Agamemnon
2010-03-03 16:15:30 UTC
Singer Nana Mouskouri offers Euro MP pension to Greece
Greek singer Nana Mouskouri says debt-laden Greece can have her
European Parliament pension to help ease the pressure on the public
finances.
The singer, who served as a Euro MP from 1994 to 1999, said she saw
the offer as her "duty to the country".
In a letter she urged Greeks to help their country, saying she did not
want it to be "treated like a dunce".
The Greek government has announced tax rises and spending cuts to
slash the budget deficit and public debt burden.
In her letter to the finance ministry, quoted by Greece's
Eleftherotypia newspaper, Mouskouri spoke of the country's "new injury which
is difficult to treat, and I thought about how to help".
She recalled the forest fires that have ravaged parts of Greece in
recent years.
Mouskouri is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time and
has sold more than 300 million records.
Born on the island of Crete, she has recorded 1,500 songs in seven
languages during her career.
She was an MEP for Greece's conservative New Democracy party, which is
now in opposition.
The socialist government has pledged to reduce Greece's budget deficit
from 12.7% - more than four times the limit under eurozone rules - to 8.7%
during 2010.
It is also seeking to reduce its 300bn euro ($419bn; £259bn) debt.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8546983.stm
Greek singer Nana Mouskouri says debt-laden Greece can have her
European Parliament pension to help ease the pressure on the public
finances.
The singer, who served as a Euro MP from 1994 to 1999, said she saw
the offer as her "duty to the country".
In a letter she urged Greeks to help their country, saying she did not
want it to be "treated like a dunce".
The Greek government has announced tax rises and spending cuts to
slash the budget deficit and public debt burden.
In her letter to the finance ministry, quoted by Greece's
Eleftherotypia newspaper, Mouskouri spoke of the country's "new injury which
is difficult to treat, and I thought about how to help".
She recalled the forest fires that have ravaged parts of Greece in
recent years.
Mouskouri is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time and
has sold more than 300 million records.
Born on the island of Crete, she has recorded 1,500 songs in seven
languages during her career.
She was an MEP for Greece's conservative New Democracy party, which is
now in opposition.
The socialist government has pledged to reduce Greece's budget deficit
from 12.7% - more than four times the limit under eurozone rules - to 8.7%
during 2010.
It is also seeking to reduce its 300bn euro ($419bn; £259bn) debt.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8546983.stm