Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 09-04-07

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece expresses solidarity to quake-stricken L'Aquila

[02] Greek leadership's condolences

[03] PM meets with Cyprus' EDEK leader Omirou

[04] FM Bakoyannis holds informal meeting with Turkish counterpart

[05] PASOK leader meets Cyprus' Omirou, Spidla

[06] KKE's Papariga tables question on 'anti-social' retirement regulations for women civil servants

[07] Alavanos proposes joint-action plan to Papandreou

[08] Parliament adopts proposal in case of former minister Pavlidis

[09] Gov't on former Aegean minister Pavlidis' case

[10] ND secretary confers with Euro-MPs; Pavlidis case

[11] Obama urges Turkey to reopen Halki Seminary

[12] FinMin meets with EU Commissioner Spidla in Athens

[13] Employment minister confers with EU employment Commissioner Spidla

[14] Cooperation between Greek gov't, EU on pensioning issue, Commissioner says

[15] Governmenrt determined to curb public deficit, debt, FinMin says

[16] Constructions, commerce and tourism sectors mostly hit by crisis, survey

[17] Best Workplaces in Greece 2009

[18] OPE participates in PROWEIN international exhibition

[19] Livestock farmers hand out free milk in Athens protest

[20] Pensioners to hold protests on April 8 and 9

[21] Tourism Development Co. reports improved 2008 results

[22] Gov't announces measures to modernize taxi services

[23] Greek mutual funds' assets down 12.26 pct so far this year

[24] Greek stocks end 0.75 pct down

[25] ADEX closing report

[26] Greek bond market closing report

[27] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

[28] European Movement press conference in Athens

[29] Macedonia-Thrace minister receives SNMG2 delegation

[30] Coastal shipowner Agoudimos hospitalised

[31] Illegal immigrant arrests in northwest Greece

[32] Maras wins gold in European Gymnastics Championships in Milan

[33] Cloudy, rainy on Tuesday

[34] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[35] President Christofias arrives in Cairo for official visit

[36] Obama: US willing to support efforts for a united Cyprus Politics

[01] Greece expresses solidarity to quake-stricken L'Aquila

Three Greek students in L'Aquila suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, while a fourth remained trapped but was communicating with rescuers, Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis told reporters during an urgently held press conference on Monday, following a devastating earthquake that hit the Italian town of L'Aquila in the early hours of that morning.

A fifth Greek student had been trapped and was rescued earlier in the day but was not hospitalised and his details were not known.

Greece's honorary consul in Ancona had gone to Pescara to visit the two students in hospital there, while a Greek team sent by the Italian embassy and consular authorities had managed to reach L'Aquila and were now gathering together the Greek students that wished to return to Greece, providing them with necessary travel documents and other basic goods and arranging for their transportation by bus to Rome Airport, where two Greek airlines offered to provide free flights back to the country.

The government said Olympic Airways (OA) will provide seven such flights, while Aegean Airlines, in collaboration with the foreign ministry, has offered free transport on its flights from Rome, adding that the embassy will draft a list of earthquake-stricken Greeks and arrange for their transport out of the stricken area to Rome.

Greek authorities have also offered the same assistance to Cypriot students that contacted the Cyprus embassy in Rome, as well as offering assistance to Italian authorities.

Outlining measures taken by the Greek foreign ministry to assist Greek and Cypriot students in the earthquake-stricken area, Kassimis further clarified that "Greece is ready to give assistance not just to Greeks and Cypriots but to anyone that asks for it." He also underlined that Greek authorities had mobilised immediately and said he was satisfied with the results.

Kassimis pointed out that Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who is currently in Istanbul, had immediately given orders to activate the Greek Crisis Management Commission and had spoken on the phone with her Italian counterpart Franco Frattini, to whom she expressed the government's deepest condolences to the families of the casualties and Greece's readiness to help with rescue efforts.

Bakoyannis was briefed on the situation prevailing in the stricken area, while she also informed Frattini that the Greek interior ministry had ordered a 15-person specialised emergency operations unit and supplies to be on standby, if required, to be transported to Italy by a Hellenic Air Force C-130 aircraft.

Kassimis also said the Greek civil defence agency had been in constant contact with the Italian authorities but nothing specific had so far been requested by the Italian side.

"We are trying to protect the Greeks in the town hit by this disaster as much as possible. It is positive that in all this misfortune we had no victims. Greece is always ready to offer help to anyone that asks for it," Kassimis added.

The telephone number for the Greek embassy in Rome is +390 6806 2030.

According to the latest media reports, at least 90 people are believed dead and tens of thousands were left homeless by the 6.3 on the scale Richter quake that struck the medieval town of L'Aquila in central Italy early on Monday morning.

[02] Greek leadership's condolences

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sent condolences to his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi, in which he stressed that Greece, a country that has suffered from earthquakes in the past, was prepared to provide assistance to Italy in confronting this tragedy.

Also preparing to fly to Italy is a team of trained and experienced rescuers from Thessaloniki that will offer their specialised services, aided by a sonar location device. The three-person team is being sent by the Greek non-governmental rescue and aid organisation "Rescue Gr" based in Thessaloniki, who are due to depart at 4:00 p.m. from the northern Greek city's Macedonia Airport.

Team member Christos Nikolaidis told ANA-MPA that they planned to use their US-made tracking device to locate live people under the ruins.

He said that the organisation had immediately contracted the foreign ministry and Greece's embassy in Rome immediately.

"We will stay in Italy as long as necessary to find people still alive under the ruins and dig them out," Nikolaidis said.

Meanwhile, an education ministry announcement said that all Greek school students currently on school trips in central Italy were safe and well and that the education ministry had immediately contacted the relevant authorities and taken all action needed to ensure that the students and their escorts were not in any danger.

Papandreou

Main opposition PASOK party and Socialist International President George Papandreou sent a message of condolences to Napolitano and Berlusconi for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck central Italy.

"Our grief over the victims of the earthquake that has struck your country is great. I express my warm condolences and I request from you to convey our solidarity the the families of the victims. In these difficult moments, our thoughts are with them. You are aware that my country have been struck by earthquakes many times and our fellow countrymen are willing to provide every possible assistance. We are always at your disposal," the message read.

PASOK's foreign policy spokesman contacts Italian ambassador

Main opposition PASOK MP and party spokesman on foreign policy issues Andreas Loverdos had a telephone communication with Italy's ambassador to Athens Gianpaolo Scarante after the devastating earthquake that hit his country in the early morning hours on Monday.

Loverdos extended the PASOK leader's condolences and his own and expressed the party's solidarity to the earthquake victims. He also assured him that Greek society, whose citizens have often experienced such disasters, is ready to offer any assistance requested.

[03] PM meets with Cyprus' EDEK leader Omirou

Omirou said he had the opportunity to outline his views on the ongoing direct negotiations for a Cyprus solution, as well as on the issue of handling the December 2009 "milestone", when the European Council will review whether Turkey has fulfilled the obligations it has undertaken towards the Republic of Cyprus.

The EDEK leader said that Karamanlis had agreed with his own assessment on the course of the direct negotiations that the attitude of the Turkish side thus far "has not been such as to create a climate and prospect of positive developments".

Unfortunately, he added, the Turkish side insists on a rationale of two separate state entities in the framework of a loose confederation, preservation of the "anachronistic guarantor treaties", stressing that it was unprecedented for a European country to be under the guardianship of another country, and a country that was not even a member of the European family at that.

Turkey, Omirou added, also insisted on divergences from the acquis Communautaire, so that there would be violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a permanent basis.

Omirou stressed that a common strategy needed to be formulated before the December European Council (EU summit) in order to send the message to the European partners "that they cannot possibly expect our consent to a smooth EU accession course for Turkey so long as Turkey continues to conform with its elementary obligations based on the European Council decisions and, namely, recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, opening up its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and airplanes, and to cooperate in the efforts for a solution to the Cyprus issue that is founded on the relevant UN resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded".

"It is an hour of responsibility," Omirou said, stressing that this was "a critical moment for the course of the Cyprus issue" and adding that Cyprus' and Greece's common course was a condition and prerequisite for the successful fruition of this common struggle.

[04] FM Bakoyannis holds informal meeting with Turkish counterpart

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, speaking here on Monday where she arrived to participate in the UN's 2nd "Alliance of Cultures" forum, said that Greece is a country that has proved its respect for diversity and has a special interest in what is being discussed in the framework of the initiative of the alliance of cultures.

Bakoyannis said that she held informal meetings with colleagues of other countries on the sidelines of the event, including Swedish Foreign Minister Karl Bildt and her Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan, stressing that "I raised the issue of the Halki Seminary, the course of Greek-Turkish relations and the importance that a solution to the issue of Cyprus will have on this course. Greece reiterates that it supports the initiatives of Cyprus President Demetris Christofias."

Asked about Tuesday's meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, the foreign minister said that the U.S. president is meeting him as the leader of the Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarch will have the opportunity of referring to the problems of the Patriarchate.

[05] PASOK leader meets Cyprus' Omirou, Spidla

After his meeting with Omirou, Papandreou said their talks had focused on policy for Europe, which their parties wanted to shift from a conservative to a progressive, democratic and social democratic direction, with emphasis on social cohesion and 'green' growth.

In talks on the Cyprus problem, PASOK's leader said that the initiatives of current Cyprus President Demetris Christofias had been positive but that seven months into direct talks "there has been no response from the Turkish side, especially from Turkey".

"I think a new strategy is needed on the part of the Greek government in view of the third meeting between Turkey and the EU next December, since the lack of such a strategy undermines our effective power to negotiate within the framework of the EU and, of course, does not work in favour of resolving the Cyprus issue," he said. Such a strategy should focus on security issues, given that Cyprus was an independent state under occupation by Turkish troops, he added.

Omirou also stressed the need for a strategy agreed on by the governments of Cyprus and Greece, which would make it clear to their European partners that the problem was not just whether Turkey met its obligations toward Cyprus but also one of defending European values and principles.

"Will a Turkey be tolerated that, at the end of the day, instead of becoming European will 'Turkify' European policies?" he stressed, adding that Europeans should make it clear that Turkey could not make progress in accession negotiations without fulfilling basic obligations toward the EU and, by extension, toward Cyprus.

Regarding statements made by U.S. President Barack Obama about Turkey's European progress, Papandreou stressed that Greece has fully supported EU accession for Turkey since 1999 but only if its neighbour managed to meet basic criteria that made it a true partner, such as good neighbour relations, resolving the Cyprus issue based on international treaties and UN resolutions, and respecting human rights and religious freedoms, including those of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

[06] KKE's Papariga tables question on 'anti-social' retirement regulations for women civil servants

Papariga, referring to a recent European Court decision, asks the prime minister what measures he intends to take to guarantee the social nature of pension for all civil servants and ensure that the retirement rights of all employees will be recognized.

[07] Alavanos proposes joint-action plan to Papandreou

According to SYRIZA's proposals the five points are: abolishing the Stability Pact, withdrawal from the Lisbon Treaty, new terms for the European Central Bank and reexamining, under new terms, the common agriculture policy and an initiative, on Greece's part, to not support the re-election of Jose Manuel Barroso to the European Commission.

[08] Parliament adopts proposal in case of former minister Pavlidis

From the 300-member House 294 deputies took part in the vote. Six deputies voted "present" while six votes were blank.

Speaking earlier on behalf of the majority, Drama Deputy Margaritis Tzimas had said that what is necessary is for the issue to be fully examined, adding that ND is open to the creation of a special Parliamentary committee to carry out a preliminary enquiry and that the deputies must vote acording to conscience, while stressing that ND is always in favour of transparency.

Main opposition party rapporteur Markos Bolaris invited the House "to have us give the opportunity to the former minister to prove that the things are not what they seem to be in the file of proceedings to enable him and us to circulate outside without feelings of guilt."

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) rapporteur Ioannis Giokas said on his part that "despite the fact that our experience from the creation of committees is not encouraging, we shall also utilise the Parliamentary process as well to enable us to contribute to the revelation of the truth in the Pavlidis case, particularly from the moment that there is evidence which justifies and necessitates its further examination."

Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Deputy Nikos Tsoukalis said that the content of the forwarding file in the Pavlidis case does not allow much ground for disputing, adding that any different decision from the creation of the committee "constitutes a blow at the prestige of the political world and for justice itself."

Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) First Athens Constituency Deputy Athanasios Plevris agreed with the creation of the special committee and called for the changing of the law on ministers' responsibility, to enable the time allowed for writing off offences perpetrated by politicians to be equated with that allowed for citizens.

On his part, forrmer minister Pavlidis defending himself said that he intended "not to resign, not to take any distances and to remain at his post."

[09] Gov't on former Aegean minister Pavlidis' case

"The government's position is clear and was expressed by the prime minister two days ago," Antonaros said, adding that the priority is to have the former Aegean minister's case fully investigated. "The goal and obligation is to leave no shadow hanging over the honor and reputation of the political world," he said.

[10] ND secretary confers with Euro-MPs; Pavlidis case

Other issues examined were the actions sponsored by the ND Euro-deputies, assessment of the last five-year term in the European Parliament and key-points for the future.

Major issues, including the establishment of good neighbourly relations between EU countries and aspiring EU members, the European coast guard, and protection of sea borders will be incorporated into the EPP resolution following initiatives by ND, Zagoritis stressed after the meeting.

On the former Aegean minister Aristotelis Pavlidis' case and Monday's vote in parliament on the proposal suggesting setting up a Parliamentary investigation committee, Zagoritis stated that the ND MPs will vote according to conscience.

[11] Obama urges Turkey to reopen Halki Seminary

U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday urged Turkey to reopen the Orthodox Halki Seminary, while addressing the Turkish National Assembly as part of his visit to the country.

"Democracies cannot be static - they must move forward," Obama said, adding: "Freedom of religion and expression lead to a strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the state, which is why steps like reopening the Halki Seminary will send such an important signal inside Turkey and beyond."

The Turkish government closed the seminary, the primary theological school of the Eastern Orthodox Church's Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1971.

Additionally, Obama urged the country, which straddles the land bridge between SE Europe and the Middle East, to continue pushing for human rights for minority groups, such as the Kurds.

Financial News

[12] FinMin meets with EU Commissioner Spidla in Athens

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Papathanassiou said that the talks focused on Greece's response to the global financial crisis and how to make better use of the European Social Fund.

Spidla, in turn, said that the European Social Fund regulations were being simplified, noting that relevant decisions would be taken at ECOFIN ministers' meeting in April.

He said that they had also discussed the European Court's ruling on the issue of equating the retirement ages for men and women in the public sector, and "we are prepared to find a reasonable and appropriate solution".

Replying to press questions, Spindla said that the discussions were not negotiations "but a common task", which was complex and massive. "We have commenced this task and are proceeding", he added.

The Commissioner further said that there was not time-table for a solution, adding, however, that there were many alternative solutions.

A ministry announcement said that two working groups would be set up, one in Athens and the other in Brussels, to compile the relevant data so that a solution may be found for the problem.

[13] Employment minister confers with EU employment Commissioner Spidla

Petralia said that relevant projects budgeted at approximately half a billion euros will have been tendered by June this year, while the amount will rise to one billion euros by the end of the year.

Spindla, in turn, told reporters that one million people in Greece had been reinforced with approximately 4.7 billion euros from the Social Fund in the period 2000-2006, while for the period 2007-2013 the budget would reach 4.3 billion euros.

Spindla further said that Greece was well-endowed to withstand the crisis, but urged a more dynamic confrontation with such actions as the Operational Program for Development of Human Resources, which he said would help meet the challenges.

On social policy, he underlined that a necessary target was to preserve existing jobs, activate the unemployed, boost investments, constant orientation and enhancement of prospects, combined, however, with a reduction in non-salary costs on labor, so that more employees could be absorbed in businesses.

Spindla further congratulated Petralia on the progress achieved in that area to date.

Questioned on a European Court ruling calling for equation of retirement ages for men and women in the public sector, Spindla said it was a ruling that ascertained discrimination in the system in Greece, and deemed necessary an improvement in the situation as well as implementation of the ruling. The Commission, he added, was prepared to support Greece in finding a balanced and appropriate solution.

Petralia, in turn, spoke of a round of deliberations aimed at the social security status for women taking more seriously into consideration the particularities and difficulties faced by Greek women.

Spindla clarified that the European mechanisms were prepared to be constructive, to the degree possible, and stressed that, under European legislation, regulations or arrangements could not be based on gender.

To a question on developments in labor relations, Spindla said that there could be no security without flexibility in work, but neither could there be flexibility without security. In other words, he clarified, the Commission's policy was that those two factors, flexibility and security, must always be at the same level.

[14] Cooperation between Greek gov't, EU on pensioning issue, Commissioner says

This cooperation will begin immediately after Easter and it will be implemented with the creation of special work groups and will be based on the principle of equal treatment and no discrimination.

The reference was made to the issue in the wake of the decision taken by the European Communities Court on March 26, 2009, with which the Court condemned Greece because it assessed that different treatment of the two genders regarding the pensioning age and the minimum service required, based on the Greek political and military pensioning system, is contrary to European Union law.

The Commissioner, who is currenbtly on two-day visit to Greece, avoided answering persistent questions by the press on determining a limit for the pensioning age, but clarified that in general the European Commission favours the extension of the time of active participation for working people in the EU, something that is also necessitated by the aging population.

[15] Governmenrt determined to curb public deficit, debt, FinMin says

Papathanasiou, who was addressing the General Assembly of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE), expressed his conviction that Greece will win the wager on reducing the deficit below 3 percent by the year 2010, although the difficulties for the Greek economy are lying ahead.

The minister reiterated that those who are calling for pressure to be exerted on the European Union to permit a flexible impementation of the Stability Pact "either do not realise the magnitude of the real threat for the national economy, or they realise it and are misleading deliberately."

Papathanasiou insisted on the option of not increasing tax rates for businesses, pointing out that every increase in the tax burden for firms at this period means, among other things, bankruptcies and unemployment.

He further stressed that if the crisis will require additional adjustments, the government is prepared to carry them out. He also reminded that the results of the measures taken will be evaluated in June and "if necessary, the necessary interventions will take place."

Papathanasiou went on to say that the government is primarily cracking down on state expenditures, reducing hirings in the public sector (12,000 this year compared to 21,000 departures), decreasing the number of public organisations and adopting the leasing method in state procurements.

Moreover, the effort to deal with tax evasion is being intensified. He said that out of ascertained debts amounting to 20 billion euros, half the figure can be received and the target is for at least 1.8 billion to be received this year.

Lastly, the minister said that 40 percent of the Public Investments Programme, or projects worth 7.5 billion concern northern Greece.

[16] Constructions, commerce and tourism sectors mostly hit by crisis, survey

Presenting a survey on the "consequences of a global economic crisis on Greek enterprises", conducted by Kappa Research, Mihalos said Greek enterprises were seeing lay-offs as a way out and stressed that 60,000 jobs would be immediately lost, unless urgent measures were taken, as 38,110 enterprises declared they were on the verge of closure.

The survey said that a vast majority of enterprises believed it would take 2-3 years to exiting from the crisis, while only 12 pct of enterprises said the crisis would last more than four years.

Four out of 10 businessmen said government measures to tackle the crisis were on the right track but 60 pct of enterprises (with a workforce of up to nine workers) already faced problems and noted that unless additional measures were taken by September, 70-80 pct of Greek enterprises would be facing serious problems. The survey also showed that 55.4 pct of Greek enterprises (employing up to five workers) were in favour of a more flexible working hours program.

Mihalos said businessmen were reluctant in making new investments and urged the government to use money from a Fourth Community Support Framework program (2008-2013) to partly fund pension contributions and workers' wages.

The construction, commerce and tourism sectors were mostly hit by the crisis, followed by manufacturing, banks and services. The survey showed that tourism, service and banks were more likely to recover first from an economic crisis.

[17] Best Workplaces in Greece 2009

Coca-Cola 3E leads the large companies' category, with Piscines Ideales topping the list of smaller companies.

The final evaluation of the companies was based by two/thirds on the answers to a questionnaire given by the employees themselves and the remaining one/third on the company-implemented human resources practices.

Coca-Cola 3E, Abbott Laboratories Hellas, Millennium Bank, Tasty Foods, Hewlett-Packard Hellas, Club Hotel Casino Loutraki, VIVECHROM, Hellenic Postbank, Marfin Egnatia Bank, and Deloitte complete the top ten list of the best workplaces in the country with over 250 employees.

The ten companies in the 50-250 personnel category are Piscines Ideales, Microsoft Hellas, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cisco Hellas, AION, PSIMITI S.A., 3M Hellas MEPE, Genesis Pharma, Exodus, and Johnson Diversey Hellas.

[18] OPE participates in PROWEIN international exhibition

The PROWEIN exhibition, that functions as a barometer for the international wine market, according to an announcement, delivered optimistic messages to the participating exhibitors and the Greek businesses that took part stressed their satisfaction over the number of visits to the Greek pavilion, since the visitors were buyers from Germany and other countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium and meetings held with them were substantive.

Foreign professional visitors were given a guided tour by Markus Del Monego, the only expert in the history of wine distinctions who holds the titles of Sommelier and Master of Wine.

Del Monego, who has been cooperating systematically with OPE in past years, referred to the positive development of Greek wine over the past 12 years, saying that "I wish to point out, being a wine expert, that over the past three years in particular, many steps have been taken and efforts by OPE and Greek firms are producign results. Greek wine is improving its image continuously and has begun being acknowledged."

[19] Livestock farmers hand out free milk in Athens protest

Protestors taking part in the demonstration organised by the Greek Livestock Farmers Association (SEK) gave out free cartons of pasteurised milk to passers-by, stressing that the prices paid to producers by dairy industries did not even cover the cost of production.

A delegation of the protestors later tried to meet Economy and Finance minister Yiannis Papathanassiou and present a resolution containing their demands but were refused a meeting. In an announcement, SEK expressed its members frustration at the ministry's stance, saying it was a grave insult to a sector in deep crisis that continued to be one of the mainstays of the real economy of the country.

Another SEK delegation met later with Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas and ask that he raise the problems facing the sector in Parliament, inviting members of SEK to explain their positions.

The group seeks greater financial support for livestock farmers, along the lines of aid given to crop farmers, as well as action to curb what they call a dairy industry cartel that imposes low prices on farmers and high prices on consumers.

The demonstration did not cause any disruption to traffic.

[20] Pensioners to hold protests on April 8 and 9

In a press conference on Monday they also announced that a similar protest scheduled for April 9 will take place in the northern city of Serres.

Demands include higher pensions and zero contribution by pensioners to medicine costs.

[21] Tourism Development Co. reports improved 2008 results

The company said its main goals this year was to maintain its financial independency combined with improved corporate performance, mainly on operating level as a result of higher incomes and lower operating costs.

[22] Gov't announces measures to modernize taxi services

Stylianides also said the ministry was also examining allowing partial use of bus lanes by taxis and raising the price of telephone reservations of taxis from 2.80 euros to 3-5 euros. The taxi federation pledged to equip all its taxi cars with a special GPS system and to take measures to combat illegal taxi drivers and cars.

[23] Greek mutual funds' assets down 12.26 pct so far this year

A report by the Association of Institutional Investors said EFG Mutual Funds Management Company was the most active company in the sector, with a market share of 23.87 pct, followed by National Asset Management with 20.53 pct, Alpha Asset Management (18.13 pct), Pension Funds' Asset Management (9.21 pct), HSBC (4.96 pct) and Emporiki Asset Management (3.80 pct).

[24] Greek stocks end 0.75 pct down

Most sectors moved lower, with the Insurance (4.52 pct), Health (3.61 pct), Raw Materials (1.91 pct) and Banks (1.79 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while the Food/Beverage (1.15 pct), Financial Services (0.90 pct) and Constructions (0.48 pct) scored gains.

The FTSE 20 index eased 1.02 pct, the FTSE 40 index ended 1.08 pct down and the FTSE 80 index fell 0.81 pct. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 132 to 63 with another 53 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -4.52%

Industrials: -1.04%

Commercial: -1.11%

Construction: +0.48%

Media: -0.76%

Oil & Gas: +0.01%

Personal & Household: -1.09%

Raw Materials: -1.91%

Travel & Leisure: -1.21%

Technology: -0.63%

Telecoms: -0.86

Banks: -1.79%

Food & Beverages: +1.15%

Health: -3.61%

Utilities: -0.54%

Chemicals: -1.07%

Financial Services: +0.90%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Alpha Bank, OPAP and Bank of Cyprus.

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank: 5.58

ATEbank: 1.11

Public Power Corp (PPC): 13.50

HBC Coca Cola: 11.46

Hellenic Petroleum: 6.89

National Bank of Greece: 12.70

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 4.90

Intralot: 3.88

OPAP: 19.00

OTE: 11.50

Bank of Piraeus: 5.29

Titan Cement Company: 15.98

[25] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 16,334 contracts, worth 13.260 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (5,554), followed by Eurobank (1,308), OTE (970), Piraeus Bank (1,152), Alpha Bank (2,302), Marfin Popular Bank (701) and Mytilineos (548).

[26] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates fell further. The 12-month Euribor rate was 1.80 pct, the six-month rate 1.64 pct, the three-month rate 1.46 pct and the one-month rate 1.05 pct.

[27] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

U.S. dollar 1.360

Pound sterling 0.912

Danish kroner 7.508

Swedish kroner 10.825

Japanese yen 137.11

Swiss franc 1.536

Norwegian kroner 8.855

Canadian dollar 1.678

Australian dollar 1.910

General News

[28] European Movement press conference in Athens

Cox is in Greece within the framework of a two-day European Movement seminar launched on April 4 and funded by the "Europe for citizens" EU programme that focused on EU reform issues in view of the European Parliament elections.

The head of the European Movement pointed out that the sector of tourism is not protected from the crisis, adding that it is a "reflection of the real economy". He clarified that tourism, which is an economic sector of major importance for Greece, mirrors the problems in the real economy, considering that "households are forced to make spending cuts".

The press conference was attended by former education minister and New Democracy (ND) Euro-MP Marietta Yiannakou who pointed out that the European Movement brings dialogue and the citizens' relation with European bodies back at center stage.

As regards the economic crisis, it was underlined that initially the problem was thought to concern exclusively the United States but then it spread as a result of globalization. "Therefore, we need globalized management of the situation," Cox underlined.

Roundtables and working groups on European reform and the EU future were also held within the framework of the conference.

Cox was received by Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas.

[29] Macedonia-Thrace minister receives SNMG2 delegation

Gumiero briefed the minister on the composition and operational capacity of the NATO force and their talks focused on the metropolitan and developmental role that the city of Thessaloniki and its port can play in southeastern Europe. Kalafatis stressed the dominant position of the city's port and said that the area could contribute "toward the harmonious co-existence and cooperation of countries in the region, in a climate of lasting peace and stability".

He also expressed to Gumiero his personal condolences and the support of Greeks for the victims of the devastating earthquake in central Italy.

[30] Coastal shipowner Agoudimos hospitalised

Agoudimos was rushed from his home in Lagonissi to Voula hospital, where doctors found that the 70-year-old shipowner was suffering from "pharmaceutical poisoning". Doctors flushed his stomach, and his close relatives signed for his release from the hospital to transfer him to a private hospital.

[31] Illegal immigrant arrests in northwest Greece

An Albanian national was arrested on the old Ioannina-Igoumenitsa motorway when police found in his car a total of 5 Albanian illegal migrants he undertook to transport south to the city of Agrinio in western Greece for a fee. Inside the car of another Albanian who was arrested in Margariti, Thesprotia Prefecture in the northwest, police found 6 Albanian illegal migrants he was transporting for a fee.

The Greek driver of a motorcycle and an Albanian illegal migrant passenger were arrested in Mavroudi, Thesprotia Prefecture, following a police chase. The suspects confessed during questioning that they were acting as look-outs for the transportation of Albanian illegal migrants organized by an Albanian national in Igoumenitsa. Police later found an abandoned car that was used to transport the illegal migrants.

In a separate incident, an Albanian national was arrested on the Ioannina-Athens national motorway when police found two Albanian illegal migrants in his car.

Police arrested another two Albanians in Igoumenitsa when five Albanian illegal migrants that they undertook to transport for a fee were found in their car. The investigation also revealed a number of narcotic pills.

A total of 166 illegal migrants were arrested in the province of Epirus during the past three days and have already been repatriated through the Kakavia border crossing.

Sports

[32] Maras wins gold in European Gymnastics Championships in Milan

Greece's Vlassis Maras won the gold medal in the horizontal bar event at the European Gymnastics Championships in Milan on Sunday, while Lefteris Kosmidis brought home the bronze medal after tying with Israel's Alexander Shatilov in the floor exercise event.

Maras made history on Sunday as he became the only athlete to win four gold medals in the horizontal bar, scoring 15,375 points in the final in Milan.

In statements to ANA-MPA later, Maras said he was very pleased that with just 1.5 hours of training a day he was able to win the gold. "I wasn't training extensively because I am devoting most of my time to my studies," the new European champion in the horizontal bar said.

Kosmidis, with 15,350 points, tied with Israel's Shatilov in the floor exercise, with both athletes receiving the bronze meda in a tight final on Sunday.

Weather Forecast

[33] Cloudy, rainy on Tuesday

[34] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Will Aristotelis Pavlidis speak out and submit his resignation on Monday in parliament?�

APOGEVMATINI: "Greece and USA come closer - Karamanlis, Obama meeting in Strasbourg contributes to the improvement of Greek-US relations".

AVRIANI: "American secret services investigating money laundering and drug trafficking - Four prominent Greek shipowners and a businessman in the IRS (American Internal Revenue Service) target sights".

CHORA: "Telis' (Aristotelis Pavlidis) end - Former minister must facilitate ruling New Democracy (by tendering his resignation from his MP seat)".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Prime Minister, you missed the major historical opportunity to say: Mr. Obama, you must study the history".

ELEFTHEROS: "What we gave and what we received from Obama - Prime Minister's meeting with Obama hides surprises".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Obama's gift to Ankara - USA, Europe bargaining over Turkey's role".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Pavlidis is an enigma - Secret ballot for a preliminary investigation committee at midnight Monday in parliament".

ESTIA: "Reactions on Karamanlis-Obama meeting - Parties' petty politics".

ETHNOS: "Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is US's sheriff - Turkey was 'nominated' as US strategic partner".

TA NEA: "Karamanlis, Pavlidis in major bargaining - Government gives everything to avoid elections".

VRADYNI: "Cold shower from Obama - The attitude has changed but not the substance of USA policy in our region".

Cyprus Affairs

[35] President Christofias arrives in Cairo for official visit

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias arrived in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday, heading a delegation, for a four-day official visit, accompanied by his spouse, Elsie.

During his stay, President Christofias will meet President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, Speaker of the Parliament Ahmed Fathy Sorour, and President of the Shura Council Mohamed Safwat El Sherif.

He will also meet religious leaders, address a business forum and visit various sites.

The delegation comprises Minister of Finance and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Charilaos Stavrakis, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, Director of the President's Office Vasos Georgiou and other officials.

[36] Obama: US willing to support efforts for a united Cyprus

US President Barack Obama on Monday stressed that his country is willing to help the two communities in Cyprus in reaching a solution that would reunify the island.

Addressing in Ankara the Turkish National Assembly, Obama referred to the Cyprus problem, saying that the solution would reunify Cyprus into a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

''The United States is willing to offer all the help sought by the parties as they work towards a just and lasting settlement that reunifies Cyprus into a bizonal and bicommunal federation,'' Obama said.

He added that the two community leaders in Cyprus have made a lot of efforts as regards the commencement of direct negotiations for a Cyprus solution.

The US President also referred to the religious rights and the need to reopen the Chalki Theology School which the Turkish authorities closed in 1971.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct talks since September last year with a view to reach a comprehensive solution to reunify the island remains divided for thirty five years after the 1974 Turkish invasion.

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