Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-02-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM meets with Romanian counterpart, voices new warning to FYROM, energy accord signed

[02] Meeting with Romanian PM

[03] PM congratulates new Athens Archbishop from Romania

[04] Ieronymos of Thebes elected Archbishop

[05] Ecumenical, Moscow Patriarchs congratulate new Archbishop

[06] Cyprus archbishop, president, congratulate Ieronymos

[07] FM Bakoyannis congratulates newly elected Archbishop Ieronymos

[08] Gov't positions on Kosovo mission, Siemens affair

[09] Justice minister on Siemens affair

[10] Deputy FM Doukas concludes visit to Syria

[11] DM Meimarakis at NATO meeting in Vilnius

[12] SYN leader Alavanos addresses opening of party congress

[13] Evidence in Zachopoulos case released

[14] US envoy Speckhard visits Thessaloniki

[15] FinMin Alogoskoufis addresses Economist dinner

[16] Presence of Greek banks in SE Europe outlined during Economist conference

[17] PASOK deputy on course of Greek economy

[18] Development Minister Folias meets World Bank delegation

[19] FinMin projects exports to account for 9.8% of GDP by end '08

[20] FinMin holds talks with regional secretary generals on 3rd CSF

[21] Merchant marine minister holds contacts in New York

[22] SEB signs protocol with Syrian chambers

[23] Inflation rate unchanged at 3.9% for Jan.

[24] Enterprise Europe Network operates in Greece

[25] State revenues up 8.5% in Jan.

[26] Car sales up 6% in January

[27] ASE tables non-binding offer in tender for Ljubljana bourse

[28] Greek stocks end 0.15 pct higher

[29] ADEX closing report

[30] Greek bond market closing report

[31] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[32] FM inaugurates Forest of Sculptures exhibition on its first foreign showing

[33] Greece to return stolen antiquities to Albania

[34] Thessaloniki municipality relief assistance for the homeless

[35] Former education minister undergoes emergency operation

[36] PASOK's Venizelos presents book

[37] Late-night metro to begin this weekend

[38] Man charged with attempted kidnapping of 10-year-old

[39] Scattered showers, storms on Friday

[40] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] PM meets with Romanian counterpart, voices new warning to FYROM, energy accord signed

Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis, on an official visit to Romania, met Thursday with his Romanian counterpart Colin Popescu-Tariceanu, with whom he discussed developments in Kosovo and in the Balkans, including the FYROM name issue and Turkey's European prospects. A framework agreement in the energy sector was also signed between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Karamanlis voiced a second warning to FYROM in as many days, stressing that finding a mutually acceptable solution to the FYROM name issue was an undeviating criterion for the neighbouring country's course to the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

The prospect of NATO's issuing an invitation to FYROM to join the Alliance will be discussed at the NATO summit in April.

Speaking in Bucharest, Karamanlis reiterated that Greece backs all the Balkan countries on their Euro-Atltantic course, but on condition that they fulfill all the criteria, stressing that intransigence and a provocative attitude were outside the European rationale.

Karamanlis said that Greece places great importance on the gradual incorporation of all the Balkan countries in the Euro-Atlantic institutions, but added that this, however, depended chiefly on their own performances.

"Respect of the principle of good neighborhood is a mandatory condition for countries that wish to be in the same alliance," the Greek prime minister underlined.

[02] Meeting with Romanian PM

Popescu-Tariceanu told reporters that the two countries had "many common points" on those issues.

The main purpose of Karamanlis' visit to Bucharest is the signing of an energy accord between the two countries - namely, a framework agreement in the sector of natural gas, oil and electricity, which is an update of an older agreement signed between the two countries in 1977.

The accord provides for the establishment of a Standing Coordinating Committee that will meet regularly in the two capitals to discuss timely matters concerning the agreement's materialisation.

The signing of the accord earlier in the day, is in the framework of a general upgrading of the energy cooperation between the two countries, Karamanlis said, adding that the accord was dictated by the fact that the two countries were partners in the EU and allies in NATO.

It went without saying that the Greek-Romanian cooperation takes into consideration the EU regulations for diversification of energy sources, diversification of energy channels, and their inter-connection, he said.

According to the Romanian prime minister, the target was for the two countries to work together on their energy policy, aimed at ensuring energy sources and a better position on the energy map, as well as ensurance of corridors for the transport of energy that will serve the interests of both countries.

Greece plans to advance similar cooperation frameworks with all the countries of the region, as part of its strategy as a key country on the energy map of the wider Balkan region.

Karamanlis said that his visit to Bucharest was highly symbolic, aiming at sealing the excellent cooperation between the two countries and laying the foundations for the qualitative upgrading of those relations. "It is a visit that gives new momentum to a traditional friendship," he said.

Karamanlis also outlined the economic cooperation and trade relations between the two countries, which he said have been steadily increasing in recent years.

The prime minister made special reference to the Greek Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans, and to the trilateral Bulgaria-Romania-Greece cooperation aimed at a common policy line on Balkan issues.

The energy accord was signed earlier by Greek development minister Christos Folias and Romanian economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian

Also participating in the Greek delegation are minister of state and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, deputy foreign minister Yannis Valynakis, and the director of the prime minister's press office Yannis Andrianos.

Earlier, Karamanlis was received by Patriarch Daniel of Romania at the Romanian Patriarchate.

He also met with Romanian president Traian Basescu, while in the afternoon the prime minister will attend a reception in honor of the Greek entrepreneurs active in Romania, to be hosted by Greece's ambassador in Bucharest.

[03] PM congratulates new Athens Archbishop from Romania

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Thursday expressed his best wishes for the success of the newly elected Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, who was elected to succeed the late Christodoulos earlier the same day.

Addressing Greek business people operating in Romania, Karamanlis stressed that the election made this "an important day for the Orthodox faith and the Church of Greece".

"I am certain that his faith and his devotion to the Church, his love for its congregation, his ability and his experience will be a reliable guide in the historic mission he is undertaking," Karamanlis said.

The prime minister, who is in Romania on an official visit and earlier signed an energy pact, then referred to bilateral economic and trade ties between Greece and Romania, stressing that one of the main goals of his visit was to further boost this economic cooperation.

He said that Greek exports to Romania had increased 46 percent in 2006 to reach 600 million euros, while Romanian exports to Greece had exceeded 500 million euros.

The volume of trade between the two countries thus stood at 1.1 billion euros in 2006 and there were significant improvements in terms of investments.

Investments in Romania that involved Greek interests amounted to 3.0 billion euros in 2007 and concerned some 800 enterprises, making Greece one of the top five foreign investors in the country, he reported.

Karamanlis stressed that it was necessary to boost bilateral investment cooperation further and that the government had focused its efforts in this direction. He said that areas offering great opportunities included the formation of consortiums in various sectors of mutual interest, such as tourism, telecommunications and renewable energy sources in countries of the Middle East, as well as east and central Europe.

He also referred to the energy sector as one of "vital interest" and underlined that the bilateral agreement signed between Greece and Romania on Thursday would contribute to further "strengthening bilateral ties in the strategically important energy sector".

[04] Ieronymos of Thebes elected Archbishop

Ieronymos was elected to the helm of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece by the Holy Synod in the second round of voting, with 45 votes out of a total of 74 Metropolitans (bishops) present.

Church bells at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral, where the Holy Synod convened early Thursday morning to elect the new Archbishop, began ringing joyously as a lamp outside the Cathedral lit up to announce that a new Archbishop has been elected.

Alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, in a statement, conveyed the government's best wishes to the new Archbishop in the very important task he is undertaking for the Church and the country.

New Archbishop's biography

Ieronymos, born Ioannis Liapis in 1938 in the town of Oinofyta, Viotia prefecture, is a graduate of the School of Philosophy (archaeology department) and the School of Theology of the University of Athens, followed by Byzantine studies via a state scholarship, as well as post-graduate studies in Austria and Germany.

He was academic assistant to Anastasios Orlandos, a subsequent president of the University of Athens, at the Archaeological Society of Athens, while he also worked as an instructor of literature at the Leontios High School in the Nea Smyrni suburb of Athens and at other high schools in Athens and Avlona.

He discontinued his teaching career after entering the clergy.

Ieronymos served as Coadjutor Metropolitan of Thebes & Livadia from 1967-78, where he was unanimously elected Metropolitan in 1981, after serving as abbot of two monasteries (1971-1981) and as secretary and later chief secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece (1978-81). He has served on the committees on ecclesiastical education, church property, Church-state relations, and Church scholarships, and as vice-chairman of the Church of Greece's radio station, as well as on joint Church-state committees regarding monastery property and ecclesiastical education, and as chairman of the Church-society dialogue committee.

The overwhelming majority (82 of the 110) priests in his bishopric are degree-holders in theology with a second degree (in literature, architecture, medicine, computer science, education, economics etc.).

Under his term as Metropolitan and his guidance, six monasteries (with a total of 45 monks) and 17 convents (with a total of 110 nuns) were renovated and staffed, while he has also written numerous articles, studies and books on theological, social and historical topics, while his book "Medieval Monuments of Evia (Euboea)" received the Athens Academy's top award in 1970.

His social work also includes the founding of boarding schools, orphanages and introduction of the institution of foster families, shelters for the elderly, rehabilitation centres for the mentally retarded, a training centre for the creative occupation of children with special needs in cooperation with prefectural agencies, a drug prevention centre, food pantries for the needy, including foreign guest workers, consulting centres, and a Centre of Historical and Archaeological Studies, while, as a former academic, he developed a special relationship with the teaching community in Viotia.

Other accomplishments in his bishopric include the establishment and operation of parish cultural centres, youth centres, and a model camping facility on Mt. Parnassos, while at his initiative the Viotia History and Culture Research Centre was founded, which collaborates with the universities of Durham and Cambridge.

Ieronymos was a protagonist in the creation, in his home town of Oinofyta, of a Population Awareness Centre on environmental and economic migrants' issues.

He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Craiova in Romania for his charitable work in the Metropolis on health issues, and is also president of the Hellenic Heart Foundation (ELIKAR), a public benefit foundation.

Congratulations for new archbishop

Orthodox Church prelates around the world and political leaders throughout Greece on Thursday sent their congratulations to the new Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, formerly the metropolitan (bishop) of Thebes and Livadia, who was elected earlier the same day to succeed the late Christodoulos.

An announcement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate at Fanar, which learned of Ieronymos' election before the result arrived through official channels, stressed that "our regard toward the personality of the Metropolitan of Thebes Ieronymos is great and the expectations from cooperation with him in dealing with the problems of the Orthodox Church are even greater." An announcement by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I toward Ieronymos is expected later on Thursday.

A letter of congratulations also arrived from the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II, who praised the new archbishop's "spiritual personality" and his great erudition on theological issues, as well as his long experience and love of the Church.

On behalf of the Greek State, President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias sent a telegram expressing his "warm congratulations".

"I wish you every success in your work and in the important spiritual mission that you must carry out," he said.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis contacted Archbishop Ieronymos on the phone from Bucharest, where he is currently on an official visit, in order to congratulate him on his election and wish him success with his work.

Earlier, alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros had expressed the government's best wishes for the newly-elected archbishop in his work at the helm of Greece's Orthodox Church, to which the overwhelming majority of the country belongs.

Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas made a statement in which he said that Parliament hailed the election of the new archbishop and congratulated Ieronymos, wishing him a long life and to give a worthy account of himself in his work.

"The Parliament of Hellenes always looks on the Church with respect and love for its perennial contribution to our society and our entire nation. It does a great work," he noted.

Education and Religious Affairs minister Evripides Stylianidis, on his part, stressed that the election process "had been flawless" and also expressed his best wishes for the success of the new Archbishop in his work.

On behalf of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party, Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis sent a message in which he expressed his best wishes for the archbishop in his work and conviction that he would live up to the expectations of the Church.

A telegram of congratulations was also sent by main opposition PASOK's leader George Papandreou, who wished Ieronymos health, strength and every success in his work as the head of the Greek Orthodox Church, saying his presence at its helm would allow it to make its way boldly in the modern age.

The Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party issued an announcement saying that the election of the new Archbishop marked a new era for the Greek Church, with "new improved relations with mother Church".

Others sending their congratulations included the head of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad Stefanos Tamvakis, who conveyed the best wishes of all Greeks throughout the world on Ieronymos' election, and several local government officials within Greece, such as Athens-Piraeus Super-Prefect Dina Bei, Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis, Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis and Piraeus Mayor Panagiotis Fassoulas.

[05] Ecumenical, Moscow Patriarchs congratulate new Archbishop

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos and the Patriarch of Moscow Alexiy II on Thursday congratulated newly-elected Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos.

The message addressed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Synod expressed the wish that God will help the task entrusted to him by the Lord and the honest vote of the respected Hierarchy of the Church of Greece, adding that it looked forward to cooperation between the Archbishop and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Patriarch of Moscow said in his message that "we are convinced that the warm relations between the brotherly Churches will be further maintained," speaking "on behalf of the Holy Synod and the Russian Orthodox Church in its entirety," while stressing that the Russian Orthodox Church will be represented at the enthronement ceremony by a "senior representative."

Speaking to the PIA-Novosti news agency, the Moscow Patriarchate's Orthodox relations secretary Nikolai Balasov termed Archbishop Ieronymos a "hierarch with great experience in inter-ecclesiastical dialogue" and expressed the hope that the new Archbishop of Athens will visit all the Orthodox Churches soon, as is customary, and therefore Moscow as well, while recalling the longstanding bonds of friendship and confidence between the Greek and Russian people, as well as between the two Churches.

[06] Cyprus archbishop, president, congratulate Ieronymos

Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos sent a message of congratulations on Thursday to newly elected Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos.

Chrysostomos expressed his joy over the election of Ieronymos and wishes "God to grant him health and success in the task he is undertaking, for the good of the Christian faithful of Greece."

President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos also sent a telegram of congratulations to Ieronymos, saying "I convey the warmest congratulations of the Cypriot government, the people of Cyprus and myself personally, wishing every success in your holy mission, for the good of our Orthodox Church and Hellenism."

[07] FM Bakoyannis congratulates newly elected Archbishop Ieronymos

"I express to you my cordial congratulations on your election as Prelate of the Church of Greece. I wish every success in your high spiritual mission and in general on the task you are undertaking and I assure you that I will be a sincere helper in every effort of yours," Bakoyannis said.

[08] Gov't positions on Kosovo mission, Siemens affair

He stated that Greece should not be absent from any EU mission to Kosovo that will gradually replace UNMIK, adding that operational procedures and staffing issues have not been completed or finalised yet.

Called to comment on the statements by a former deputy public order minister in a previous PASOK government, Evangelos Malesios, regarding the C4I security system, Antonaros said it would be interesting to hear what the PASOK spokesman have to say.

[09] Justice minister on Siemens affair

He reiterated that ruling New Democracy (ND) party does not favor a fact-finding committee by Parliament into the affair because a preliminary judicial investigation is underway.

Hatzidakis also underlined that the affair mainly concerns a period when PASOK was in government.

Dragassakis said the government could request from Siemens any evidence the company has in its possession, stressing that any cover up or procrastination will not solve the problem.

[10] Deputy FM Doukas concludes visit to Syria

Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Doukas concluded his three-day visit to Syria on Thursday with the signing of two cooperation memorandums by the relevant state agencies, concerning renewable energy sources and the standardisation of products, as well as the signing of the agreements protocol of the 7th Joint Interministerial Committee.

Doukas said the visit was very important and laid the foundations for economic cooperation, such as the modernisation and construction of ports, the repairing and building of ships and road construction, as well as for cooperation in the sectors of cotton, tobacco, cement, etc.

The deputy minister further said that all issues were discussed in a very constructive spirit and efforts must be made to resolve them, adding that the challenges are great and the opportunities even greater.

Syrian Vice-Foreign Minister Faisal Megdad termed Doukas' visit "historic" since, as he said, "it was the most successful in recent years and went beyond expectations." He reassured that Syria will proceed along the path of reforms, particularly in the sectors of investments in industry and tourism.

Doukas met with many Syrian government ministers on Thursday, as well as with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah al-Dardari and with the country's Vice President, to whom he conveyed a written message of friendship and cooperation by Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

[11] DM Meimarakis at NATO meeting in Vilnius

NATO defence ministers on Thursday focused on the security situation in Afghanistan, the Alliance's mission in Kosovo and relations between NATO and the Ukraine, during the first day of a two-day meeting in the Lithuanian capital.

Greek Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis stressed the need for coordinating efforts by all interested sides, on an international level, regarding particular issues.

In reference to Afghanistan, Meimarakis insisted that the strategic political and military plan proposed by international staff "should move along the lines of the existing operational plan ... in the hope that this will contribute substantially to the improvement of the situation."

On Kosovo, the Greek minister underlined that any new developments should guarantee stability and security in the broader region of southeastern Europe.

He also reiterated that "relations of good neighborliness, sincere bilateral and regional cooperation, a reconciliatory spirit, as well as the peaceful resolution of all pending issues and differences are indispensable elements for achieving a permanent stability and development in the Balkans, which will contribute to the welfare within a broader environment of security."

Speaking on the future of Kosovo, Meimarakis said "it should function effectively and democratically, with full respect to human rights, without discounts."

He further stressed that NATO's involvement in the region must be maintained at today's high level of operational readiness, reiterating Greece's intention to maintain its military and police forces in the province.

Finally, in touching on NATO-Ukraine relations, Meimarakis noted that in order to have consolidated cooperation between NATO and the former Soviet republic, "this needs be supported by institutional reforms in the defence and political sector ... along with a broad political consensus and (support) of the Ukrainian people."

[12] SYN leader Alavanos addresses opening of party congress

Alavanos said the party's aims "are not exhausted in securing a greater percentege of votes in the next general elections. The aim is to overthrow the two-party system of governance, to build a new majority and this proposal to be brought in front of the forces cooperating in the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA)."

"This effort may be difficult, may take time but it is an attainable targret," Alavanos added.

Referring to relations between his party and the main opposition PASOK, Alavanos said that "some people support that a government solution could be given more easily through a cooperation with PASOK. But such a cooperation would not be a solution," because, as he said, the main opposition party "is already structurally incorporated to the system, it constitutes a pylon and a pole of the present system. And this a truth experienced in everyday life."

"The Left does not pledge for a new majority and an alternative governance in order to support the two-party system but to overcome it," he noted.

Alavanos, who has declared its intention to abandon the party's leadership, addressed himself to the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leadership saying: "When the KKE leadership calls us traitors, compromised, opportunists, we respond to its militants that the enemy is one, capitalism."

He said that a condition for the party achieving its objectives is its renewal and reinforcement.

Present at the opening session of the congress were ruling New Democracy (ND) central committee secretary Lefteris Zagoritis, the director of the PASOK parliamentary group Dimitris Reppas and Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis.

The congress is scheduled to end on Sunday with the election of a new leader and a new central political committee.

[13] Evidence in Zachopoulos case released

The evidence collected by examining magistrate Dimitris Economou includes all the testimony taken by the magistrate and all the evidence revealed when the confidentiality of phone and banking records of the suspects and alleged victims in the case were lifted.

Economou had ordered the release of bank account records of 35-year-old Evi Tsekou, a key suspect, as well as Christos Zachopoulos, and phone records for two mobile phones owned by Zachopoulos and three mobile phones owned by Tsekou, as well as the phone records of one other person involved in the case.

The lawyers will now be able to study the new evidence and decide their next moves, while the magistrate is expected to draw up charges and call specific individuals to answer to these in the next few days, while he also intends to press additional charges against Tsekou.

Meanwhile, journalist Themos Anastasiades on Thursday lodged a document with the Supreme Court public prosecutor, the Personal Data Protection Authority and the National Radio and Television Council demanding that they take all measures necessary to protect his personal data "to apply the relevant laws in all directions and not selectively".

He claimed that his legal rights were being "brutally and uncontrollably abused" in extremely severe, insulting and slanderous ways for his person.

[14] US envoy Speckhard visits Thessaloniki

The US ambassador, accompanied by US Consul General in Thessaloniki Hoyt Brian Yee, had successive meetings with Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos and Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Margaritis Tzimas. Talks focused on exchange programmes in culture and education and on investment opportunities for US entrepreneurs in northern Greece.

Speaking to reporters, Speckhard said discussions with Tzimas focused on Greece's role as an energy hub and a factor of stability in the wider Balkan region.

He noted that the Washington and Athens share the same ideas on democracy and fundamental rights, and underlined that there may by political differences but the fundamental principles remain the same.

On the FYROM "name issue", he said the United States encourages both sides to find a solution, while he expressed hope that negotiations will be successfully completed with the signing of an agreement. He added that northern Greece will benefit the most following such an agreement.

Regarding developments in Kosovo, he pointed out that the Ahtisaari Plan as the best approach for a solution.

The US ambassador visited the Teloglion Foundation of Art in Thessaloniki and is scheduled to visit the archaeological site in Vergina, southwest of Thessaloniki.

Financial News

[15] FinMin Alogoskoufis addresses Economist dinner

"We have now entered the second stage of the government's reformist programme, while in parallel we are speeding up the implementation of the reforms that we have already promoted. We are handling the considerable problems of the Greek economy and society, such as tax evasion, the social security system and extravagance in the public sector," the minister said.

"The Greek banking system does not appear to be facing the problems that are being faced by the banking systems of other countries due to being excessively exposed to high risk loans," he added.

The minister further stressed that "the public sector, despite the initiatives taken in recent years, remains the sick man," adding that this makes "even more imperative the second stage of fiscal restructuring to enable us to handle the initial causes of the public debt and to adjust ourselves to the obligation, that we have together with all the other countries in the eurozone, to eliminate fiscal deficits as of 2010."

Alogoskoufis explained that "the causes of the fiscal imbalances are deep and are due to the economic policy that had been followed for many years. Considerable ground continues to exist to decrease extravagance and to save funds, so that both the deficits can be reduced and the social state can be strengthened."

Elaborating on the issue of priorities to be followed, the minister mentioned the full implementation of the law on public utilities and the extension, in the weeks to come, of similar arrangements on transparency in hospitals, the social security funds and local administration organisations, to enable reliable budgets and reliable balance sheets to be achieved throughout the entire public sector and not only in the government.

Referring to Greek banks, Alogoskoufis said that they are playing an important role in economic developments in southeastern Europe, having almost 3,000 branch offices and a market share that exceeds 20 percent in many countries in the region.

He further said that competition in the banking system is more intense now and the difference between the deposits interest rate and the loans interest rate is being steadily de-escalated, since from 4.79 percentage points in December 2004, the difference had been decreased to 4.19 percentage points in July 2007.

Focusing on product exports as a percentage of GDP, the minister said that they increased from 8.4 percent in 2004 to 9.6 percent in 2007 and they are expected to further increase to 9.8 percent this year.

Lastly, on the question of promoting cooperation with private companies regarding the management of container terminals at the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, Alogoskoufis said that corresponding issues are being discussed for airports, such as the extension of the contract and the partial privatisation of the Eleftherios Venizelos airport.

[16] Presence of Greek banks in SE Europe outlined during Economist conference

Miliakos said that so far Greek banks have invested in the region of southeastern Europe amounts that exceed six billion euros, they have branch office and subsidiary assets exceeding 56 billion euros (or 19 percent of the total assets of the banking groups) and they operate about 1,900 branch offices with 32,000 employees (that correspond to a third of the total number of branch offices and staff).

"According to the operational plans of the mother groups, the number of branch offices will exceed 3,000 by the end of 2009, while the revenues of banks from their activities outside Greece, which neared 12 percent of the total in 2006 (compared to 8 percent in 2005) will reach on average levels which will exceed 20 percent," he added.

[17] PASOK deputy on course of Greek economy

Katseli, heading a PASOK delelegation, had successive meetings earlier in the day with Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis, National Bank of Greece president Takis Arapaglou and with ministry and bank staff.

"The ship is heading at a fast rate towards the rocks," said Katseli, expressing her concern over the course of the economy, at the same time underlining that "the optimism with which the Economy and Finance minister as well as the president of the National Bank see the course, impresses."

During the meetings they had, Katseli and the team of PASOK deputies raised matters related to "the explosive high cost of living, the shrinking of real income and purchasing power of low and medium bracket income groups."

[18] Development Minister Folias meets World Bank delegation

A presentation was made during the meeting of the framework of measures taken by the development ministry, as well as those that are being scheduled in cooperation with all the jointly responsible ministries, to support entrepreneurship and promote the competitiveness of the country's products and services.

The purpose of the visit is an exchange of views between the delegation and government officials, production agency representatives and young businessmen who are playing an important role in promoting the competitiveness of the Greek economy.

Also being pursued is the promotion of Greece as an attractive country for investments, businesses and visitors, having a dynamic economy and securing direct access to the market of southeastern Europe.

[19] FinMin projects exports to account for 9.8% of GDP by end '08

According to Alogoskoufis, OPE is active in 58 countries around the world and promotes 25 different sectors of the Greek economy and manufacturers, while it is especially active with its "Kerasma" initiative to promote Grecian cuisine, the so-called Mediterranean diet and brandname Greek foods and farm products around the world.

In an unrelated development, Alogoskoufis met earlier with World Bank vice-president Michael Klein.

He also met separately with main opposition PASOK party's sector head for the economy, Louka Katseli.

[20] FinMin holds talks with regional secretary generals on 3rd CSF

Alogoskoufis said that 2008 is the most crucial year both for the 3rd CSF, because it has to close, and the programme period that is starting. He added that he was aware of difficulties facing regional governors, but stressed that "we have no ground for slackness this year. It is very important for the entire country that we go beyond ourselves. The effort must be very intensive."

The meeting with regional governors will be repeated every month "to enable us to see how we are going and to prevent problems before they appear," the minister added.

[21] Merchant marine minister holds contacts in New York

Greek Merchant Marine and Island Policy Minister George Voulgarakis on Thursday attended a luncheon in Manhattan, hosted by the Alexandros Onassis Foundation.

"The Alexandros Onassis Foundation is doing a superb job on the projection of our country," said Voulgarakis, stressing that during his tenure at the culture ministry, he had "excellent cooperation with the Foundation," hailing its contribution to Greek culture.

During the luncheon, which was hosted in cooperation with the General Consulate of Greece, Voulgarakis also referred to the scheduled exhibition on Minoan Civilisation which will be presented at the Foundation's Cultural Centre in New York next month.

Attending the luncheon were Archbishop of America Demetrius, Greece's Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Ioannis Mourikis, General Consul of Greece in New York, Agi Balta, Consul Sophia Veve, General Consul of Cyprus, Andreas Panagiotou, the executive director of the Onassis Foundation in New York, Ambassador Loukas Tsilas and officials of the Greek-American community.

During his stay in New York, Voulgarakis visited the city's port and met with the president of the New York and New Jersey Port Organisation.

The merchant marine minister was also the main speaker at a shipping conference organised by the American-Hellenic Chamber on the theme "Shipping Markets".

[22] SEB signs protocol with Syrian chambers

Ten representatives of Greek companies are accompanying Doukas on the visit.

A Syrian business delegation is expected to visit Athens in September.

[23] Inflation rate unchanged at 3.9% for Jan.

According to the service, rising fuel costs and prices for cereals and stockbreeding products kept the annualised inflation rate unchanged, while the annual January sales period resulted in a significant decrease in the retail clothing and shoe sector, 7.2 percent.

[24] Enterprise Europe Network operates in Greece

The Greek Enterprise Europe Network-Hellas, member of the European network, is the largest network of integrated business support which covers all the Greek region.

The Enterprise Europe Network-Hellas offers services of international business cooperation, briefing on European policies, services on innovation and the transfer of technical know-how, as well as services for the encouragement of participation by small and medium-sized businesses in the European programmes on research and technology.

The project is being implemented by a consortium of 16 organisations, comprised of industrial associations, research and technological foundations, trade and industrial chambers and agencies in the innovation sector and the mass media.

[25] State revenues up 8.5% in Jan.

VAT collection also increased by 7.9 percent, according to a finance ministry announcement on Thursday.

[26] Car sales up 6% in January

Sales in January 2008 amounted to 33,583 units, while last year, they had reached 31,685 units.

[27] ASE tables non-binding offer in tender for Ljubljana bourse

ASE President Spyros Kapralos made the announcement on Thursday in Athens during an address at the 6th Economist Banking Forum in the Greek capital.

In fact, Kapralos also did not rule out the prospect of the ASE being purchased by a foreign stock exchange in the future.

Among others, Kapralos the ASE's capitalisation has exceeded 170 billion euros, whereas the average daily turnover surpasses 500 million euros.

[28] Greek stocks end 0.15 pct higher

Most sectors ended lower with the Telecommunications (2.69 pct), Utilities (1.77 pct), Healthcare (1.63 pct) and Insurances (1.55 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while Oil & Gas (1.61 pct), Recreation & Travel (1.59 pct) and Banks (0.74 pct) scored gains.

The Big Cap index fell 0.27 pct, the Mid Cap index eased 0.62 pct and the Small Cap index ended 0.29 pct lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 164 to 84 with another 46 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -1.51%

Industrials: -1.31%

Commercial: -0.54%

Construction: -0.40%

Media: -0.77%

Oil & Gas: +1.61%

Personal & Household: -0.13%

Raw Materials: +0.23%

Travel & Leisure: +1.59%

Technology: +0.10%

Telecoms: -2.69%

Banks: +0.74%

Food & Beverages: -1.37%

Health: -1.63%

Utilities: -1.77%

Chemicals: -0.58%

Financial Services: -0.04%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, OTE, Eurobank and Coca Cola.

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank: 21.58

ATEbank: 3.60

Public Power Corp (PPC): 28.10

HBC Coca Cola: 28.62

Hellenic Petroleum: 9.84

National Bank of Greece: 41.46

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 19.18

Intralot: 12.48

OPAP: 23.70

OTE: 20.80

Titan Cement Company: 31.30

[29] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the Big Cap index totaled 16,313 contracts, worth 184.896 million euros, with 27,529 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was 173 contracts worth 4.540 million euros, with 528 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 9,494 contracts, worth 14.323 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Marfin Investment Group's contracts (1,587), followed by National Bank (1,391), Marfin Popular Bank (1,174), Alpha Bank (720) and Eurobank (571).

[30] Greek bond market closing report

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were mixed. National Bank's overnight rate was 4.04 pct, the two-day rate fell to 4.06 pct from 4.12 pct, the one-month rate 4.19 pct and the 12-month rate was 4.34 pct.

[31] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

U.S. dollar 1.468

Pound sterling 0.755

Danish kroner 7.512

Swedish kroner 9.515

Japanese yen 55.83

Swiss franc 1.611

Norwegian kroner 8.134

Canadian dollar 1.485

Australian dollar 1.649

General News

[32] FM inaugurates Forest of Sculptures exhibition on its first foreign showing

The famed Forest of Sculptures collection was a gift from the late collector Simon Spierer to the Hessisches Landesmuseum (Hesse State Museum) in Darmstadt, Germany, comprising forty sculptures by such artists as Henry Moore, Alberto Giacometti and Max Ernst, tracing 20th century sculpture from late art deco to postmodernism.

In its first showing showing outside of Darmstadt, the collection will be on exhibition in Athens through April 14, after which it will travel to other capitals throughout Europe.

Speaking at the opening, Bakoyannis said that the exhibition's showing in Athens comprised strong proof that the Greek capital was capable of attracting international interest.

The exhibition opens with a portrait of Spierer by Andy Warhol, and contains impessive sculptures by Armitage, Arp, Bill, Bourgeois, Brancusi, Cardenas, Caro, Cesar, Cragg, Croissant, Ernst, Fernagu, Fontana, Giacometti, Gonzalez, Herworth, Kito, Lobo, Masson, Melotti, Moore, Noguchi, Pan, Penalba, Perrot, Petters, Pomodoro, De Pury, Reggiani, Richier, Rohm, Romeda, Spoerri, Stankiewicz, Trubbiani, Turnbull, Uecker, Williams, and Greek artists Takis and Avramidis.

While many of the works have human form, such as Moore's "Three Quarter Figure", others like Lucio Fontana's "Torso of a Horse" and Graham Williams' "Folded Steel Leaves" follow other lines.

[33] Greece to return stolen antiquities to Albania

The marble statues had been found and confiscated by Greek authorities in 1997, when they were discovered in the hands of two private owners in Koropi, Attica. They were then handed over the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, which traced their origins to the artifacts stolen from Butrint.

Liapis and Albanian Culture Minister Ylli Pango officially announced at the Acropolis Museum's lecture theatre, which was inaugurated earlier the same day, that the return will take place on Monday.

Liapis stressed that the move demonstrated the Greek State's respect for international law and that it was putting into practice its policy for the return of stolen antiquities to their place of origin. e also referred to the close ties between the museums of all countries with touring exhibitions, exchanges, joint programmes and loans of archaeological treasures.

Pango thanked Liapis and his predecessor George Voulgarakis for their efforts to repatriate the two statues, as well as staff at the two museums for showing "great professionalism".

The president of the New Acropolis Museum Dimitris Pantermalis referred to the museum's comparative advantages and the ideal conditions it provided for the return of the Parthenon Marbles held in Britain.

The two statues both date to the 2nd century B.C. when Butrint was a Greek colony known as Bouthroton - which is still the Greek name for the southern Albanian town today. Both are missing their heads and both finds have been published, the female form in 1924, while the male form has a catalogue number from the Butrint Museum and has also been published.

[34] Thessaloniki municipality relief assistance for the homeless

Approximately 100 people are registered as homeless and a handful of them, about 7-8, reject any form of assistance.

Many of them have mental problems, are drug addicts or alcoholics in need of medical observation.

The Municipal Shelter for the Homeless can accommodate up to 20 men and women at a time until they get a job or are reunited with their families. Two hostels for homeless women are currently operated by social organizations while the prefecture of Thessaloniki, assisted by the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace and the Holy Metropolis of Neapolis, has leased two apartments offering shelter to 28 male homeless.

[35] Former education minister undergoes emergency operation

According to a brief medical bulletin, the operation was deemed necessary when a previous fracture in the leg, along with complications due to Yiannakou's chronic diabetes, developed into a serious infection.

[36] PASOK's Venizelos presents book

Presenting his book entitled "Towards a post-representative democracy - institutional conditions of an alternative policy", Venizelos, who lost an inner-party leadership election to Papandreou last November, referred to what he called "incompetence of the country to handle crises" and to the "parallel phenomenon of a society which is being poisoned, and equates itself with what is little, negative and cheap."

"This assessment should in no case lead to a desdain of the model of representative-constitutional democracy," he said. However he denounced efforts to impose such a model to a number of countries "without respecting the fundamental notions of internal and external sovereignty," citing Kosovo as an example.

"The European Union shows once again its inadequecy and short-sightedness in international politics," Venizelos noted.

[37] Late-night metro to begin this weekend

The timetable of the Athens metro and electric railway will be extended by two hours until 2:00 a.m. every Friday and Saturday for the next two months, in accordance with a decision by Transport Minister Kostis Hatzidakis designed to provide a better service to commuters.

During the trial period, levels of passenger traffic during those hours will be recorded so that they can be processed statistically. Based on the findings, a decision will be made on whether to make the measure permanent or not.

Metro staff trade unionists had last week called work stoppages during the hours of the extended time table, voicing fears about lack of security after midnight.

[38] Man charged with attempted kidnapping of 10-year-old

The boy managed to get away and reported the event to police accompanied by his mother.

The suspect denies the charges, maintaining that he had approached the boy to ask for information about an abandoned car in the region and rejecting accusations that he had tried to force him into his vehicle.

Weather Forecast

[39] Scattered showers, storms on Friday

[40] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "6,500 jobs under Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) programs in Attica prefecture of Attica".

APOGEVMATINI: "(Former Education Minister Marietta) Yannakou's leg was amputated - Tragic development in her health".

AVGHI: "Expectations and hopes prevail over Synaspismos' congress - 5th party congress opens on Thursday with address by leader Alekos Alavanos".

AVRIANI: "(Main opposition) PASOK former Ministers point finger at one another over the scandal concerning the security of the Athens Olympic Games - Former Minister Vangelis Malessios' letter 'burns' former Prime Minister Costas Simitis and sets fire to PASOK".

CHORA: "Work for 6,500 unemployed - New programme by OAED".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "We (the newspaper) had predicted Christodoulos' election (as Archbishop) and now we predict that Metropolitan of Sparta Efstathios will be new Archbishop".

ELEFTHEROS: "They're manipulate for a triple name for FYROM - The UN's negotiator, American Matthew Nimetz, will present the proposal in Athens".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Political 'tsunami' overwhelms the parties ahead of announcement of charges (against specific persons involved in the Zachopoulos affair) - War in parliament among PASOK - KKE - SYRIZA and government".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Warning bell for Karamanlis - Social security reforms, scandals paralyzing the government."

ESTIA: "The election of a new Archbishop - The Archbishop will be called on to play significant role."

ETHNOS: "The release of the Zachopoulos case files under the shadow of the election of a new Archbishop - The file opens at the most suitable time for the government".

KATHIMERINI: "Ieronymos (Metroplitan of Thebes) and Efstathios (Metropolitan of Sparta) the favorites - The election of a new Archbishop is expected to be concluded at noon."

LOGOS: " 'Jihad' over the succession - 'Zero hour' for the election of a new Archbishop".

NIKI: "For whom the bell tolls - Overnight behind-the-scenes negotiations over the election of Archbishop."

RIZOSPASTIS: "State-controlled, socially-oriented energy sector that meets the people's needs".

TA NEA: "Economy Ministry to freeze the planned increases in real estate objective values".

TO VIMA: "PASOK members give hands, while in ruling party New Democracy they're 'stabbing' each another - Souflias (Enviroment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister who is opposed to the government's plans on social security reforms) a problem in the government".

VRADYNI: "The standard is high for the election of the new Shepherd - Holy Synod elects on Thursday a new Archbishop".

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