RAS]; Coalition of the Left and
Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS]; Democratic Social
Movement or DIKKI [Dhimitrios TSOVOLAS]; Rainbow Coalition [Pavlos
VOSKOPOULOS]
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC,
CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Loukas TSILAS
chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 939-5824
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San
Francisco
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (1) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (1) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating
with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the
established religion of the country
@Greece:Economy
Economy-overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the
public sector accounting for roughly half of GDP. Tourism provides a
major portion of foreign exchange. Greece is among the poorest EU
countries in terms of per capita income; Athens continues to rely
heavily on EU aid, which currently amounts to about 4.5% of GDP.
Macroeconomic problems include the huge public sector, substantial
budget and balance of payments deficits, and 10% unemployment.
Economic growth is strengthening, and the government's strict fiscal
and monetary policies are responsible for the decline in inflation and
the budget deficit. Despite widespread protests from labor unions and
farmers over austerity, the government is taking further steps to
enhance revenue collection and reduce expenditures to prepare Greece
for participation in the EU's single currency by 2001. Greece entered
the exchange rate mechanism-a requirement for European Monetary Union
(EMU) membership-in March 1998.
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