Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] NSS reports 3.5 per cent GDP growth in the first trimester of 2005

[02] OA flight with engine breakdown lands safely at Athens airport

[03] Agreement signed for installation of IT system at State Audit Council

[01] NSS reports 3.5 per cent GDP growth in the first trimester of 2005

The NSS also reported a 1 per cent drop in investments in the first quarter of 2005 relative to the previous year, saying that this had slowed down final demand by 0.2 per cent.

Exports in the same period increased by 6.6 per cent relative to 2004, contributing to a 1.1 per cent increase in final demand, while imports increased by 2.3 per cent relative to the previous year.

GDP growth had originally been forecast at 3.6%.

[02] OA flight with engine breakdown lands safely at Athens airport

Airport authorities said the aircraft, which had 245 passengers on board, landed without problems using its three working engines. All measures for an emergency landing had been taken, with fire engines and ambulances on hand to deal with any problems.

According to earlier reports, the pilot of the plane had reported vibrations in one of its four engines shortly after take-off and had shut it down. At the same time he contacted the airport's Control Tower, and was ordered to return to Eleftherios Venizelos.

The Airbus 340, with 245 passengers and a 12-member crew on board, took off from Eleftherios Venizelos airport at 12:45 p.m.

[03] Agreement signed for installation of IT system at State Audit Council

The deal was signed in the presence of Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras and ministry general secretary P. Panouris by State Audit Council President Constantine Rizos and a representative of the joint venture, which was selected through an international tender.

The project has been inducted into the European Community's Information Society programme.

Commenting on the deal, Papaligouras said it was a major step in the effort to make Greek justice modern, fast, effective and friendly to the public.

He said similar projects were now underway for the criminal records kept by public prosecutors' offices in 10 Greek cities and at the Council of State, while smaller-scale IT system projects were underway in court services throughout the country.

According to the minister, the new system for the State Audit Council will increase transparency in the management of public funds, allow the Council to carry out its work more quickly, improve control over the legality and regularity of spending and accounts, give access to information needed for a more accurate judgement and protect data security, while improving overall services.

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