Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-03-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM focuses on government's insistence on mild fiscal adjustment in FPA interview

[02] IOC gives 'Women and Sports' award to Gianna Angelopoulos Daskalaki

[03] Greece seeks 'golden mean' in EU growth pact revision

[04] PASOK party leader tours flooded areas in Evros prefecture

[01] PM focuses on government's insistence on mild fiscal adjustment in FPA interview

The prime minister stressed that mild adjustment does not mean ''lack of boldness or inertia, as is misleadingly mentioned by some,'' adding that a great wager lies ahead.

"The economy must stand on its feet in the next two years. Therefore, I will do what I must to enable the national economy to stand on its feet. Because only then will every Greek citizen be able to hope for a better tomorrow for himself and his family," the prime minister said.

Karamanlis confirmed his main priorities, saying that in 2004 the citizens voted for a political change, requesting a new governance and the refounding of the state.

He added that his government is shaping a new safe economic environment with determination and stability and wise steps, promoting structural changes, while it has already started the laborious effort to decrease the exorbitant deficit.

[02] IOC gives 'Women and Sports' award to Gianna Angelopoulos Daskalaki

The award was given to her by Denis Oswald, a member of the IOC's executive committee and the president of the Coordinating Committee for Athens in recognition of her great contribution to the hosting of the successful Athens Olympic Games.

The award ceremony was held at the IOC's Olympic Games Museum in Lausanne on the occasion of International Women's Day, since the IOC wants women to play a leading role in the Olympic and sports movement.

Speaking afterwards, Daskalaki said "on the occasion of International Women's Day, it is an honour for me to accept this award on behalf of the countless people from every region and every walk of life, who cooperated to enable the Athens Olympic Games to become a celebration, a magical experience."

[03] Greece seeks 'golden mean' in EU growth pact revision

"A golden mean is required between the need for member states to exploit positive economic circumstances to spur fiscal revitalisation, and between increased leeway for movement in exercising economic policy, when for a limited time there is minor fiscal derailment for reasons independent of the will of national authorities," Alogoskoufis told reporters after a meeting of EU finance ministers on the revision plan.

"Greece wishes to retain the pact's basic principles, and backs increasing the time margin for the correction of fiscal deviation, mainly that due to special factors," the minister said.

[04] PASOK party leader tours flooded areas in Evros prefecture

Speaking in Pythio, where he was briefed by prefectural technicians on the extent of damage caused in the region, Papandreou said such economic backing also concerns the restoration of infrastructures in the area, such as rural roads, pumping installations and crops.

Papandreou expressed support for an overall restoration plan for handling such phenomena, with cooperation by local agencies and many ministries, as well as the creation of a work administration group to tackle such cases and ensuing damage.

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