49% of the Parnita casino, 23% of the Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage, 5% of Deutsche Telecom’s OTE , 20% of the Public Gas Corporation, and some state real estates will be sold until the beginning of the summer.

The government put up a big sign, which says “For Sale,” on big public companies, because the Ministry Commission decided to quicken the privatization. This move aims to bring ?1 billion income to the treasury for the current year.

Greece will start selling:

- 49% of Parnita casino, which will lead to its full privatization until the summer.

- 23% of the Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage together with its management to a strategic investor until the beginning of the summer.

- 5% of OTE will be transferred to Deutsche Telecom until the end of the year.

- About 20% of the Public Gas Corporation to a strategic investor.

- Public real estate by keeping the right to resell them again.

In case the Germans decide to buy by 5% of OTE, then ?700 million will enter the treasury.

The sale of Parnita casino and the Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage were put for the first time on the negotiations table. The government will keep 51% of the Thessaloniki company in its hands and for the rest 23% plus its management, it will look for a strategic investor. The employees of the company reacted immediately and today they announced a three hour strike and a meeting, on which they will decide how to act. The general manager of the company called in all the leaders of the syndicates and announced that it is scandalous for public employees to ask for a salary raise, when their salaries are the same as the ones of teachers - ?48 000 per year.

On the council, the Ministers discussed the procedure improvements for including a strategic investor in the Public Gas Corporation and the sale of public properties on the method sale and lease back.