Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-08-01

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't denies plan to raise retirement age for women

[02] J&P Avax in 19.83 mln euro contract with National Bank

[01] Gov't denies plan to raise retirement age for women

"There is no question of changing the general framework of the social insurance system within the government's current four-year term of office. That is to say there is no question of changing the age requirement or lowering pensions etc," the employment and social protection minister, Panos Panayiotopoulos, said in a statement.

He was responding to a storm of criticism from trade unions and the political opposition earlier in the day sparked by a newspaper report that the EU was pressuring Greece into making women retire five or more years later and scrapping other positive discrimination measures contained in the social insurance system.

"Consultations on the social insurance system are essential, as this will help us to defend the rights of coming generations. It will be a lengthy dialogue to extend beyond this four-year term," Panayiotopoulos said.

"The government's relationship with Brussels is not as described in certain publications. We do not feel that Brussels is dictating solutions to us in a form of British colonialism," he added.

[02] J&P Avax in 19.83 mln euro contract with National Bank

The project is expected to be completed in 730 days after the signing of the protocol.

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