Latest News from Greece

Cash crunch time? Employment Agency, Attica governor offer reserves to BoG

After weeks of denial the Manpower Employment Agency (OAED), the state agency responsible for paying out unemployment benefits and managing a variety of employment subsidy programs in Greece, finally agreed to hand over 120 million euros of its reserves to the Bank of Greece.

Athens among top tourism destinations

By Stathis Kousounis

Athens is among the top destinations both in Europe and the world for 2015 according to leading international travel website TripAdvisor.

High prices weigh on local organic market

The penetration rate of organic products in the Greek market remains relatively low, according to an industry survey conducted by Infobank Hellastat (IBHS), which underscores the sector?s turn toward exports for survival.

IMF says had 'constructive' phone call with Greece

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde had a 'constructive' conversation with Greece's prime minister on Wednesday, IMF spokesman William Murray said on Thursday.

"They had a constructive conversation that focused on next steps in taking forward the policy discussions related to the IMF's continued support of Greece's reform program," Murray told reporters on Thursday.

For African migrants, trek to Europe brings risk, heartbreak

By Dalton Bennett & Shawn Pogatchnik

VELES, FYROM - This is the moment when Sandrine Koffi's dream of a new life in Europe ended - and her nightmare of an infant lost in the night began.

Times: Tsipras has only one option to avert disaster – become a capitalist!

The next few days will show if Greece has any possibility of staying in the Eurozone, according to noted Times reporter and columnist Simon Nixon.

 

The journalist charged that the past two months were “lost” and he noted that Alexis Tsipras was convinced that seeking “blank checks” from partners is a lesson in futility.

 

Fed's Bullard: Grexit would be a Greek issue, not a euro issue

Were Greece to leave the euro zone, there would be little contagion and it would probably be manageable for the eurozone, Federal Reserve policymaker James Bullard said on Thursday.

"If they left the euro, it would be a very dark day for Greece," said St. Louis Fed President Bullard.

Bulgaria Fails to Address Shortcomings in Treatment of Prisoners, Conditions of Detention - CoE

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has leveled serious criticism at Bulgaria.

In a public statement concerning Bulgaria made on March 26, the CPT draws attention to shortcomings in the treatment and conditions of detention of persons deprived of their liberty.

Greek credit contraction slows to 1.3 pct in January

Total credit in Greece shrank 1.3 percent year-on-year in January, with the pace of decline slowing from the previous month, Bank of Greece data showed on Thursday.

Credit extended to the government rose 8.6 percent after rising 7.3 percent in December, the central bank said. Lending to businesses and households declined by 2.9 percent, from a 3.1 percent drop in December.

Deposits in Greek banks fell by 7.8 bln eur in Feb, according to ECB data

The level of deposits in Greek banks fell by 7.8 billion euros ($8.60 billion) to 147.523 billion euros in February, data from the European Central Bank showed on Thursday.

The drop in Greece contrasted sharply with the broadly steady level of deposits in other euro zone countries.

[Reuters]

Economy Minister says negotiations to be concluded by start of next week

Economy Minister George Stathakis told private ANT1 TV that he was certain that Greece's negotiation with EU partners would end by the beginning of next week. He said that the reforms package that Greece is creating would be submitted and approved, leading the way for funds to be unlocked, thus ending Greece's liquidity problem.

Reception on the occasion of Greek Independence Day

BELGRADE - Greek Ambassador to Serbia Constantine Economides hosted a reception to celebrate Greek Independence Day on Wednesday, qualifying bilateral relations as excellent.

I think our bilateral relations are excellent, although there is always room for improvement, Economides told the press.

He also said that Serbia-Greece relations are based on strong social ties.

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