Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-11-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] New tax bill foresees gradual reduction of tax rates

[02] Czech President meets with PM, parl't president

[03] FM, St. Petersburg governor discuss cooperation

[01] New tax bill foresees gradual reduction of tax rates

National economy and finance minister George Alogoskoufis told reporters after the meeting that the tax bill was unanimously approved, adding that chiefly the medium incomes would benefit, and explaining that the reductions of the tax rates gradually from 2007 to 2009 affected all income brackets.

Alogoskoufis said that three million taxpayers did not pay taxes, added that this figure would increase, given that the tax-exemption ceiling would be raised from the present 11,000 euros to 12,000 euros under the bill.

The minister said that the main tax rate concerned incomes of up to 30,000 euros.

Earlier, the prime minister met with education minister Marietta Yannakou, who said afterwards it was one of their frequent, regular meetings covering all issues.

Education, she said afterwards to reporters, "is a basic priority of the governmental platform and the everyday practice of the government, nothing more, nothing less".

[02] Czech President meets with PM, parl't president

During the meeting with Karamanlis, the two men discussed Greek-Czech bilateral relations as well as European issues.

During the meeting with Benaki, the very good and harmonious relations between the two countries were reaffirmed.

Benaki, addressing Klaus, said his visit to the parliament was a great honour for the House and indicated the very good and harmonious relations between Greece and the Czech Republic, as well as the effort for further strengthening the cooperation betweek the two countries.

Benaki presented the Czech president with the Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament.

During their meeting, they exchanged views on the European Constitution and the course of the EU.

[03] FM, St. Petersburg governor discuss cooperation

After the meeting, Bakoyannis told reporters that she discussed with Matvienko, "an exceptionally dynamic personality who is playing an important role in the Russian Federation", the developmental prospects and economic cooperation that could develop between the St. Petersburg periphery and Greece.

She said there was significant interest in a region that was developing at a very fast past, dynamically, and in which Greece has great investment and cooperation prospects.

"They see us with very friendly sentiments, just as we do them, and that is an area in which we can work together with very good results for the economies of both our countries," Bakoyannis said.

To a question on press reports purporting that the Finnish EU presidency was considering withdrawing the Varosha sector in Cyprus from the negotiating package with candidate Turkey, Bakoyannis replied: "If there is any truth to those press reports, then we must remember that the Finnish Preisdency is moving ahead and carrying on proposals that had originated during the Luxembourg EU presidency. From then to now, the issue of Varosha has never ceased to be an inalienable part of this package of ideas".

In other words, Bakoyannis warned, which a move would be "a concession which, of course, will lead the Presidency's effort to very great difficulties, if not to an impasse".

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