Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-07-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't raps PASOK over presidential election; novel influenza

[02] Credit expansion slows to 7.6%

[01] Gov't raps PASOK over presidential election; novel influenza

Spokesman Evangelos Antonaros also pointed out that the government will do its duty, adhering to the spirit and the letter of the constitution.

"Everything we have said still stands," Antonaros stressed, when asked to comment on the contents of an interview -- published on Sunday -- by main opposition PASOK Secretary Yiannis Ragoussis on the issue of the presidential vote by Parliament MPs.

Antonaros also stated that in a well-governed state respecting the constitution allows for no exceptions. He made the comment in response a statement made by PASOK spokesman George Papaconstantinou, who maintained that the problem is political and not constitutional.

In an unrelated development and referring to continuing press speculation over a possible novel influenza outbreak, Antonaros repeated that the government is handling any anticipated outbreaks with responsibly, whereas all political parties have been briefed via the parliamentary route.

"The government is at the disposal of anyone who wishes to be briefed," he said, adding that the responsible parliamentary committee will soon be given a second briefing.

He also flatly dismissed press speculation that PM Costas Karamanlis will call main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou to Maximos Mansion to brief him on the issue.

[02] Credit expansion slows to 7.6%

In its monthly report, the central bank said the credit growth slowed to 7.6 pct in June, down from 9.4 pct in May and 15.9 pct in December 2008, although it noted that credit growth was starting to recover in the second quarter of the year (4.9 pct compared with a 2.9 pct figure in the first quarter of 2009).

Net new lending to Greek enterprises totaled 923 million euros in June, with the annual credit growth rate of 8.8 pct, down from 11.4 pct in May and 18.7 pct in December 2008.

An analysis of the figures, however, showed that credit growth accelerated in the communications and transportation sectors â excluding shipping - while it slowed in all other sectors, with the manufacturing sector recording the highest percentage slow rate (2.5 pct in June from 5.9 pct in May and 15.8 pct in December 2008), followed by the retail sector (10.9 pct, 14.0 pct and 19.5 pct) and the construction sector (10.8 pct, 15.8 pct and 35.2 pct).

Net lending to Greek households totaled 463 million euros (the highest level in the first half of 2009), while the annual growth rate slowed to 6.2 pct in June, from 7.3 pct tin May and 12.8 pct in December 2008. Net mortgage lending grew 6.0 pct in June, from 6.9 pct in May and 11.5 pct in December 2008, while consumer loans grew by 7.1 pct in June, from 8.4 pct in May and 16.0 pct in December 2008.

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