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Friday, 19 April 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-01-23Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Karamanlis begins official visit to Ankara[02] Alogoskoufis at ECOFIN meetingLikely repercussions on the European economy as a result of heightened turbulence in international money markets, high-risk housing loans woes in the United States and worries over the price of oil and raw materials were examined by EU finance ministers at the ECOFIN meeting in Brussels on Wednesday.Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said Stability and Development Pact issues as well as revision of state quotas in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as the Slovenian EU Presidency's priorities were among the topics discussed. Alogoskoufis stated that the European economy is strong due to reforms promoted in previous years and because of the successful implementation of the Revised Stability and Development Pact. He added, however, that despite indications in Europe that this is the peak of the more recent upward trend of the economic circle "it does not mean that a change in the direction of the economic policy is necessary." "Fiscal Reform has to continue," Alogoskoufis said, adding that it was agreed in ECOFIN that goals of a revised Stability and Development Programme should be fully observed. "Europe has the advantage of a concrete and known in advance set of rules on the implementation of the macroeconomic policy," he said. Alogoskoufis stated that the first round of reforms, launched in 2005, closes with the European Council meeting in March and the new 2008-2010 round of reforms will get underway. He underlined the risk of imported inflation, brought on by oil, raw materials and foodstuffs prices, pointing out that it could evolve into a problem for Europe through a spiraling increase of wages and prices. Alogoskoufis also stated that the state revenue policy will be announced by the end of February. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Alogoskoufis. [03] Felony counts in Zachopoulos caseA first instance court prosecutor on Wednesday brought felony charges against all persons responsible in the case of the attempted blackmail of former culture ministry secretary general Christos Zachopoulos, based on evidence collected by a special examining magistrate. The felony charges concern the alleged blackmailing attempt against Zachopoulos and the violation of personal data protection laws. Zachopoulos attempted to commit suicide late last month after being allegedly blackmailed with a DVD reportedly containing footage of a sexual encounter with former ministry contract employee Evi Tsekou. The attempted suicide prompted an avalanche of accusations and revelations allegedly involving journalists and politicians and their role in the case.Meanwhile, Greece's most prominent television investigative reporter, Makis Triantafyllopoulos, was the latest journalist to answer a magistrate's questions on Wednesday regarding the simmering and now maze-like Zachopoulos blackmailing case, an affair that has aroused political, judicial and heightened media interest in the country. Triantafyllopoulos, who is also listed as the co-publisher of the Sunday weekly "Proto Thema", appeared to answer questions over the alleged involvement of an unnamed ruling ND deputy in efforts to "mediate" a dispute over roughly five million euros later found in a bank account belonging to Triantafyllopoulos' partner, controversial TV host and erstwhile newspaper columnist Themos Anastasiadis. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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