Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-01-09

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM meets Health Minister and Congressmen

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM meets Health Minister and Congressmen

On Tuesday, Costas Karamanlis chaired an Inner Cabinet meeting that focused on international economic developments and their possible repercussions on the Greek economy, a meeting that was also attended by Development Minister Christos Folias, who warned afterwards that the government was determined to clamp down on profiteering in domestic markets.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis stressed that the Greek economy, in the year ahead, has heightened developmental prospects, which he attributed, to a great degree, to reforms carried out in preceding years, "which will ensure the country's growth and a further reduction of unemployment".

Alogoskoufis noted that the government has taken specific initiatives to boost the financially weaker classes, along with the country's further growth, and to increase employment.

Asked whether spiralling prices pose a threat to the economy, Alogoskoufis noted that repercussions of skyrocketing oil prices and hikes in food prices and raw materials world-wide were discussed during the Inner Cabinet meeting, adding that, "to date, repercussions have been manageable, but the government and the relevant mechanisms are in constant vigilance so as to confront any re-evaluations".

Folias, in turn, noted that the "imported inflation, due to oil, grains and milk, obviously influences prices".

Folias warned that "anyone who believes that, from here on, they can engage in profiteering, they would do well to revise their views, because we are determined to clamp down on them".

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of the Greek prime minister's official office, the Maximos Mansion in Athens.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The questions about the mysterious reporter who handed over the Zachopoulos DVD to PM's office and the increase in oil prices and how it will affect the Greek economy dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Major drug addiction problem in Greece".

APOGEVMATINI: "8,248 hirings in public sector".

AVGHI: "Government persists on concealing who handed over the Zachopoulos DVD despite public opinion's pressure"

AVRIANI: "Raid being prepared on suspects', involved in Zachopoulos affair, residences, offices and bank accounts".

CHORA: "Government threatens to clamp down on profiteers".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Government determined to stop profiteers".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "The vise closing for the reporter 'phantom' in Zachopoulos affair".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: " Government hiding behind Andrianos (PM's press office director) - Government insists that PM was unaware of the existence of the DVD"

ESTIA: "It's a mistake to change the electoral law".

ETHNOS: " Unprecedented protection measures in Intensive Care Unit where Zachopoulos remains".

KATHIMERINI: " UN report on climate change a disgrace for Greece - Experts say Greece miscalculated greenhouse gas emissions for base year 1990".

LOGOS: "Government safari against profiteering - High cost of living and inflation troubles government".

NIKI: "Warning bell sounds for (main opposition PASOK leader George) Papandreou - PASOK is not taking advantage of Karamanlis' deterioration (of his public image)".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Wages and pensions sufficient to meet the public's real needs".

TA NEA: "Zachopoulos belies Maximos Mansion (PM's office) - What he confided to a close friend".

TO VIMA: "Turmoil and fear in ruling party New Democracy over Zachopoulos affair".

VRADYNI: "Profiteers in the target sights - Government action to halt price increases".

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article