Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou on earthquake-striken

[02] Inflation jumped to 4.9 pct

[03] FM to visit Cyprus

[01] Papandreou on earthquake-striken

In a written statement issued on Monday, Papandreou said that the Peloponese, which had been traumatized by last summer's wildfires, had received a new, big, blow before it was able to recover from the first blow.

"Unfortunately, a new big problem has been added to the abandonment to which it has been left by the present government. We have no need of the well-known, public relations-oriented practices, in other words those that we witnessed last summer," Papandreou said, adding that "we need immediate, practical support and a plan for the residents of Achaia and Ileia (prefectures)".

Papandreou called for the immediate survey of the damages in order for meeting the everyday needs of the earthquake-stricken, and called for the "necessary coordination and long-term measures, since the Peloponese must finally stand on its own two feet again".

The PASOK leader also referred to the integrated plan for reconstructio of the fire-stricken regions that his party tabled in parliament last week in the form of a draft law, stressing that "this program can form the foundation for formulating additional measures, taking the new conditions in consideration".

"We have a proposal. We call on the government to rise to to its responsibilities and the circumstances. We also call on the scientific community to contribute responsibly to the consolidation of a climate of calm and security," Papandreou said, adding that PASOK, from the very first moment, "have been at the side of our co-citizens affected, and commit ourselves to fighting for solutions that will give hope and prospect".

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou

[02] Inflation jumped to 4.9 pct

The statistics service, in a monthly report, said the consumer price index rose 0.7 pct in May from April 2008, while the core inflation rate jumped to 4.2 pct in May, from 3.7 pct in April and 2.5 pct in May 2007.

Greece's harmonised inflation rate also jumped to 4.9 pct.

The big increase in the annual consumer price index in May reflected a 10.3 pct jump in housing prices, a 6.6 pct increase in food/beverage prices, a 5.7 pct rise in hotel prices, a 5.2 pct increase in transportation prices and a 4.6 pct rise in education prices.

Commenting on the figures, NSS's secretary-general Manolis Kontopyrakis said it was impossible to predict developments in the consumer price index because of a soaring oil price in international markets. Kontopyrakis noted that the May inflation figure reflected a 6.5 pct jump in petrol and fruit/vegetable prices.

The average inflation rate in the period from January to May 2008 was 4.40 pct, up from 2.62 pct in the corresponding period last year.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo

[03] FM to visit Cyprus

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis

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