Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-12-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] UK Hellenic Bankers Association elects new Board

[02] FinMin on State Budget

[03] Moralis passes away

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] UK Hellenic Bankers Association elects new Board

The new board is as follows: Chairman, Christos Megalou (Credit Suisse); Vice Chairman, Notis Mitarachi (Fidelity International); Treasurer, Stratos Hatziyannis (National Bank of Greece); General Secretary, Effie Geraki (Barclays Bank); and members Elena Mavrogonatou, Louis Loizou, Michalis Zekkos, Dimitris Trikardos and Yorgos Ercan.

The HBA-UK was formed in 1994 in order to promote a closer co-operation among Bankers and Financial Professionals, of Hellenic origin, based in the United Kingdom. Today it numbers approximately 350 members who are executives in the international banking network in the City of London.

[02] FinMin on State Budget

Referring to criticism by the opposition that the new budget "is in the air and will not be valid," the minister said "we reply to those who are claiming such a thing easily and inconsiderately that the result of its implementation, at the end of 2010, will be better than expected."

Papaconstantinou spoke of "the explicit option of the PASOK government not to have low incomes burdened, despite the effort of terrorism taking place by some," while also sharply criticising the economic policy applied by the New Democracy party government, as well as its cadres present stance.

The minister further said that "the ND government abandoned the ship in the middle of the sea shortly before it sank and we are being called on today to lead it to calmer and safer waters."

Focusing on the new budget's monetary target, Papaconstantinou said that what is anticipated, among other things, is a decrease in the deficit by at least 3.6 GDP units, support for growth and investments, backing for the financially weaker, help for the unemployed to join the labour force and substantive support for the education and health sectors.

"All this without deviation from the goal of monetary adjustment. Because only those having ideological blinkers cannot see that the unimpeded funding of the economy by markets must continue," he added.

Papaconstantinou also reiterated the commitments of Prime Minister George Papandreou for support for sensitive groups, the tidying up of the public sector, justice, equality before the law and of rights and stressed that the effort to remedy the situation cannot take place from one day to the next.

[03] Moralis passes away

Moralis was born in the city of Arta, in western Greece, in 1916 and settled permanently in Athens in 1927. At the age of 15 he was accepted at the Fine Arts School in Athens and in 1936 he left for Rome with a scholarship.

In 1949, he and several Greek artists founded the artistic group "Armos" and organised the first joint exhibition at the Zappion Hall in 1950, while in 1954 he began his cooperation with the Greek Theatre, first with the Art Theatre and then with the National Theatre.

He was honoured with a painting award in 1940 for the first time and works of his belong to public and private collections in Greece and abroad.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The ongoing debate in parliament on the 2010 State Budget and the economy dominated the front-page headlines of Athens' newspapers on Monday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The needs in 380 municipalities for 30,000 employees...will be covered with transfers".

APOGEVMATINI: "The Greek economy and the Greeks of Istanbul being 'crucified'."

AVRIANI: "Foul scenarios of bankruptcy".

CHORA: "The new harsh measures bringing political instability - Metron Analysis opinion poll: Two in three citizens refuse to pay for the graft and the scandals".

ELEFTHEROS: "George (prime minister Papandreou): They're hurting us because we're not beggars - Attack against the foreign credit rating firms".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Retroactive tax for civil servants on benefits received in 2009".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Front against the credit rating firms - Analysts: The European Central Bank (ECB) has become their hostage".

ESTIA: "Heavy responsibilities for the deficits - The political system destroyed the economy".

ETHNOS: "Extra tax for pensions, social security Funds - GSEE (General Confederation of Workers of Greece) proposal to the dialogue on social insurance".

IMERISSIA: "Tax-free income (up to 10,500 euros ceiling) only with presentation of corresponding receipts (of purchase) in income tax statements".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Tough measures to increase the state revenues".

TA NEA: "Banks threaten 'burning' interest rates - The measures for the borrowers have sparked a war".

VRADYNI: "The 'family silver' (prime state holdings such as banks, public utilities and organisations) up for auction - The plan for collecting 2.5 billion euros in 2010 is over-optimistic".

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