Greek primary surplus to reach 3.9 billion euros in 2013, Staikouras says‏

Speaking in Parliament, Staikouras said that if the impact of supporting financial institutions was taken into account, the budget could show a primary deficit of 8.3 pct of GDP.

Staikouras criticized the work of the Parliament’s budget office

saying that its forecasts that the government would not present a primary surplus in 2013 and that the troika woulk ask for correction measures in the same year, were proven wrong. The minister noted that Public Investment Program’s spending totaled 6.65 billion euros in 2013 (higher by 540 million euros compared with 2012), while tax returns totaled 3.7 billion euros, up by 420 million euros compared with 2012. Staikouras stressed that the state has already reduced its overdue debt by 50 pct last year to 4.7 billion euros from 9.2 billion euros at the end of 2012.

Staikouras underlined that the condition of the Greek economy did not justify either jubilations or self-pity.

source: ΑΜΝΑ