Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-05-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM addresses EU-LAC summit

[02] Local residents announce roadblocks of NE border crossings on Thur.

[03] Priceless ancient statues recovered by authorities

[04] First tranche euro support loan

[01] PM addresses EU-LAC summit

Referring to the IMF's role, Papandreou said its agenda could become wider but its main role will be unchanged, namely, dealing with the balancing of debts and deficits.

He also noted that "green development" could be part of a solution to the European crisis, considering that it can create new job positions, while he also referred to renewable energy sources (RES), underlining that the establishment of a separate ministry for the environment proves that Greece is interested in its protection.

On the sidelines of the summit, Papandreou met with the presidents of Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica.

During a formal dinner hosted by the Spanish EU Presidency on Monday evening, Papandreou had a brief meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish PM and Summit host Jose Luis Zapatero as well as the prime minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM), Nikola Gruevski.

[02] Local residents announce roadblocks of NE border crossings on Thur.

Residents said they will block the crossing until 4 p.m. in protest over their townships' proposed merger with the larger municipality of Orestiada.

All stores and services will also be closed in a show of protest.

The merger will take place within the framework of Kallikratis local administration reform plan.

Meanwhile, the Kipi border post with Turkey will also be targetted by local residents on Thursday morning angered over the proposed merger of the Ferres and Tychero municipalities.

[03] Priceless ancient statues recovered by authorities

The priceless artifacts were recovered by authorities three days ago during a sting operation in the Corinth prefecture of southern Greece, and specifically near the village of Klenia, which is located in vicinity of ancient Nemea. Two local men, identified as farmers, were charged with antiquities smuggling, while another is wanted.

The wanted man is allegedly the mastermind of the ring and has a previous criminal record with antiquities smuggling offenses.

According to reports, the two statues were dug up in the area eight months ago. The emblematic kouros, kouroi in the plural, were presented to the press during World Museum Day.

Speaking at the museum, Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos and Greek Police (EL.AS) Chief Eleftherios Economou detailed the efforts made by authorities to apprehend the suspects as well as an ongoing probe into possible overseas buyers.

The sculptures, 1.82 and 1.78 meters tall, are considered unique works dating back to the late 6th century BC. According to archaeologists, the fact that makes them unique is that they are almost identical works sharing the same facial characteristics.

The damage observed on them, cut limbs and a head is recent and probably caused by excavation machinery, although archaeologists said the statues will be restored in full.

Caption: ANA-MPA photo / ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU

[04] First tranche euro support loan

The sum was covered, through bilateral loans, with the contribution of 10 eurozone states. The loan was channeled through the European Central Bank and was credited to a Greek state account at the Bank of Greece. (ANA-MPA)

A finance ministry announcement said the EU loan, combined with the disbursement of an IMF loan last week, worth 5.5 billion euros, covered the first tranche of a 20-billion-euro loan from the support mechanism, totaling 110 billion euros. (ANA-MPA)

These loans will cover the country�s direct and short-term borrowing needs.

Greece will use 8.5 billion euros from the loan to repay a 10-year bond loan maturing on May 19, and other financing needs of the Greek state throughout the summer.

The ministry said the next tranche of the loan, worth 9.0 billion euros (6.5 billion from the EU and 2.5 billion from the IMF), was expected in September, after completion of the first quarterly evaluation of the country�s public finances. A third tranche was expected in December.

Under the agreement, signed between Greece, the eurozone and the IMF, Community and IMF officials will hold a total of 12 quarterly inspections in the country. (ANA-MPA)

KfW (Germany) offered 4.4 billion euros to the loan, followed by France with 3.3 billion euros, Italy with 2.9 billion euros, Spain with 1.9, the Netherlands with 932 million euros, Austria with 454 million, Portugal with 409 million, Luxembourg with 41 million euros, Cyprus with 32 million euros and Malta with 14.7 million euros. (ANA-MPA)

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