Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-02-09 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] The effort to combat corruption has borne fruit, Digital Policy Min Pappas says [02] EuroWorkingGroup to examine progress made in prior actions --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] The effort to combat corruption has borne fruit, Digital Policy Min Pappas says The effort to combat corruption, namely the interdependence of the banking and political system with the media, has borne fruit, Minister for Digital Policy and Telecommunications Nikos Pappas said on Thursday in an event organised by SYRIZA party. "This interdependence created a non-viable reality," Pappas said citing the example of TV channels with 1.5 billion euro debt and bad labour relations. Regarding the negotiations, he said that a discussion is being carried out whether the government wants the IMF to participate in the programme. "The IMF participates in the Greek programme because the other partners asked for that and not the Greek government." [02] EuroWorkingGroup to examine progress made in prior actions The EuroWorkingGroup on Thursday will examine the progress made in the negotiations for the conclusion of the Greek programme review ahead of the Eurogroup on February 20 as well as the initiatives taken at EU level. According to officials, the representatives of the EU Finance Ministers will discuss the progress made in meeting the prior actions. Greece will be represented by Alternate Finance Minister George Chouliarakis.