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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-10-02
CONTENTS
[01] Parliament OKs OA, rail plans
[01] Parliament OKs OA, rail plans
Amendments concerning ailing national carrier Olympic Airlines and
debt-ridden Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) were ratified by
Parliament on Thursday, with 51 votes in favour -- by ruling New
Democracy deputies and a recently transpired independent MP -- as
opposed to 49 'no' votes by the opposition.
Earlier, Transport Minister Costis Hadzidakis reassured that the air
carrier's name, emblem, employees, remote routes (mostly to the Greek
islands) as well as its growth prospects perspectives have been
secured.
Tabling the government's agreement with the EU Commission, Hatzidakis
said the plan bears "the seal and the green light" of the European
Union, something that had not been the case with a plan by former PASOK
minister Christos Verelis, which was rejected from the very beginning
by the Commission at the time.
Addressing the opposition, Hatzidakis said: "why do you want to extend
the status existing today, since all the safeguards for OA are being
secured? You are the conformist party of Greece; you are a force of
reaction."
Replying to arguments heard during the afternoon session, the minister
said OA's overdue debts to the state amount to 359 million euros and
total debts reach one billion euros.
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