France says unlikely to meet 3 pc deficit pledge

Paris, Feb 13 (AFP) French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said today that France was unlikely to achieve its target of reducing its public deficit to 3 per cent of output this year. "I think it is probable," he replied when asked in a TV interview if he thought France would not be able to keep its promise to reduce its annual deficit to three percent of GDP, the threshold imposed on members of the eurozone. Later, Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici signalled that France might revise is targets for growth of 0.8 per cent, and for reducing the public deficit to less than 3.0 per cent of output this year. Saying that the targets were being held for the moment, Moscovici said after a cabinet meeting that the situation was difficult and that "if necessary we are able to have another look, to re-examine the different targets" for growth and for reduction of the public deficit. (AFP) APS KUN 02131949 NNNN