Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-02-23 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, FinMin Tsakalotos says [02] New Democracy calls on Tsakalotos to make an official statement on Eurogroup results [03] Deputy Labour Min Petropoulos asks the help of commercial sector for a viable social security system --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, FinMin Tsakalotos says "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Thursday said in a statement to Efimerida Ton Syntakton citing Mark Twain. "There is not a grain of truth," he stressed in reply to main opposition New Democracy's accusations that he has not made an official statement on the Eurogroup's results. [02] New Democracy calls on Tsakalotos to make an official statement on Eurogroup results "Mr Tsakalotos must stop pretending that he does not understand Greek," main opposition New Democracy (ND) said in a statement on Thursday and called on the Finance Minister to make an official statement on the Eurogroup's results. [03] Deputy Labour Min Petropoulos asks the help of commercial sector for a viable social security system Lowering the tax free threshold without offset measures would be a problem, Deputy Labour Minister Tasos Petropoulos said during his speech at the Chamber of Commerce in Athens. Petropoulos asked for the help of the trade sector in the government effort for a viable social security system. He also explained that although the new system will benefit the majority of the insured people, corrections will be made where necessary. Moreover, he defended the new social security system saying the new law is a "development measure."