Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-01-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Fuel vendors federation calls for immediate use of cash registers in petrol stations

[02] FinMin: Gov't aims to meet goals

[01] Fuel vendors federation calls for immediate use of cash registers in petrol stations

The federation said a system to monitor the intake and outtake of fuels in stations should be installed in a second phase.

"Implementation of the measure to install cash registers is absolutely necessary and will mark the inauguration of a system to monitor the movement of fuels in stations, one that cannot be linked with any other pre-conditions ... and something that exists in every other member-state of the European Union and all other professional sectors," a federation press release stated, adding that any other reason cited is merely a diversionary tactic aimed at delaying or preventing the measure.

[02] FinMin: Gov't aims to meet goals

Speaking to reporters after presenting the updated programme, the Greek minister said the government has drafted an alternative scenario with even lower growth rates, compared with its main projections, adding that additional measures worth 0.3 pct of GDP in 2011 and 0.3 pct of GDP in 2012 could be needed in order to achieve fiscal consolidation.

Papaconstantinou said that if the alternative scenario prevails, "the Stability and Growth Programme envisaged commitments for further cutbacks in spending and higher taxes".

He added that the finance ministry would present to the Cabinet a full report on its three-year privatisation programme in the next few weeks, adding there was no decision taken so far, no discussion or examination of a plan to privatise Hellenic Postbank and dismissed any such reports. He reiterated the government�s pledge not to cut its equity stake in Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE).

Papaconstantinou acknowledged that it was difficult to persuade markets and said he hoped that markets would have understood within the first half of the year just how serious the government was in implementing its programme. He said that according to early reactions by analysts the country�s updated stability programme was "ambitious and difficult".

Meanwhile, National Bank of Greece�s chief executive, Apostolos Tamvakakis, speaking at a general shareholders� meeting of the bank said "takeovers and mergers were not pre-announced".

He was commenting on shareholders� questions over National Bank�s stance in case the government decides to sell-off Hellenic Postbank.

"In these procedures there has to be always the element of surprise," Tamvakakis said.

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