Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-03-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Danes, Swedes 'open' tourism season in Crete

[02] Tempi temporarily reopen Thu.

[03] DM Venizelos visiting Russia

[04] MIG sales up 10.5 pct

[05] Droutsas in Hungary

[06] ASE opening: Decline

[07] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Danes, Swedes 'open' tourism season in Crete

According to the president of the local hoteliers' association Nikos Korakas, information and bookings to date for this year's summer season in Hania have caused "contained optimism".

Korakas said that the bookings so far indicated a satisfactory season, although it is still too early to make specific predictions.

[02] Tempi temporarily reopen Thu.

The Tempi section of the country's main north-south highway has been closed to traffic since December 17, 2009 following a massive landslide, which claimed the life of an Italian engineer who was project director of a bridge being constructed at the site while arriving to inspect damage caused by falling rocks.

Traffic is currently being diverted along other routes.

Reppas said that the Tempi intersection will open on Thursday, and remain in operation until the Sunday after Easter (April 11) to facilitate travelers.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress in the restoration works, noting that it is a complex project that, according to the relevant study, required interventions at 12 points.

Of those, he added, the nine interventions have been completed, while the remaining three points do not present risk to motorists and their completion requires material that the contractor carrying out the project will take delivery of in 10-15 days.

Reppas further announced that from Thursday to April 11, the toll stations along the Tempi stretch will not be in operation.

[03] DM Venizelos visiting Russia

The defence minister reassured that the Greek people share the sadness and indignation of the Russian people and expressed his absolute solidarity for the struggle against terrorism and every act of violence directed at innocent citizens. He also laid flowers at the Lublianka metro station, where 24 citizens were killed during Monday's suicide attack.

[04] MIG sales up 10.5 pct

MIG said its net position (NAV) was 3.5 billion euros at the end of 2009, or 4.55 euros per share, down 17 pct from a year earlier. The Group, said in a statement its capital structure was very strong, combined with significant liquidity and stressed that MIG was in a very strong position to deal with the current economic crisis in 2010 and to deal any opportunities arose.

[05] Droutsas in Hungary

Droutsas said these were "sectors of exceptional importance in periods of economic crisis".

[06] ASE opening: Decline

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest gains in Insurance, up 10.00 percent; and Industrial Products, up 0.67 percent.

The biggest losses were in Public Utilities, down 1.44 percent; and Raw Materials, down 1.07 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.29 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.07 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.02 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 30 were up, 49 were down, and 23 were unchanged.

[07] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Prime Minister George Papandreou' orders to his ministers to accelerate the reforms, the battle against tax evasion and the increase in crime, as well as the investigation into Sunday's terror attack resulting in the death of a 15-year-old boy last Sunday in the Athens district of Patissia, dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Papandreou disappointed by his ministers - They are incapable of dealing with the everyday problems".

APOGEVMATINI: "Insert: 15,511 job opportunities".

AVGHI: "IMF and markets show their teeth - Lenders unwilling to buy the Greek bonds".

AVRIANI: "New double blow from IMF and speculators - Spreads skyrocketed to 338 points".

ELEFTHEROS: "Policemen unprotected in patrols - They buy their helmets by themselves while others do not have guns".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Athens an unfortified city".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Papandreou makes sprints to stop the spreads' rise - He gave orders to ministers to immediately proceed with the reforms before the next EU Summit".

ESTIA: "Government sticks to words - Restructure from the beginning".

ETHNOS: "Proof of standard of living for pensioners, too - Changes aiming to close the tax evasion holes".

IMERISSIA: "Double package for growth - Companies and jobs will be subsidized".

KATHIMERINI: "Proof of standard of living for the pensioners also - Suffocating provision for enterprises".

LOGOS: "Closed professions will 'open' in May - Papandreou: The Stability and Growth plan must be followed to the letter".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "IMF will respond, but on its own conditions".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The struggle to protect the unemployed is a matter of life for the working class".

TA NEA: "Major tax defaulters' bank deposits will be opened'.

TO VIMA: "Government declares war on tax evasion".

VRADYNI: "Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras states: Enough with crime".

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