Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] FinMin meets with EU reps

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] FinMin meets with EU reps

The government's goal is to achieve growth, employment and social cohesion, and also to enhance environmental policies, Alogoskoufis said, adding that the drafting of the updated program was being conducted at a time when the global economy was going through one of its most critical phases.

The minister also said that there were "clear indications" of signs of a slowdown of growth in the global economy, but as regards inflation, some specialists were already speaking of a "stationery inflation".

He stressed that the government will carry on with fiscal streamlining and reforms, as well as with the efforts for transparency and curbing expenditures, while it will also reinforce the intiatives for the weaker financial strata, given that in autumn the National Social Cohesion Fund would enter into operation.

Alogoskoufis further said that the Greek economy's growth rate in the last few years has been substantlally high, and despite a minor slowdown, it remained significantly higher than the average in the euro-zone, and added that "spasmodic" moves in economic policy were not necessary.

Caption: Economy and finance minister George Alogoskoufis. (ANA-MPA/K. Mavrona)

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The Siemens scandal and the alleged implication of Culture Minister Michalis Liapis, and the alarm in Europe over the economy, were the main front-page items in Thursday�s dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "(Culture Minister) Michalis Liapis responds with lawsuits to the rumours that he travelled together with (former Siemens Hellas boss Michalis) Christoforakos".

APOGEVMATINI: "European Commission directive on hospital treatment for all in Europe regulates cross-border healthcare and patients' rights".

AVGHI: "Government liable, Liapis exposed - (Ruling party New Democracy) ND affected by the Siemens scandal pendulum".

AVRIANI: "Officer heading C4I reception committee defrauds (Greek Police) ELAS of 700,000 euros - (Interior Minister Prokopis) Pavlopoulos orders his suspension".

CHORA: "10 million euro to recipients (of money in Siemens affair) with 'erased' names".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Culture Minister Liapis responds to 'Eleftherotypia' report with livid statement and 2 million euro lawsuit".

ELEFTHEROS: "ND MPs call on the prime minister to proceed with sweeping reforms in the political system".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Black payments by Siemens in the 2004 elections campaign - Christoforakos admitted political party funding to ensure favourable treatment".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Is this a rumour too? - The hotel room was indeed booked by Siemens".

ESTIA: "Institutional measures to control political money are imperative".

ETHNOS: "Tourist minister left hanging - Siemens booked the Leipzig hotel room".

KATHIMERINI: "Alarm sounds in Europe on the course of the economy - Ominous forecasts in expectation of rise in interest rates".

LOGOS: "Liapis� response over the trip to Germany - Alleges political terrorism and mud-slinging".

NIKI: "Greeks forced to take smaller vacations".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The people should not be entrapped in the ND-PASOK disorientation ploys".

TA NEA: "Interest rate loop suffocates market, consumers - Economy crisis deepens".

TO VIMA: "Interest rate Russian roulette - (European Central Bank President Jean-Claude) Trichet to pull the trigger - Discord over the 'medicine' that will cure the European economy".

VRADYNI: "I paid for the trip myself - Liapis launches counterattack on the trip to Leipzig".

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