Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] New justice ministry sec.gen. named

[02] Mud-bricks houses of Korestia

[03] Energy policy targets outlined

[04] Major heroin bust in Athens

[05] Justice minister on hoods

[06] ASE opening: Rise

[07] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] New justice ministry sec.gen. named

A ministry announcement said that Dimitrainas' appointment was decided following an evaluation of all the candidacies for the post submitted after a public invitation for the submission of candidacies.

[02] Mud-bricks houses of Korestia

The initial pre-industrial age builders were self-taught and their craft made the region distinct for its architecture. The last house built using this specific technique was completed in 1955.

Today, over 100 such residences are left abandoned and wrecked in the abandoned villages of Gavros, Kranionas and Mavrokampos.

[03] Energy policy targets outlined

Addressing a conference on the theme "Institutional framework, investment opportunities and innovation in the sector of electrical energy" organised by the Public Power Corporation (PPC) in Athens, Maniatis noted that the government's target was to increase the RES participation in the country's energy balance to at least 20 percent by the year 2020.

In addition to aeolic, photovoltaic and hydroelectric power units, the plan also includes offshore aeolic parks and geothermal units, Maniatis said, stressing that the country's energy mix will not include coal or nuclear units.

He noted that the investment plans for RES units that have already received licences or have been approved by the Energy Regulatory Authority are in excess of 1,000 and represent 9,000 MW. The deputy minister added that 90 percent of those concerned aeolic units, while the applications for photovoltaic units exceed 3,000 MW. Worthy of note, he continued, is that a plethora of applications (more than 7,000) concern small photovoltaic units, adding that their evaluation by the Authority will be completed soon.

Maniatis further stressed the plans to hook up the islands with the mainland network, which will benefit both the national economy and the islands of the Aegean themselves, which currently face energy problems.

The deputy minister outlined the targets of the new government's energy policy, which include energy supply security, optimisation of services, environmental protection, tackling energy poverty, improvement of the units' and the transport/distribution network's efficiency, and promotion of RES and energy conservation, which (RES) will be treated as a national energy resource comparable to lignite, aeolic and solar energy.

In that framework, measures for energy conservation by all consumers and households will be taken, especially during peak hours, through the utilisation of modern technology, Maniatis concluded.

[04] Major heroin bust in Athens

A total of nine foreign nationals were arrested following a police operation in the Kato Patissia and Nea Halkidona districts, which led to the confiscation of 135 kilos of heroin.

According to police, six Syrian nationals aged between 24 and 41, a 22-year-old from Bangladesh, a 30-year-old from Sudan and a Romanian woman, 27, were arrested.

Authorities were reportedly drawn to the lavish lifestyle of the suspects during undercover operations in various nightclubs. A raid of a basement production unit for ready-to-wear clothes allegedly used as a cover uncovered the heroin and a complete drug lab replete with all the necessary equipment used for drug adulteration and packaging.

Another kilo of heroin, a handgun with a silencer, cartridges, forged passports and identity cards were found in the suspects' houses.

The total value of the confiscated heroin after adulteration is estimated at more than million euros.

[05] Justice minister on hoods

Kastanidis said that the abolition of the hood as an incriminating case was an pre-election commitement made by PASOK.

The relevant amendment on the abolition of the hood as an incriminating case will be tabled in Parliament immediately.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights Minister Haris Kastanidis

[06] ASE opening: Rise

Individual sector indices were moving mostly upward, with the biggest gains in Health, up 4.27 percent; Banks, up 1.80 percent; Insurance, up 1.72 percent; and Technology, up 1.50 percent.

The biggest losses were in Commerce, down 0.62 percent; Oil & Gas, down 0.38 percent; and Industrial Products, down 0.34 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 1.31 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 0.84 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.29 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 81 were up, 32 were down, and 23 were unchanged.

[07] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The resignation of Greek Police (ELAS) chief Vassilis Tsiatouras asked for and received by Citizens' Protection minister Michalis Chrysohoidis, the abolition of a legislative clause for stricter judicial handling of perpetrators of violence and vandalism when the perpetrators have concealed their faces (with hoods, etc.), the problem with the STAGE (EU subsidised work experience acquisition programs) employees following the government's decision not to renew STAGE contracts in the public sector, and the fiscal deficit were the main front-page items in Athens' newspapers on Friday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Orgy of hirings of PASOK supporters".

APOGEVMATINI: "Government of novices - The lack of understanding among the ministers and the abolition of measures introduced by the preceding ND government create the first sentiments of disappointment among the people".

AVGHI: "Sweep in ELAS, not on the rights".

CHORA: "The modern-day Greek tragedy - The impasse in the economy leading to deep social crisis in Greece".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Chrysohoidis bowed to the pressure of the Left and 'beheaded' the police chief".

ELEFTHEROS: "In 2000, PASOK (the government at the time) had tenured the young STAGE employees, and another 3,000 who were in 'vocational training' programs in municipalities and prefectures".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "The 'rule of law everywhere' policy line boomeranged against Chrysohoidis, who 'beheaded' the ELAS".

ESTIA: "Unreliable economic indicators - Inherent problem of the Greek economy".

ETHNOS: "George's (prime minister Papandreou) recommendations to his ministers: Fewer statements, more decisions and measures".

KATHIMERINI: "Negative evaluation of Greece - The international financial house Fitch downgraded Greece's credit ability from A to A-".

LOGOS: "The STAGE contracts create worry - New meeting today".

NIKI: "This is how the scam with the STAGE programs was set up".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The STAGE programs and all forms of flexible work must be abolished".

TA NEA: "Chrysohoidis' dual message to ELAS: I will not tolerate inner sanctums or police brutality".

TO VIMA: "Chrysohoidis sending them all away after the incident in Exarchia, and abolishing the 'hoods' clause".

VRADYNI: "The sharp rise in unemployment and upcoming harsh austerity measures threaten to create a social 'explosion'."

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