Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-02-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Dep. Finance Minister on tax evasion, VAT payment

[02] PM Samaras, FM Avramopoulos congratulate Cyprus presidential elections winner Anastasiades

[03] FM Avramopoulos on three-day visit to Canada

[04] Dep. Foreign Minister in Lisbon on Monday

[05] Main opposition leader calls for write-off of household debts

[06] Indep Greeks leader calls for resistance to austerity

[07] Independent Greeks party leader in Crete

[08] Electoral procedures for upcoming PASOK congress

[09] Labour Minister on unemployment

[10] Israeli, Canadian delegations on Crete to meet with local producers

[11] Ionian Islands promoted through Belgrade, Moscow trade fairs

[12] Endeavor Global to hold event in Athens on March 11-13

[13] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

[14] Attempted escape with helicopter from Trikala prison

[15] Man arrested at Iraklio port for carrying dangerous materials

[16] Falun Gong practitioners stage protest in Thessaloniki

[17] Public Prosecutor employee arrested for drug possession

[18] Surgeon dies of smoke inhalation on Crete

[19] Super League results

[20] Rainy on Monday

[21] The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] Dep. Finance Minister on tax evasion, VAT payment

Mavraganis said that in the ministry's plans is the taxation of citizens alleged to have sent 'black money' abroad, the comparison of real expenditures and incomes in order to check all tax payers' real incomes and the opening of tax evaders' bank accounts as well as to locate private cars without insurance .

The most optimistic intervention regarding the increase of revenues and the decrease of tax evasion is the online connection of shops' cash registers with the TAXIS system and the every day VAT payment.

In another interview with Ependytis newspaper on Sunday, Mavraganis said that the citizens must proceed with the arrangement of their overdue debts "A regulation is in effect regarding the overdue debts which under conditions may be paid in the next four years" said Mavraganis adding that "it would be good for those citizens having difficulties to pay their duties to take advantage of this regime and to make an arrangement ".

[02] PM Samaras, FM Avramopoulos congratulate Cyprus presidential elections winner Anastasiades

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras communicated by telephone with newly-elected President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and congratulated him on his election.

Meanwhile, according to an AMNA dispatch from New York, Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos also congratulated the newly-elected Cyprus President.

Avramopoulos communicated with Anastasiades from New York, congratulating him on his election and reconfirming Greece's position for close cooperation in the effort to defend the issues of Hellenism.

The Foreign minister stressed that Greece will continue to stand by the side of Cyprus with all forces, and struggle for a just and viable solution to the issue of Cyprus and the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops.

[03] FM Avramopoulos on three-day visit to Canada

Avramopoulos will be having bilateral consultations with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird (Wednesday 27/2), during which the two ministers will be discussing latest developments in Europe and efforts to handle the economic crisis, EU-Canada relations and regional developments in the region of Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Greek Foreign minister will also be meeting Senate President Noel Kinsella (Tuesday 26/2), who will host a reception in his honour at the Canadian Parliament. On the same day, Avramopoulos will attend a dinner with members of the Greek community of Ottawa.

Avramopoulos will visit Toronto (Monday 25/2) and Montreal (Tuesday 26/2), Canada's two biggest cities, with a considerable expatriate presence where, apart from his contacts with expatriate representatives, he will be holding meetings with business and investments agencies in the framework of the Foreign ministry's undertaking of initiatives for the attraction of foreign investments to Greece.

Lastly, in Toronto, Avramopoulos will be meeting the Metropolitan of Canada Sotirios.

[04] Dep. Foreign Minister in Lisbon on Monday

Kourkoulas will be among the main speakers on Tuesday in the first part of the congress entitled "the economic crisis of Europe and the Mediterreanean Europe: the economic, social and political challenges".

On the sidelines of the congress, Kourkoulas will meet with his Portuguese counterpart Miguel Morais Leitao.

The German Marshall Fund is a non-governmental US institute on the strengthening of the cooperation and understanding between USA and Europe. The Institute was founded in 1972 on the 25th anniversary of the Marsall Plan and has a strong presence in both sides of the Atlantic.

[05] Main opposition leader calls for write-off of household debts

The main opposition's leader also charged that the European Commission's forecast for the Greek economy and its revival was "as reliable as the memorandum programme that contains the infamous 'mistake' of the International Monetary Fund and has led to an accumulated reduction in the GNP of 25 pct."

On the debts households face in Greece, Tsipras said that the party had tabled a bill proposing "the complete write-off of debts for citizens who have fallen below the poverty level and the reduction of monthly installment payments."

[06] Indep Greeks leader calls for resistance to austerity

Kammenos said that "We must send a message of resistance" and called on Greek citizens to react to the austerity measures, charging the coalition government with "faithfully following the dictates of a foreign junta," referring to the troika of lenders.

[07] Independent Greeks party leader in Crete

In both his address and in an interview, Kammenos reiterated that for the Indepedent Greeks party there is no question of cooperation with the parties serving the memorandum. He said, however, that there are points of convergence with the pre-electoral programme of the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA), "however we have red lines on the national issues".

Kammenos further said that the memorandum is proceeding with the personal guarantee of the three of the coalition government, a memorandum that has only reached 50 percent, claiming that their target is for the internal devaluation, the impoverishment of the Greeks to go ahead even for a 50 percent.

[08] Electoral procedures for upcoming PASOK congress

Venizelos stressed that "the people of the democratic party surpassed every organising expectation, participation exceeds every previous similar procedure" and thanked "wholeheartedly" PASOK's members and friends "who with their mass participation today showed that PASOK is here, it endures, it changes, it is transforming and struggling for the country and the citizens".

As regards the meaning of the participation in Sunday's elections, Venizelos said that it "swept aside the miseries and remnants of old mechanistic conceptions", adding that "the people of the democratic party declared clearly today that they support the great effort that we are making for the motherland, as well as for the party itself that exists for the sake of the motherland".

Financial News

[09] Labour Minister on unemployment

Vroutsis said in an interview with Real News newspaper on Sunday, that the government is examining several scenarios to support these families and believes that a "bold review of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) funds.

He also stated that the control to locate pensioners that received double pensions and incomes will continue and that the regulation regarding 15 billion euros debts to social security funds will be the last and preannounced that a modern unified way regarding the collection of taxes and contributions will be established.

[10] Israeli, Canadian delegations on Crete to meet with local producers

The foreign businessmen will meet with Crete's prefector Stavros Arnaoutakis and local entities.

The Israeli delegation is interested in farming products as olive oil, cheese and milk, eggs, herbs, honey, marmelades as well as fishing products, meat, fruit and vegetables, pasta and other local products.

On their part the Canadians are interested in olive oil, olives, wine and raisins.

[11] Ionian Islands promoted through Belgrade, Moscow trade fairs

A delegation of hoteliers and other island organisations headed by the island region's district director Spyros Spyrou is attending the 35th International Tourism Fair of Belgrade, which opened Friday and will run until Sunday.

Four agricultural cooperatives and an independent producer of Zakynthos are attending a biannual international fair on food and drink in Moscow to promote the island's olive oil, which will make its way onto supermarket shelves in the greater Moscow area.

[12] Endeavor Global to hold event in Athens on March 11-13

More than 50 businessmen from the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, South Africa, Asia and Greece will participate in Endeavor's 47th international selection panel that will be held in Athens on March 11-13, 2013. The event is held five times a year in a city of Endeavor's international network.

Endeavor Global opened a branch in Athens in September 2012 with the aim of supporting local entrepreneurship. It selects and supports new businessmen, contributing to the Greek economy's restructuring and the establishment of a new era of optimism and viable economic growth, according to the event's organisers.

[13] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

U.S. dollar 1.338

Pound sterling 0.874

Danish kroner 7.571

Swedish kroner 8.584

Japanese yen 124.82

Swiss franc 1.245

Norwegian kroner 7.579

Canadian dollar 1.366

Australian dollar 1.295

General News

[14] Attempted escape with helicopter from Trikala prison

According to the reports, the helicopter was spotted by guards when it attempted to lift the electrified net, an exchange of fire followed and the helicopter was eventually pinned down in the prison's parking lot.

Vlastos has been sentenced to life imprisonment twice and to 25 years in prison for his participation in the so-called "crime syndicate".

[15] Man arrested at Iraklio port for carrying dangerous materials

A check following its disembarcation from a ship revealed the dangerous cargo composed of 60 bottles of butane weighing 27.600 kilos and 24 bottles of spirit weighing 10.320 kilos.

The cargo was confiscated, while the Iraklio Central Port Authority is conducting a preliminary investigation.

[16] Falun Gong practitioners stage protest in Thessaloniki

The twelve began their protest earlier in the day, at Aristotelous Square, under the accompaniment of music. Falun Gong or Falun Dafa is a spiritual discipline introduced in China in the late 90s and involves meditation and qigong exercises. It emphasises morality and the cultivation of virtue and is said to be practised by millions in China.

The protesters said that the popularity of the system troubled the government of China which began persecuting its adherents, jailing half a million, with 3,500 of these dying in jail.

[17] Public Prosecutor employee arrested for drug possession

The man was under surveillance from the time he loaded four sacks of marijuana in his car, which had government plates, at Sagiada and he was arrested at the town of Nea Selefkia. Preliminary reports estimated that the drugs weighed 150 kg.

[18] Surgeon dies of smoke inhalation on Crete

The 59-year-old man had put out a fire in his kitchen but could not pry open the power-operated windows and succumbed at the house. He was the chief of surgery in the hospital's emergency wing and his funeral will be held on Monday.

Soccer

[19] Super League results

In other action:

Xanthi - Veria 0-2

PAOK Thessaloniki - Kerkyra 3-1

Asteras Tripoli - Levadiakos Livadia 1-0

Atromitos Athens - PAS Yiannina 0-0

Panionios Athens - Panthrakikos Komotini 2-0

Standings after 23 weeks of play:

1. Olympiacos 60

2. Asteras 44

3. PAOK 43

4. Atromitos 38

5. PAS Yiannina 32

6. Levadiakos 29

7. Panathinaikos 29

8. Xanthi 28

9. Panionios 28

10. Platanias 27

11. OFI 26

12. Panthrakikos 26

13. AEK 26

14. Veria 23

15. Aris 22

16. Kerkyra 17

NOTE: Panathinaikos has had two points deducted.

Weather forecast

[20] Rainy on Monday

[21] The Sunday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

AVGHI: "Recession and unemployment accelerate developments - Prime Minister Antonis Samaras afraid of collapse until June"

KATHIMERINI: "Tax Bureaus will collect contributions to social security funds- IMF's plan".

KYRIAKATIKI DIMOKRATIA: "PASOK of... 5 percent controls the state"

KYRIAKATIKI ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "5 bln euros losses in social security funds from civil servants' voluntary exits- Tax payers called to pay the cost of early retirements".

KYRIAKATIKOS RIZOSPASTIS: "New sweeping changes in social security".

LOGOS: "Ten tricks to cut down food waste"

TO VIMA: "Deputy Finance Minister Giorgos Mavraganis: VAT to be paid on the same day"

TYPOS: "Plan B in public sector with layoffs from 2014".

PROTO THEMA: "The cells of gold -Canadians' El Dorado in Skouries goldmine( Chalkidiki region)".

TO ARTHRO: "Does the government want investments? - Greece's credibility as investing destination judged in Skouries".

PARASKINIO: "National constructors' 'colpo grosso' - They receive billions of euros even for 'ghost' works".

TO PARON: "Financial crimes squad examines burning list with 27 names - Ministers, constructors, pharmaceutical companies, shipowners, e.t.c on target".

REAL NEWS: "We do not sell in unprofitable prices - The head of the State Property Development Fund reveals to newspaper the government's stategy on Helliniko former airport real estate, Greek state lottery organization (OPAP), Public Gas Corporation SA (DEPA) and 34 other state owned buildings".

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