Athens News Agency: News in English, 12-01-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Finance ministry official resigns following prosecution for breach of faith

[02] PM holds meetings with gov't officials

[03] Thessaloniki metro project will cost 3.5 billion euros

[01] Finance ministry official resigns following prosecution for breach of faith

His resignation was requested by Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Alternate Finance Minister for taxation issues Pantelis Economou in order to facilitate the investigation.

The charges brought against Kapeleris and the head of the Customs Control Directorate Evangelia Pantazi concern allegations that they issued circulars that prevented the collection of fines for contraband fuel trading issued under the Ifaistos system.amna

The affair came to light after another finance ministry general secretary, Diomedes Spinelis, resigned over decisions preventing him from collecting such fines. Press reports concerning Spinelis' resignation referred to a secret system within the finance ministry that froze or blocked the collection of fines.

A subsequent investigation conducted by alternate financial crimes prosecutor Spiros Mouzakitis found grounds to prosecute for breach of faith and said that the estimated damage to the state's interests came to at least 15 million euro.

[02] PM holds meetings with gov't officials

In this framework, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos will meet on Tuesday with Labour Minister Giorgos Koutroumanis and afterwards with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

In the afternoon, the premier will hold separate talks with Environment and Energy Deputy Minister Yannis Maniatis and Alternate Education Minister Costas Arvanitopoulos, respectively.

On Wednesday, Papademos will have successive meetings with delegations of Hellenic Federation of Industries (SEB), General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), the Confederation of Merchants, and other organisations. amna

The Cabinet will probably convene on Thursday on the Finance Ministry's omnibus bill which will contain all the pending issues that have not been settled as yet.

[03] Thessaloniki metro project will cost 3.5 billion euros

Magriotis commented that the city’s metro project, namely, the entire 33 km - long underground network, is estimated to cost 3.5 billion euros. He clarified that the specific budget includes the construction of the Railway Station-Pylea main line estimated to cost 1.1 billion euros and the 620-million-euro eastward expansion of the project to the municipality of Kalamaria. amna

He expressed optimism that the 9.6 km - long main line linking the city’s Railway Station with the eastern municipality of Pylea will be completed in 2015, while the construction of the expansion of the metro line to the municipality of Kalamaria to the east, and probably the western expansion of the project, will be launched in 2016.

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