Greece's transport minister on Thursday evening reiterated that an ongoing and closely watched tender to privatise Olympic Airways will be completed within three weeks, whereas any purchase agreement arising will be tabled in Parliament for approval.

Minister Mihalis Liapis, furthermore, dismissed opposition criticism that the government's top ministers are expressing conflicting positions over the fate of the debt-laden national carrier, while again detailing the Karamanlis government's priorities, namely, selling-off the company; safeguarding jobs and facilitating healthy competition in the domestic air transport sector.

"(Ruling) New Democracy backs a liberal policy; we are in favour of healthy competition and against monopolies, and we want the rules of competition to work," the minister told a Parliament committee and in reply to questions by several main opposition PASOK deputies.

Source: Athens News Agency

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