Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cabinet approves amendment to state procurements decree

[01] Cabinet approves amendment to state procurements decree

According to Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, the amendment represented the most significant change in state procurements law since 1996 and would help make the system simpler, faster and more transparent.

Deputy Development Minister Giannis Papathanasiou said that the aim of the amendment was to reduce the cost and time involved in finalising state procurements.

The amendment was welcomed by Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis, who stressed its importance and said it was among actions taken by the government to combat corruption.

Ministers comment on Competition Commission blackmail case

Sioufas and Papathanasiou also took the opportunity to refer to a case of blackmail linked to the Competition Commission that was uncovered by the ministry on Monday, once again stressing that the government would show zero tolerance for corruption.

"The political message is that anyone who breaks the law, will face the consequences," Sioufas told reporters.

He emphasised that the revelations had raised the present government's image by demonstrating that nothing was covered up and all was brought into the open. "And that is the difference between this government and what occurred in the past," the minister added.

Papathanasiou, meanwhile, said the message was clear both for would-be extortionists but also their victims, who should feel that the government was at their side.

Alogoskoufis said the incident showed that the government dealt with any form of illegal action in an absolute way, while Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said that the battle against corruption was daily and Monday's events showed that the state machinery was working and protecting the Greek people.

The blackmail case was revealed by Papathanasiou and Hellenic Competition Commission Chairman Spiros Zisimopoulos on Monday, who said a man was being held for trying to extort â¬2.5 million from an industrial company with the threat of a Competition Commission inspection. They said the man caught was not actually associated with the Competition Commission directly.

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