Rue, Mr. Northfield, that Flaxco intends to clo

Journalist: Is it Rue, Mr. Northfield, that Flaxco intends to close down even more of its European plants?
Northfield: I’m not sure what you are getting at. How do you come to such a question? Who’s mentioned any closures of plants in the first place’?
Journalist: Well, put it another way then: Are European operations going to be reduced along the lines of recent years? I...I mean, it is rate that Flaxen has taken over several companies abroad, particularly in the USA and...and has even expanded its workforce there.
Northfield: There are a number of developments, which you appear to be confusing, if I may say so.
Journalist: A large number of jobs have been lost, though, at your European plants?
Northfield: Look, let me try and put things into perspective for you. I’ll give you some facts first of all. Our production resources have been concentrated steadily over the past few years. So, now we have focused our manufacturing facilities in Europe, but not only here in Italy.
Journalist: After closing down two plants in Antwerp and Leeds?
Northfield: Please, let me continue. We have limited our production to certain medicines which are prescribed in large quantifies. At the same time, we have been expanding our marketing activities abroad, and this appears to be something you’ve neglected to mention.
Journalist: Have you any plans to increase the workforce here in Europe, Mr. Northfield? I’m sure many people would be keen to hear what you have to say on the subject.
Northfield: I...I’d like to stress the very successful performance of the group in Europe and other continents over the past few years. We have nearly two thirds of our workforce in subsidiaries and associated companies overseas.
Journalist: Could I ask you another question concerning the expenditure of the group? Is this going to be made in Europe or around the world?
Northfield: Again, I can only repeat what I’ve been saying: we are un international operation and we have a research facility in Italy, which as you know, is very important. Furthermore we have just started a new research unit in the USA, which is inevitably given the large size of our operations in that country.
Journalist: Thank you very much for answering the questions.