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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-08-28Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Tuesday, 28 August 2012 Issue No: 4159CONTENTS
[01] President Papoulias meeting with PM on TuesdayPresident of Republic Karolos Papoulias will receive Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Tuesday at 14:00 at the Maximos mansion. Samaras will brief Papoulias on his recent meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin and with French President Francois Hollande in Paris.[02] Gov't spokesman: First signs of restoration of country's credibilityGovernment spokesman Simos Kedikoglou on Monday, referring to Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, in Berlin and Paris, respectively, emphasised that "a first step was taken, the path, however, is long and the effort huge, and we believe that the first sign of the restoration of the country's credibility was recorded."Asked whether the government is concerned of possible reactions by New Democracy (ND) deputies to a new round of austerity measures, Kedikoglou noted that "we are not afraid because we know that we are following the only path that can keep Greece in Europe, and which can get us onto a course for growth very soon ..." [03] PM inaugurates exhibition featuring Spyros Louis' 1896 Olympic silver cupPrime Minister Antonis Samaras on Monday inaugurated an exhibition that features the silver cup awarded to Greek runner Spyros Louis when he won the first-ever Olympic marathon race at the 1896 Games in Athens.The cup will be displayed at the New Acropolis Museum for a year, starting on Aug. 28, after a decision by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, which purchased the heirloom at an auction recently from Louis' descendants. [04] 'We shall overcome all obstacles', PM Samaras says at Spyros Louis cup exhibition inaugurationPrime Minister Antonis Samaras inaugurated the exhibition of the silver cup of Spyros Louis at the Acropolis Museum on Monday evening."Today Greece is participating in its entirety in a new marathon, a contest that puts to the test both the endurance and the will of the athlete and that is won with both heart and mind. We shall win this marathon, we shall overcome all the obstacles and we shall say at the end we have won," Samaras said on underlining the cup's symbolism. The event was attended, among others, by Education, Religion, Culture and Sport Minister Constantine Arvanitopoulos, Alternate Culture Minister Costas Tzavaras and the deputies Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Pyrros Dimas. [05] Gov't to handover two executive jets to air forceOne of the three government executive jets will be sold and the remaining two will be used by the air force for training and other purposes, including patient and organ transplant airlifts, it was announced on Monday. A relevant decision was made in response to a directive given by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.[06] ND political com't to elect new secretary on Thur.New Democracy party's political comittee will convene under the chairmanship of party leader and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Thursday morning to elect a new party secretary.It was also announced on Monday that Samaras appointed ND cadre and union organiser Filippos Tavris as the head of the organising committee for ND's upcoming congress. [07] PASOK party leader addresses organising secretariatPASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos addressed the party's organising secretariat on Monday and stressed, according to party sources, that "a great deal of work is in store for us under difficult conditions", while pointing out that the party supports the efforts of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in his international contacts.The same sources referred to a note that Venizelos delivered to the prime minister before his contacts, and in which the course covered by the country was mentioned and the results it has achieved. It was announced at the organising secretariat's session that the secretary of the Parliamentary group, Yiannis Maniatis, and party cadre Panos Beglitis will represent PASOK at the Socialist International's council, which will convene in Cape Town, and where former prime minister George Papandreou will again be a candidate for the group's presidency. During Monday's session, Venizelos did not refer at length to political developments, but associates said he will convey his views during Tuesday's session of the party's Parliamentary group. [08] Independent Greeks party call for clarifications on size of economic measuresThe opposition Independent Greeks party on Monday called on the government to clarify "as early as today" the exact amount that will correspond to the economic measures about to be implemented."When the lies told during and after the election campaign - that referred to a renegotiation and extension - collapsed with the prime minister's visits to Berlin and Paris, government sources started spreading rumours that the measures to be implemented in the next two years will correspond to spending cuts ranging between 18 billion euros and 22 billion euros instead of 11.5 billion," party spokesman Christos Zois stressed. "The government of the willing partners now tests the political tolerance of the Greeks after testing their economic endurance," he concluded. [09] KKE on new economic measuresThe Communist Party (KKE) on Monday referred to "new measures to be introduced by the government and the EU," stressing that "people should be vigilant and launch a counterattack seeking disengagement from the EU, unilateral debt write-off and abolition of all monopolies."A KKE statement underlined that "people should not wait in fear and with a sense of uneasiness for the new slaughter targeting wages, pensions and what's left of social spending." Financial News [10] Finance ministry on disability bonusesThe finance ministry is examining plans for cutbacks in disability bonuses, although no decision has been taken as yet, Deputy Labour Minister Nikos Panayiotopoulos said on Monday in reply to a tabled question by Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) deputy Panayiotis Kouroumblis.Panayiotopoulos added that, in any case, the main weight of the government's policy in relation to the disabled will focus on the rationalisation of the system in its entirety, and especially the weeding out of bogus invalids. Kouroumblis, a former PASOK MP who is legally blind, underlined that the "the disability bonus of 300-350 euros cannot be considered income for a family. It is a bonus that covers the primary repercussions of a beneficiary's disability in the family environment, money that goes to the real economy..." [11] Greek trade deficit down 36.5 pct in JuneGreece's trade deficit shrank by 36.5 pct in June this year, reflecting exports' growth and lower imports because of a drastic cut in domestic consumer demand in the country, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Monday. The statistics service, in a report, said the country's trade deficit fell by 22.4 pct in the first half of the year.The value of import-arrivals -excluding oils- totaled 2.464 billion euros in June, from 3.031 billion euros in June 2011, for a decline of 18.7 pct, while the value of export-deliveries -excluding oils- totaled 1.411 billion euros in June from 1.373 billion euros in 2011, for an increase of 2.8 pct. As a result, the country's trade deficit -excluding oils- fell 36.5 pct to 1.052 billion euros in June 2012, from 1.658 billion euros in June 2011. The trade deficit fell 22.4 pct to 6.973 billion euros in the January-June period, from 8.990 billion euros last year. [12] HOL reports 3.0% increase in H1 earningsHellas Online on Monday reported a 3.0-pct increase in its operating earnings in the first half of 2012, with EBITDA totaling 33.6 million euros in the January-June period, from 32.6 million euros in the corresponding period last year. Revenues rose 8.4 pct in the first six months of the year to 122.7 million euros, from 113.3 million euros last year.Amortizations fell to 32.7 million euros, from 33.6 million euros in 2011, while pre-tax losses fell to 7.9 million euros in the first half form 8.6 million euros in 2011. Operating cash flow totaled 30.3 million euros in the first half form 24.8 million euros in 2011, while net bank borrowing fell to 172.8 million from 180.9 million euros, respectively. Investments totaled 6.7 million euros in the first six months of 2012 to 389.3 million euros since 2006. [13] Greek stocks end moderately upGreek stocks ended moderately higher in the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday, with the composite index of the market closing below the 650-support level despite finding support from selected blue chips such as PPC and National Bank. The index rose 0.32 pct to end at 646.08 points, off the day's highs of 654.25 points. Turnover remained a low 30.616 million euros. The Big Cap index rose 0.09 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 0.80 pct higher.Utilities (3.4 pct), Health (2.19 pct), Technology (1.08 pct) and Travel (1.06 pct) were top gainers, while Industrial Products (1.21 pct) and Telecoms (0.38 pct) suffered losses. PPC (2.97 pct), National Bank (2.88 pct), Metka (1.33 pct) and Piraeus Bank (1.29 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Cyprus Popular Bank (9.76 pct), Alpha Bank (3.47 pct) and Viohalco (2.99 pct) were top losers. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 56 to 53 with another 18 issues unchanged. Kloukinas-Lappas (25.37 pct), Loulis (9.85 pct) and CPI (9.85 pct) were top gainers, while Kyriakoulis (29.92 pct), Allatini Ceramics (19.27 pct) and Attikat (15.63 pct) were top losers. Sector indices ended as follows: Industrials: -1.21% Commercial: -0.29% Construction: +0.25% Oil & Gas: -0.32% Personal & Household: Unchanged Raw Materials: +0.92% Travel & Leisure: +1.06% Technology: +1.08% Telecoms: -0.38 Banks: -0.19% Food & Beverages: Unchanged Health: +2.19% Utilities: +3.40% Financial Services: +0.31% The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Alpha Bank, OTE and OPAP. Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows: Alpha Bank: 1,39 Public Power Corp (PPC): 2,77 HBC Coca Cola: 14,75 Hellenic Petroleum: 5,68 National Bank of Greece: 1,43 EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0,71 OPAP: 5,29 OTE: 2,65 Bank of Piraeus: 0,24 Titan: 13 [14] ADEX closing reportThe September contract on the FTSE 20 index was trading at a premium of 0.77 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Monday, with turnover remaining a low 10.030 million euros. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 3,701 contracts worth 4.371 million euros, with 22,239 open positions in the market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 38,603 contracts worth 5.659 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Alpha Bank's contracts (14,902), followed by National Bank (12,720), OTE (2,485), PPC (1,170), Cyprus Popular Bank (4,361), Cyprus Bank (760), OPAP (771), Piraeus Bank (243), Mytilineos (235), Viohalco (133), Motor Oil (139) and Hellenic Postbank (112).[15] Greek bond market closing reportThe yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds was 22.45 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond market on Monday, with the Greek bond yielding 23.8 pct and the German Bund 1.35 pct. There was no turnover in the market. In interbank market, interest rates were largely unchanged.The 12-month rate was 0.83 pct, the six-month rate 0.55 pct, the three-month rate 0.37 pct and the one-month rate 0.12 pct. General News [16] Resurgent illegal migration flow targets SamosA resurgent wave of illegal migration targeting the eastern Aegean island of Samos, the closest large isle to the Asia Minor coast, has apparently been recorded over the recent period, with authorities blaming the conflict in Syria and stepped up patrolling of the land border with Turkey along the Evros River.Two citizens of Myanmar, aged 18 and 20, along with 12 Afghan nationals were arrested on Samos. According to police, the illegal migrants were ferried from the opposite Turkish coast with a speedboat. On Sunday, a Frontex patrol vessel spotted a dinghy of NE of Samos carrying 40 illegal migrants (26 men, six women and eight minors), who promptly destroyed the inflatable craft and jumped in the water when they, in turn, spotted the patrol vessel. The illegals were detained by the local coastal guard and transferred to the harbour of Pythagorio on Samos. Destroying the transport craft, along with whatever travel and ID documents as well as jumping in water have been repeatedly used by illegal migrants and migrant smugglers to force Greek authorities to rescue them at sea and to conceal their real identities, ages, country of origin etc. in order to make their deportation more difficult. [17] Coast guard confiscates equipment abandoned by Turkish trawlers in Greek territorial watersThe coast guard in the northeast port city of Alexandroupolis on Monday confiscated fishing equipment used by at least three Turkish trawlers reportedly fishing illegally in Greek territorial waters.According to the coast guard, Turkish trawlers were spotted by a patrol boat roughly five nautical miles off the port of Alexandroupolis. In order to avoid arrest the trawlers' skippers abandoned their equipment and sailed for Turkish waters. [18] Wildfire in AsprovaltaA wildfire has been raging in forestland in Asprovalta, in the Thessaloniki prefecture, since Monday afternoon. According to firemen, the blaze has reached the Riviera settlement and has damaged 2-3 houses, while inhabitants of the settlement have left their homes.The wildfire is being combatted by 20 firemen with backing by 10 vehicles, two firefighting aircraft and a helicopter. [19] Afidnes wildfire mostly extinguishedA wildfire breaking out in the region of Afidnes, north of Athens, on Saturday has been placed under complete control. Firefighting forces remained in the region to extinguish the blaze completely and to prevent it from rekindling.[20] Unidentified culprits steal illegal migrant residence permits from local gov't officesUnidentified individuals broke into the offices of the regional administration of the Peloponnese, western Greece and Ionian in the southern city of Kalamata in the early morning hours on Monday and made off with cash and hundreds of illegal migrant residence cards and certificates.After disarming an alarm system, the culprits entered the offices and removed 8,000 euros and a total of 2,100 illegal migrant documents kept in a first-floor office safe. Sports [21] Super League resultsPanionios Athens beat Aris Thessaloniki 1-0 in a game played for the Super League on Monday evening.The remaining games played over the weekend had the following results: AEK Athens - Asteras Tripoli 0-1, PAS Yiannina - Platanias Crete 0-0, Levadiakos Livadia - Panathinaikos Athens 0-1, OFI Crete - Xanthi 0-0, Kerkyra - Atromitos Athens 0-2, PAOK Thessaloniki - Panthrakikos Komotini 1-0 and Veria - Olympiacos Piraeus 1-2. [22] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance0The government's plans for further cutbacks in civil servants' salaries, pensions and in lump sum retirement payments dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers. ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "New cutbacks in civil servants' salaries". ETHNOS: "They keys of ... exit to troika (EC, ECB, IMF)". IMERISSIA: "Everything 'sealed' in next 40 days". NAFTEMPORIKI: "German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Be careful what you say when you speak of Greece". TA NEA: "Multi-speed cutbacks". 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: ILIAS MATSIKAS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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