28/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - According to the Greek press agency ANA, National Bank, the largest commercial bank in Greece, said it expects that the European Central Bank will lower its interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday in order to boost a slowing euro-zone economy. The National Bank predicts growth of only 2.5% in this zone this year, following the slowdown in the US economy. Still according to ANA, Lucas Papdermos, Governor of the Bank of Greece, confirmed on Tuesday when speaking before a parliamentary committee that the second half of this year would bring inflation in Greece down to below 3%. Mr Papadermos urged social partners to control salary costs, in the interest of the competitiveness of the Greek economy.