Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-05-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Inner Cabinet discusses Merchant Marine ministry matters

[02] SE Europe Cooperation Process conference begins

[03] President Karolos Papoulias visiting Sweden

[04] PASOK party spokesman on OTE issue

[05] PASOK again comments on libel suit against Papandreou

[06] PASOK foreign policy officer in Cyprus, ahead of Papandreou visit

[07] Greek minister addresses 61st World Health Assembly

[08] Chinese ambassador to Greece on massive Sichuan quake, Greek reaction

[09] Government announces drive to upgrade island heliports

[10] English-language leaflet on citizens' rights

[11] Relatives of Greek-origin missing persons under the Videla regime in Argentina get organized

[12] FinMin on official visit to US this week

[13] Council of EU Agriculture Ministers ends in Brussels

[14] All sunflower oil imported in 2008 pulled for testing

[15] SYN leader meets consumer group, stresses surge in borrowing

[16] Simon Jukes new HSBC Greece head

[17] National Bank to pay 6.1 pct wage increases to its staff

[18] Hellenic Petroleum SA and British INEOS Chlor Vinyls sign agreement

[19] Capital Leader's Forum

[20] Budget revenues up 4.3 pct in April

[21] Industrial new orders index down 10.4% in March

[22] Car market up 5.3 pct in Jan-April

[23] Greek stocks plunged 2.17 pct on Tuesday

[24] ADEX closing report

[25] Greek bond market closing report

[26] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[27] Events commemorating the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Crete

[28] Deputy agriculture minister on effective forest protection

[29] National Archaeological Museum Library restoration completed

[30] Nationwide exams begin

[31] Bank of Cyprus donates fire engines

[32] Border guards in Ioannina seize 287 kilos of cannabis

[33] Stabbing death suspect arrested on Crete

[34] Illegal trade of antiquities arrest

[35] Sliding door collapses, injuring two 10-year-olds

[36] Illegal migrants found hidden in garbage truck

[37] Drug possession arrests in southern Greece

[38] Illegal trade of antiquities arrest in Karditsa

[39] Fire reported on Mount Hymettus, near Athens

[40] Old munitions found in Elliniko municipality

[41] Fair on Wednesday

[42] FM briefs former president on Cyprus talks

[43] International military manoeuvres in Cyprus

[44] President Christofias signs book of condolences Politics

[01] Inner Cabinet discusses Merchant Marine ministry matters

Speeking to reporters after the meeting, merchant marine minister George Voulgarakis stressed the role of Greek shipping in the country's economy, to which it contributed 2 million dollars per hour, and noted that the leap in shipping internationally had positve effects on the Greek economy given that a large section of the global fleet was Greek-owned or under Greek flag.

Voulgarakis also said that the measures taken by the government in the sector had begun to bear fruit, and that a number of shipping enterprises were investigating the prospect of establishing themselves in Piraeus.

The minister briefed the Inner Cabinet on the tenders currently underway regarding the Piraeus and Thessaloniki port authorities (OLP and OLTH, respectively), noting that two large companies have indicated interest in OLP and three for Thessaloniki.

He said the concessions process is expected to be completed by the end of the year, thus upgrading the country geopolitically, while Greece would also play a cataly-tical role as a gateway to the EU.

Replying to questions on coastal shipping fares, Voulgarakis said that the ticket prices were related to the price of oil, which accounted for 67-70 percent of the cost.

The minister said that, in cooperation with the coastal ship owners, an effort would be made to avoid an increase in fares, so as to enable the public to move freely without high costs.

He further said that the government has earmarked this year an additional 14 million euros for the shipping lines to the country's remote islands, and a total of 20 million additional euros in general to the sector, as well as an additional 20 million euros for water supply to the islands.

[02] SE Europe Cooperation Process conference begins

Strengthening regional cooperation was the focus of discussions held here on Tuesday at the conference of member-states of the Southeastern Europe Cooperation Process, in the framework of the Bulgarian presidency.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis arrived in the afternoon, accompanied by Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos to attend the leaders' dinner, while Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis had arrived earlier representing Greece at the conference of Cooperation foreign ministers.

The agenda of talks includes securing stability in the region and promoting the regional character of cooperation, in close cooperation with the European Union in the framework of reshaping regional cooperation in southeastern Europe.

Special importance is placed on converting the Stability Pact and consolidating the Regional Cooperation Council and its operational apparatuses.

The permanent establishment of the Council's secretariat in Sarajevo was decided in this framework, in the "Home of Greek-Bosnian Friendship", that has been created with Greek government funds.

The opening of an office in Brussels was also decided, which will function as a liaison between the EU and the Regional Cooperation Council.

The office, to be headed by Vassilis Koronakis, will preoccupy itself with human capital issues and with the means of communication. In two years' time it will also be assuming the Council's administrative issues.

As the European prospects of the countries in southeastern Europe are being discussed at the conference, the Greek prime minister, as well as the Greek foreign minister, are expressing the Greek government's steadfast position that Greece supports their incorporation in NATO and the EU, on condition that they will observe the principles, values and terms governing them.

Foreign minister Bakoyannis held a discussion with her Serb counterpart, while on Wednesday Prime Minister Cosats Karamanlis will be meeting Serb President Boris Tadic, whose party came first in the recent general elections.

The conference is also being attended by Albania, Serbia, Turkey, Romania, Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia. The conference will come to an end on Wednesday with the issuing of a joint statement.

[03] President Karolos Papoulias visiting Sweden

President Karolos Papoulias, currently on an official visit to Sweden, said during an official dinner given in his honor by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on Tuesday evening that the continuation of the Turkish military occupation in Cyprus was unacceptable.

Addressing the Swedish monarch, President Papoulias termed the creation and development of the European Union a very important development for its members and for the international system as well.

"Because the history of Europe, very often tragic for its peoples, constitutes a heritage that defines our course, a heritage that necessitates us being adamant on issues concerning European values, human rights issues. For this reason, I consider it unacceptable that the Turkish military occupation should be continuing in Cyprus, a member-state of our Union, for there to still be a European capital, Nicosia, divided by walls. I believe that it is a priority for the Union to contribute to the most basic of principles of their system of values to be restored on the occupied island at last," the president said.

President Papoulias also referred to the contribution of Greek immigrants, as well as of the thousands of Swedish tourists who flood Greek beaches during the summer.

"Te Greeks living here and who have, as is generally accepted, acquired a considerable position in Swedish society, have also contributed and are continuing to contribute to the friendship and the mutual understanding of the two peoples. Both the old, the first generation of our immigrants, who began to arrive in Sweden in the '60s, and the new generation, have considerable performances to present as professionals, businessmen, artists, athletes and scientists. The bridge of friendship by the thousands of Swedish tourists visiting our country every year is also very important," the president further said.

President Papoulias, who is being accompanied by Deputy Finance and Economy Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou and Deputy Development Minister Stavros Kalafatis, as well as by a delegation of businessmen, arrived in Stockholm at 11 local time and was welcomed at the airport by Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria and the Swedish Social Security minister.

Immediately afterwards, he went to Logardstrappan Palace in downtown Stockholm, where he was welcomed by the Swedish monarch and then the two leaders boarded the royal carriage that conveyed them to the site of the official welcoming ceremony.

During the impressive ceremony, the King introduced to President Papoulias the official delegation that was composed of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, the foreign minister and others. They then went to the royal guest mansion where President Papoulias met Queen Sylvia.

President Papoulias dined with the royal couple at noon and afterwards he met with the prime minister. In the afternoon, he visited the Swedish Academy of Fine Arts and the Nobel Museum, where he was awarded the Academy's medal, and in the evening he attended the dinner given in his honor by the royal couple.

On Wednesday, President Papoulias will be visiting the World Trade Centre, together with the royal couple, and Stockholm's Town Hall and he will also be meeting Greek community representatives.

[04] PASOK party spokesman on OTE issue

The spokesman stressed that the "guarantor in the agreement on the sale of 20 percent of MIG to Deutsche Telekom was the Hellenic state and the relation was a tripartite and not a bilateral one, between MIG and Deutsche Telekom, as it is being said."

He invoked what is being noted in the German company's site, which mentioned that Deutsche Telekom would purchase 20 percent of MIG on condition that the Greek government would agree to assign the management. He also invoked a similar statement made by Deutsche Telekom's vice president that was published in the Financial Times.

Papaconstantinou also referred to the state budget, saying that "there is a major problem concerning receiving revenues" and predicted that "at the end of the year the middle and weaker sections of society will have to pay for the tax evasion".

On the question of the report by the Bank of Greece on indebted Greek households, the spokesman said that between 2005 and 2007 the average loaning of Greek households increased by 10,000 euros.

Lastly, Papaconstantinou accused Education Minister Evripidis Stylianidis of "fuelling tension at universities, on the basis of a specific plan aimed at changing the public dialogue agenda."

He added that "not a day goes by without the Education minister speaking of private universities, when his role is to support the public university."

[05] PASOK again comments on libel suit against Papandreou

"PASOK focuses on the fact that the country is left in the hands of middlemen, who engage in profiteering targeting household budgets," he said, underlining that such "middlemen" are responsible for food contamination and the "sell-off" of companies of "strategic importance", as he termed the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE).

Papandreou had sharply criticized MIG's decision to sell some 20 percent of OTE's equity shares to Deutsche Telekom (DT), an apparent prelude to DT's assumption of the company's management following an agreement with the government last week.

[06] PASOK foreign policy officer in Cyprus, ahead of Papandreou visit

The present stage of the Cyprus issue was discussed in Nicosia on Tuesday by visiting Greek main opposition PASOK party official for foreign policy issues, MP Andreas Loverdos, during a meeting with Cyprus president Demetris Christofias, ahead of PASOK leader George Papandreou's scheduled visit to the island republic in June.

Loverdos, accompanied by the director of Papandreou's diplomatic office Dimitris Droutsas, expressed pleasure and honor over his meeting with the new Cypriot President, and explained that his visit was in advance of that of the PASOK leader.

For PASOK, he said, the Cyprus problem was an issue of invasion and occupation, and reaffirmed his party's "active" solidarity with and support for the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot people.

"I believe that the Greek government must not restrict itself to the role of observer of the developments. As PASOK, we have the political volition, and are doing so in action, to urge the Greek government to an active participation. In the framework of national cooperation, which is the crown of our policy -- and we proved this in the FYROM issue -- we want the Greek political forces to work together for the good of the land, and for the good of Hellenism," Loverdos said.

Loverdos and Droutsas also had separate meetings with president of the House of Representatives Marios Karoyan, foreign minister Markos Kyprianou, Democratic Rally (DHSY) leader Nikos Anastasiades, AKEL party parliamentary spokesman Nikos Katsourides and AKEL officer for international relations Andros Kyprianou, and EDEK party leader Yannakis Omirou.

[07] Greek minister addresses 61st World Health Assembly

"Since we find ourselves at the midpoint to reach the Millenium development goals by 2015, we must consider our accomplishments, readdress the challenges and increase our efforts to realise the goals we have set," he said.

Constantopoulos noted that the Millenium targets represented the a "fundamental commitment of the international community toward the common aim of a better future for all," for which improved health conditions were essential.

He emphasised that "targeted national health care plans and an unabated focus on primary health care" were essential for succeeding in this aim and said that Greece was putting its energy into creating a "thorough primary healthcare system" that would decongest public hospitals and establish a comprehensive policy pivoting on the prevention of disease.

As an example, Constantopoulos cited a recent national campaign to promote healthy lifestyles among the public dubbed "Life has Colour" that was already having an important impact on both the adult population and in schools, as well as various national health plans targeting specific diseases and a law for the abolition of smoking in public places by 2010.

The minister additionally listed action being taken by Greece to prepare for the possible outbreak of major epidemics like avian flu or an influenze pandemic, noting that all contagious diseases were monitored and the data relayed to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and Hellenic Scientific Committees.

Constantopoulos then referred to the issue of health security, particularly the need to protect vulnerable groups from the adverse effects of climate change - including natural disasters.

"There is an urgent necessity to analyse the health implications of climate change, raise awareness and develop effective strategies to deal with its ramifications. The international community is facing natural disasters of a ever-increasing scale. The recent cyclone in Burma/Myanmar has had dire humanitarian consequences for hundreds of thousands of people. We deem it imperative for the international community to assist those in need," he underlined, while also expressing his deepest condolences for the tragic loss of hundreds of lives in China due to a recent earthquake.

The minister, after beginning his speech by offering his congratulations for the 60th anniversary of the World Health Organisation to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, closed his speech by also marking the 30th anniversary of the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration that first set a goal of "health for all" and focused on primary health care, stressing that it was directly linked with the Millenium development goals.

[08] Chinese ambassador to Greece on massive Sichuan quake, Greek reaction

Amb. Luo Linquan, who greeted local journalists at the Chinese embassy in Athens, said the Beijing government has forecast a death toll of 50,000 from the killer quake and damages of 6.7 billion euros.

The envoy said Greece's reaction, including statements by the country's top political leadership, was immediate, while he praised a pledge by Athens to relay 200,000 euros as assistance to the province, especially coming on the heels of last year's wildfire destruction in southern Greece.

Asked about the upcoming Olympics Games in Beijing and a string of other cities in the massive Far East nation, Luo emphasized that both the Chinese government and the people will now simply work harder to ensure the Games' utter success.

"The People's Republic of China needs the solidarity, support and understanding of the international community and people ... real friendship is tested in time of need ... We consider Greece a partner," he stressed.

Additionally, in response to a press query, the Chinese ambassador said all of the venues for the Olympics and related sites, including accommodations and tourist lodgings, meet the highest standards of earthquake protection.

A book of condolences was opened in the Chinese embassy in Athens for the victims of the quake.

[09] Government announces drive to upgrade island heliports

The minister stressed that better landing and take-off facilities for helicopters would lead to an increased sense of security for Greeks and provide economic guarantees of greater benefits from tourism development on the islands.

Expert teams will begin visiting heliports in order to begin work on the planned improvements this coming Friday, it was announced.

[10] English-language leaflet on citizens' rights

Deputy Interior Minister Christos Zois stressed, in relation to the announcement that "we believe that this publication will offer foreign citizens the opportunity to have access to reliable and secure information and to accommodate those who live in our country, and who in many cases, don't know or are not certain or their rights and facilities offered by public administration services in Greece."

[11] Relatives of Greek-origin missing persons under the Videla regime in Argentina get organized

Most of the missing during Argentina's bloodiest and cruelest dictatorship in Latin America were members of resistance organizations, among them at least 20 Greeks and Greek origin individuals, in addition to cases of children of missing persons given up for adoption who have disappeared since then.

Tete Maria Teresa Pinero de Georgiadis, responsible for human rights in the foreign ministry of Argentina, and widow of Angelo Georgiadis, who was executed by the junta on Feb. 2, 1977, has undertaken an initiative to organize the Greek origin relatives in their quest for justice.

As recently as June 2006, the Supreme Court in Argentina abolished two amnesty laws that protected former army officers from prosecution, clearing the way for hundreds of court trials.

Financial News

[12] FinMin on official visit to US this week

During his stay in Washington, the Greek minister will also discuss developments in the global economy, a crisis in the credit system and increased inflationary pressures.

Alogoskoufis will meet with his US counterpart, Henry Paulson, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and the President of World Bank Robert Zoellick, all on Wednesday.

On Thursday the Greek minister will meet with the head of International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, while he will address the 24th annual congress organised by most of the Greek and Greek-Cypriot communities in the United States.

Alogoskoufis will visit New York on Friday to promote the Greek economy to representatives of the investment and business community of the metropolis.

[13] Council of EU Agriculture Ministers ends in Brussels

The Council of European Union Agriculture Ministers ended here on Tuesday, without reaching any political agreement on the status to govern the marketing of pesticides. Greece's positions were promoted by Agricultural Development Minister Alexandros Kontos.

Addressing the Council, Kontos expressed his disagreement with decisions that do not safeguard the health of farmers and consumers and protect the environment and achieve the effective protection of European agriculture's plant production.

Kontos called on the Council to take measures in support of small Greek farm businesses and opposed the import by the EU market of slaughtered poultry that has been subjected to chemical disinfection.

The minister also met with Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Androula Vassiliou and discussed issues of Greek concern, particularly of the veterinary sector. Vassiliou accepted an invitation by him to visit Greece shortly.

Kontos held another meeting with Agriculture Commissioner Marianne Fischer Ball and exchanged views with her on the upcoming reforming of Common Agricultural Policy.

[14] All sunflower oil imported in 2008 pulled for testing

"Crisis matters require rapid action and instantaneous communication. To accelerate the pace and deal effectively with the issue, Mr Lazos' resignation was accepted," the minister said and publicly thanked Lazos for his contribution.

An announcement issued by EFET's new acting president Antonis Zabelas, meanwhile, said the batches of sunflower oil would be tested to determine whether any other quantities mixed with mineral oil had managed to slip through initial testing at customs, when they were first imported into the country.

According to Zabelas, the decision to pull all recent imports was made because "we cannot check whether a new quantity of sunflower oil containing mineral oil has entered the Greek market, apart from those already detected."

He added that the authority was acting on a report sent by the General Chemical Laboratory of the State regarding the adulterated cooking oil.

Development ministry general secretary Yiannis Economou, meanwhile, noted that the tainted sunflower oil had not been found just in Greece but in another eight countries in the European Union as well and he also assured consumers that the problem oil found so far, while contravening market regulations, was not dangerous to health.

Folias, on his part, stressed that the government did not "take shortcuts" on matters of principle or health and had therefore decided to withdraw all quantities of oil on the market, in spite of the assurances given by both the EU and Greek authorities.

The minister additionally stressed that Greek authorities had carried out sample testing that detected the tainted sunflower oil on their own initiative, leading to its seizure and withdrawal.

EFET's President Evangelos Lazos resigned his post on Tuesday, with the agency's vice-president Antonis Zabelas taking over as acting president. EFET's responsibility is to coordinate the enforcement of food safety legislation in Greece.

EFET president resigns

Deputy Development Minister Georgios Vlachos on Tuesday accepted the resignation tendered by Hellenic Food Authority (EFET) President Evangelos Lazos. The agency's Vice-president Antonis Zabelas will serve as acting president.

EFET's responsibility is to coordinate the enforcement of food safety legislation in Greece.

Gov't, PASOK on EFET

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos declined to elaborate on the causes that led to Greek Food Authority, EFET, president Evangelos Lazos to resign, pointing out that he has nothing further to add to a resignation letter and the subsequent statements made by the competent minister.

Responding to a relevant question, Roussopoulos said EFET is being modernised with advanced equipment and new facilities in Athens and Thessaloniki, funded by the "competitiveness" operational programme.

Inspections on foodstuff imported from third countries are being conducted by the customs offices' laboratories, operating under the jurisdiction of the General Chemical State Laboratory, and by the responsible divisions monitoring animal and vegetable products.

EFET - responsible for the coordination of the enforcement of food safety legislation in Greece - intervenes following import, Roussopoulos stated, stressing that inspections are not specializing in tracing specific substances such as mineral oil, arsenic etc, adding that the only toxicological tests conducted are those aimed at tracing petrol contamination.

"The lab tests focus on toxic substances and more detailed tests are being conducted in the event of complaints," he said.

Main opposition PASOK MP Michalis Chrysochoidis, who is responsible for development issues, stated that the resignation of the president of EFET "constitutes a cynical admission of the government's total failure to handle the biggest food safety crisis in recent times and protect public health".

Chrysochoidis accused the government of being unable to establish a modern, effective and reliable national system guaranteeing food safety and crisis management.

SYRIZA: government has grave responsibility

Commenting on the resignation of EFET's president, the head of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) Parliamentary group Alekos Alavanos said the affair was a "extreme case" for which the government bore grave responsibility.

"It has an obligation to finally ensure that all the measures are taken so as not to repeat this phenomenon, our having petroleum oil on our plates," he said.

[15] SYN leader meets consumer group, stresses surge in borrowing

"The robber practices of banks and over-borrowing by households are perhaps the greatest scourge for the Greek economy and Greek society," Tsipras stressed after the meeting.

According to SYN's leader, more than one million Greeks were currently having to devote nearly half their monthly salary to pay off their debts to banks and that these conditions had been allowed to develop by both the present New Democracy government and by its predecessor main opposition PASOK.

He called for urgent measures to assuage the acute social problems, protect borrowers and curb the disregard of the law shown by banks, which he accused of acting as a "state within the state".

The head of POEKAD V. Kritikos, on his part, asked for SYN's assistance in supporting the re-examination of an article of law passed in 2004 that aimed to settle the issue of higher penalty interest rates charged by banks on farmers that had delayed payments or defaulted on their loans.

Noting that this had been a pre-election pledge made by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in person, for which he had received the prime minister's personal assurances, POEKAD's president said that the hopes of borrowers had been dashed.

He also asked Tsipras for help in forcing the governor of the Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATEBank) to supply full details of the actual sum on which the debt rescheduling for farmers' was calculated.

"What we have here is a massive propaganda campaign to disorientate, according to which the issue of the 'penalty' rates with farmers has been solved, when in reality it continues to exist. And this because we simply have the unique originality, a bank not knowing what it actually lent to its client," Kritikos asserted.

According to POEKAD's president, a farmer might have borrowed 10 euros in 1979 and then signed a subsequent settlement for accumulated interest of 90 euros in 1990. The rescheduling of his debt would then be calculated based on the 90 euros, he said.

[16] Simon Jukes new HSBC Greece head

The new CEO HSBC Greece, Simon Jukes, has lengthy experience in the sector of business banking in Korea and North America as well as in the sector of Mergers and Acquisitions in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.

Until recently, he worked at the HSBC central offices in London as Chief Operating Officer of the Group, and in sectors of Group Management Office, Group Transaction Banking, Group Operation, Property and Purchasing.

[17] National Bank to pay 6.1 pct wage increases to its staff

Under a board decision, National Bank's staff will receive a 3.5 percent wage increase from January 1, 2008 and an additional 3.0 percent from September 1, 2008.

OTOE, bank workers' union, reacted strongly to the decision by National Bank, saying the move undermined the institution of sector collective agreements and noted that National Bank's governor, Takis Arapoglou, was questioning the trade union movement. OTOE urged labour unions, political parties and the Prime Minister to intervene urgently and decisively to reverse this decision, while it warned of strike mobilization by bank workers.

[18] Hellenic Petroleum SA and British INEOS Chlor Vinyls sign agreement

According to a relevant announcement, the agreement strengthens the position of the Hellenic Petroleum company in the Greek market and the wider Balkan region. It also secures the further improvement of the company's supply chain and boosts the availability of additional S-PVC types for various industrial applications.

As part of the agreement,Hellenic Petroleum is planning investments amounting to about 700,000 euros to strengthen the infrastructures of the supply chain with the aim of satisfying customers' requirements effectively.

[19] Capital Leader's Forum

Greenspan said the developments regarding the price of oil are related to "how the investors which possess the long-term contracts, will operate".

During the event, the former president of Fed answered questions by Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Doukas, Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) president Dimitris Daskalopoulos and professor and economic adviser of Eurobank EFG Gikas Hardouvelis.

[20] Budget revenues up 4.3 pct in April

Finance ministry officials attributed the slower revenue growth rate, compared with budget provisions, to strikes at the Bank of Greece, abolition of large real estate property tax and a cut in the personal enterprises' tax factor to 20 pct this year, from 22 pct in 2007.

Tax agencies' revenues grew 4.1 pct in April, customs revenues were up 14.9 percent, while VAT revenues rose 1.0 percent compared with the same month last year.

Budget revenues fell 3.4 pct in March, while VAT revenues were up 10.5 percent.

[21] Industrial new orders index down 10.4% in March

The statistics service said the new orders index in non-durable consumer goods fell 17.8 pct, the capital goods index dropped 11.2 pct, the intermediate goods index was 8.0 pct down and the durable goods index was 1.9 pct lower.

NSS also said the 10.4 pct decline in the new orders index reflected an 8.5 pct drop in the domestic index and a 12.7 pct fall in the external market index. The turnover index in the industrial sector fell 0.9 pct in March compared with the same month last year, reflecting a 0.6 pct drop in the manufacturing index, and a 14.4 pct drop in mining index.

[22] Car market up 5.3 pct in Jan-April

Car registrations jumped 24 percent in April, compared with April 2007, to 28,036 units, the second more productive month after January in 2008.

Hyundai surpassed Toyota to top the list of the domestic car market, with an increase of 91 pct or 2,467 cars, followed by Toyota (2,457) and VW (2,408).

[23] Greek stocks plunged 2.17 pct on Tuesday

All sector indices ended lower with the exception of the insurance index which ended 0.14 percent higher. Raw Materials (5.10 pct), Food/Beverage (4.28 pct), Oil (2.82 pct) and Banks (2.67 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

The FTSE 20 index dropped 2.32 pct, the FTSE 40 index ended 1.51 pct lower and the FTSE 80 index eased 0.97 pct. Lanacam (9.15 pct), Euroholdings (9.09 pct) and Klonatex (8.70 pct) were top gainers, while Neorion (8.21 pct), Progressive (8.0 pct) and Betanet (7.61 pct) were top losers. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 195 to 58 with another 41 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: +0.14%

Industrials: -1.07%

Commercial: -0.97%

Construction: -0.96%

Media: -2.22%

Oil & Gas: -2.82%

Personal & Household: -1.10%

Raw Materials: -5.10%

Travel & Leisure: -0.61%

Technology: -2.32%

Telecoms: -1.39%

Banks: -2.67%

Food & Beverages: -4.28%

Health: -1.67%

Utilities: -0.67%

Chemicals: -0.33%

Financial Services: -0.33%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, OTE, ALPHA BANK and OPAP.

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

Alpha Bank: 22.80

ATEbank: 2.73

Public Power Corp (PPC): 25.70

HBC Coca Cola: 27.88

Hellenic Petroleum: 10.22

National Bank of Greece: 33.80

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 28.32

Intralot: 11.90

OPAP: 25.00

OTE: 18.40

Piraeus Bank: 22.00

Bank of Cyprus: 8.64

Marfin Popular Bank: 5.78

[24] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the Big Cap index totaled 7,627 contracts worth 83.619 million euros, with 29,566 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was 120 contracts worth 3.0 million euros, with 170 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 13,297 contracts worth 33.817 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Intracom's contracts (1,783), followed by Marfin Popular Bank (1,571), Hellenic Telecoms (1,781), National Bank (652), Alpha Bank (620), Mytilineos (958), ATEbank (700< GEK (1,180) and MIG (1,048).

[25] Greek bond market closing report

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates moved higher. The 12-month Euribor was 4.98 pct, the six-month rate 4.89 pct, the three-month rate 4.85 pct and the one-month rate 4.37 pct.

[26] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

U.S. dollar 1.576

Pound sterling 0.802

Danish kroner 7.518

Swedish kroner 9.353

Japanese yen 164.14

Swiss franc 1.642

Norwegian kroner 7.881

Canadian dollar 1.562

Australian dollar 1.642

General News

[27] Events commemorating the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Crete

A total of 18 central and 5 parallel events - memorial services, wreath laying ceremonies and cultural events - will take place in this year's celebrations, held with the customary participation of war veterans from Greece, Australia, New Zealand and Britain.

The Battle of Crete began on the morning of May 20, 1941 when German forces launched an unprecedented airborne invasion of Crete, code-named "Merkur". The operation was successful in that it wrested control of the island from Allied forces, although the victory was so costly in terms of paratrooper casualties that the Wehrmacht never again attempted a major airborne operation.

The stiff resistance by ANZAC troops and local Cretans is also credited, by many historians, with delaying the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.

[28] Deputy agriculture minister on effective forest protection

"We who are exercising forestry policy take an interest and care for the entire country, without forgetting the legacy left by last year's wildfires," Kiltidis said, adding that funds for fire prevention are 50 percent higher compared to the previous year and that "the forestry services and the municipalities must serve the forest sector and they have been funded for this reason."

Halkidiki Prefect Asterios Zografos briefed the deputy minister on backing for municipalities in the region with eight new fire protection vehicles, whose procurement was carried out with prefectural funds amounting to 300,000 euros.

[29] National Archaeological Museum Library restoration completed

The library, one of the oldest in the country, contains roughly 20,000 books, some of them rare editions, with the oldest dating back to the 17th century.

The bibliography covers Archaeology, History, Arts, ancient religions and ancient Greek philosophy, as well as Ancient Greek and Latin literature.

The whole project and restoration was fully sponsored by the Alexandros Onassis Public Benefit Foundation.

[30] Nationwide exams begin

Education Minister Evripidis Stylianidis visited on Tuesday morning high schools in Athens and wished to all students taking part in the nationwide exams the best of luck.

Stylianidis reassured the candidates that everything was ready for the the exams, and of their security. He also condemned any use of violence in schools, referring to recent vandalisms during school takeovers.

[31] Bank of Cyprus donates fire engines

Bank of Cyprus executive director Andreas Iliades and general director in Greece Yannis Siradakis presented the fire engines at an event, held on Tuesday at the Zappeion Hall in Athens, to the mayors of the fire-ravaged areas.

[32] Border guards in Ioannina seize 287 kilos of cannabis

Ioannina police said that the drugs were transported to Greek soil by Albanians who illegally crossed the border and hid the sacks so as for them to be collected by their accomplices in Greece.

[33] Stabbing death suspect arrested on Crete

The fugitive resisted arrest, threatening the officer with a knife, who responded by firing two warning shots into the air with his service revolver, and managed to immobilize and arrest the suspect.

The victim, Manolis Chorefthakis, had left a club in the Cretan port city of Rethymno late Friday with friends only to find himself in an argument with the assailant under unknown circumstances.

The 30-year-old convicted murderer was released from prison two months ago after serving 10 years for the aggravated homicide of another man on Crete 12 years ago.

[34] Illegal trade of antiquities arrest

A police search of his car revealed a number of ancient artifacts, among them two gold earrings, four bronze rings and a gold ring.

[35] Sliding door collapses, injuring two 10-year-olds

One of the boys suffered a broken arm and the other was rushed to the Children's Hospital in Athens for medical tests.

[36] Illegal migrants found hidden in garbage truck

The man was arrested following a car chase in a wooded region in the Prefecture of Trikala, central Greece, after police found 6 illegal migrants hidden inside the garbage truck.

[37] Drug possession arrests in southern Greece

In Argos, southern Greece, a man was arrested when a small quantity of hashish was found in his possession.

In a second incident in Argos, a woman and her four children were arrested after police found in their possession two packets of heroin weighing 12.9 grams and 3.5 grams.

[38] Illegal trade of antiquities arrest in Karditsa

All objects were confiscated and the man was led before a prosecutor accused of illegal trade of antiquities.

[39] Fire reported on Mount Hymettus, near Athens

So far, a force of 30 firemen and ten fire engines has been sent to put out the blaze.

[40] Old munitions found in Elliniko municipality

Police said that none of the ordnance found could be used by a terrorist organisation and believe it may have surfaced during the demolition of an old house and was left in the park by someone trying to get rid of it.

Authorities contacted the Greek army, which sent munitions expert to pick up the material for destruction.

Meanwhile, southeastern Attica police headquarters have launched an inquiry to discover where it came from.

Weather forecast

[41] Fair on Wednesday

Cyprus Affairs

[42] FM briefs former president on Cyprus talks

Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou and former President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos examined here Tuesday the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

Kyprianou, member of the Democratic Party which Papadopoulos used to head, said the former president has a wide experience of the Cyprus issue and his knowledge is invaluable. "We met at this crucial time to exchange views," the minister said, adding that they will remain in touch.

Responding to questions about the ongoing talks between teams of experts from the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community, Papadopoulos cautioned against any premature conclusions on the discussions, aimed at preparing the ground for substantive negotiations between the leaders of the two communities.

"On Friday the two leaders will meet, let us see how things develop, we must not to jump the gun and preempt developments, let's hope that a new push will be given to the talks," he told the press.

The foreign minister said that all issues will be examined on Friday, pointing out that this is not the right time to interpret the situation.

"We must repeat our positions. As far as we are concerned, it is clear that direct negotiations can only start if substantive progress is achieved at the working groups," the minister stressed, adding that tight deadlines cannot be accepted, whether these are imposed directly or indirectly.

Strict time-tables have failed in past attempts to reach a negotiated agreement, the minister recalled, saying that there is no reason to bring them back.

The former president said that "I have attentively avoided mentioning anything about the talks. Let's give the new effort a chance to yield results and there will be opportunities in the future to express our views".

Six working groups and seven technical committees, comprising experts from the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities, have been meeting in the past weeks to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two community leaders.

The meetings take place following an agreement in March between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who are set to meet in late June according to the agreement, to take stock of the situation.

Christofias and Talat will also meet on Friday, at the President's request in a bid to press on with the need for progress at the level of the teams of experts.

[43] International military manoeuvres in Cyprus

The Cyprus Defence Ministry has announced that the first international military maneuvers, code-named "Argonaftis", will take place at sea and on land, in early June.

The exercises will be conducted from Jule 2-6, in the southern government controlled part of the country and in international waters and will be coordinated by the National Guard General Staff. The island's northern areas continue to be under Turkish occupation since 1974.

The maneuvers include "Research and Rescue" operations involving people at sea and in the air, crisis management in the Western Mediterranean, handling large numbers of non-combatants from crisis areas and dealing with threats.

Sea and air forces of the Republic of Cyprus, France and Greece, foreign embassies as well as civil servants of the Republic will take part in the exercises.

[44] President Christofias signs book of condolences

Expressing his feelings of deep sorrow, sympathy and solidarity with the people of China, President of the Cyprus

Republic Demetris Christofias signed Friday the book of condolences for the earthquake victims, at the embassy of China in Nicosia.

"I am here today to express sincere feelings of deep sorrow, love and solidarity to a people who always support Cyprus. We too have suffered disasters - not natural disasters - but we have experienced invasion, continuing occupation and the tragedy that has inflicted our country," Christofias stressed, referring to the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

The president conveyed by the phone the deep sorrow of the Cypriot people to the people of China for this immense disaster and the loss of thousands of people.

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