GREECE: NEW F-16 LESS COSTLY THAN PREVIOUS BUY

ATHENS [MENL] -- The government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis hasasserted that Greece's latest purchase of the F-16 Block 52+ was cheaperthan its previous order. The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense, known by its Greek acronym, KYSEA, has accepted a Lockheed Martin offer for 30 F-16 Block 52+ fighter aircraft for $1.99 billion. The price tag was far higher than that cited by the council's decision in July 2005 to purchase the aircraft from the United States.