The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 02-08-22

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(22/8/2002 11:30:00 ðì)

[02] Inflation causes worries

Following his meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Mr Christodoulakis appealed to all market bodies to help inflation not break the permissible limits. He also made it clear that the government&#8217; top priority is to control price increases on a series of commodities that are of utmost importance.

Within this framework, the Ministry of Development will begin a series of contacts with top associations of the market so as to keep prices down.

Mr Christodoulakis expressed his concern over inflation, pointing out that if it continued exceeding the average percentage of the eurozone, then the Greek economy&#8217;s competitiveness would be threatened.

However, he assured that until now the Greek economy did not have any problems with development rate and employment.

Meanwhile, in an interview with NET 105.8 the Secretary General of the Finance Minister Giorgos Kanellopoulos stated that checks have began at enterprises that had raised prices.

Finally, the governor of the Bank of Greece Nikos Garganas, said on Wednesday that he was optimistic inflation would drop to 3.0 percent by the end of the year.

Mr Garganas told reporters that authorities should set as a target an inflation level below 2.0 percent.

''I think we are able to achieve this but care is required both in wage rises and in the fiscal area,'' he said after a meeting with the prime minister.

He also welcomed the country's high growth rates against European and US levels.

The central bank's estimate was growth of about 3.5 percent, he added.

(22/8/2002 11:34:00 ðì)

[03] Half petrol stations sell adulterated oil

According to the oil refineries employees&#8217; president Ilias Panoliaskos, the extent of contraband is so high that tax evasion exceeds the amount of 2.9 billion euros.

(22/8/2002 11:39:00 ðì)

[04] N17 "child" of ELA says Xiros

Xiros also revealed new information about a mysterious woman who had been a member of 17 N, adding that Alexandros Giotopoulos was unquestionably the organization&#8217;s leader.

He also stated that he had heard the names of other founders of N 17 but could not remember them, describing N 17 as the &#8220;child&#8221; of ELA.

Finally, following his meeting with the Prime Minister Costas Simitis Public Order Minister stated that the combat against terrorism would continue, having as a basis the citizens&#8217; fundamental rights.

(22/8/2002 11:38:00 ðì)

[05] Karamanlis accuses the government of deceiving farmers

After a broad meeting of the Agricultural sector at ND's offices, chaired by Mr. Karamanlis, he stated:

"The Simitis government has abandoned the farmers leaving them to "fend for themselves", as they have shamelessly stated. The government's decision is destructive for our farmers, and will at the same time it burden this entire country.

For the past 6 years, Mr. Simitis has been indifferent to the problems of the agricultural sector. He did not do the obvious, what all other EU Prime Ministers did, which resulted in Greece losing all the crucial battles for its agricultural products".

Meanwhile, the Federation of Democratic Farmer's Associations of the Thessaloniki Prefecture have organized a rally outside the Thessaloniki International Fair, for Friday, September 6, the day the Prime Minister will open the TIF.

As the Federation's President Sotiris Parlapanis explained the mobilization will be panhellenic and they will not take tractors into the city.

(22/8/2002 11:40:00 ðì)

[06] 645 million euros for anti-flood works

(22/8/2002 11:42:00 ðì)

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