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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-13Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Budget deficit down in Jan-AugGreece's state budget deficit fell by 8.5 percent in the first eight months of 2005 compared with the same period last year, the General Accounting Office said on Thursday. The budget deficit eased to 8.103 billion euros in the January-August period, from 8.857 billion in the same period in 2004.The Accounting Office said tax revenues rebounded over the same period, recording a 4.6 percent rise in the first eight months of the year, compared with a 4.4 percent increase in the same period last year. Regular budget spending, however, rose by 6.7 percent, while primary spending were up 3.5 pct, over the same period. Handouts in the government's public investments programme totalled 3.5 billion euros, while capital inflows from the EU totalled 1.285 billion euros in the January-August period. [02] FMs of SE Europe to meet on RhodesThe foreign ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Turkey and Moldova will arrive in Rhodes on Thursday in the framework of the informal conference of foreign ministers from countries of southeastern Europe, scheduled to begin on Friday morning.Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis and Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis will arrive in Rhodes at noon on Thursday, while the informal conference will also be attended by Turkish Minister of State Beshir Atalay. According to the programme, the informal conference is being organised by the Inter-Balkan conference's Greek Presidency and issues to be examined concern the strengthening of political dialogue between member-states and the promotion of regional cooperation, as well as issues regarding cooperation on the development of regional infrastructures, institutional backing for the Inter-Balkan conference and the countries' European prospects. [03] Geniki Bank unveils expansion planGeniki Bank, a member of French group Societe Generale, on Thursday announced the opening of 31 new branches around the country, as part of an expansion strategy.Speaking to reporters, Jacques Tournebize, Geniki Bank's chief executive, said five units would open immediately, while another 10 were expected to begin operations by the end of the year. Tournebize said Geniki Bank aimed to operate a network of more than 150 branches around the country by the end of 2006 and announced the completion of the first phase of a restructuring plan, envisaging the full restructuring of its portfolio and predicted that the bank would break-even this year, after reporting losses in 2004. The French banker said Geniki Bank also aimed to further expand business with Greek enterprises operating in the Mediterranean region, taking advantage of Societe Generale's presence in Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and Tunisia. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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