Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-27 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] 'Overwhelming odds' in favour of a deal with creditors by Sunday, says government spox [02] Roll call vote on out-of-court mechanism for company debts scheduled for Friday --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] 'Overwhelming odds' in favour of a deal with creditors by Sunday, says government spox It is extremely likely that negotiations between the government and the mission chiefs institutions on Greece's second program review will conclude by Sunday, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told public broadcaster ERT, in an interview on Thursday night. "There's no concern about the completion of the review. The overwhelming odds are that by Sunday we will have ended up with the texts of the technical agreement and then things will be set for the Eurogroup on May 22," he said. Asked about the ongoing talks, he said all sides had to make concessions. "The Greek side accepted a change in the fiscal mix and the other side accepted the fact that apart from the negative [measures] there will be positive measures. Neither the Greek government has accepted the spirit of austerity supported by conservative forces nor have the conservatives accepted our own political framework," he said, noting that the government's plan is to lead the country out of supervision and regain economic sovereignty. "We tried to the best, considering international conditions. It is the first time that a review is closing without additional financial burden," he added. Tzanakopoulos admitted that pension cuts and lowering of the income tax threshold have consequences, but added that the agreement will include measures to counter their effect such as the lowering of the unified property tax (ENFIA) and an increase in social spending for services used by weaker social groups. After the technical agreement is signed, talks will begin for the medium-term debt relief measures and by the end of May the path will be open for Greece's inclusion in the European Central bank's bond-buying program, he said. [02] Roll call vote on out-of-court mechanism for company debts scheduled for Friday Main government coalition party SYRIZA asked for a roll call vote on the principle, the articles and the amendments to the draft law for an out-of-court mechanism to restructure company debts. The parliament's chair proposed starting the vote on Friday morning (10:00). In the debate taking place in parliament, Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou tabled earlier a series of improvements to the bill, currently debated, with the most significant an amendment allowing companies which have terminated operations to apply for inclusion in the mechanism. The Democratic Coalition and New Democracy tabled a proposal for a roll call vote on an amendment submitted by SYRIZA MP Dimitris Dimitriadis.