Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-06-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU kudos for Greek data collection, processing

[02] Papariga urges voters to avoid 2-party system

[01] EU kudos for Greek data collection, processing

European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia on Friday cited what he called the improvement recorded by Greece over the recent period in collecting and processing statistical data, an issue that has generated heated back-and-forth accusations between ruling New Democracy party and main opposition PASOK since late 2004.

In reply to a press question following his opening comments here to mark the first-ever release of quarterly sector accounts for the euro zone and the European Union, Almunia said "noteworthy progress" and a "significant improvement" has been observed in the reliability of Greece's statistical data following cooperation between relevant Greek authorities and the EU's statistical services over the last three years.

He also reminded that the Commission has taken recourse against Greece in late 2004 over the issue of faulty data - particularly over the country's fiscal deficit.

Finally, the powerful Commissioner for monetary policy in the Union said the Commission's services were presently evaluating the most recent measures announced by Athens for collecting and processing statistical data, with the recourse procedure being lifted once the prescribed Community procedures are proved to have been included in the statistical methodology employed by Greek services.

Caption: European Monetary Affairs Commissioner Spanish Joaquin Almunia speaks during a news conference on deficit procedures for Germany, Greece and Malta and convergence Reports on Cyprus and Malta at the EU headquarters in Brussels, 16 May 2007. ANA-MPA/ EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

[02] Papariga urges voters to avoid 2-party system

During her visit to the area, Papariga held a press conference and stressed that the upcoming elections would be a major electoral battle but also a very good opportunity for the people to use the elections as a weapon, after many years.

She stressed that voters should make the next elections "a literal hell" for the two main parties, ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK, and dismissed current wrangling between them over stock market scandals, graft, structured bonds and the appointments of party supporters as "useless and ineffective".

Papariga underlined that KKE was not prepared to cooperate with either of the two main parties after the elections but would be open to cooperation with groups of citizens that had similar views and positions on issues that concern Greek society.

Also to address the open meeting in Larisa is the head of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Prakash Karat, who is visiting Greece as the KKE's guest.

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