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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-08-27
CONTENTS
[01] Gov't: People realise major changes needed
[02] NBG group 1H profits at 146mln euros
[03] ND lashes out at gov't over memorandum
[04] Denationalisation advisers for banks
[01] Gov't: People realise major changes needed
(ANA-MPA) -- A government spokesman on Friday emphasised that "we
believe that we have the consent of the people in the major effort that
we are making; that they have realised that great changes are needed
even sacrifices."
As regards a set of particularly gloomy perceptions of the local
economy by Greek citizens -- as gauged by a recent Eurobarometer poll
-- spokesman Giorgos Petalotis said the survey in question took place
in May, when both efforts and procedures to buttress the country were
at their peak. Conversely, he underlined that the most important
finding is a maturity of the citizenry.
Asked whether the government is thinking of changing terms of the
memorandum, as requested by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(EBEA), Petalotis said that "to a very large degree the policies are
the government's ... with the aim of exiting the crisis ... we do not
need to change anything because, although difficult, decisions are
necessary, not only for us to exit the crisis, for but us to proceed
with major changes."
[02] NBG group 1H profits at 146mln euros
(ANA-MPA) -- Net profits of the National Bank group amounted to 146
million euros in the first half of 2010, burdened by one-off
extraordinary tax contributions, losses from its portfolio of Greek
state bonds and continuing high risk factors. The group's net profits
in the second quarter totalled 125 million euros compared to 21 million
euros in the previous quarter.
MORE
[03] ND lashes out at gov't over memorandum
A main opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman on Friday again lashed
out at the government over the memorandum signed by the Greek state
with the EU Commission, ECB and IMF.
Following an earlier announcement by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (EBEA), spokesman Panos Panayiotopoulos said ND party leader
Antonis Samaras has warned the government over the memorandumâs risks,
while at the same time proposing specific solutions for an exit from
the fiscal and economic crisis plaguing Greece.
[04] Denationalisation advisers for banks
(ANA-MPA) -- The international firms Deutsche Bank AG London Branch,
HSBC BANK PLC and Lazard Freres SAS were chosen by the
inter-ministerial restructuring and denationalisation committee as
advisers of the Greek state, within the framework of the restructuring
of the country's banking system.
As announced by the finance ministry, the advisers will undertake the
task of determining and assessing the state's strategic options, the
evaluation of its participation in the banking system, as well as the
assessment of the consequences of different options on the local credit
system, particularly from the point of view of effectiveness and
monetary stability. (ANA-MPA)
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