15/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - German Finance Minister Hans Eichel declared on Thursday that his government was sticking by its growth forecast of 0.75% this year, despite the surprise fall in GDP by 0.2% in the first quarter. He also indicated that Germany's state deficit should not be more than 4% in 2003. Asked whether he expected the deficit to exceed 4% this year, the Minister replied: "on the basis of the documents I have in front of me today, no". Mr Eichel recently acknowledged that...