Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-12

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM's meeting with Britain's Hoon focuses on EU-Turkey relations

[02] Gov't stiffens procurements law

[03] Greek tourism to grow faster in '06, report

[04] National Bank acquires Vojvodanska Bank

[01] FM's meeting with Britain's Hoon focuses on EU-Turkey relations

In brief comments after the meeting, Bakoyannis reiterated Athens' standing position regarding Turkey's prickly relations with Europe of late, noting that &quot;it (Turkey) should not overlook the intense debate that exists in many European capitals over the degree and the rate in which it meets its commitments (to the EU) ... It is within this framework that we anxiously await the progress report that will be submitted by the Commission in October.&quot;

The meeting came on the heels of Hoon's visit, a day earlier, to Istanbul, where he met with Turkish leadership, including the foreign minister and the country's top EU negotiator.

On his part, Hoon again called Turkey's accession course a very important issue, while stressing that Athens' position on Euro-Turkey relations was well known and &quot;crystal clear&quot;. The British minister, in fact, outlined the Greek position as holding every candidate-country accountable for fulfilling the commitments it has made vis-à-vis the Union.

Additionally, Hoon concluded an answer to questions regarding the full implementation of the Ankara protocol by the Turkish side by saying that the Turkish government must fulfil its obligations to the EU.

In terms of the long-standing Cyprus issue, Bakoyannis expressed a hope that &quot;the Turkish Cypriot side will show a positive intent so that progress is achieved at the technical committees' level on day-to-day issues, but also on substantive issues, which however, have unfortunately not proceeded&quot;.

The Greek side also briefed Hoon and British diplomats on the Greek UNSC presidency's agenda.

In a more-or-less related development and in answer to a press question, Hoon noted that recent comments by French Interior Minister and expected presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy regarding the future of Europe are merely part of a nascent pre-election campaign in that country.

Hoon met earlier with Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis.

Caption: FM Bakoyannis with Britain's Minister for Europe Geoff Hoon in Athens on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006. ANA-MPA / P. Saitas.

[02] Gov't stiffens procurements law

According to Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, the amendment represented the most significant change in state procurements law since 1996 and would help make the system simpler, faster and more transparent.

Deputy Development Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou said that the aim of the amendment was to reduce the cost and time involved in finalising state procurements.

The amendment was welcomed by Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis, who stressed its importance and said it was among actions taken by the government to combat corruption.

Ministers comment on blackmail case

Sioufas and Papathanasiou also took the opportunity to refer to a case of blackmail linked to the Competition Commission that was uncovered by authorities on Monday, once again stressing that the government would show zero tolerance for corruption.

"The political message is that anyone who breaks the law will face the consequences," Sioufas told reporters.

He emphasised that the revelations had raised the present government's image by demonstrating that nothing was covered up and all was brought into the open. "And that is the difference between this government and what occurred in the past," the minister added.

Papathanasiou, meanwhile, said the message was clear both for would-be extortionists but also their victims, who should feel that the government was at their side.

The general director of the state-run Competition Commission, Panayiotis Adamopoulos, was among three people brought before a public prosecutor on Tuesday to face a charge of corruption for allegedly attempting to extort �2.5 million from the northern Greek dairy industry Mevgal.

The three are accused of demanding the sum so that the Commission's general director would intervene and expunge an alleged fine of �25 million imposed on the company.

They were arrested after Mevgal CEO Petros Papadakis reported the alleged blackmail to the police and, in collaboration with the financial crimes squad, arranged a meeting with the suspects to give them an advance of �200,000 in cash while promising to give them a cheque for the remainder the following day.

The third man arrested was picked up in Thessaloniki and transferred police headquarters in Athens.

Among those alerted regarding the arrest and the charges was the European Commission, since the man involved is actually still a Community employee who had been working in Brussels since 1994. According to a representative of the European Commission in Brussels, he took unpaid leave in October 2005 when he began work as Competition Commission general director in Athens.

If he is convicted of illegal activities in Athens, he will also face disciplinary proceedings initiated by Brussels, the EU official said.

ANA-MPA file photo of Karamanlis.

[03] Greek tourism to grow faster in '06, report

The report said tourist foreign exchange revenues were not expected to match a forecast of a 8-10 percent growth rate in tourist arrivals in Greece this year, but would record a growth rate of at least 6.0 percent for the year.

ITEP said tourist foreign exchange inflows recovered strongly in June, while he noted that tourist arrivals in August -with the exception of Corfu- exceeded forecasts and led to a forecast for a growth rate of 8-10 pct in 2006. Tourist arrivals in Crete and the Dodecanese rose 10.6 pct and 12.1 pct respectively, in the period January-August 2006, compared with growth rates of 6.3 pct and 1.4 pct in the corresponding period in 2005. Northern Aegean islands also recorded strong growth, exceeding 10 percent in the first eight months of the year.

Cyclades islands also recorded strong growth in tourist arrivals, while Ionian islands lagged behind with the exception of Cephalonia (up 16 pct this year after a drop of 10 percent in the same period last year).

The report noted that Greek tourism growth was more than double compared with other competitors in the European Mediterranean region (Spain +5.3 pct, Turkey -2.2 pct and Portugal +5.5 pct).

An ANA-MPA file photo of the Platy Yialos beach on the popular Cyclades holiday of Mykonos.

[04] National Bank acquires Vojvodanska Bank

National Bank won an international tender, which initially attracted interest by 11 European banks in a procedure that lasted nine months, and signals the largest and more significant sale of a state bank in Serbia.

Speaking to reporters, Arapoglou, said: "With the purchase of Vojvodanska we make another step towards our expansion in the Southeast European region. Through Vojvodanska's extensive network, its leading position in saving deposits in dinars and its wide customer base, combined with National Bank's leading position in Serbia's retail banking market, we are creating a group to play a leading role in the financial services sector of Serbia's rapid growing market".

National Bank said the acquisition will raise its customer base to more than 11 million, its branch network to around 1,317 units -of which half are located in Southeastern Europe- and a loan portfolio of more than 40 billion euros -25 pct of which in Southeastern Europe.

Vojvodanska Bank is the sixth largest bank in Serbia on total assets, and operates the second largest branch network in the country. By June 2006, its saving deposits and loans -after provisions- totaled 342 million euros and 215 million euros respectively, representing market shares of 7.0 pct and 4.0 pct respectively. The bank tops the list of Serbian banks in saving deposits in dinars with a market share of around 11 pct.

The bank was founded in 1962 and offers a wide range of financial services and products. Its domestic network includes 175 sale points and services more than 625,000 customers and 61,000 small, medium and large enterprises. It is also a leader in issuing Visa and DinaCard cards.

Vojvodanska recently completed a restructuring plan fully covering with provisions, loans funded by the Paris Club and the London Club.

National Bank already operates a sales network of 35 points in Serbia and holds a 5.5 percent market share in Serbia's loan market.

National Bank will pay 360 million euros in cash to acquire 99.4 pct of Vojvodanska's shares and will deposit another 25 million euros in an account by December 2007. The Greek bank will also make capital investments of 40 million euros within the next three years and to offer a 25-mln-euro loan to Serbia's Development Fund.

According to international accounting standards, the purchase price is less than four time Vojvodanska's book value, based December 2006 figures.

ANA-MPA file photo of Arapoglou.

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