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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-17Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Romanian interior minister in AthensInterior and Public Administration Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos as well as Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis on Monday received visiting Romanian Minister of Administration and Interior Vasile Blaga for separate meetings here.According to reports, the issues of public administration organisation, civil servants' training, regional development and immigration dominated talks. A memorandum of cooperation was also signed by the two sides. [02] Govt guarantees funding of pension systemThe Greek government guarantees funding of all social insurance agencies and the smooth payment of all pensions to pensioners, Labour Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos said on Monday.Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis, Panagiotopoulos said budget funds were adequate to ensure funding of agencies and pension payments, adding the government was ready to release more money if needed. He was replying to comments and press reports that the government faced problems in funding the pension system. The Greek minister said more time was needed to complete a procedure of issuing a Presidential decree over the reform of banks' pension system and stressed that National Bank needed to pay the cost of a voluntary retirement scheme promoted by its management. Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said the government submitted to the European Commission its National Reform Programme, based on provisions of the Lisbon Strategy, aimed to boost Greek exports and strengthen economic competitiveness. [03] Trial relating to 2000 bourse 'bubble' beginsThe spectre of the 1999-2000 stock market "bubble" was revisited in an Athens court room on Monday, as the closely watched trial of seven former members of the Public Securities Company (DEKA S.A.) began.According to a multi-count indictment, DEKA's former management invested in shares of heavily traded state-owned utilities just prior to the April 2000 elections in order to keep the Athens Stock Market's (ASE) general index high -- a policy that reportedly resulted in damages for the state exceeding 700 million euros. Proceedings at the three-judge appellate-level felony court will continue on Tuesday. Gov't reaction In later comments, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said the DEKA case "involved quite a few Greeks in 1999 and 2000, because PASOK (then in government) tried, and to a large extent succeeded, in using the ASE for political gains". In answer to a press question, Roussopoulos again charged that retail investors were "defrauded via a political initiative and strategy by the government at the time. We await answers from this trial". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |