The Athens Airport will be the first site proposed for sale by Papandreou’s office for the plan from which the expected revenue of 50 billion EUR to cover the debt of Greece. The Privatization Commission announced that it had decided to sell 20 percent stake in the international airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” and to extend the term by 20 years of the concession agreement with the German Hohtiyf. The Greek State holds 55 per cent of the airport, and Hohtiyf – 40 per cent. Among the other items, announced the privatization are former airport Elinikon near Athens, and other public property. The observers in Athens as “timid” first decisions of the privatization commission with the comment that they were taken in the absence of consensus, as many ministers have voiced disagreement. Eight of them even accused the banks that in the current crisis they have domognali to aid granted by the State to promote the market. The Kathimerini newspaper writes that their criticisms were addressed to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for their actions and in particular that the banks received from the state about 100 billion.
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The Greek government spokesman George Petalotis categorically denied the information that the government is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan of 35 billion euros, police agency ANA-MPA. “No such initiative and such an agreement,” stresses a spokesman, asked to comment on Replication in the media in this sense. The Government is determined and has the national debt difficult to win the battle to revive the economy, improve the image of Greece abroad and restore confidence in the country, said Petalotis. “In this titanic battle, the government is not seeking services and loans, but need political support from its partners and the necessary time to implement its program to stabilize the economy,” the spokesman further stated. Asked to comment on the pressure of EU countries for the implementation of new restrictive measures, the spokesman said that by 15 March will be assessed a situation which is not yet complete “and that” until an assessment of what has happened so far can not comment more. Petalotis said that the proposal for the establishment of a committee of inquiry to investigate the fraudulent statistics about the state of public finances and over-indebtedness of the country will be tabled for debate in parliament next week probably.
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