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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-11-21
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] NEWS IN ENGLISH THE VOICE OF GREECE
[02] 2002 budget to be tabled at Parliament today
[03] OECD & IMF optimistic about the Greek economy
[04] U subsidies for tobacco growers to continue for the next three
[05] Merging of National Bank of Greece and Alpha Bank goes ahead
[06] $25 million US dollars for Osama Bin Laden
[07] D. Oswald to inspect progress on Olympic Games projects
[08] New Democracy party proposes investigation of state company DEKA
[09] Miller-Karamanlis meeting
[10] Greece and Russia discuss boosting of bilateral relations
[11] Lebanon and Greece to boost bilateral relations in
[01] NEWS IN ENGLISH THE VOICE OF GREECE
21/11/2001 10:59:00 рм
2002 budget to be tabled at Parliament today OECD & IMF optimistic
about the Greek economy EU subsidies for tobacco growers to continue
for the next three years Merging of National Bank of Greece and Alpha
Bank goes ahead.. $25 million US dollars for Osama Bin Laden D. Oswald
to inspect progress on Olympic Games projects New Democracy party
proposes investigation of state company DEKA Miller-Karamanlis meeting
Greece and Russia discuss boosting of bilateral relations Lebanon and
Greece to boost bilateral relations in telecommunications and postal
services
[02] 2002 budget to be tabled at Parliament today
The 2002 budget to be tabled at Parliament on Wednesday afternoon
foresees the securing of a faster development, a more just allocation
of income and economic stability. Prime Minister Costas Simitis from
his side stated that more money will be spent on the sectors of
Education, Health and Social Protection in 2002. According to the
revenue policy to be announced by minister of National Economy and
Finance N. Christodoulakis at noon, there will be a 2.5% rise in
salaries in the Civil Service and a 3% rise in pensions. Meanwhile, in
an interview with the NET (New Hellenic Television), Deputy Finance
minister Apostolos Fotiades stated that no more taxes would be
imposed.
[03] OECD & IMF optimistic about the Greek economy
The International Monetary Fund and the OECD appear optimistic
regarding the endurance of the Greek economy. According to both
organizations, Greece will maintain high development rates, advising at
the same time the acceleration of fiscal streamlining and the faster
materialization of reforms in the sectors of social insurance,
employment and the Civil Service.
[04] U subsidies for tobacco growers to continue for the next three
years
Minister of Agriculture G. Drys stated from Brussels that subsidies for
tobacco growers will continue to be allocated for three more years.
Following this decision, farmers in Karditsa will decide upon their
future stance today.
[05] Merging of National Bank of Greece and Alpha Bank goes ahead
The stock exchange ratio in the merging of Alpha Bank and the National
Bank of Greece was decided to be seven National Bank of Greece stocks
against nine of Alpha Bank. The name of the new Bank will be National
Bank of Greece S.A., while the new bank will carry the Alpha Bank
logo.
[06] $25 million US dollars for Osama Bin Laden
The United States and other countries have promised a quick start to
the task of reconstructing Afghanistan. Representatives of 21
countries, as well as the World Bank, the European Union and the
Islamic Development Bank, made the commitment after discussions in
Washington. The talks, hosted by the US and Japan, began the process of
assessing Afghanistan s most pressing post-war needs, such as
agriculture, water, education and mine clearance. Meanwhile, the
Taleban are in an especially difficult position. Although they have
declared that they are in control of Kunduz, they rejected allegations
according to which negotiations for the surrender of the town are being
carried out. Finally, the United States are willing to offer $25
million US dollars to anyone will hand in Osama Bin Laden.
[07] D. Oswald to inspect progress on Olympic Games projects
Denis Oswald, special International Olympics Commission envoy is
arriving in Athens today. On Friday he is going to give a Press
Conference on the progress of Olympic Games projects Greece.
[08] New Democracy party proposes investigation of state company DEKA
Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy submitted a proposal
to the Greek parliament calling for the establishment of an inquiry
committee to investigate the activities of the state company DEKA in
the Athens Stock Exchange during the pre-election period. The party s
parliamentary spokesman Prokopis Pavlopoulos pointed out that the move
has to do only with evidence in the possession of New Democracy. He
warned that those who associate the proposal with the course of the
Athens Stock Exchange will make the same mistake they made during the
pre-election period when they invested politically in the upward course
of the stock market.
[09] Miller-Karamanlis meeting
US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller and main opposition New Democracy
(ND) leader Costas Karamanlis exchanged views Tuesday on the situation
in Afghanistan and other regions. Miller, who called on Karamanlis at
the ND headquarters, told reporters after the meeting that they had an
exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan and other regions
during their "very satisfactory and good discussion". The American
envoy noted that the meeting was part of the "regular contacts each
American ambassador in Athens must have", and described ND as a
"responsible party" that "takes responsible positions".
[10] Greece and Russia discuss boosting of bilateral relations
There is considerable potential for the development of new initiatives
in the wider Balkan region energy sector with the cooperation of Greece
and Russia, stated Development Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos after the
meeting he had with Russian deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matvienko,
who is on a visit to Athens. In their meeting they discussed a number
of issues for the promotion of bilateral cooperation on issues of
trade, energy and tourism. A special emphasis was given to the
materialization of the existing agreements between the two countries,
while they examined in detail issues concerning the wider use of
natural gas in Greece and the construction of the
Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.
[11] Lebanon and Greece to boost bilateral relations in
telecommunications and postal services
Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Jean-Louis Qordahi met in Athens
yesterday with Greek Minister of Telecommunications Christos Verelis
and Undersecretary Spiros Vougias. Their talks focused on the
development of bilateral relations and the investment opportunities
offered in Lebanon as well as the overall institutional framework
regulating business activities. The two ministers signed a bilateral
cooperation agreement on telecommunications and postal services.
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