Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Moscovici confident that next Eurogroup will disburse loans to Greece

[02] Man burned in his car on Attiki Odos highway may be indicted publisher Mavrikos, police says

[03] Nat. Archaeological Museum 150th anniversary exhibition 'Odysseys' in Oct.

[01] Moscovici confident that next Eurogroup will disburse loans to Greece

"I am certain that...at the Eurogroup next week in Luxembourg we will be in a position to decide the disbursement of 10.3 billion euros for Greece, of which 7.5 billion will be given immediately," he said.

While taking part in a panel discussion on structural reforms alongside Greece's Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos at the Brussels Economic Forum, Moscovici said that Thursday's EuroWorking Group meeting will examine the country's progress in implementing prior actions and ratify the discussion that has already taken place.

The Commissioner noted that a very significant step in this direction was made at the previous Eurogroup. "Since then, we have been working seriously and in a positive way to solve any problems that exist, one after the other. I believe we are very close to achieving this," he said, predicting a "good" Eurogroup next week that will "confirm that reforms are progressing in Greece."

Moscovici said that the imminent release of 7.5 billion euros will provide a "real source of oxygen" for Greece's economy and that the goal was still a return to growth, recovery of investor confidence and the creation of jobs.

He said that the Commission forecasts a return to growth in Greece in the second half of 2016 and 3 pct growth in 2017, while noting that these assumptions are based on the success of the Greek programme.

[02] Man burned in his car on Attiki Odos highway may be indicted publisher Mavrikos, police says

Mavrikos has been arrested a few months ago along with two journalists in his newspaper "Acropolis" on charges of blackmailing executives in public organizations, companies and banks and embezzling the Greek state.

Policemen who arrived at the spot pulled out a burned body from the car that appeared to be of a man but said that only a DNA test can reveal if it is that of the publisher, who had been released on bail pending trail. According to a police officer, the traffic camera in Attiki Odos shows the Porsche Cayenne stopping at the side of the road, on the traffic lane leading to Elefsina, consumed in flames.

Traffic police also said an eye-witness claimed the car caught fire while on the move and then stopped at the median barrier, possibly trapping the driver. The fire department tried to put out the fire but the car had already been destroyed and the driver burned to death. Police has reportedly already ruled out a traffic accident, which leaves all other possibilities open on what caused the car to ignite.

The vehicle is now being examined by the police's bomb disposal unit to find out what caused the fire and whether it was foul play, while the overall investigation is conducted by Attica Police.

[03] Nat. Archaeological Museum 150th anniversary exhibition 'Odysseys' in Oct.

The exhibition will start on October 3 this year, the date that coincides with the 150th anniversary since the foundation stone for the country's first national museum was laid in 1866.

The year-long exhibition, which is currently in the preparatory stage, will narrate the "large and small adventures of the people that lived in Greece from the neolithic era until Roman times," according to the organisers. It will feature only original ancient artwork, with the exception of a model of the "self-crowned" athlete that will be shown in place of the original, until the latter's return from the United States and the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great."

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