Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-08-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] FinMin signs Siemens compromise agreement

[02] Police detail finds on terror suspect's laptop

[01] FinMin signs Siemens compromise agreement

The final deal is the result of a high-profile and massive kickbacks and bribery furor involving Siemens, its subsidiary in Greece and the multinational's numerous contract with the Greek states and affiliated public sector companies for nearly two decades.amna

According to the finance ministry, a finalised text of the agreement shows no differences from a draft agreement approved by Parliament, while the signed agreement will be forwarded to Parliament for briefing.

The main points of the agreement envision 80 million euros to off-set money owed by the Greek state and various public entities, including hospitals, to Siemens; 90 million euros by the German multinational over a period of five years to fund public sector agencies and initiatives aimed to combat corruption, fraud and money laundering, as well as university and scientific research programmes.amna

Additionally, Siemens will fund 100 scholarships every year for post-graduate studies in the sectors of energy, health, industry, infrastructures and urban development through the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY); medical equipment (including the delivery, installation and maintenance of such equipment) in state hospitals, with a particular emphasis on pediatric hospitals.amna

SYRIZA reaction

Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Parliamentary spokesman Dimitris Papadimoulis later charged that "the extra-judicial compromise between the Greek government and Siemens, which was signed today after a five-month delay and a peculiar handling, is yet another scandal in a big scandal".amna

He added that this development favours Siemens, which is giving "crumbs" and, indeed, in kind, and goes "scott free" for a huge scandal that cost the Greek state two billion euros.

[02] Police detail finds on terror suspect's laptop

The laptop was found by police an apartment in the south-central city of Lamia, along with photos of firearms, blank ID cards, drivers' licences, ID cards in various stages of processing, fake beards and moustaches, a police identity card, passport type photos, photos of dead police officers and police seals, among others.

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