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Thursday, 18 April 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-08-26Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM holds talks with Belgian FMBelgian government vice president and Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere sent a message of strong solidarity from the Belgian government to Greece for the economic crisis that it is facing, as well as a message that the consequences of the economic crisis can only be solved within the European framework.The Belgian minister said "strength lies in unity. The more united we are, the sooner we shall see results," speaking in joint statements he made with Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas after their meeting at the foreign ministry on Wednesday. Earlier in the afternoon, he held talks with Prime Minister George Papandreou. Focusing on the economic field, the head of Belgian diplomacy said that he and Droutsas also discussed the promotion of Belgian investments in Greece. Also discussed were developments in Turkey and the issue of Cyprus, while the Belgian official revealed that he will be going to Cyprus after visiting Athens. Shortly before receiving the Belgian official in the afternoon, Papandreou received in his office the head of the American Jewish Committee David Harris. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [02] Employment minister on social securityANA-MPA/Employment and Social Insurance Minister Andreas Loverdos on Wednesday reiterated that "there is no case of any new measure being taken on the social security issue by the ministry," speaking at a press conference, while adding: "there is also no case of cutting or restructuring unemployment bonuses."The minister further said that "the ministry met its obligations first and before the timetables. We had scheduled the changes before the EU-IMF memorandum and we are proud of this." Loverdos made special reference during the press conference to the fact that certain clauses in the law on the social security issue are being presented as new measures. For example, as he said, article 11 of the law on the social security issue, according to which a new actuarial study is being processed on the basis of the figures of the social security law regarding a series of issues, is being presented as a new measure. Moreover, the prediction of article 15 on auxiliary pensions, according to which actuarial studies must be made, is being presented as a new measure. "It is unacceptable that certain clauses of the law on the social security issue are being presented as new measures. Whoever is doing this is misinforming the Greek people. Those who are saying this are lying shamelessly." More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [03] 10th 'Aegean Regatta' raceThe 108 sail boats participating in the "Aegean Regatta" began their race on Monday from the island of Thassos in the northern Aegean .The Aegean Regatta is being held for the 10th consecutive year by the general secretariat of the Aegean and islands' policy, and transport ministry. Among the participants are crews from Cyprus , Russia , England , Italy and Bulgaria . The race will be concluded on Saturday on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [04] Recession will be milderFinance Minister George Papaconstantinou announced on Wednesday that the government was increasing guarantees for loans issued by domestic banks by 25 billion euros.In announcing the scheme, he said it was different that the one unveiled by the preceding New Democracy government in 2008, saying that although fluidity in the market was the envisioned goal, nevertheless, conditions will be made stricter in order to buttress "the real economy, households and businesses." Touching on the state of the Greek economy in the wake of several positive reviews, Papaconstantinou said: "Problems remain, and the Greek economy remains in recession, which however, is shallower than what we could have imagined. The shrinking (of GDP) in the first half of the year is under 3 percent, and for all of 2010 we foresee that it will close that under the projected -4 percent ... Certainly, job spots will be lost in the effort to build an economy that will not be based on clay legs," he said, noting: "However, we are seeing light in the tunnel after months of complete darkness over the country's prospects; the image has changed," he said. Moreover, the Greek FinMin repeated that there is no "new memorandum" on the table, only an updated memorandum -- a reference to the agreement worked out with the EU Commission, the ECB and the IMF. He also repeated that there is no issue of a restructuring of the Greek national debt. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [05] KKE on updated memorandumThe Communist Party of Greece's (KKE) Parliamentary group on Thursday demanded that the government unveil the updated memorandum - agreed to with the Commission, ECB and IMF -- in parliament.KKE said the updated memorandum is not a simple elaboration of the already known memorandum but adds new reforms, an even more decisive step towards creating a cheaper work force. "The struggle must continue even if growth materialises, because such will be frail. What is needed is a 'popular, decisive organisation and counterattack'," KKE opined More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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