Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Latest proposal to end 'name issue'

[02] Current accounts at 14.1% of GDP

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Latest proposal to end 'name issue'

Speaking to reporters at the Greek foreign ministry, Nimetz and both negotiators, Greece's Adamantios Vassilakis and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) Nikola Dimitrov, avoided going into specifics over the UN envoy's latest proposal, with Vassilakis referring merely to a "new, and more elaborate framework of proposals."

He added that Athens will examine all the details and parametres of the latest Nimetz plan.

On his part, Dimitrov also appeared laconic, saying that he will present details of the proposal to his government.

In opening the brief press conference, Nimetz, a veteran US diplomat, first noted that his proposal obviously "doesn't 100 percent meet the positions of either party."

"...I think that taken as a whole, it is a fair and dignified proposal," he said, adding that he will wait for a response within two weeks.

Caption: UN mediator for the "name dispute" between Greece and FYROM, Matthew Nimetz (R), passes near the two countries' negotiators, Nikola Dimitrov (L) and Adamantios Vassilakis (C), in Ohrid, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on Jan. 21, 2008. ANA-MPA/EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI

[02] Current accounts at 14.1% of GDP

The central bank, in a report, said the higher current accounts deficit reflected a widening of the trade deficit in December. The trade deficit widened by 947 million euros in December, reflecting a larger shortfall in the trade balance of goods (excluding fuel and ships). The incomes surplus rose by 150 million euros, reflecting an increase in net revenues from transportation services (up 285 million euros), overshadowing a rise in net payments on travel services (by 20 million euros) and other services (by 115 million euros). The increase in the incomes deficit reflected higher payments on interest, dividends and profits.

The central bank said the country's current accounts deficit totalled 32.261 billion euros last year, up by 8.593 billion euros compared with the previous year, or 14.1 pct of the country's revised GDP (from 11.1 pct in 2006).

The trade deficit grew by 6.213 billion euros in 2007, with export revenues rising by 4.7 pct and import payments rising by 12 percent over the year. The services surplus rose by 1.387 billion euros, reflecting higher net revenues from transport services. Gross income from transport services (mainly merchant shipping) grew by 18.3 pct in 2007.

The current transfers surplus fell by 1.809 billion euros, reflecting lower net revenues from the EU (down 101 million euros) and higher net payments to the EU (up by 1.353 billion euros).

Foreign direct investments to Greece recorded a net outflow of 2.499 billion euros in 2007. The portfolio investments category recorded a net inflow of 17.442 billion euros last year, while the other investments category a net inflow of 12.741 billion euros. The country's foreign exchange reserves 2.5 billion euros in December 2007.

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures that plagued Greece over the weekend and Monday, preparedness of state services in handling the weather-related problems and the FYROM 'name issue' dominated the headlines on Tuesday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "State machine's presence a success, while the snow and inclement weather was without precedent".

APOGEVMATINI: "Athens closed due to freeze - Greece 'defrosts' beginning today".

AVGHI: "Kosovo: Its unilateral independence is a bad precedent - Circumvention of UN, with Bush's blessings".

AVRIANI: "Yesterday was day of relaxation and laziness for employees and many bosses - Only a few...fools showed up for work".

CHORA: "Slacking off and DVD - The snow an alibi for playing hooky".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Multiple fractures from the ice - Unbelievable hassle for thousands of citizens as Athens International Airport, public transports and the PPC (Public Power Corporation)...'slipped' due to bad weather".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Road battles - The government celebrating, mayors and prefects criticising - Snow storm for 419 kilometres of roads".

ESTIA: "Immense state, big problems - The lack of administrative coordination was evident".

ETHNOS: "Profiteers having a free-for-all - Sudden wave of price increases of up to 100 percent in staple goods".

KATHIMERINI: "Athens in a quandary over dual name, and veto against FYROM in NATO - Nimetz (UN special envoy on FYROM name issue) to be unveiled today (Tuesday)".

LOGOS: "On ice today as well - Government says handling of extreme weather conditions was smooth and efficient".

NIKI: "Cold climate in government - The open fronts threaten its fragile majority".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Kosovo: Imperialistic spark for setting off tension and destabilisation".

TA NEA: "Wave of heavy profiteering".

TO VIMA: "The spectre of the 'danger from the north' - Unrest in the Balkans".

VRADYNI: "The state worked, public transport 'froze' - The problems being restored gradually - Alert over the ice".

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