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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-06-03Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Papandreou, Juncker discuss additional aidLUXEMBOURG (ANA-MPA) -- "I expect the Eurogroup to agree to additional finance being provided to Greece under strict conditionality," Eurogroup President Jean Claude Juncker told reporters here after a two-hour meeting with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Friday.He added that he also expects a "voluntary participation of the private sector." Juncker categorically stated that "there was no issue of Greece exiting the euro or even an issue of default" while he stressed that he expects from Athens to adhere to its commitments, over which he had no doubts. Commenting on the completion of a "troika" visit in Athens, the Eurogroup president said: "It was good news for Greece, the Eurozone and the European Union," adding "we must be satisfied with the final outcome". He said the meeting focused on fiscal targets, structural reforms and a privatization programe. Commenting on the latter, Juncker said there was "full agreement" on the fund that will manage the course of its implementation. The Eurogroup president insisted on the need for privatizations to proceed rapidly with transparency and in a credible way. Speaking to reporters, Papandreou said he had a fruitful discussion with Juncker, "a friend of Greece", adding that an agreement reached with the troika was a positive sign. The Greek premier referred to Athens' impressive results last year, as he said, with a reduction of the fiscal deficit by five percentage points through sacrifices made by the Greek people. He noted, however, that many still have to be done and referred to marketsā reservations which made additional financial support to Greece necessary. Papandreou reassured that the country will continue the hard work and fully meet its obligations with the aim to boost growth and raise employment. "Our aim is Greece to become a very different country," he concluded. (ANA-MPA) © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [02] Football federation disbandsThe Hellenic Football Association (EPO) on Friday essentially ceased operation until further notice, after a same-day general assembly vote of 49 to seven opted for such an unprecedented suspension.The shocking decision followed a proposal by the federation's president, Sofocles Pilavios, which was also supported by the Super League federation -- which runs the first division pro football championship -- as well as the groups representing the second and third division pro leagues. EPO's "lockout" comes after Pilavios vilified what he called a local pro football sector tainted by allegations and charges of fixed games, forged licensing documents submitted by clubs, "gangsters and hooligans". © ANA-MPA SA. Intellectual rights and copyright belong to the ANA-MPA S.A. Reproduction of ANA-MPA content by visitors of this website is strictly forbidden. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |