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Greece Blasts EU, IMF

   VOA News  February 12, 2011
   A  traffic  policeman tries to stop public transport employees as they
   ride on motorcycles during a protest in Athens, Feb 11, 2011

Photo: Reuters

   A  traffic  policeman tries to stop public transport employees as they
   ride on motorcycles during a protest in Athens, Feb 11, 2011

   Greece  has criticized inspectors from the International Monetary Fund
   and  European  Union  for  comments  made  about the nations' economic
   situation.
   Government  spokesman  Giorgos Petalotis told reporters early Saturday
   that  the comments were unacceptable and amounted to interference into
   Greece's domestic affairs.
   Inspectors  from  the EU, IMF and the European Central Bank (ECB) were
   in  Greece Friday to assess the nation's efforts to reform its economy
   following a $145-billion emergency loan last year. The inspectors said
   Greece  needs  to  privatize or, sell off, $68 billion in state assets
   and speed up reforms to keep its recovery on track.
   An  IMF  inspector  also  said  that some of the groups holding street
   protests  against  the  economic  reforms  - such as truck drivers and
   pharmacists  - were simply angry about the prospect of losing what the
   inspector called "unfair advantages and privileges."
   Greek  Prime  Minister  George  Papandreou  also  issued  a  statement
   Saturday  saying  he  has expressed his dismay about the comments in a
   phone call with IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
   Spokesman  Petalotis  said  Saturday  that while Greece is in need, it