Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis confers with Employment Minister

[02] ASE opening: Strong rise

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Karamanlis confers with Employment Minister

After the meeting, Petralia once again stressed that the government does not share or adopt the views of Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) president Constantine Michalos of reducing the work-week to 3-4 days.

Michalos, on Wednesday, floated the idea of reducing the work-week to 3-4 days, with a corresponding salary cut, in order to avert job layoffs, as a temporary measure and applicable only in specific sectors, due to the global financial crisis.

"Mr. Michalos' positions to not refelect the government's views," Petralia said in reply to press questions, stressing that the government's policy in that area was drafted by the employment ministry.

Petralia said that, in this period of crisis, the government's aim was to shield the working and employment positions, and the government's policy and measures would be moving in that direction.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis

[02] ASE opening: Strong rise

Equity prices were rising at the opening of trade on Thursday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), influenced by positive climates on the international money markets, with the basic share price index up 1.96 percent, standing at 1,870.22 points at 10:45 a.m., and turnover at 14.2 million euros.

Individual sector indices were moving upward across the board, with the biggest gains in Travel & Recreation, up 3.87 percent; Financial Services, up 3248 percent; Public Utilities, up 2.44 percent; and Insurance, up 2.40 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 2.23 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 1.56 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.65 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 75 were up, 4 were down, and 23 were unchanged.

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The head-on collision between the goverment and main opposition PASOK over testimonies to parliament's fact finding commission on the Vatopedi monastery affair dominated the headlines on Thursday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Government rejects Athens Chamber's proposal for reduction in working hours and (corresponding reduction in) wages".

APOGEVMATINI: "Agriculture Minister Apostolos Kontos points finger at former PASOK government ministers George Drys and Apostolos Fotiadis in Vatopedi monastery affair".

AVGHI: "Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) blatant blackmail: Salary cut or layoff".

CHORA: "Bassiakos snitched on the entire government - He submitted to the fact finding commission a 'burning' press release".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "ND and PASOK are playing ping pong over the Vatopedi scandal".

ELEFTHEROS: "Cutbacks in salaries and social security contributions - Employers propose a 3 to 4-day work-week".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Part-time work as a result of the global financial crisis- The 700 euros generation to be turned into the 4-day working-week generation".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Hasty 'padlock' on the fact finding commission (proceedings) - Vatopedi: All accounts have not been opened yet to reveal what they are hiding".

ESTIA: "Theater of the absurd in the fact finding commission - Fundamental democratic principals are being violated".

ETHNOS: "Former Minister Evangelos Bassiakos' revelation to fact finding commission: The 'sacred' land exchanges were dictated by 'concerted govenment handlings'."

KATHIMERINI: "Final curtain for the fact finding commission in the midst of a rift".

LOGOS: "Proposal-'bomb' for labour relations - Employment Minister Fani Palli Petralia rejected Michalos' (EBEA president) recommendation for a 3-4 day working week".

NIKI: "Government brings back the Middle Ages in labor relations".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Working classes' political counterattack against the attack by the capital's and its parties - Athens Chamber demands reduction in working hours and wages".

TA NEA: "Cover-up after the revelations: Back-stabbing among ministers sinking the government".

TO VIMA: "Crime without punishment - New Democracy rejects (establishment of parliamentary) preliminary investigation committee on Vatopedi affair - Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis announced that the fact finding commission's proceedings will be concluded on Friday".

VRADYNI: "Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry(EBEA) president Constantinos Michalos playing games with the five-day work-week".

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