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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-10
CONTENTS
[01] TUI: Tourists eyeing Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy for their
holidays, shun Turkey
[02] Gov't, banks agree on management of non-performing loans
[01] TUI: Tourists eyeing Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy for their
holidays, shun Turkey
BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ M. Spinthourakis) -- Tourists are turning to Greece,
Spain, Portugal and Italy for their upcoming spring and summer holidays
this year, while bookings to Turkey are down 40 pct, ostensibly due to
security concerns, according to figures on current trends reported on
Wednesday by the global travel agency TUI.
[02] Gov't, banks agree on management of non-performing loans
The government's economic team on Wednesday met with representatives
of the banking sector and discussed the course of the economy and the
conditions in the domestic banking sector.
The two sides agreed, as stated in an announcement issued by the
government's vice-presidency, that banks – following a timely and
successful recapitalization exercise - were in a position to successfully
deal with any turbulence in international markets. The meeting also noted
that banks have no interest in selling their loan portfolios and agreed
that domestic banks must accelerate procedures to deal with non-performing
loans based on existing new legislation.
The two sides also agreed on the negotiating line on the issue of managing
non-performing loans and particularly exempting specific loan categories
from being sold to third parties. The government's economic team agreed
with bank officials to set up of joint commission to examine issues such
as cutting charges on e-transactions, contributing in a combat against
tax evasion and exchanging information.
The meeting was chaired by government vice-president Yiannis Dragasakis,
Economy Minister George Stathakis, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, the
leadership of Hellenic Bank Union and the managements of domestic banks.
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