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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-03-14
Last Update: 16:25 GMT+2
SECTIONS
[A] GREECE
[B] BALKANS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] GREECE
[01] THE DEVALUATION OF THE DRACHMA WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW
[02] PANGALOS' STATEMENTS ON CYPRUS' ACCESSION INTO THE EU
[03] MR. PAPANTONIOU WILL MAKE IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS IN VIEW OF THE
DEVALUATION
[04] THE DEVALUATION OF THE DRACHMA WILL BOOST TOURISM IN GREECE
[05] MEETING ON CYPRUS IN ATHENS
[B] BALKANS
[06] THE EU WANTS THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO TO BE RESOLVED
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] GREECE
[01] THE DEVALUATION OF THE DRACHMA WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW
Web Posted: 16:25 GMT+2
_The devaluation of the drachma by 10-15% is expected to be announced
formally tomorrow. The cabinet held an extraordinary meeting today to
examine the developments in the economy. It is expected to decide on a
package of tough measures focusing on the job market and the social
security system. The fallout from the devaluation of the drachma will have
an immediate effect as the prices of imported goods will be increased. The
inflation rate is expected to be affected in the short-term._
[02] PANGALOS' STATEMENTS ON CYPRUS' ACCESSION INTO THE EU
Web Posted: 16:25 GMT+2
_Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos warned in the meeting of the EU
foreign ministers in Edinburg that there should be no attempt to overturn
the Luxembourg decisions on Cyprus' accession into the EU. Mr. Pangalos
stressed that if certain circles want this overturning they put at risk the
European Commission insinuating that Athens will block the EU expansion
eastward._
[03] MR. PAPANTONIOU WILL MAKE IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS IN VIEW OF THE
DEVALUATION
Web Posted: 16:25 GMT+2
Athens 14 March (MPA)
Greek minister of national economy and finance Mr. Yiannos Papantoniou will
announce important developments in the social security system, the
privatizations and the course of the reforms in the public sector agencies.
The announcements will be made after the devaluation percentage becomes
known.
Specifically, the minister will announce immediate changes in the country's
social security system, the privatization of state companies and organizations
(a new package of state Telecommunications Company (OTE) shares -about 6%
of the capital share- will be sold to individual shareholders), the sale of
banks, among them the Bank of Crete and the Bank of Macedonia-Thrace, and
the immediate reform of four public sector agencies namely, Olympic Airways,
the state Railway Organization, the state Postal Service and the city mass
transportation agency.
[04] THE DEVALUATION OF THE DRACHMA WILL BOOST TOURISM IN GREECE
Web Posted: 16:25 GMT+2
Athens 14 March (MPA)
The devaluation of the drachma will bring about an explosion in tourist
arrivals in Greece. According to speculations, Greece will become an
especially attractive tourist destination for those who have not decided
yet where to spend their vacations.
The devaluation of the drachma will attract tourists who, due to economic
reasons, have not decided yet where to spend their vacations as well as,
people who traditionally make their decisions at the last minute.
[05] MEETING ON CYPRUS IN ATHENS
Web Posted: 16:25 GMT+2
Athens 14 March (MPA)
Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis met in Athens
with US ambassador Nicholas Burns and US envoy Thomas Miller to discuss the
Cyprus issue.
Meanwhile, the EU foreign ministers meeting continues in Edinburg and among
the issues for discussion is Cyprus' EU accession course.
[B] BALKANS
[06] THE EU WANTS THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO TO BE RESOLVED
Web Posted: 16:25 GMT+2
_The international pressures on Belgrade intensify for the opening of a
dialogue with the Albanian-speaking population aimed at defusing the crisis
in Kosovo. British foreign minister Robin Cook stated that the EU has
decided to request from the UN to impose tougher sanctions on Belgrade.
_
Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available
on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at
http://www.hri.org/MPA/
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