Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] The effective management of the refugee flows is an international and European issue, Tsipras and Tusk say

[02] PM Tsipras to discuss refugee crisis in Brussels ahead of European Council meeting

[03] Europe is at a crucial crossroads, gov't spokeswoman says

[04] Alt FM: 'Our goal must be to control borders better, not close them'

[05] No joint patrols of Greek and Turkish ships, Kammenos says

[06] Four identification centres are ready, Greek ministers say

[07] First refugees arrive at Chios hotspot

[08] Commission pleased with progress in Greek hotspots, says spokeswoman

[09] Migration minister criticises Visegrad Four for demanding border closures

[10] The closure of the borders is not a solution, main opposition leader says

[11] ND leader Mitsotakis to have series of meetings in Brussels

[12] Protesting farmers to cut Greece in two

[13] Tempi Valley closed

[14] Farmers at their blocks; threaten to escalate their mobilisations

[15] Farmers' rolling blockades of Athens-Thessaloniki motorway to disrupt transport

[16] Long bottlenecks on Greek-Bulgarian border as Bulgarian drivers close their side

[17] Tender on TV licenses to produce significant revenues, says minister

[18] New Democracy seeks scientists to prepare party's program

[19] Fourteen Turkish fighter jets enter Athens' FIR without submitting flight plan

[20] Energy Min Skourletis meets ambassador of the Republic of Korea Youngjip

[21] NSRF funds disbursement to be made in June

[22] Avis Hellas saw the crisis as an opportunity and flourished, Piraeus Bank chairman says

[23] Piraeus Bank to lower deposit interest rates

[24] Greek paint industry resisted the crisis, exports boom

[25] Greek stocks end lower on profit taking

[26] Greek bond market closing report

[27] ADEX closing report

[28] Minor quake shakes western Greece

[29] First same-sex civil partnership agreement in Thessaloniki signed on Tuesday

[30] Scattered clouds on Wednesday

[31] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] The effective management of the refugee flows is an international and European issue, Tsipras and Tusk say

Tusk underlined that the migration crisis tests the limits and the tolerance of Europe adding that the alleged exclusion of Greece from the Schengen zone is not a solution. "Excluding Greece from the Schengen zone does not solve any problem," he said.

He stated that after today's discussion with the prime minister, he is more optimistic over the start of the program review procedure.

Tsipras spoke of the disproportionate burden that Greece has borne so far adding that it addresses the problem with humanity and great cost, respecting the European values and at the same time showcasing our own values.

The prime minister said that he agreed with Tusk that it is necessary to accelerate the progress of the implementation of all decisions taken. Among those discussed was the operation of NATO in the region, with the main purpose to assist the Turkish authorities in locating traffickers on the coast of Turkey and Turkish waters.

Tsipras noted that two concepts dominate regarding the future of Europe, a pro-European approach (which Greece adopts) and an anti-European approach according to which problems can be solved be each one, referring to a number of countries that recently attack Greece by suggesting closing the borders and the walls among European countries. "We believe that this approach will lead Europe into a dead end," Tsipras stressed.

[02] PM Tsipras to discuss refugee crisis in Brussels ahead of European Council meeting

The Council will focus on two issues: On finding common ground for Britain's concerns ahead of a referedum in the country to stay of leave the EU and secondly on developments on migration.

On Thursday (Feb. 18), the prime minister will participate in the tripartite meeting between Germany, Greece and Turkey on the refugee crisis, at 11.00. Following this meeting, Tsipras will attend a second meeting on the cooperation with Turkey, along with the leaders of 10 EU member-states, Turkey and the President of the European Council Donald Tusk.

At 15.45 he will hold a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. He will then participate in the first working meeting of the European Council at 16.00.

On Friday, Tsipras will attend the second working session of the Council at 10.00.

[03] Europe is at a crucial crossroads, gov't spokeswoman says

On the refugee issue, Greece will inform its partners that it is in the final phase of the implementation of its commitments, but everyone must meet its own obligations, she said.

The key to solving the problem is Turkey, Gerovassili stressed, adding that the implementation of the EU-Turkey action plan and the NATO should play a significant role in order to address the illegal trafficking networks especially at the Turkish coasts.

She also said that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker within the framework of an EU summit, while a trilateral Greece-Germany-Turkey meeting as well as an enlarged meeting of 11 member states with the participation of Turkey have also been scheduled.

Gerovassili also said she is optimistic that the institutions will return soon, stressing Greece's determination to meet its commitment, but the government, she said, is not willing to take a step back.

"We adhere to the agreement, which is recognized by the majority of partners and at the same time we set as a priority the protection of the weakest," she stated.

[04] Alt FM: 'Our goal must be to control borders better, not close them'

The meeting looked at preparations for the European Council summit meeting taking place this Thursday and Friday, on February 18-19. Xydakis presented Greece's positions to his European colleagues, stressing that the refugee crisis has now taken on existential dimensions for the EU itself.

"The refugee and migration flows on the Mediterranean corridors, as well as the wider geopolitical turmoil, have led us inevitably to think in different terms. We need to realize that the larger part of Europe's borders are maritime borders. Our goal must be to control them better, and not to go back 60 years by closing them," Xydakis said in his statement.

"It seems that, with regard to the Schengen Treaty, there are some partners who want to activate article 26 and are criticizing us harshly - perhaps justifiably in some cases. But who are our critics? Partners who have not sent a single blanket for the refugees? Fourteen European countries have yet to respond to the requests for relocation, and if I'm not mistaken, the Union has 28 members," he noted and added: "At this critical time, when European solidarity is being tested, everyone needs to contribute rather than criticize."

[05] No joint patrols of Greek and Turkish ships, Kammenos says

"The Turks will have the NATO ships notifying them. If they do not stop them, then these people will return back with NATO's responsibility," he said.

The agreement with the NATO does not affect the Greek-Turkish relations, Kammenos underlined.

He added that the leaders of the NATO force will be appointed by member states of the Alliance, with the exception of Greece and Turkey, "for self-evident reasons."

[06] Four identification centres are ready, Greek ministers say

The identification centre on Kos island will be ready in five days, they added.

[07] First refugees arrive at Chios hotspot

"It is a model refugee village that has all the requirements for decent living," ELPE CEO Grigoris Stergioulis said during the inauguration.

The company supplied the center with small bungalows and other items necessary for its operation, while ELPE employees gathered personal items for the refugees and migrants who will be housed there. Stergioulis also said the company provided fuel coupons to the local fire department in an effort to assist the community.

[08] Commission pleased with progress in Greek hotspots, says spokeswoman

The European Commission is pleased with the progress made in the construction of the so-called "hotspots" on the Greek islands which is continuing, based on the country's commitments, spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said on Tuesday during a press briefing in Brussels.

Asked to comment on an announcement by the Greek authorities that four out of five registration and identification centers are ready, Andreeva said the Commission has staff in site to inspect the progress.

She also said European services have been mobilized at all levels to help Greece operate those centers soon, adding that prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to brief European leaders on the issue in the upcoming Summit, after which the Commission's staff will be able to review the situation.

[09] Migration minister criticises Visegrad Four for demanding border closures

"We are all united - even the opposition - on the issue of closing borders. We don't take the tablets and personal items of the refugees and we don't agree with push-backs," he said during a press briefing on the refugee crisis and the government's work in setting up identification and registration centers on several islands of the eastern Aegean.

He also reiterated his concern that the government should prepare for "worst circumstances," but also singled out countries like Germany, France, Spain and Italy, saying they don't agree with the Visegrad Four.

"The completion of the work at the 5 plus 2 centers is in our own best interest as it gives our country the opportunity to show it is not a free-for-all and on the other hand that the government is examining the issue of refugees in a humanitarian way so that refugees may live with dignity and have their rights," Mouzalas said and extolled - along with all speakers - the efforts of the Armed Forces for the completion of the hotspots in five islands, saying they were the ones that did the hard work.

The minister also reiterated his concerns over the participation of NATO in the return of refugees and migrants to Turkey, saying there might be "missteps or victims" because "the situation at sea is very difficult."

In his statements to the press, Defence Minister Panos Kammenos reiterated that NATO's intervention concerns only the supervision, surveillance, and alerting of the competent authorities - if the incident takes place in Turkish waters, the Turkish coastguard - if it's in Greek territorial waters, the coast guard. NATO will also inform both sides on migrant and refugee boats sailing from the Turkish coast so that coastguards comply with the agreement reached at the recent meeting of defense ministers of NATO member-states.

Taking his turn, Alternate Minister for Civil Protection Nikos Toskas noted that the drop in migrant flows in the past few days (from 2,500 people three days ago to 250 yesterday and zero today) "supports our view that Turkey plays a key role in reducing the refugee flows. Words are not enough. We'll wait and see what it does."

Presenting the latest data on migration and progress in the construction of the hotspots, the head of the Central Coordinating Body for the Management of Migration, Lieutenant Konstantinos Floros said that the registration and identification centers in Lesvos, Chios and Leros are fully operational and can accommodate 1,500, 1,000 and 600 people respectively, while the one in Samos is 50 pct operational.

Floros also said that 35,000 refugees and migrants have entered Greece since the start of the year.

[10] The closure of the borders is not a solution, main opposition leader says

Mitsotakis also accused the government of keeping an "awkward and amateurish" stance.

"We listen to ministers saying that the possibility of closing the northern borders of the country will likely not be avoided," he said and called on the government to change its stance.

"We all need to fight to avert this negative development for our country. This will be my first concern in the meetings that I will have in Brussels in the coming days," Mitsotakis underlined.

[11] ND leader Mitsotakis to have series of meetings in Brussels

Mitsotakis will be in Brussels to attend the European People's Party meeting that will be held on Thursday.

On the sidelines of the EEP's meeting, Mitsotakis will have bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov and former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy as well as with former Portuguese prime minister Pedro Passos Coehlo.

Moreover, on Wednesday he will meet with European parliament president Martin Schulz, European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos, the president of the Liberals and Democrats Alliance Guy Verhofstadt, European Commissioner for Monetary Affairs Pierre Moscovici, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Competitiveness Jyrki Kaitanen and European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu.

On Thursday ND leader will meet with the president of the European Popular Party Joseph Daul, European Commissioner for Competitiveness Marghrete Vestager and the president of the European People's Party parliamentary spokesman Manfred Weber.

[12] Protesting farmers to cut Greece in two

Seventy tractors are already at the spot and have closed the entrances and exits to the motorway and have blocked the traffic to all vehicles to and from Bralos and Amfissa.

Bralos interchange is a strategic point and its blocking will essentialy cut the country in two.

According to farmers' statements traffic on the Athens-Lamia-Thessaloniki national road will be interrupted after 13:00 on Tuesday.

[13] Tempi Valley closed

However, they are against a meeting with the participation of the representatives of all the blockades but only with the participation of the representatives of the 33 blocks that have signed the common framework of requests that they have jointly written with Microthebes block and have been sent to the government and the political party leaders.

[14] Farmers at their blocks; threaten to escalate their mobilisations

The farmers block at Promachonas customs will keep that border checkpoint closed for a second consecutive day.

"We do not want to cause trouble or inconvenience to the people but it must become clear that we have nowhere to go. Those who believe that we will get tired after our presence in Athens were wrong. We will further escalate our struggle," said the member of the coordination committee Yiannis Tourtouras.

At Exochi customs on the Greek-Bulgarian borders the head of the coordination committee Vassilis Kastidis said to ANA-MPA that the crossing point will be closed to all vehicles and buses 10:00-15:00 and 17:00-22:00. In the last 220 hours we have opened three times for two hours the block for trucks and lorries to pass."

The blocking of the customs of Evzoni and Doirani on the Greek-Fyrom borders will continue on Tuesday, 12:00-15:00, 20:00-23:00 and 18:00-22:00 respectively.

The customs at Krystallopigi (Greek-Albanian borders) and Niki (Greek-Fyrom borders) will be closed from 11:00 to 23:00.

Moreover, farmers continue to keep Egnatia motorway at Kedryllia, Niselio and Malgara closed.

After their rally in Athens, the farmers of western Macedonia have increased the blocking hours in an attempt to put further pressure on the government.

[15] Farmers' rolling blockades of Athens-Thessaloniki motorway to disrupt transport

They said the blockade will include the side roads which were used by drivers to bypass the main road, as well as the old motorway connecting the capital with Thessaloniki.

The decision to close the road at noon and until 18.00 implies a complete disruption in transports between the north and south of the country, as it follows a second roadblock further north at Tempi Valley.

[16] Long bottlenecks on Greek-Bulgarian border as Bulgarian drivers close their side

The road started to close at 11.00 (local) and the last vehicle to cross was a truck at 13.00 on Monday.

According to the same source, about 600 trucks and 100 cars have bottlenecked on the Greek side of the border, while another 700 trucks and 100 cars are trapped in Bulgaria.

[17] Tender on TV licenses to produce significant revenues, says minister

"The tender for the TV licenses will have a significant fiscal result," he said. The meeting was also attended by Government Vice-President Yiannis Dragasakis and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos. Ministry sources said the meeting concerned issues relating to Greece's gambling operator OPAP.

[18] New Democracy seeks scientists to prepare party's program

"New Democracy does not want to limit itself to the opinions of its known party officials, whose contribution will be valuable anyway. It wants to open up to the university, the market and civil society, as well as other notable Greeks who will contribute to a modern and reliable government program, using the best European practices, " Hatzidakis said in a press release.

The deadline for the submission of an interest is February 23 and candidates are asked to apply on the party's website.

[19] Fourteen Turkish fighter jets enter Athens' FIR without submitting flight plan

In total, Athens recorded 10 violations of air traffic rules which developed into three violations of Greek airspace in the northeastern and southeastern Aegean. The Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted by Greek fighter jets. Four of the Turkish aircraft were armed.

The first formation of 8 fighter jets which entered Athens' FIR is participating in an aerial and naval exercise conducted by the neighboring country southeast of Rhodes, while helicopters took off from Turkish ships.

[20] Energy Min Skourletis meets ambassador of the Republic of Korea Youngjip

During the meeting they also exchanged views on the possibilities for cooperation between the two countries.

Financial News

[21] NSRF funds disbursement to be made in June

"Applications should be submitted by April, the evaluation procedure will then begin and the disbursement of the total amount of 370 million euros will be made in June," he added.

"Our main way of thinking is to create new, stable jobs, find employment to young people with high skills and education while strengthening small and medium sized enterprises," he said adding that if the private participation is added, the total amount of the four new programmes will reach 700 million euros.

[22] Avis Hellas saw the crisis as an opportunity and flourished, Piraeus Bank chairman says

Andreas Taprantzis, chief executive of Avis, addressing the even said: "Our unique priority is to offer better and more integrated services to our customers. We try more and invest dynamically on new technologies, infrastructure and people to be always by the side of our customers and ahead of things. We unlock on a daily basis a world of opportunities for growth for our customers, our shareholder and our personnel".

Avis achieved a record in quality services in 2015, with a performance of 83 pct, the highest among all car leasing companies, a record with leasing days of 8.7 million, a record in car fleet of 30,335 vehicles and an historic profit record of 13.3 million euros (pre-tax). Avis invested more than 5.0 million euros in new technologies and infrastructure.

Avis Hellas is the biggest car leasing company in Greece and subsidiary of Piraeus Bank Group.

[23] Piraeus Bank to lower deposit interest rates

[24] Greek paint industry resisted the crisis, exports boom

Speaking to reporters, Giannidis said that on the contrary, the paint industry managed to strengthen its distribution network supporting 2,800 partners throughout the country, while paint enterprises boosted their export activity and continued investing in research, development of innovative products and introducing European standards.

The domestic paint industry recorded a turnover of 252 million euros in 2014, of which building paint materials accounted for 190 million euros. Turnover is down 42 pct in the 2008-2016 period reflecting a collapse in private building activity. There are 11 large paint industries in Greece, with a turnover of more than 3.0 million euros, of which 10 are Greek and one foreign. The Greek companies account for 80 pct of total market share. Greek paint industries are investing abroad with 20 subsidiaries and five factories in foreign countries, while exports were significantly surpassing imports. The sector has a direct workforce of around 1,500 while around 3,000 jobs have been created indirectly.

[25] Greek stocks end lower on profit taking

The Large Cap index eased 1.38 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 0.21 pct lower. Turnover shrank further to 47.280 million euros in volume of 106,686,655.

Eurobank (5.70 pct), Piraeus Bank (4.76 pct), Jumbo (2.93 pct) and Motor Oil (2.49 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Alpha Bank (5.63 pct), Lamda Development (4.26 pct) and Titan (3.78 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

Piraeus Bank and National Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day. Among market sectors, Health (4.21 pct), Personal Products (3.01 pct) and Financial Services (1.58 pct) scored big gains, while Constructions (3.64 pct), Real Estate (2.40 pct) and Telecoms (2.23 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 49 to 44 with another 26 issues unchanged. VIS (20 pct), Sidma (19.61 pct) and Boutaris (18.18 pct) were top gainers, while Vioter (18.18 pct), Kyriakoulis (16.67 pct) and Forthnet (15.27 pct) were top losers.

[26] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates continued falling. The 12-month rate fell to -0.012 pct from -0.008 pct, the nine-month rate eased to -0.068 pct from -0.063 pct, the six-month rate fell to -0.120 pct from -0.116 pct, the three-month rate fell to -0.187 pct from -0.183 pct and the one-month rate eased to -0.245 pct.

[27] ADEX closing report

General News

[28] Minor quake shakes western Greece

On Monday, a moderate quake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale shook the region of Ilia in western Peloponnese, at 20:55.

The quake's epicentre was located near the village of Krestena. No injuries or damages were reported.

[29] First same-sex civil partnership agreement in Thessaloniki signed on Tuesday

Weather forecast

[30] Scattered clouds on Wednesday

[31] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

DIMOKRATIA: They are suffocating Greece

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Bazaar for three

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Ankara's games in the Aegean

ESTIA: The Dodecanese in an international regime

ETHNOS: The new proposal for the farmers

IMERISSIA: The stock market explodes

KATHIMERINI: The war of the borders

KONTRANEWS: Cut immediately Greece's debt

NAFTEMPORIKI: Taxes in 100 installments

RIZOSPASTIS: On the same course after the protest

TA NEA: It takes but it does not give

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

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