Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-04-01

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] EuroWorking Group teleconference on Wednesday

[02] The agreement will close soon, Economy Minister Stathakis says

[03] New opening hours for archaeological sites, museums from April to October

[01] EuroWorking Group teleconference on Wednesday

The meetings of the Brussels Group were carried out in a very good climate, with a mutual desire to reach an agreement, the government sources said referring to the conclusion of the negotiations with the institutional partners on Monday.

The government noted that the Greek representatives had the opportunity to comprehensively present the reform list prepared by the government, and their detailed documentation. They also made the necessary clarifications on the Greek proposals to the representatives of the institutions. According to the same sources, the two sides agreed to intensify the process of fact finding that is underway in Athens.

[02] The agreement will close soon, Economy Minister Stathakis says

I take it for granted that the agreement will close soon and will lead to the disbursement of funds for Greece and to the next medium-term agreement, he noted.

"The government will abolish the opening of stores on Sundays," Stathakis added. He said that it will reinstitute the old system that allowed stores to open only two Sundays of the year and it is considering allowing regional governors and local association to open the stores two more Sundays during the sales period.

Regarding the regional airports, he said that a discussion will be held with the German joint venture that has been selected on the improvement of the terms as well as on the participation of the public sector and the concession period (50 years), which he termed as extravagant. As for the Piraeus port, he said that a multi-share system is being examined with the participation of the public sector and not a 100 percent privatisation.

He also noted that the model chosen for the construction of the motorway concession has collapsed because there was an overestimation of the potential of the construction of such roads with bank financing. Asked whether the tolls will be reduced, he replied that he does not have to say anything on this right now.

For the problem caused with those who have taken loans in Swiss Francs, he explained that before legislating, the ministry will first wait the ruling of the court. As regards bad loans, he said that they are considering the creation of a fund with social features, that will operate out of the banking system.

Finally, on the submission of a proposal to set up an investigating committee, he said that "if the procedure is carried out in a proper way ... light will be shed on an important period."

[03] New opening hours for archaeological sites, museums from April to October

Archaeological sites will be open from 8am to 7 pm and museums from 8am to 8pm. On the first Sunday of next month (April 5), archaeological sites, museums and monuments will remain open with only one shift, due to a rearrangement of personnel.

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