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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-03-09Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Gaddafi warns against EU 'interference' in call(ANA-MPA) -- Government sources in Athens have confirmed an AFP report that Prime Minister George Papandreou spoke with Libya's Col. Muammar Gaddafi by telephone on Tuesday. The initiative for the call was made by Gaddafi.Sources said the Greek prime minister listened to Gaddafi's views on events in Libya and emphasised the importance of a UN resolution in his reply, stressing the need to find a solution in order to avoid the emerging humanitarian crisis and any escalation of violence caused by the increasing number of victims that was raising the chances of civil war. The AFP report, quoting the Libyan state news agency Jana, said the embattled Libyan leader had telephoned Papandreou in order to warn the European Union against interfering in his country's affairs. "Any violation of Libya's security or stability would necessarily have dire consequences for the security in north Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe," Gaddafi warned, according to Jana. He also termed Greece as "a friend of Libya that can pass on this piece of advice to the European Union," AFP stated. (ANA-MPA) Caption: A file photo dated 27 April 2004 shows Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi holding his head as he sits behind a European Union symbol during a press conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. ANA-MPA/EPA/BENOIT DOPPAGNE More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [02] Six Greek banks downgraded(ANA-MPA) -- Moody's on Wednesday downgraded the deposit and debt ratings of six Greek banks, following the downgrade of Greece's sovereign rating to B1 from Ba1 two days earlier and its reassessment of some of the banks' standalone credit strength, reflected in their bank financial strength ratings (BFSRs), a Moody's announcement said.According to its decision on Wednesday, Moody's downgraded the ratings of National Bank of Greece (NBG) to Ba3 from Ba1; EFG Eurobank Ergasias (Eurobank) to Ba3 from Ba1; Alpha Bank to Ba3 from Ba1; Piraeus Bank to Ba3 from Ba1; Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATEbank) to b1 from Ba2; and Attica Bank to b1 from Ba2. (ANA-MPA) The outlook on all these ratings is negative, Moody's said, adding that Wednesday's rating actions conclude the preview for possible downgrade, which Moody's initiated on December 17, 2010. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |