Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-12-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM reviews progress in agriculture sector

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM reviews progress in agriculture sector

The implementation of a specific strategy has borne tangible results, but the government was not complacent, Karamanlis said after the visit, warning once again that "populism and demagogy do not solve problems".

The country, the periphery and the farners require seriousness and responsible action, the premier said, adding that the government has "made its choices and we are acting with seriousness, responsibility and the disposition for contribution".

Karamanlis said that the international financial crisis demanded constant vigilance, and stressed that the first measures have already been taken to fortify the farmers and the periphery. He noted that 170 million euros in indemnities have already been paid out, while 150 million euros in interest-free loans were being advanced to the unions of agricultural cooperatives to be shared out as down payments to farmers producing cereals.

The government, he continued, was waging battles daily in the European Union for the interests of the Greek farmekrs, and stressed that the payment of the entire amount of resources to Greek tobacco producers up until 2013, while after many months of efforts the entire amount of the inflows for cotton up until 2013 had also been ensured.

He further said that the best possible agrement had been made in the vineyard/wine production sector, while incentives were being given to young farmers with simplified and decentralized procedures. Tenders for the relevant programs have already been issues, while at Greece's initiative the EU decided to increase the support ceiling for young farmers to 75,000 euros per land exploitation, the premier continued.

Karamanlis also stressed that infrastructure projects budgeted at 6 billion euros were currently under construction in the periphery, aimed at boosting competitiveness, exploitation of the water resources, environmental protection, forest protection, fortification of the farmers, and the production of competitive, quality products with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), while actions were being developed for the promotion and projection of Greek products.

The premier underlined that the government has undertaken specific initiatives for boosting the animal breeders, adding that the law that was recently passed contained 31 measures and actions in that direction.

Production in the periphery was increasing, Karamanlis said, noting that the target was for the farmers to become modern-day entrepreneurs in their own land.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The Vatopedi Monastery affair and abbot Ephraim's resignation from his administrative duties, the upcoming appearances by politicians before the relevant parliamentary fact-finding commission, the government's planned package of measures for SMEs and the EU's measures for protecting borrowers were the main front-page items in Monday's dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Package of benefits will accompany the Budget - What the premier decided".

APOGEVMATINI: "200,000 new jobs - Exclusive interview with OAED (manpower employment organization) governor Vernadakis".

CHORA: "For whom the bell tolls - New Democracy being torn to pieces by the Vatopedi scandal".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Pensions: Heading towards equalization of retirement age for 200,000 women".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Week of ministerial martyrdom - Heavy climate for the government from the opinion polls and threat of parliamentary preliminary investigation committee (on Vatopedi affair)".

ESTIA: "Redeployment of government necessary for reversal of negative climate".

ETHNOS: "Terror of mutual backstabbing - Parliament: Zero hour with testimonies by 9 'blue' (color referring to the ruling New Democracy party) ministers".

TA NEA: "Euro-breather of 480 euros from reduction of interest - 'Brussels measures' for borrowers".

VRADYNI: "Fortification of SMEs - Government measures for employment and entrepreneurship".

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