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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-03-08Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Former DM, 19 others, remanded to trial in armaments kickback scandalAMNA--Former PASOK defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and 19 other defendants accused of kickbacks and "political money laundering" from Greek state armament procurement programmes were on Friday remanded to trial by the Council of Appeals Judges.By decision of the Council, Tsohatzopoulos, his wife Vicky Stamati, his daughter Areti Tsohatzopoulou, his close aide former armaments secretary general Yannis Sbokos and 15 other individuals on whom incriminating evidence of active participation in the scandal has arisen during the course of a lengthy judicial investigation, are ordered to stand trial. [02] DIMAR leader: Greeks can't bear additional austerity measuresAMNA--Democratic Left (DIMAR) leader Fotis Kouvelis on Friday sent a message to the EC-ECB-IMF troika that the Greek society cannot bear additional austerity measures. "The troika and our European partners must understand and accept that the Greek society has exhausted the limits of its endurance. It cannot bear further burdens," said Kouvelis, in a statement on the economy, and underlined that the country's economy needs growth support.Specifically, Kouvelis noted that "arrangements for the reduction of VAT rate in the restaurant sector, an increase in the number of installments for the payment of taxpayers' debts to state, the substantial relief of households for repayment of their loans, the reduction of interest rates on and reduction of part of their debts and the review and redetermination of the overall price of heating oil must proceed immediately".amna Kouvelis made particular reference to unemployment, the explosive dimensions of which, as he said "demand the establishment, without delay, of a social protection net" . Concluding, the DIMAR leader stressed that "social cohesion is a prerequisite for the country's exit from the crisis". amna DIMAR is a junior partner in the three-party coalition government. [03] Greek inflation slowed to 0.1 pct in FebruaryAMNA--Greek annual inflation rate slowed further in February, reflecting a shrinking consumption and a decline in product and services' prices in the private sector, while the only price increases were recorded in public sector services, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Friday.The statistics service, in a monthly report, said that the inflation rate slowed to 0.1 pct in February, from 0.2 pct in January, reflecting a 12.3 pct increase in electricity prices, a 31.3 pct jump in heating oil prices and a 1.8 pct rise in petrol prices. Prices also rose in dairy products (0.6 pct), meat (1.6 pct) and potatoes (25 pct), while on the other hand, prices fell in pharmaceuticals (14.6 pct), telephone services (5.1 pct) juices (8.4 pct), house rents (4.6 pct), furniture (4.1 pct), home appliances (3.9 pct), medical services (3.3 pct), cars (4.4 pct), hotel prices (5.4 pct) and fresh fruit (3.0 pct). amna The inflation rate was 2.1 pct up in February 2012. The consumer price index fell 1.6 pct in February from January 2013, after a 1.5 pct decline recorded in the corresponding period last year. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |