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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-10-08
CONTENTS
[01] Inner cabinet discusses the economy
[02] Provopoulos: Banking system safe
[01] Inner cabinet discusses the economy
The inner cabinet convened on Wednesday, chaired by Prime Minister
Costas Karamanlis, and focused on economic issues. After the meeting,
Development Minister Christos Folias stated that "intensified efforts,
increased controls and stricter measures" will be the response to
price-gougers and speculators, adding that the heating oil price will
be announced shortly.
On Tuesday, the premier urged the leadership of Greece's development
ministry to quickly push through legislation designed to regulate
the operation and supervision of markets and prices, after an
unannounced visit to the ministry earlier that day.
"We must all go above and beyond ourselves to deal with the
problems," he stressed in statements to reporters.
Karamanlis said he had asked the ministry to fast-track draft bills
setting up a body to supervise markets and granting more powers to
the Competition Commission.
He also called for the maximum frequency of market inspections and
the prosecution of certified offences involving price-gouging to the
full extent of the law. Earlier, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis
had conferred separately with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis in view
of the meetings that the UN envoy for the FYROM name issue Matthew
Nimetz will have in New York with the negotiators from Athens and
Skopje. Caption: ANA-MPA file photograph of the prime minister's
offices at Maximos Mansion where inner cabinet meetings are held.
[02] Provopoulos: Banking system safe
Bank depositors in Greece received yet another reassurance by Bank of
Greece Governor George Provopoulos on Wednesday, who stressed that the
banking system in Greece is safe and stable and will weather the
turbulence caused by the international financial crisis. Submitting
the Bank of Greece 2008 Interim Report to Parliament President Dimitris
Sioufas, the Bank of Greece governor stressed that both the Greek
economy and banking system are in a comparatively better position
despite the strong turbulence caused by the international financial
crisis. Provopoulos stressed that repercussions will not be avoided
pointing out, however, that the Greek banking system managed to stand
on its feet because it was not exposed to risky financial products and
is not overly dependent on capital markets. "Profits will be affected
but not to an extent that could cause concern," Provopoulos said,
adding that "the conclusion is that bank depositors should rest assured
that their money is safe." "The assurance that the Greek banking system
is safe and stable is very important," Parliament President Sioufas
stated, adding that it concerns the general public, private citizens
and businesses. Caption: Bank of Greece governor George Provopoulos
assured Greeks that the their savings deposits were safe during a press
conference held on Wednesday, after presenting the central bank's
interim report on the Greek economy to Parliament President Dimitris
Sioufas.
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