Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-03-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Samaras: No tolerance to violence and racism

[02] Notorious convict Rizaj holds hostages in Maladrino jail

[03] Gov't plans to transfer Cypriot banks' assets to domestic bank

[01] Samaras: No tolerance to violence and racism

Samaras said that the racist and neo-Nazi phenomena have re-appeared in Europe due to the crisis, adding: "Now, the front against neo-Nazism is more necessary than ever, now the front against anti-Semitism is more mandatory now, when we must not allow apathy and complacency to corrode the countries and the people of Europe. I reassure you that in Greece we will not allow it happen". amna

Messages against racism were also send by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and by main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, which were read out during the event. Netanyahu's message noted that "together we must face the danger before it is too late", and Tsipras' message underlined that "we must not allow another genocide, and not allow the snake's egg to hatch".

[02] Notorious convict Rizaj holds hostages in Maladrino jail

The circumstances regarding how Rizaj managed to take the prison guards by surprise late Saturday remain unknown.

Justice Ministry general secretary Marios Skandamis went to Malandrino jail and is keeping the Justice Minister abreast of the developments.

A large number of police officers assisted by EMAK emergency teams from Athens and Patras have surrounded the prison premises.

Albanian convict Alket Rizaj escaped Korydallos high-security prison by helicopter in February 2009 together with Greece's most wanted criminal Vassilis Paleokostas and, in a repeat of their Hollywood-style escape,again from the same prison in June 2006. amna

Rizaj was captured three months after the escape in the coastal village of Prodromos in Viotia prefecture.

[03] Gov't plans to transfer Cypriot banks' assets to domestic bank

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting of the Council of Systemic Stability on Saturday evening, Stournaras said the council unanimously agreed on the plan along with a mandate to the Bank of Greece to examine the interest of Greek commercial banks on the plan.

"The Council of Systemic Stability convened to discuss a decision reached by the Eurogroup over a political agreement between Eurozone finance ministers and CyprGreek Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras offered full reassurances that deposits in Cypriot banks' branches in Greece were not at risk and said that a plan was examined to transfer all assets by Cypriot banks operating in Greece to an existing Greek financial institution.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting of the Council of Systemic Stability, Stournaras said the council unanimously agreed on the plan along with a mandate to the Bank of Greece to examine the interest of Greek commercial banks on the plan. amna

"The Council of Systemic Stability convened to discuss a decision reached by the Eurogroup over a political agreement between Eurozone finance ministers and Cyprus authorities over developments in the Cypriot banking system. The agreement fully safeguards depositors in Cypriot banks operating in Greece, safeguards Greek state interest and financial stability and does not burden the management of Greek public debt. In the framework of the agreement, the Council unanimously recommends the transfer of all Cypriot banks' assets in Greee to an existing Greek financial institution. The Bank of Greece will examine the interest of Greek banks in buying these assets".

Sources said that Bank of Greece has already begun talks with Greek banks with the aim to reach an agreement by Tuesday, if possible. The same sources, however, said that foreign banking groups were not excluded from this process. In any case, Greek authorities will choose the best solution.

Finance ministry officials were reassuring that there will be no possible negative effects on the domestic banking system, following Eurogroup's decision to impose an extra duty on deposits in Cyprus, nor any mass withdrawals of bank deposits. amna

Three Cypriot banks operate in Greece, Cyprus Bank, Laiki Bank and Hellenic Bank with a branch network of more than 300 units and a workforce of around 5,000.

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