Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ATHENS365
2005-02-03 15:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR'S JANUARY 26 MEETING WITH MINISTER OF
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000365
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD GR PTER AMB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S JANUARY 26 MEETING WITH MINISTER OF
NATIONAL ECONOMY ALOGOSKOUFIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000365
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD GR PTER AMB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S JANUARY 26 MEETING WITH MINISTER OF
NATIONAL ECONOMY ALOGOSKOUFIS
1. (U) Summary: On January 26th Ambassador Ries called on Minister of National Economy and Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis. Alogoskoufis thanked the U.S. for its assistance on combatting terrorist financing and explained the government of Greece's plans for meeting its Stability and Growth Pact obligations over the next two years. Ambassador stressed that the GoG strengthens its credibility with foreign investors when it moves forward with its regulatory and tax code reforms. End Summary.
2. (U) On January 26th, Ambassador Ries made an introductory call on Minister of National Economy and Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis. The meeting was cordial and Alogoskoufis was open and appreciative of the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual concern. Ambassador opened the conversation by thanking Alogoskoufis for all the help the USG has received from his ministry on terrorist financing, and reiterating our strong committment to cutting-off terrorists from access to international funds. Alogoskoufis, in turn, thanked Ambassador for the USG assistance his ministry and the GoG has received in identifying the names and aliases of individuals and organizations involved in terrorist funding.
The Past
3. (U) Ambassador observed there had been considerable press play about the revelations of improper accounting practices in Greece which had led to a revision of its fiscal deficit from under three percent to over five percent of GDP, violating its Stability Pact obligations. Alogoskoufis commented that it would be difficult to get Greece's government deficit below the three percent requirement in the next year if the EC's lower forecasts for Greece's 2005 GDP growth proved more accurate than the GoG's. He expressed his confidence, however, that the EC would give Greece a two year grace period to come back into line with the pact at the next ECOFIN meeting, and that there would be further provisions made in case of other "extraordinary" events.
The Present
4. (U) Alogoskoufis also explained that the government will have to be careful in its handling of the post-Olympic economy, especially as many of the construction projects that had buoyed the GDP had come to an end. He indicated that the GoG did not see raising taxes as a viable option to increase revenue, so that it was going to increase its efforts to bring in foreign direct investment (FDI),especially into areas outside of Athens. To this end he noted that the GoG was going to introduce a new bill to promote private-public cooperation for infrastructure development sometime in February. Alogoskoufis expressed his hope that private sector involvement would help reduce the direct cost to the government of this program. Alogoskoufis also briefed Ambassador on GoG plans to continue privatization, a move which could generate immediate revenue for the GoG and reduce annual expenditures. He noted that the Athens Airport and Postal Savings Bank were likely to be sold this coming year. He also noted that the GoG might have to revise its earlier optomistic estimates of tourist revenue for 2005 because of the strong Euro and weak dollar.
The Future
5. (U) Alogoskoufis explained that much of his work this year would be to prepare the Greek people for the government's next two tasks: labor market reform and restructuring the heavily indebted Greek social pension system (IKA). Although he did not go into specifics, he did stress that the GoG was going to take them on, albeit with a goal of "minimizing social tensions." Ambassador stressed that the GoG increases its credibility in the eyes of foreign investors when it continues on the path of reforms. While corporate tax cuts were attractive, Ambassador noted, increased transparency of the tax code would also be important. Also, he pointed out that Balkan stability was an issue of concern to investors, since investments in Greece often were driven by Balken market opportunities. Ambassador encouraged the GoG to continue to support efforts to enhance economic relations in the region.
6. (C) Comment: Minister Alogoskoufis was fairly candid in acknowledging that the GoG's plan to lower its fiscal deficit to 2.8 percent of GDP by the end of this year was unlikely to succeed. He noted that EC forecasts for GDP growth were lower than the GoG predictions and that many of the GoG's estimates (such as tourism revenue and income from privatization) are best case scenarios that might not come to pass. On the other hand, Alogoskoufis was optimistic that the EC would give the government the time it needed to implement changes. This was also the first time we have heard Alogoskoufis mention New Democracy's willingness to tackle the issue of reforming the Greek pension system. It remains to be seen if the New Democracy government follows through with this politically difficult reform.
RIES
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD GR PTER AMB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S JANUARY 26 MEETING WITH MINISTER OF
NATIONAL ECONOMY ALOGOSKOUFIS
1. (U) Summary: On January 26th Ambassador Ries called on Minister of National Economy and Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis. Alogoskoufis thanked the U.S. for its assistance on combatting terrorist financing and explained the government of Greece's plans for meeting its Stability and Growth Pact obligations over the next two years. Ambassador stressed that the GoG strengthens its credibility with foreign investors when it moves forward with its regulatory and tax code reforms. End Summary.
2. (U) On January 26th, Ambassador Ries made an introductory call on Minister of National Economy and Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis. The meeting was cordial and Alogoskoufis was open and appreciative of the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual concern. Ambassador opened the conversation by thanking Alogoskoufis for all the help the USG has received from his ministry on terrorist financing, and reiterating our strong committment to cutting-off terrorists from access to international funds. Alogoskoufis, in turn, thanked Ambassador for the USG assistance his ministry and the GoG has received in identifying the names and aliases of individuals and organizations involved in terrorist funding.
The Past
3. (U) Ambassador observed there had been considerable press play about the revelations of improper accounting practices in Greece which had led to a revision of its fiscal deficit from under three percent to over five percent of GDP, violating its Stability Pact obligations. Alogoskoufis commented that it would be difficult to get Greece's government deficit below the three percent requirement in the next year if the EC's lower forecasts for Greece's 2005 GDP growth proved more accurate than the GoG's. He expressed his confidence, however, that the EC would give Greece a two year grace period to come back into line with the pact at the next ECOFIN meeting, and that there would be further provisions made in case of other "extraordinary" events.
The Present
4. (U) Alogoskoufis also explained that the government will have to be careful in its handling of the post-Olympic economy, especially as many of the construction projects that had buoyed the GDP had come to an end. He indicated that the GoG did not see raising taxes as a viable option to increase revenue, so that it was going to increase its efforts to bring in foreign direct investment (FDI),especially into areas outside of Athens. To this end he noted that the GoG was going to introduce a new bill to promote private-public cooperation for infrastructure development sometime in February. Alogoskoufis expressed his hope that private sector involvement would help reduce the direct cost to the government of this program. Alogoskoufis also briefed Ambassador on GoG plans to continue privatization, a move which could generate immediate revenue for the GoG and reduce annual expenditures. He noted that the Athens Airport and Postal Savings Bank were likely to be sold this coming year. He also noted that the GoG might have to revise its earlier optomistic estimates of tourist revenue for 2005 because of the strong Euro and weak dollar.
The Future
5. (U) Alogoskoufis explained that much of his work this year would be to prepare the Greek people for the government's next two tasks: labor market reform and restructuring the heavily indebted Greek social pension system (IKA). Although he did not go into specifics, he did stress that the GoG was going to take them on, albeit with a goal of "minimizing social tensions." Ambassador stressed that the GoG increases its credibility in the eyes of foreign investors when it continues on the path of reforms. While corporate tax cuts were attractive, Ambassador noted, increased transparency of the tax code would also be important. Also, he pointed out that Balkan stability was an issue of concern to investors, since investments in Greece often were driven by Balken market opportunities. Ambassador encouraged the GoG to continue to support efforts to enhance economic relations in the region.
6. (C) Comment: Minister Alogoskoufis was fairly candid in acknowledging that the GoG's plan to lower its fiscal deficit to 2.8 percent of GDP by the end of this year was unlikely to succeed. He noted that EC forecasts for GDP growth were lower than the GoG predictions and that many of the GoG's estimates (such as tourism revenue and income from privatization) are best case scenarios that might not come to pass. On the other hand, Alogoskoufis was optimistic that the EC would give the government the time it needed to implement changes. This was also the first time we have heard Alogoskoufis mention New Democracy's willingness to tackle the issue of reforming the Greek pension system. It remains to be seen if the New Democracy government follows through with this politically difficult reform.
RIES