Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] We must all review the issue of the Greek debt, former Italian president Napolitano tells ANA

[02] A ship that will host 1,000 refugees will leave for Lesvos on Wednesday, says Shipping Min. Dritsas

[03] Bank of Greece ends freeze on new lending for Attica Bank

[04] Greek current account balance showed 1.4 bln euros surplus in July

[01] We must all review the issue of the Greek debt, former Italian president Napolitano tells ANA

Napolitano was bestowed with the 'Dimitris Tsatsos 2016 award' of the center of the European and Constitutional Law- Institution of Themistocles and Dimitris Tsatsos. The awarding ceremony was held on Monday evening at the Greek embassy in Rome.

"If this burden remains, it will be very difficult for the countries that bear this burden to get out of the debt vortex of non-development and the effort to seek support for new investments. This will be very difficult if there is not a European programme for investments, a European plan."

Asked on the possibility the austerity policy to be permanently abandoned in Europe, Napolitano said: "Fortunately it is a top issue of the EU report presented by European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker. We must rely on these committments in order to have immediate and effective implementation. It concerns public investments higher than those estimated until today."

[02] A ship that will host 1,000 refugees will leave for Lesvos on Wednesday, says Shipping Min. Dritsas

"The ministry took immediately action to send a ship in order to host the people provided that the authorities consider it necessary and we also received that same request from Lesvos mayor and the regional governor," noted Dritsas and explained that he will sign the tender for the leasing. "We will expect any response until Tuesday night and on Wednesday a ship will depart for Lesvos," said Dritsas adding that "If needed we will send a second ship and this procedure will be short and will be evaluated de facto."

The vessel will be able to accomodate over 1,000 people and "will be used as a hosting facility noting that priority will be given to families".

Referring to unaccompanied children, he explained that they have already been transferred to PIKPA facility and a procedure for their transfer to Athens is currently underway because they are excluded from the EU-Turkey agreement. "This agreement has restrictions and this is the reason we can't decongest that islands quickly".

Asked to comment on Golden Dawn members' attack against a group of women in Moria, Dritsas said: "I can't confirm or deny it. I do not have official information on such incidents. At least such thing did not happen at the port. What I can say is that such phaenomena are unacceptable and condemnable".

Alternate Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas in statements to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency on Tuesday announced measures to restore the order among refugees in Mytilene.

Toskas underlined that these situations must be dealt with prudence, caution and plan.

"It has been proven that alliances with extreme elements are exploited by extreme parties, and they end up benefited from them," he added.

Regarding the measures, Toskas said to ANA that a military C-130 aircraft left from Athens with destination the island of Lesvos, as well as 45 officers of the riot police to help in the restoration of normality in Moria hotspot and on the island in general.

On the delays recorded in asylum requests, he said that the government is highly concerned and has ordered the acceleration of the process amid the recent instability in the area.

[03] Bank of Greece ends freeze on new lending for Attica Bank

The central bank said that an emergency general shareholders' meeting at Attica Bank ended the gap in governance and allows the bank to look to the future with optimism. It said the decisions taking at the meeting "are an especially important step for modernising Attica Bank's corporate governance framework."

"The Bank of Greece will work closely with the bank's new management to further strengthen and support its structure and operations," the central bank announcement said. It also noted that the bank's capital adequacy rating was significantly higher than the minimum limit and liquidity conditions required by the eurosystem.

Attica Bank's new chairman Panagiotis Roumeliotis on Tuesday sent a clear message to everyone inside and outside the bank that "absolutely no one can undermine a bank, such as Attica Bank, with comments and public confrontation, which has an historic role and can play a significant development role at the same time".

Addressing a general meeting, Roumeliotis expressed his sorrow that in the last few days so much noise was made regarding the bank's new management. "I am not willing to play any political game. As a technocrat and professional my aim is the smooth continuation of Attica Bank's operation. Don't expect any discounts, compromises, we are not influenced by any one. I am certain that we will win a battle for the good of the country and the bank".

Roumeliotis noted that the bank's new management will fully cooperate with supervisory authorities (SSM and the Bank of Greece) in order to examine all issues related with a report on the bank's activities.

[04] Greek current account balance showed 1.4 bln euros surplus in July

The central bank, in a monthly report, attributed this development to an increase in the deficit of the balance of goods and, to a lesser extent, to a deterioration in the other balances that make up the combined account. The deficit of the balance of goods doubled mainly on account of a significant rise in imports, compared with imports in July 2015, which had registered a sharp drop year-on-year due to the imposition of capital controls. It should be noted that imports in July 2016 remain well below their level in 2013 and 2014. In July 2016, exports declined, mainly due to a fall in the value of oil exports. It should be noted that, although total exports of goods declined by 2.9 pct at current prices, at constant prices they rose by 6.2 pct. In addition, exports of goods excluding oil increased by 2.8 pct at constant prices.

The surplus of the services balance declined by 139 million euros, as a result of lower net travel and other services receipts. By contrast, net transport receipts were higher year-on-year, on account of the improved sea transport balance. As regards travel services in July 2016, both receipts and non-residents' arrivals declined by 3.5 pct and 2 pct respectively.

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