Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-10-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM discusses port development with merchant marine minister

[02] Papandreou slams gov't over flooding, corruption

[03] EU: Greek fiscal deficit at under 3 pct in 2006, 2007

[01] PM discusses port development with merchant marine minister

After the meeting, Kefaloyannis told reporters that the government would soon announce specific measures for the development of Greek ports, which, he stressed, was a priority policy of his ministry.

Kefaloyannis further noted that the 3 billion euros financing protocol signed with the European Investment Bank had opened up immense prospects for the development of Greece's ports, adding that his discussion with Karamanlis also encompassed the development of the ports of Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Corfu and Patras, as well as a new port on the island of Crete. The development projects aim at increasing the container capacity of the ports and the construction of new marinas.

[02] Papandreou slams gov't over flooding, corruption

Bridges collapse and government ministers blame each other, stressed Papandreou, adding that, at the same time, new revelations were coming to light about corruption within ruling New Democracy, while its exposed party officials shamelessly asked for the vote of the Greek people.

On the teachersâ mobilizations, Papandreou stressed that the sector of Education revolts against mockery, authoritarianism, and irresponsible government experimentation, while trade unionists come face to face with the right-wing 'shadow' state.

Papandreou stated that Greece is an ungoverned country where government officials toy with the GDP and the economy dragging the country in the mud. The European Union calls us unreliable when the prime minister maintains that everything is perfect, said Papandreou concluding that PASOK will not allow this to go on any longer.

Meanwhile, a PASOK delegation made up of former ministers Evangelos Venizalos, Michalis Chrisochoidis and Yiannis Tsaklidis headed by the partyâs National Council secretary Mariliza Xenoyannakopoulou visited the flood-stricken regions in Thessaloniki to be briefed on the extent of the damages.

Xenoyannakopoulou stated that PASOK expresses solidarity to the flood victims and will watch closely the materialization of the relief measures announced by the prime minister who visited the region of Stavros on Monday.

[03] EU: Greek fiscal deficit at under 3 pct in 2006, 2007

During the joint press conference with Eurogroup chairman and Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Almunia said that, with respect to 2006, the Greek deficit would be contained below 3 percentage points, but opined that this was due, to a degree, to measures of a temporary nature that have been taken by the Greek government for the current year.

With respect to 2007, Almunia said that, based on the data contained in the preliminary draft of Greece's state budget for next year, the reduction of the fiscal deficit would be achieved without resorting to measures of a temporary nature. This was the first comment from the Commission since it was forwarded the 2007 draft budget, which was tabled in the Greek parliament early last week.

Regarding the updating of the Greek data concerning the country's Gross National Product (GNP), both Almunia and Juncker clarified that the EU predictions of reduction of Greece's deficit were founded on the original figures and did not take into consideration the revised assessments of the National Statistics Service of Greece (ESYE) of a 25 percentage point increase in the country's GNP.

Regarding the validation of the new Greek figures by Eurostate, the two EU officials explained that, considering the large extent of the adjustment, the EU services would review the figures in detail, adding this would naturally take some time.

Until the corroboration of the revised figures was completed by Eurostat, the EU services would continue using the current figures in their calculations.

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