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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 07-08-10Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Friday, 10 August 2007 Issue No: 2667CONTENTS
[01] Development minister presents 2008-2020 strategic energy plan to PM Karamanlis, parliament presidentPrime minister Costas Karamanlis met Thursday with development minister Dimitris Sioufas, who turned over to the premier the first part of the report on Greece's strategic energy plan for the period 2008-2020, before submitting the report also to parliament president Anna Psarouda-Benaki.Sioufas told reporters that the report on "Greece's Long-Term Energy Planning 2008-2020" detailed the present and future situation in the energy balance of the country as well as the international developments in energy issues. The minister said that the report further recorded the energy scenarios with respect to the anticipated energy trends both in Greece and internationally up to 2020. "Based on this report but also the energy policy followed by the government, we aim at energy supply security, protection of the environment, and at the same time those prospects that will render our economy even more productive and competitive," he said, explaining that regional development, on the basis of the country's energy needs both in the present and the future, were also included in that framework. Sioufas called the report a "very significant tool". He that the second part of the report was slated for completion by end December, and would be put to public deliberation so that the proposals of the political parties and the productive and social partners would be heard on how the country would move ahead up to the year 2020, with respect to the energy sector. The report The report was drafted in collaboration between the development ministry, the president of the National Council on Energy Strategy (SEES) Raphael Moisis, the country's Energy Regulatory Authority (RAE), and the Centre for Renewable Sources of Energy (KAPE), under the provisions of Law 3438/2006 establishing the SEES. The first part of the report: records the present situation in the energy sector in Greece and the institutional and legislative framework governing the electricity, natural gas, oil and Renewable Energy Sources markets; provides a brief overview of the international trends in the energy sector, while reference is also made to the measures and policy guidelines of the European Union, based on the conclusions of the March 2007 Spring Council and the relevant 'package' on the EU's new energy policy; and contains several scenarios regarding the possible development of Greece's energy balance up to the year 2020. The second part of the report, slated for completion by the end of the year, will contain a specific Action Plan with measures and policies aimed at achieving the targets that have been set by the state in the energy sector, taking into consideration the developments in all sectors of the economy. The second part will be put to public deliberation, so that the positions of the co-responsible ministries, the political parties, the social and producer agencies, and the consumer organisations may be taken into consideration. The second part will be tabled in parliament by the prime minister by the end of the year. It is noted that the SEES annually submits to the development minister a Report on the Long-Term Energy Planning of the country, who in turn forwards the report to the prime minister and the parliament president. The report is debated in a special session of the parliament plenary, and is then published in a special edition by the National Printing Office. This is the first report of its kind. The second annual report will be submitted to the development minister in end-March 2008. Energy balance figures In 2005, the Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) in Greece reached 31.1 Mtoe (Million tons of oil equivalent), marking an approximately 40 percent increase over the 1990 levels, when gross national consumption was 22.2 Mtoe, while in the period 1995-2005 the average annual rate of increase was 2.3 percent. Lignite is the main domestic source of energy, used almost exclusively in electricity production. Oil and lignite cover approximately 86 percent of the total energy supply, which has been steadily increasing in recent years. Natural gas was first introduced in 1995, while renewable energy sources (RES) started to appear as a reckonable source of electricity production at the end of the 1990s. Greece's energy dependence was approximately 75 percent in 2005, chiefly due to oil and natural gas imports. The most significant change in recent years in the gross national consumption was the use of natural gas, which stabilised the se of lignite to 9 Mtoe annually. Solid fuels (chiefly lignite) use stood at 8 Mtoe in 1990 (36 percent of the TPES), and reached 9 Mtoe (29 percent of the TPES) in 2005. Gaseous fuels rose from 0.14 Mtoe (0.6 percent of TPES) in 1990 to 2.35 Mtoe (7.6 percent of TPES) in 2005. RES use in electricity production remained steady at 5 percent of the TPES between 1990 (1.1 Mtoe) and 205 (1.6 Mtoe), presenting only minor fluctuations depending on use by the major hydroelectric stations. In end consumption, oil products account for 68.5 percent, followed by electricity with 21.1 percent, while smaller proportions are covered by solid fuels, (2.2 percent, chiefly in industry), RES (5 percent) and natural gas (2.8 percent). The transports sector accounted for 39 percent of total energy consumption in 2005, corresponding to 8.1 Mtoe and marking an increase of 2.2 Mtoe, or 37 percent, over 1990. Transports is the sector with the greatest consumption, which is steadily rising. Households' proportion in energy consumption has increased significantly, and the tertiary sector also presents a steadily big increase in energy consumption. The total tertiary sector -- household, pubic and farming sectors -- consumed 41 percent of the total energy consumption in 2005, while the corresponding proportion in 1990 was 32 percent. Industry has presented a steady consumption in recent years, marking a 0.2 Mtoe, or 5 percent, rise in 2005 against 1990. Cross-border energy trade [02] PASOK criticises gov't over strategic energy planMain opposition PASOK on Thursday criticised the government over the country's strategic energy plan for the period 2008-2020, which was presented earlier in the day to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis by Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas.Sioufas turned over to the premier the first part of the report on Greece's strategic energy plan for the period 2008-2020, before submitting the report also to Paliament Pesident Anna Psarouda-Benaki. PASOK's head of the development, tourism nad maritime policy section, Christos Papoutsis,said in a statement that the government "today, after three-and-a-half years (after coming to power) and while the New Democracy (ND) party government is rapidly preparing to abandon power and call for early elections, the development minister tables the report on the country's long-term planning. Furthermore, he calls for consultations for the month of December, when the ND will not be in power." "This is just mocking Parliament, the entrepreneurial community and citizens," Papoutsis also said, adding that this "also constitutes an avowal that the ND was governing for three-and-a-half years without a long term energy planning." [03] Papandreou again calls for immediate electionsMain opposition PASOK party's newly formed electoral campaign committee secretariat held its first meeting on Thursday morning at the party headquarters in central Athens, chaired, in fact, by party leader and former foreign minister George Papandreou.Afterwards, and in comments to waiting reporters, Papandreou noted that "Greece was in the midst of a tragic impasse with the (current) New Democracy government." He added, furthermore, that citizens' response to this situation is to say "enough"; "there is a choice of hope, dignity and certainty, which is none other than PASOK's programme for a just society with a redistribution of wealth." Papandreou also said this week's announcement by the government of a new social cohesion fund for lower-income households shows the "government's panic". He also again said that "elections are the only solution, as the sooner they take place the better." The committee was formed after a decision by Papandreou and is made up of party secretary Nikos Athanassakis and top PASOK cadres Evangelos Venizelos, Anna Diamantopoulou, Petros Efthymiou, Costas Laliotis, Christos Polyzogopoulos, Dimitris Reppas and Thanassis Tsouras. All of the committee members held top ministerial posts in previous PASOK governments, sans Polyzogopoulos, who served as president of Greece's largest union. The election committee's meetings will also be attended by PASOK's new general director Rovertos Spyropoulos and the director of Papandreou's political office Pavlos Geroulanos. The development comes arid a continuing cascade of press speculation claiming that early elections will be called by the premier in late September or early October. Elections in Greece are normally scheduled for March 2008. Governmet responds Minister of State and Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, responding Thursday to earlier statements by main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou who again called for immediate general elections, said that the PASOK leader's declarations were "nothing but an anthology of wooden slogans". "It is yet another proof that PASOK neither can nor wants to escape from its past of 'hard rock' and irresponsible populism," Roussopoulos added. [04] President to attend Feast of the Assumption eventsPresident of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias will attend events marking the Feast of the Assumption on August 15 at the Monastery of Panaghia Soumela, in Kastania, Imathia, northern Greece.The government will be represented by Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalantzis, while also present will be main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou, ruling New Democracy (ND) party Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis, deputies and local government representatives. [05] New French envoy visits Ch.Trikoupis bridgeNew French Ambassador to Greece Christophe Farnaud visited on Thursday the Rio-Antirio bridge, officially called Charilaos Trikoupis, linking the town of Rio on the Peloponnese to Antirio on mainland Greece.Thierry Puy, Gefyra S.A. managing director, welcomed the French envoy who was briefed on technical details and function methods of the bridge, which was built by a Greek-French consortium led by the French Vinci group and inaugurated in mid 2004. "I have particularly been impressed by the high quality of this project which unifies aesthetics with technological achievements and utility for users," Farnaud said, adding that the cable-stayed bridge "is a special symbol of the excellent cooperation that can be developed by Greeks and French in any sector they wish." Financial News [06] Social insurance funds' deficits discussedHealthcare issues for social insurance funds' beneficiaries and pensioners dominated a meeting on Thursday, chaired by Employment and Social Insurance Minister Vassilis Magginas."The economic burden undertaken by the funds has to be reduced through the implementation of reforms in the healthcare services, allowing funds to provide better quality services to the beneficiaries," he stressed. Several state-run social insurance funds have also posted a a deficit, particularly in the healthcare sector, Magginas said, adding that this problem has to be tackled. Opposition parties comment Health Department head of the Parliamentary Council of the main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Christos Protopapas, on Thursday commented on the meeting held earlier in the day by the Employment and Social Protection Ministry regarding the pharmaceutical and hospital social insurance funds. "The relevant officials of the Health and Employment ministries, and particularly the deputy health minister, tried today to convince us that 'all is well' in the social insurance funds of the health sector. That is, they told us that 'if reality does not agree with us, so much the worse for it'," Protopapas said. On its part, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in an announcement said that "the government, under the pretext of balancing the expenditures, is attempting to cut back the granting of pharmaceuticals and services so as to further increase the already great participation of the socially insured in the medicine market." On his part, Dimitris Stratoulis, member of the Political Secretariat and head of the Labour Policy Department of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos), said that "the insured in our country, despite the pre-election theatre which the New Democracy government is playing, cannot forget that they 'enjoy' the lowest level of services from the sectors of Health and of Social Insurance Funds in the whole of Europe, despite the fact that they pay the highest social insurance contributions." [07] Natgas supply from Bulgaria restoredThe regulatory authority for Greece's natural gas network (DESFA) on Thursday announced that natural gas supply via Bulgaria has been fully restored, following an accident earlier in the week on the Bulgarian side.According to a press release, both gas flow and relevant pipeline pressure were within prescribed limits at the Sidirokastro monitoring station in northern Greece. Natural gas supplies in the east Mediterranean country during the three-day suspension in supply from Bulgaria were replaced by the liquefied natural gas terminal at Revythoussa, an islet in the Saronic Gulf between the greater Athens area and the island of Salamina. [08] Tax violations in four out of 10 firms, ministry saysThe finance ministry's special audit service has reportedly confirmed tax violations in roughly 40 percent of the companies audited last month, it announced on Thursday.Based on released figures, a total of 14,308 companies committed alleged tax violations out of 36,728 firms checked in July. Most violations were recorded in vehicle sales and by repair shops, wholesale and retail car and motorcycle dealerships, hotels and restaurants, in the food & beverage industry, private tutorial schools, as well as for healthcare services. [09] Contract between gov't and ELOT signedDeputy National Economy and Finance Minister Christos Folias and ���������������������Hellenic Organization for Standardization (ELOT SA) Managing Director Nikolaos Symferis signed on Thursday a contract for the implementation of the "Development of the Greek Model for Projects' Management" programme."The objectif of our policy was, from the very start, to make clear that every project should be materialised in accordance to its planning, with consistency, responsibility, transparenecy, correctness and giving account for it," Folias said after the signing of the contract. According to the deal, a model will be developed on which contractors of projects falling in the 2007-2013 planning period would be certified. [10] Proton Bank marks increased profits in 1st half of 2007The gross income of Proton Bank S.A. amounted to 106,926 thousand euros in the first six-month period of 2007, compared to 33,245 thousand euros in the corresponding period of 2006.Net profit before tax reached 24,368 thousand euros, compared to 22,816 thousand euros in the first half of 2006. Net profit after tax totaled 21,095 thousand euros comnpared to 19,578 thousand years in the corresponding period last year. [11] Attica SA Holdings reports 36.9%-increase in profitsAttica SA Holdings (Attica Group) said on Thursday that its pre-tax profits increased by 36.9 percent during the first half of 2007, compared to the corresponding period of 2006.In the same period, consolidated sales increased to 144.8 million euros from 133.1 million in 2006, marking an increase of 8.8 percent, while pre-tax profits increased to 30.1 million euros from 22 million in 2006. [12] Cap Market Commission levels fines in Themeliodomi shares tradingThe Capital Markets Commission on Thursday handed down fines totalling 421,000 euros against 21 individuals for "irregular" trading on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), and in particular, in the trading of Themeliodomi S.A. shares.The fines, approved by the Capital Markets Commission's board of directors, were slapped on several of Themeliodomi's board members, family members of the latter, company employees and associates. Themeliodomi is a bourse-listed construction firm. A 50,000-euro fine was also levelled on the brokerage firm Borioelladiki, which handled the bulk of trading of Themeliodomi shares during the period in question. [13] Increase of tourists in Athens, Attica hotelsThe Union of Athens and Attica Hoteliers in an announcement on Thursday expressed their satisfaction that tourist arrivals in Athens and Attica hotels increased by about 6% in May and June.June proved to be particularly positive for 4* hotels given that average capacity increased by 7.9%. For the remaining categories the results were also positive in June. There was an increase of 6% in 5* hotels, while at 3* and 2* hotels the increase was 5.8% and 5.9% respectively. Analytically, the average capacity per category in June was as follows: 5* hotels 53.5%, 4* 66.7%, 3* 72.3% and 2* 58.4%. [14] Six-month industrial production index up 1.8%, yr/yrThe general index for industrial production increased by 1.3 percent in June, compared to a 2.7-percent hike recorded during the same month in 2006.The medium index for industrial production for the Jan-July period posted a 1.8-percent hike, compared to the same period of 2006. [15] Athens Stock Exchange: Sharp decline on ThursdayGreek stocks were negatively influenced by falling European bourses on Thursday, with the composite index posting a 1.61-percent rise to end at 4,758.98 points and turnover at a hefty 416.39 million euros.All sector indices lost ground, with the exception of the Utilities sector, with ended 0.80 percent higher. The biggest losses were recorded in Technology (-3.93), Construction/Building Materials (-3.41 percent) and Raw Materials (-3.21 percent). The Big Cap index ended 1.55 pct down, the Mid Cap index dropped by 1.99 pct and the Small cap index fell by 1.77 pct. Decliners led advancers led by 251 to 26 with another 23 issues unchanged. Sector indices ended as follows: Insurance: -1.12% Industrials: -2.40% Commercial: -2.43% Construction: -3.41% Media: -1.73% Oil & Gas: -1.17% Personal & Household: -1.33% Raw Materials: -3.21% Travel & Leisure: -2.48% Technology: -3.93% Telecoms: -0.72% Banks: -1.41% Food & Beverages: -2.67% Health: -1.48% Utilities: +0.80% Chemicals: -0.47% Financial Services: -2.81% The stocks with the highest turnover were OTE, National Bank, Post Office Savings Bank and Marfin Investment Group. Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows: Alpha Bank: 22.58 ATEbank: 3.78 Public Power Corp (PPC): 20.72 HBC Coca Cola: 32.96 Hellenic Petroleum: 10.58 Emporiki Bank: 20.24 National Bank of Greece: 42.50 EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 26.16 Intralot: 24.70 Cosmote: 22.26 OPAP: 24.94 OTE: 22.68 Titan Cement Company: 36.10 [16] Greek bond market closing reportTurnover in the Greek electronic secondary bond market fell to 1,221 million euros on Thursday, of which 510 million were buy orders and the remaining 711 milllion euros were sell orders.The 10-year benchmark bond (July 20, 2017) was the most heavily traded security with a turnover of 240 million euros. The Greek bond yielded 4.66 pct. In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were mixed. National Bank's overnight rate was 4.10 pct, the two-day rate 4.10 pct, the one-week rate 4.15 pct, the one-month rate 4.18 pct, the three-month rate 4.41 pct, the six-month rate 4.46 pct and the 12-month rate 4.62 pct. [17] ADEX closing reportFutures contract prices decreased their discount in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Thursday, with turnover reaching 169.703 million euros.The September contract on the FTSE 20 index was traded at a discount of 0.98 pct while the August contract on the FTSE 40 index at a discount of 1.20 percent. Volume in futures contracts on the FTSE 20 index totaled 9,699 contracts worth 122.609 million euros, with 42,147 open positions in the market, while on the FTSE 40 index volume was 974 contracts worth 30.159 million euros, with 1,661 open positions. Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 11,565 contracts worth 16.934 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Marfin Popular Bank and Marfin Investment Group's contracts (1,450 and 1,035 respectively) followed by ATEbank (901), Alpha Bank (856), Intracom (848), Intralot (848), National Bank (710) and Post Office Savings Bank (650). [18] Foreign Exchange Rates - FridayReference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:U.S. dollar 1.383 Pound sterling 0.682 Danish kroner 7.502 Swedish kroner 9.353 Japanese yen 163.98 Swiss franc 1.653 Norwegian kroner 8.005 Cyprus pound 0.588 Canadian dollar 1.459 Australian dollar 1.618 General News [19] Concern over rising numbers of dead or injured sea turtles washed ashore on RhodesThe rising numbers of dead or injured sea turtles washed ashore on the Dodecannese Island of Rhodes, southeast Aegean, prompted an appeal to the public on Thursday to display greater sensitivity toward the marine environment.The appeal by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes was made in response to the alarmingly high numbers of dead or injured sea turtles spotted on the coasts of the island of Rhodes over the past month. The number of sea turtles washed ashore since the beginning of the year is unprecedentedly high. Sixteen of the 17 sea turtles found were dead and many of them had sustained deep wounds. Reportedly, a total of 6 sea turtles were found dead during the month of July alone, which itself is an unprecedented fact based on the Hydrobiological Station records available. The Rhodes Hydrobiological Station is not just limited to keeping records of the incidents reported, but it also operates as a first aid station in the wider Dodecannese Islands region, providing medical attention to injured sea animals, particularly sea turtles. [20] Souda Bay personnel, equipment aided efforts to extinguish local wildfireThe US embassy in Athens on Thursday announced that American fire-fighting assets based at the naval support activity (NSA) facility at Souda Bay assisted in fire-fighting efforts in the general region in late July, during a spate of wildfires that erupted in western Crete at the time.An embassy press release noted that base personnel and equipment were immediately dispatched to the site of a blaze approximately 35 miles southwest of NSA Souda Bay, and after local government officials requested assistance from NSA Souda Bay commanding officer Capt. Thomas McDonough. NSA Souda Bay's initial response team consisted of six fire-fighters, three Greek and three American; and two US Navy Seabees as water tenders. Equipment for the effort included one fire engine, one brush truck specifically designed for fighting wildfires and a 2,000 gallon water truck, the embassy added. Weather Forecast [21] Mostly sunny on FridayMostly sunny weather with westerly, northwesterly winds are forecast throughout the country on Friday with wind velocity reaching 4-5 beaufort. Scattered cloud and sporadic storms in western and northern Greece. Temperatures will range between 17C and 37C. Mostly sunny in Athens, with light, southerly 4 beaufort winds and temperatures ranging from 22C to 37C. Partly cloudy with the possibility of sporadic storms in Thessaloniki, with temperatures ranging from 19C to 32C.Cyprus Affairs [22] Keen interest in oil exploration around Cyprus, says governmentNICOSIA (CNA/ANA-MPA)The government has said that there is interest from big oil companies in the search for oil and natural gas reserves at sea, in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone. Government Spokesman Vasilis Palmas stressed that in this respect Nicosia always acts in line with international law and the Convention of the Law of the Sea, pointing out that Turkey's reaction to this has no justification. "We believe that Turkey has no legal basis to react the way it does, sending search vessels in the area, off our coasts," he said, noting that Turkish vessels have not so far violated the Republic's territorial waters. He stressed that Nicosia is monitoring the situation and if it feels that its rights are violated, it will react accordingly. Responding to questions, he said that the number of companies that has shown an interest in the search and exploration of oil is "satisfactory". "We have no intention or disposition to turn the oil issue into a political affair. What we are interested in is to make sure that any company involved complies with the specifications laid out and has the clout to carry out the necessary work. We do hope there will be positive results from this effort," he added. In his remarks on the issue, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Michaelides said that China has displayed a keen interest in finding out more information about the whole issue. [23] Spokesman condemns expulsion of Abbot from occupied monasteryNICOSIA (CNA/ANA-MPA)Government Spokesman Vasilis Palmas condemned here Thursday the expulsion of the Abbot of the Turkish occupied Monastery of Apostle Varnavas from the monastery, during a church service. Last Monday, the Turkish occupation army and so-called police ordered the Abbot and his entourage to leave the Monastery, in Turkish occupied Cyprus, while a church service was underway. "Unfortunately this is not the first time that such phenomena take place. Needless to say that we condemn such behaviour which does not contribute to the creation of a positive climate between the two communities," Palmas said. On the contrary, he pointed out, it creates tension and raises suspicion, sentiments which do not help at all the effort to build a positive climate with regard to the Cyprus problem. Apostle Varnavas is the founder of the autocephalous Church of Cyprus. The Monastery bearing his name is situated outside Famagusta, in the areas of the Republic where the legal government of Cyprus does not exercise its jurisdiction because of the continuing Turkish occupation. 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana-mpa.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |