Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-02-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Juncker to Tsipras: 'You're doing a good job with the refugee crisis'

[02] Tsipras will not be reproached at EU Summit because Greece has done its job, says spokeswoman

[03] ND's Mitsotakis to Juncker: The final solution to the refugee problem lies in Turkey

[04] Mitsotakis, Schulz agree Greece's borders should not close

[05] Main opposition leader Mitsotakis' agenda in Brussels

[06] Commission sees 'significant progress' in setting up of Greek hotspots-spokesman

[07] Frontex to expand its tasks, says deputy chief

[08] Forensics lab to be created on Lesvos to deal with rise in autopsies

[09] Greece's exit from the Schengen would not solve any problem, says senior EU official

[10] FM Kotzias to hold talks with his Italian counterpart Gentiloni on Thursday in Athens

[11] Dep.FM Mardas to have series of meetings in Paris

[12] Defence Minister briefs parliament committee on latest developments

[13] Greek foreign ministry announces plan to expand economic relations in 2016

[14] Gov't spokeswoman discusses refugee crisis with Slovakian envoy

[15] Energy minister discusses government's plans for sector in meeting with Australian envoy

[16] Government Council for Economic and Social Policy to convene on Wednesday

[17] Labour minister says government is preparing meeting with farmers at end of week

[18] Long queues of vehicles at Greek-Bulgarian borders

[19] Farmers' block of Greek-Turkish border crossing to continue indefinitely

[20] Peloponnese farmers return to their blocks

[21] Golden Dawn MPs expelled from Parliament

[22] Greek foreign ministry condemns deadly attack in Ankara

[23] Turkish CN-235 entered Athens FIR without submitting flight plan

[24] We focus on the increase of tourist arrivals from Iran, Alt. Tourism Minister Kountoura says

[25] Greek companies' sales up 0.5 pct in 2015, Icap report

[26] Greek budget primary surplus at 386 mln euros in Jan

[27] Greek inflation at -0.7 pct in January

[28] Tax revenue down 1.38 pct in 2015

[29] Alpha Bank launches procedure to sell Hilton Athens hotel

[30] Restaurant business topped the list of new company start ups in 2015

[31] Greek stocks end significantly up

[32] Greek bond market closing report

[33] ADEX closing report

[34] 798 migrants and refugees from Mytilene and Chios arrive at Piraeus port

[35] Cloudy on Thursday

[36] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] Juncker to Tsipras: 'You're doing a good job with the refugee crisis'

The same sources said the meeting between the two men focused on the issues that will be discussed at the EU Summit meeting starting on Thursday, which are European Union's relations with Britain, migration and issues concerning the Greek economy.

Greek government sources said after the meeting: "In their talks, the two sides agreed that management of the refugee issue demands a comprehensive and coordinated cooperation between the EU's member-states, as well that it is imperative to avoid unilateral actions."

Tsipras and Juncker noted the crucial role of cooperation between the EU and Turkey for an "effective and humanistic" management of the refugee flows, and also discussed the need to increase next year the funds Greece receives from the European Union for the rescue, accommodation and registration of refugees, the same sources said.

Concerning the Greek economic program, they agreed the first review must be completed as soon as possible, they added.

Welcoming the Greek premier at his office, Juncker told him he is "doing a good job" in tackling the refugee crisis. Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas tweeted Juncker's welcoming comment: "Juncker welcomes @tsipras_eu: "You're doing a good job with the refugee crisis. Keep it up!"

[02] Tsipras will not be reproached at EU Summit because Greece has done its job, says spokeswoman

"Today, we're in a position to say the country has fulfilled its obligations, has dealt with refugee flows in the best possible way ... At the EU Summit, the prime minister will not be reproached, but will reproach others," she was quoted as telling the station.

Gerovasili also criticized the Visegrad Four (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) who are calling for a closure of the borders, noting that there are "other strong voices in Europe", such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's, European Council President Donald Tusk's, EC chief Jean-Claude Juncker's and Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann. "And this is the majority view in the European Union," she added.

[03] ND's Mitsotakis to Juncker: The final solution to the refugee problem lies in Turkey

The final solution to the refugee and migrant crisis facing Europe lies in Turkey and cooperation between the EU and the neighboring country is crucial in resolving the issue, New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday after a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels.

"Cooperation with Turkey must reach a point where it can effectively manage refugee and migration flows. The final solution to the problem lies with Turkey and only through an honest dialog between the EU and Turkey can the problem be dealt with in its current dimension," Mitsotakis told journalists after the meeting.

According to sources, the two officials agreed that closing Greece's northern borders will not resolve the refugee problem. "I reiterated to Juncker our consistent view that the closure of the northern border will not resolve the refugee problem," he said adding that despite initial delays, there is significant progress in fulfilling Greece's commitments towards the EU.

"But the refugee problem will not be resolved simply with the construction of hotspots. Europe must also fulfill its commitments, especially regarding the relocation of refugees from Greece to European countries," he added.

[04] Mitsotakis, Schulz agree Greece's borders should not close

Mitsotakis underlined that Greece's northern borders should not close and Schulz shared the same view saying that this is not the solution to the problem. The leader of the main opposition stated that everyone in Europe must undestand that Greece alone cannot solve the refugee problem as it also bears the burden of the economic crisis.

On his part, Schulz stressed the importance of supporting Greece, but as he said, Greece should show signs that it does its best to meet its commitments.

Both officials agreed on the key role that Turkey plays in the migration issue. However, they said that the cooperation with the European Union falls short of the expectations and its commitments.

[05] Main opposition leader Mitsotakis' agenda in Brussels

On Wednesday Mitsotakis will also meet EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos, the president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Guy Verhofstadt, EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici, the Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, the Vice President of the European Commission Jyrki Katainen, and European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu.

Mitsotakis calls on the government to meet its commitments and is against the closing of the country's northern borders as well as Greece's exit from the Schengen.

The main opposition leader insists on the fact that the issue is a European one and tests the European Union's tolerance. He also considers that Europe should put pressure on Turkey in order to be cooperative, particularly as regards combating trafficking networks.

Mitsotakis underlines that he is in favour of the rapid completion of the program review, adding that the implemen-tation of the agreement with the creditors is the government's responsibility.

On Thursday he will meet the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the EPP summit. The leader of New Democracy will also meet the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov, Spain's caretaker Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and the former Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.

[06] Commission sees 'significant progress' in setting up of Greek hotspots-spokesman

Greece has made significant progress in constructing and operating identification and registration centers on selected Greek islands, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said on Wednesday during a press briefing.

Schinas said Commission officials, along with the deputy director-general in the European Commission's economic and financial affairs department, Maarten Verwey and Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos visited all the hotspots being built in the islands.

European Commission spokeswoman on migration Natasha Bertaud said Juncker is expected to highlight at the EU Summit in Brussels the need to strengthen the relocation system.

[07] Frontex to expand its tasks, says deputy chief

The European Union's border agency Frontex will expand its tasks which could include returning refugees back to Turkey, the agency's Deputy Executive Director Berndt Koerner said on Wednesday in an interview with the Austrian public television.

Frontex's primary role is to save refugees found in boats as they try to cross from Turkey into Greece and transfer them to the nearest port, but it doesn't have the authority to send them back to Turkey. But this could change if Frontex's mandate is expanded and Turkey is designated as a safe third country, Koerner said. That way "we would be able to act more effectively," he added.

He stressed however that no border control can tackle the refugee flows, as the real problem is the war in Syria and the reasons behind the migration from Africa.

[08] Forensics lab to be created on Lesvos to deal with rise in autopsies

According to a ministry statement, the large number of autopsies hitherto performed by the only specialist at Lesvos' hospital, but also "a timely response to modern forensic needs and humanitarian treatment of pain generated by the loss of life" requires immediate action.

[09] Greece's exit from the Schengen would not solve any problem, says senior EU official

The Brexit and the refugees crisis are the two issues that will be discussed at the EU Summit to be held on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

"The EU external borders are and will remain in Greece," a senior EU official said on Wednesday ruling out scenarios of Greece's suspension or exit from the Schengen zone. "There is no plan A, B or C. There is only one strategy on the migration-refugee issue and this is the cooperation with Turkey in order for the common action plan to function. Greece's suspension would not solve any of our problems," clarified the same source.

However, the same source admitted that the issue of activating article 26 of the Schengen code is possible to be set on the table because it is the only way Austria and Germany are at a position to maintain the control of their internal borders after May.

[10] FM Kotzias to hold talks with his Italian counterpart Gentiloni on Thursday in Athens

After their one-on-one meeting, the two Ministers will make joint statements to the press. A working luncheon will follow.

The two officials will discuss Greece-Italy's bilateral relation in all sectors but mostly they will focus on the refugees issue and the Dublin Treaty that affects both countries.

Before his meeting with Kotzias, Gentiloni will have a meeting with President of Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos at the presidential mansion and afterwards will address the Greek-Italian Business forum on the issue "The cooperation prospects between Greek and Italian enterprises in teh agriculture and industrial sector" which will take place on Thursday in Athens.

[11] Dep.FM Mardas to have series of meetings in Paris

Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas responsible for international economic relations will have a series of meetings with his French counterpart Matthias Fekl and other officials in Paris.

Mardas will meet French entrepreneurs interested in Greece's privatisations programme, at 16:00. A series of companies have accepted the minister's invitation and will be present at the meeting to be held at the ambassador's residence. Among them are representatives of: ALSTOM, CLUB MED, SUEZ ENVIRONMENT, TOTAL, THALES, TALENTIA VINCI, UMIF, SYNTEC, MEDEF as well as top officials of the French Foreign and Finance Ministry.

Later on Wednesday, Mardas will hold talks with MEDEF officials and will meet with the leadership of the international and European department of MEDEF.

On Thursday, the Greek minister will continue his talks with MEDEF and will meet with the General Director of Investments who is very well known French entrepreneur and former President of Renault Louis Schweitzer.

Schweitzer is also president of the organisation "France-Initiative" a network of 230 organisations that support the small and medium sized enterprises by offering loans without guarantees which are called in France "prets d'honneur".

On Thursday at 16:00 (Athens time) Mardas will meet his French counterpart Matthias Fekl and afterwards he will have a meeting with Greek and foreign members of the press.

[12] Defence Minister briefs parliament committee on latest developments

Kammenos will brief the members of the committee on the latest developments in the migrants issue as well as NATO's participation-intervention in the migrants-refugees problem in the Aegean Sea.

[13] Greek foreign ministry announces plan to expand economic relations in 2016

The actions are "within the framework of enhancing our country's extraversion, supporting export efforts of productive agencies, and expanding bilateral economic and trade cooperation with specific priority countries," the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

According to the plan, Greece will form Joint Interministerial Committees with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, South Korea, Jordan, Russia, Tunisia, Moldova, Saudi Arabia, India and Belarus.

It will also set up business missions to Iran, Jordan, Tunisia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, India, Sweden, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Belarus, South Korea, and the region of Southeast Asia.

Finally, the ministry will form a high-level meeting, with a parallel business mission, aimed at promoting bilateral relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

[14] Gov't spokeswoman discusses refugee crisis with Slovakian envoy

Gerovasili reportedly said that Europe's problems cannot be solved by digging in one's heels, but by insisting on the strategic goal of European integration. Both sides highlighted the importance of dialogue between European partners and pledged that close cooperation will continue.

[15] Energy minister discusses government's plans for sector in meeting with Australian envoy

Skourletis also talked about the government's energy strategy and the priorities it has set to transform the sector into a catalyst of development and prosperity.

[16] Government Council for Economic and Social Policy to convene on Wednesday

According to sources, the meeting will focus on the strengthening of the welfare state.

[17] Labour minister says government is preparing meeting with farmers at end of week

"You will hear the government's proposals from the prime minister himself when the farmers come [for a dialog] as we hope they will and we're preparing this meeting for the end of the week," he told journalists.

[18] Long queues of vehicles at Greek-Bulgarian borders

According to police estimates, over 800 trucks and 160 cars remain trapped on the Greek territory while on the other side of the border at Kulata, Bulgaria, 1,000 trucks and 500 cars are waiting to cross the border and enter Greece.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria asked again the European Union to assist to the suspension of farmers blocking at Promachonas.

"Everyone has the right to protest, but by no means should this violate the right of the free movement of people and goods within the EU," Bulgarian Vice President Meglena Kuneva stated on Tuesday.

The Bulgarian transport companies already suffer major losses from the blocking of the crossing points at the Greek-Bulgarian borders, claimed Kuneva.

On his part, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has called the EU to take measures so that the traffic between the two countries is restored.

[19] Farmers' block of Greek-Turkish border crossing to continue indefinitely

Trucks are currently forming a 7-kilometer queue on Greek soil with the president of the farmer's association of Alexandrou-polis telling ANA-MPA that the large number of vehicles creates a situation which is "difficult to manage" and troubles those farmers who are determined to maintain the blockade.

Further north, at the Kastanea-Rizia and Orestiada junction, farmers also said they will block traffic at intervals, along with the junction at Didimotyho.

[20] Peloponnese farmers return to their blocks

Meanwhile, the Athens-Corinth motorway as well as the Athens-Corinth old national road at Corinth Canal is blocked indefinitely by protesting farmers.

[21] Golden Dawn MPs expelled from Parliament

According to sources, the two deputies called the minister and the military staff participating in the meeting "traitors" while video recording the incident.

All party deputies asked for their expulsion. However, they refused to leave the Parliament. Therefore, the president of the Parliament Nikos Voutsis implemented article 81 of the regulation of the Parliament.

[22] Greek foreign ministry condemns deadly attack in Ankara

"We grieve with our neighbours the victims of [the] Ankara blast. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this heinous terrorist attack," the tweet read.

[23] Turkish CN-235 entered Athens FIR without submitting flight plan

The aircraft, which flew over the islet of Kounelonisi in the southeastern Aegean at 20.22 (local) at 3,300 feet, was participating in a search and rescue operation. The Turkish aircraft was recognized in accordance with international standards and the established practice.

Financial News

[24] We focus on the increase of tourist arrivals from Iran, Alt. Tourism Minister Kountoura says

"The Iranians love Greece very much and they are very friendly people," noted Kountoura adding that they are well off which is also an advantage because Greece is mostly interested in the tourist quality.

She said that the opening to the Iranian market comes together with Aegean Airlines direct flight Athens-Tehran and called the messages she received during her visit to the Iranian capital very encouraging.

Kountoura also underlined that besides tourism additional cooperations in other sectors and levels may be achieved noting that Greece is now starting to develop. "Eighty new hotels will be constructed only in Tehran which means that we can open our cooperation at all levels," she noted.

[25] Greek companies' sales up 0.5 pct in 2015, Icap report

In a report, conducted on a sample of 753 enterprises (excluding banks-insurance) which have released their annual balance sheets (for the fiscal year ending in June 30, 2015) for the last two years, Icap said this improvement reflected exclusively a good performance of the commerce sector, while manufacturing and services companies suffered small pre-tax losses. In general, six out of 10 companies were profitable while the remaining four were loss-making. From the 753 companies in the report, 315 were manufacturing, 189 commercial, 299 were services companies and the remaining came from the tourism and construction sectors.

Nikitas Konstantellos, chief executive of Icap Group, commenting on the report said that the Greek economy remained on a painful adjustment road in the last few years, operating in conditions of unprecedented recession. In 2015 and early 2015 the first positive performance was recorded, as reflected in a 0.7 pct rise in the country's GDP in 2014 and positive growth rates in the first half of 2015. He added that the imposition of capital controls and political uncertainty burdened economic sentiment in the country pushing Greek GDP back to negative rates in the third and fourth quarter of 2015, a trend prevailing in the first two months of 2016.

The manufacturing sector showed that sales remained almost unchanged at 1.71 billion euros in 2015, with gross earnings rising by 4.8 pct. Net results showed a loss of 3.9 million euros in 2015, down almost 90 pct from the previous year, while EBITDA grew 18 pct. From the 215 manufacturing companies included in the report, 127 were profitable (77.7 million euros in earnings) and 88 were loss-making (81.5 million euros in losses).

The commerce sector showed an 1.9 pct increase in sales, pre-tax earnings grew 4.4 pct to 112.7 million euros and EBITDA rose 7.5 pct. From the 189 commercial companies in the report, 121 were profitable (132.5 million in profits) and 68 were loss-making (19.9 million euros in losses).

The services sector showed a 0.9 pct decline in sales, while gross earnings remained unchanged and EBITDA fell by 5.4 pct. From a total of 299 companies in the report, 183 were profitable (with 58.1 million in profits) and 116 were loss-making (with 63.5 million in losses).

[26] Greek budget primary surplus at 386 mln euros in Jan

The central bank, in a monthly report, said that ordinary budget revenue amounted to 3.153 billion euros in the first month of 2016, compared to 3.133 billion euros last year. Ordinary budget expenditure amounted to 3.392 billion euros, from 3.200 million in January 2015.

The primary surplus was 386 million euros in January, from a deficit of 149 million euros in the same month last year. Spending included a 1.152 billion euros in payment of overdue debt to the private sector and spending of 451 million euros related with the country's participation in the EMS.

[27] Greek inflation at -0.7 pct in January

The statistics service, in a monthly report, said that price increases were recorded in bread/cereals (2.9 pct), eggs (3.9 pct), fish (3.6 pct), sugar/chocolate/ice cream (5.9 pct), olive oil (12.6 pct), potatoes (14.8 pct), drief fruit/nuts (8.8 pct), other food (7.7 pct), coffee (8.5 pct), cigarettes (1.7 pct), solid fuel (4.8 pct), pharmaceutical (0.7 pct), air transport (14.5 pct), road transport (6.2 pct) and restaurant (2.8 pct). On the other hand, price declines were recorded in yoghurt (2.2 pct), cheese (0.7 pct), fresh vegetables (12.9 pct), clothing/footwear (9.5 pct), electricity (0.9 pct), heating oil (17.2 pct), natural gas (17.4 pct), petrol (2.4 pct) and car insurance (10 pct).

On a monthly basis, price increases were recorded in fresh fish (4.6 pct), fresh vegetables (2.2 pct), wines (3.1 pct), road tolls (0.9 pct) while price declines in fresh fruit (3.1 pct), heating oil (8.8 pct), electricity (1.5 pct) and used cars (3.9 pct).

The inflation rate was -0.2 pct in December.

The January -0.7 pct figure reflected a 3.7 pct decline in housing prices, a 9.5 pct fall in clothing/footwear, a 0.2 pct ease in durable goods, a 0.9 pct decline in transport and 1.7 pct fall in entertainment, an 1.3 pct fall in education and a 3.1 pct decline in other goods and services.

On the other hand, food/beverage fell 1.6 pct, alcohol rose 1.1 pct, health prices rose 1.4 pct and hotel/restaurant/coffee grew 2.7 pct.

Greece's annual harmonized inflation rate was -0.1 pct in January, after a 0.4 pct increase in December.

On a monthly basis, the harmonized inflation rate fell 1.7 pct in January, after an 1.2 pct decline recorded in January 201

[28] Tax revenue down 1.38 pct in 2015

In its report, the tax authority said that tax revenue amounted to 43.14 billion euros in 2015, from 44.225 billion in the previous year, a development attributed mostly to a decline in revenue from direct taxes, particularly property taxes.

Revenue from direct taxes totaled 19.844 billion euros in 2015, from 20.456 billion in 2014 (a decline of 2.99 pct), reflecting an 8.46 pct drop in property taxes, while income tax revenue grew 0.35 pct. Income tax revenue from wages and pensions grew 11 pct while income tax revenues from legal entities rose 9.06 pct.

Direct taxes accounted for 45.5 pct of total tax revenue in 2015, from 46.9 pct in 2014, while indirect taxes raised the share to 54.5 pct from 53.75 pct. Indirect tax revenue grew 0.00025 pct in 2015.

[29] Alpha Bank launches procedure to sell Hilton Athens hotel

In an announcement, Alpha Bank said the procedure aimed at attracting high-level investors to establish the hotel as a benchmark in hotel services internationally. Citigroup Global Markets Ltd acts as exclusive financial adviser to the procedure. Investors will be able to express their interest by Friday, 11 March 2016.

The procedure is addressed exclusively to "special investors" under the article 2 of a European directive 2003/71.

[30] Restaurant business topped the list of new company start ups in 2015

A report by the General Commercial Registry said that new companies (of all legal entity) totaled 29,993 in 2015 while company deletions from the registry amounted to 26,347 last year. The most popular company categories were: cafeterias, coffee-bars, pharmacies, restaurants, cosmetics, snack-bars, real estate, business consultants and marketing consultants.

The list with the most company deletions included, cafeterias, snack-bars, grill houses, clothing/footwear and tobacco products.

[31] Greek stocks end significantly up

The composite index rose 2.53 pct to end at 495.10 points, off the day's highs of 500.66 points. The Large Cap index rose 2.77 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 1.48 pct higher. Turnover was a low 53,882 million euros in volume of 92,715,495.

Eurobank (10.11 pct), Ellaktor (9.17 pct), Piraeus Bank (7.58 pct) and Piraeus Port (6.72 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains of the day among blue chip stocks, while Alpha Bank (2.65 pct), METKA (1.40 pct) and Lamda Development (0.83 pct) suffered heavy losses.

National Bank and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day.

Among market sectors, Personal Products (5.07 pct), Constructions (4.81 pct) and Oil (4.78 pct) scored big gains, while Commerce (0.27 pct) was the only one to end lower.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 59 to 34 with another 24 issues unchanged. Karamolegos (29.46 pct), AEGEK (19.35 pct) and VIS (19.05 pct) were top gainers, while Yalco (19.42 pct), Vioter (18.52 pct) and AXON Holdings (16.67 pct) were top losers.

[32] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates were mixed. The 12-month rate rose to -0.011 pct from -0.012 pct, the nine-month rate was -0.068 pct, the six-month rate fell to -0.121 pct from -0.120 pct, the three-month rate fell to -0.189 pct from -0.187 pct and the one-month rate was -0.249 pct.

[33] ADEX closing report

General News

[34] 798 migrants and refugees from Mytilene and Chios arrive at Piraeus port

In addition, "blue star 2" also transferred four refugees from Kos to Piraeus.

Weather forecast

[35] Cloudy on Thursday

[36] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

DIMOKRATIA: 10 politicians with 'black money'

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Athens' counteraction to the creditors' demands

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Changes in final exams

ESTIA: Task Force failed. The fatal mistakes and Europe's apology

ETHNOS: Haircut on income criteria

IMERISSIA: Tax declarations in early March

KATHIMERINI: A front against closed borders

KONTRANEWS: Cancer defeated

NAFTEMPORIKI: 20 critical days

RIZOSPASTIS: The NATO strengthens is involvement in the Aegean

TA NEA: Confusion without borders

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