Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-01-12

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras chairs meeting on social security reforms and the Greek programme

[02] Social security bill may exceed government's majority, says State Minister Pappas

[03] Greece's proposal on social security reforms under evaluation, EC spokesman Schinas says

[04] Kyriakos Mitsotakis elected president of main opposition New Democracy party

[05] The party needs renewal, says newly elected ND leader Mitsotakis

[06] Tsakalotos says talks with Finland's Stubb were 'constructive'

[07] Finance Minister Tsakalotos meets with his French counterpart in Paris

[08] Alt. FM Xydakis starts European tour to brief counterparts on refugee crisis

[09] Refugee crisis discussed between Alt. FM and Dutch envoy

[10] Dep. FM Amanatidis meets Belgian, Venezuelan envoys

[11] Public sector union ADEDY to demonstrate on Jan 16 against increase in social security contributions

[12] Greek seamen prepare strike against social security reform bill

[13] Foreign investors raise participation Greek stock market's capitalization

[14] Greece to open offers for Piraeus Port on Tuesday

[15] Taxpayers to use credit cards to pay their obligations in Taxis system, Alternate FinMin Alexiadis says

[16] Sarantis Group begins production of Noxzema products in Greece

[17] Tourist arrivals up 8.6 pct in Jan-Sept

[18] Greek stocks fall for fifth successive session

[19] Greek bond market closing report

[20] ADEX closing report

[21] Number of refugee arrivals in Lesvos in spring could exceed 2015 numbers, says police source

[22] Two more ferries with refugees dock at Piraeus port

[23] Partly cloudy on Tuesday

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

[01] PM Tsipras chairs meeting on social security reforms and the Greek programme

The meeting was held at the prime minister's office in parliament with the participation of members of the government and associates of the prime ministers.

SYRIZA parliamentary group is scheduled to convene on Monday afternoon. Labour Minister George Katrougalos will be present at the meeting that will focus on the social security system. The government has left open the possibility for corrections in its proposal for social security reforms.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos continues his tour in Europe aiming to highlight the need for the restructuring of the Greek debt.

On his part, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos will visit Moscow this week while next week he will be in Berlin and Frankfurt.

Tsipras will have a series of important meetings on the future of the Greek programme in Davos.

[02] Social security bill may exceed government's majority, says State Minister Pappas

The government's proposal puts an end to the "disaster" scenarios as cuts are avoided and additional resources are ensured, he added.

He harshly criticised main opposition New Democracy (ND) accusing it of not having submitted new proposals. "It continues to support the proposals clearly stated in the institutions' proposals that were rejected in the referendum," he stated.

Asked to comment Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem's statement that the first evaluation can take months, he said: "Some may wish for a new game of delays. But the agreement is being implemented and the fiscal figures are positive."

[03] Greece's proposal on social security reforms under evaluation, EC spokesman Schinas says

Greece's proposal on social security reforms received by the European Commission last week is under evaluation, EC spokesman Margaritis Schinas said on Monday.

"The evaluation of the proposal is underway. The institutions will further discuss the issue during their visit to Athens later in the month," he added. He made clear that the process has not yet been concluded and any reference to the Commission's stance is speculations.

Schinas underlined that the evaluation will be carried out in close cooperation with the Greek authorities and the other institutions.

[04] Kyriakos Mitsotakis elected president of main opposition New Democracy party

With 75.02% of the party member votes counted, Mitsotakis collected 51,6% of the votes and Meimarakis 48,4%. Nationally, there are 400.000 registered party members who voted.

Messages of congratulations came in, among others, from prime minister Alexis Tsipras, with whom Mitsotakis is expected to meet this week, former prime minister and former ND leader Samaras, interim ND president Yiannis Plakiotakis, Democratic Left leader Thanassis Theocharopoulos and Mitsotakis' fellow contestants Meimarakis and regional governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas. Junior coalition party member (Independent Greeks) spokeswoman Marina Chryssoveloni criticised the party, charging that it would become a "tough neoliberal party serving the oligarchy".

In a brief message, Mitsotakis, who later on Sunday paid a visit to his father, former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis, thanked his voters, party volunteers and his family. He also made particular reference to Meimarakis, whom he called "a valuable colleague", and underlined his intention to work with all candidates for the unity of the party and its revival.

"Now the time of great responsibility begins," he said, "We have a lot of work ahead of us, but the hope of citizens gives us strength - a hope that something can truly change in this country. Citizens who had turned away from politics got off their couches and participated (in voting) because they believed in the power of our arguments, and this is perhaps the most optimistic message." He also expressed the certainty that ND would be able to unite the Greeks as it had done in the past.

[05] The party needs renewal, says newly elected ND leader Mitsotakis

Mitsotakis thanked Ioannis Plakiotakis, who served as interim leader, for his work adding that the party has deep roots in the society.

"We will renew New Democracy with respect to its history and based on the present needs. It is our duty New Democracy to become the great centre-right party and to close the circle of populism. No one is redundant, but the party needs opening," he underlined.

[06] Tsakalotos says talks with Finland's Stubb were 'constructive'

"We discussed the Greek road map for exiting the crisis which started with the successful recapitalization of the banks and now continues with the successful conclusion of the first program review," Tsakalotos said.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Stubb said there's no "Grexit" issue. "I hear good things about Greece everywhere and from other countries and in the Eurogroup," he said.

After Helsinki, Tsakalotos is travelling to Amsterdam where he's scheduled to meet his Dutch counterpart Jeroen Dijsselbloem and then to Berlin for talks with Wolfgang Schaeuble.

[07] Finance Minister Tsakalotos meets with his French counterpart in Paris

At a joint press conference, Tsakalotos said that trust had been built around the strategy Greece is following, leading him to believe that a "responsible agenda" would be put together. He also noted the necessity of balancing obligations and viability, which would lead to the creation of a "virtuous economic cycle."

Commenting on negotiations over Greece's debt, Sapin said that "the sooner negotiations over the debt begin, under good conditions, the better for all of us. This is France's position." He expressed the certainty there are solutions to the issue, as long as they don't transcend the "red lines" drawn by other European countries.

Asked to comment on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the French minister said, "The IMF is here and we cannot chase it away," and said a conclusion must be reached about its participation (in talks over the debt). A quick resolution over the debt would be beneficial to Greece, he said, because it will allow the country to manage itself independently and to develop.

[08] Alt. FM Xydakis starts European tour to brief counterparts on refugee crisis

The visits will be carried out in parallel and in collaboration with Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, who will be briefing his eurozone counterparts on the progress in the Greek programme.

On Tuesday, 12 January, Xydakis will travel to Amsterdam, where he will meet with Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders. On Wednesday, 13 January, the minister will be in Berlin to meet with German Minister of State for Europe, Michael Roth. Finally, on Thursday, 14 January, he will be in Brussels, where he will meet with the Greek MEPs.

[09] Refugee crisis discussed between Alt. FM and Dutch envoy

During the discussion the two sides focused on the presentation of the programme of the Netherlands Presidency, with particular emphasis on confronting the refugee and migration crisis and the need to find a European solution, with a strengthened relocation system. Reference was also made to Greece's efforts towards economic recovery.

[10] Dep. FM Amanatidis meets Belgian, Venezuelan envoys

In the meeting with Belgian envoy Luc Liebaut, both sides reaffirming the exceptional level of bilateral relations and discussed mainly on current developments. The Belgian Ambassador praised the role of Belgium's Greek community in developing relations and recognized the significant progress our country has achieved in implementing the reforms.

In the meeting with the Venezuelan Ambassador Farid Fernandez, a convergence of views was ascertained with regard to the positive dynamic that has been gained in Greek-Venezuelan bilateral relations, particularly in the past year, and shared will was reaffirmed for the further deepening of those relations and the practical manifestation of the progress made in a number of sectors of mutual interest, with emphasis on the sectors of education and culture, which are within Amanatidis portfolio.

[11] Public sector union ADEDY to demonstrate on Jan 16 against increase in social security contributions

ADEDY along with other labour unions also decided to intensify their mobilisations ahead of the submission of the bill to the Parliament.

Both the public and the private sector unions express their opposition to the increase in social security contributions.

[12] Greek seamen prepare strike against social security reform bill

Their union, PNO, described the new bill as "a cause of war" and told ANA-MPA it will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to participate in labour action planned by private sector union GSEE or to protest independently.

POE-OTA federation representing municipal workers also warned of strikes and said it will participate in the rally organized by the civil sector union ADEDY on Jan. 16 in Athens and Crete and on Jan. 30 in Thessaloniki. More labour unions are also expected to intensify their labour action ahead of the submission of the bill to Parliament.

Financial News

[13] Foreign investors raise participation Greek stock market's capitalization

Foreign investors were net buyers in December, with capital inflows amounting to 997.58 million euros, while Greek investors were net sellers with capital outflows totaling 997.11 million euros. Foreign investors accounted for 65.1 pct of market transactions (up from 58.2 pct in November but down from 65.1 pct in December 2014). The value of transactions totaled 3.942 billion euros in December, up 331.5 pct from November and up 92 pct from December 2014. Average daily turnover was 187.73 million euros, up from 43.51 million in November and 102.68 million in December 2014.

The number of active investor codes totaled 26,322 in December from 25,151 in November. The market's capitalization amounted to 39.2 billion euros in December, up 13.8 pct from a month earlier, but down 14.2 pct from December 2014.

[14] Greece to open offers for Piraeus Port on Tuesday

Despite the fact that Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund has not published the number of binding offers submitted with Morgan Stanley in London, Merchant Shipping ministry sources told ANA-MPA that the only bid submitted to the Fund was by Chinese COSCO, while the other candidate, Danish Maersk, was seemed to be interest more in the Thessaloniki Port, with binding offers expected to be submitted in three months.

Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund is expected to ask for an improved offer if COSCO was the only candidate for Piraeus Port, depending on the offer submitted by the Chinese company. Port authority officials told ANA-MPA that the market value of Piraeus Port Organization was currently around 250 million euros and noted that regardless of the price offered to buy a 67 pct of the port, the candidate investor would also undertake a large investment risk. Under the terms of the tender, any possible buyer of Piraeus Port was committed to make investments worth 340 million euros in the port, mainly to boost sea cruise services, new tanks for ship repair and new infrastructure in the ship-building zone.

[15] Taxpayers to use credit cards to pay their obligations in Taxis system, Alternate FinMin Alexiadis says

Speaking in Parliament, responding to deputies' questions, Alexiadis said the ministry plans to have everything prepared in the first half of 2016 so that taxpayers would be able to pay their taxes through the Taxis system. He noted that this service will facilitate tax payment.

[16] Sarantis Group begins production of Noxzema products in Greece

Noxzema's products in Greece include body deodorants, bath soaps, shaving foams, all enjoying significant market shares in Greece. Sarantis Group invested around 1.0 million euros to purchase the necessary machinery equipment and raised its workforce by 20 positions to meet increased production levels.

[17] Tourist arrivals up 8.6 pct in Jan-Sept

The statistics service, in a report based on a survey conducted by the Bank of Greece, said that arrivals from Europe -which accounted for the biggest part of arrivals (88.4 pct)- grew 7.9 pct, while arrivals from the EU jumped 17.1 pct. Tourist arrivals from Bulgaria jumped 56.8 pct, from FYROM rose 26.1 pct, from Germany 17.8 pct, from the UK 17.5 pct), from Italy 26.1 pct and from Poland rose 27.1 pct. On the other hand, arrivals from Russia dropped 62.1 pct and from Serbia fell 26.5 pct.

Tourist arrivals from the US grew 3.2 pct in the nine-month period, while arrivals from Turkey rose 4.5 pct.

Arrivals in the Athens airport accounted from 16.1 pct of all arrivals in the country, followed by the Heraclion airport (10.8 pct) and Rhodes (8.2 pct).

[18] Greek stocks fall for fifth successive session

The Large Cap index fell 0.94 pct and the Mid Cap index rose 0.84 pct. Turnover shrank to 48.756 million euros, in volume of 63,814,015.

PPC (1.63 pct), Piraeus Port (1.41 pct) and National Bank (1.06 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Folli Follie (4.08 pct), Ellaktor (3.60 pct) and Jumbo (3.23 pct) suffered heavy losses.

National Bank and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day. Among market sectors, Chemicals (5.15 pct) and Technology (0.43 pct) scored big gains, while Commerce (4.08 pct) and Food (3.07 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 47 to 46 with another 17 issues unchanged. Ekter (29.02 pct), Perseus (19.86 pct) and G.E. Demetriou (16.67 pct) were top gainers, while Forthnet (20 pct), Boutaris (18.42 pct) and PC Systems (16.67 pct) were top losers.

[19] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates moved slightly lower. The 12-month rate eased to 0.050 pct from 0.051 pct, the nine-month rate fell to -0.004 pct from -0.003 pct, the six-month rate eased to -0.052 pct from -0.051 pct, the three-month rate was -0.143 pct and the one-month rate was -0.219 pct.

[20] ADEX closing report

General News

[21] Number of refugee arrivals in Lesvos in spring could exceed 2015 numbers, says police source

"The numbers [of arrivals] we will be called to manage may be small compared to those of 2015," the police source said responding to a question on the increased number of people recorded in Lesvos' identification centers in the last few days. "It seems that our Turkish neighbors, despite the pressure they are under, do not want or cannot control their compatriot traffickers who naturally make huge profits for the Turkish economy through the management of so many people," he added.

According to data from Moria's identification and registration center, 1,600 people arrived at the island from Sunday morning until Monday morning, while last Saturday and Friday the numbers climbed to 2,000 migrants per day.

[22] Two more ferries with refugees dock at Piraeus port

"Nissos Mykonos" carrying another 505 refugees from Mytilene and 107 from Chios arrived late on Sunday.

Weather forecast

[23] Partly cloudy on Tuesday

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

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Evangelos Meimarakis loses the battle

ETHNOS: Kyriakos' (Mitsotakis) victory turns a new page

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Kyriakos' triumph

ESTIA: Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the new New Democracy leader

NAFTEMPORIKI: A credible governance solution

TA NEA: New Democracy's 100 days

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 210 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 210 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: MICHALIS PSILOS

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article