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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 09-08-11Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Tuesday, 11 August 2009 Issue No: 3268CONTENTS
[01] FM spokesman on identification of Greek Cypriot POWs in mass grave in occupied villageForeign ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras said on Monday that the crimes and flagrant violations of international and humanitarian law by Turkey during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus were confirmed by the identification of the remains of Greek Cypriot prisoners found in a mass grave in an occupied village in Cyprus.The remains of five Greek Cypriot prisoners of war (POWs) missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus that were found in exhumations being carried out by the Investigation Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) at a mass grave in the Turkish-occupied vi llage of Tziaos, have been identified through DNA testing, it was learned on the weekend. The remains of 14 other people were also found in the mass grave. Replying to press questions on the identification of the remains of five of the 19 persons found in the mass grave as belonging to Greek Cypriot National Guard soldiers, Delavekouras made the following statement: "These findings, as well as the information on the murder of the Greek Cypriot family in Lapithos, confirm the crimes and the flagrant violations of international and humanitarian law perpetrated during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. "At long last, we need to see the full implementation of the relevant rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which call for Turkey to take all the necessary measures to clear up all of the cases of persons who went missing during the Turkish invas ion. An end must be put to the anguish experienced daily for 35 years now by the families of missing persons. "As this particular case has shown, the work of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) is of vital importance in the efforts to make progress on this issue. We need to ensure the success of the CMP's humanitarian mission and its continued smooth and effective operation." [02] PASOK spokesperson on Greek Cypriot POWsMain opposition PASOK party alternate spokesperson Maria Karaklioumi termed on Monday the identification of the remains of Greek Cypriot war prisoners found in a mass grave "hideous confirmation of what we had suspected of happening."Karaklioumi said that it is "confirmation of the image of the Turkish invader (during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974) and of the atrocity that had been perpetrated." [03] FM congratulates Abbas on re-electionForeign minister Dora Bakoyannis congratulated Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas on his re-election as leader of the Fatah party, during a telephone conversation on Monday.Bakoyannis expressed Greece's support for the efforts for a solution to the Palestinian issue based on the principle of two states, those of Israel and Palestine, that will co-exist in conditions of peace and security, a foreign ministry announcement said . In that framework, Bakoyannis discussed with Abbas the latest developments in the internal Palestinian dialogue, as well as the prospects for progress in the peace talks, the announcement concluded. Financial News [04] On-line connection of cash registers with econ ministryThe economy and finance ministry is advancing the on-line connection of cash registers and invoice issue devices with the Secretariat General for Information Systems (GGPS), it was announced on Monday.The ministry said an international tender would be held for assignment of the on-line service. The aim of the new measure is the immediate provision of information in order to wipe out the phenomenon of fake invoices, and also to drastically curb tax evasion of VAT (Value Added Tax). The tender will be carried out in two stages. In the first stage the interested parties will be invited to submit their proposals on materialisation of the above service. In the second stage they will be called on to submit their final offer based on the solution or solutions to have been selected by the assigning authority. The text of the tender is currently being drafted, and is slated for completion in the first half of September. [05] Report on economic cooperation between Greece and IsraelA report prepared by the Foreign Ministry refers, among other matters,to prospects of developing economic cooperation between Greece and Israel in various sectors.It is stressed that Greece is an attractive market for the Israelis, given that it can constitute a "gateway for economic entry" into the wider markets of the European Union and of southeastern Europe, while the Greeks can utilise opportunities for cooper ation that are being presented with Israel, apart from traditional sectors, in high technology fields. Moreover, it is noted that cooperation between the two countries in various sectors of the economy and in commerce is developing on the basis of a wide institutional framework that is being backed by the fact that Greece is a member of the EU, with which Israel has signed an Association Agreement. [06] Funds for land reclamation works in Magnisia prefectureThe amount of 22 million euros will be invested by the "Alexandros Baltatzis" development programme for land reclamation works, according to an announcement by the Agricultural Development and Food Ministry on Monday to tackle longlasting irrigation and w ater supply problems in the prefecture of Magnisia in central Greece.The decision to include the Mavromati dam, located in the municipality of Sourpi, was taken following a meeting held under the chairmanship of Agricultural Development Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis. The inclusion of the Mavromati dam project in the "Alexandros Baltatzis" programme is of great importance for the prefecture of Magnisia. The dam has a capacity of 1,300,000 cubic metres of water. Referring to the funding of projects, Hatzigakis said that the "Alexandros Baltatzis" programme, that the ministry is implementing, supports considerable infrastructure projects in the Greek countryside. [07] Imports, Exports down in JuneImports fell by 28.2 percent year-on-year in June 2009 against the same month in 2008, while exports declined by 20.7 percent in the same period, according to figures released on Monday by the national statistics service ESYE.More specifically, the overall value of imports/arrivals in June reached 4,228.8 million euros, down 28.2 percent from 5,893.5 million euros in June 2008. The overall value of exports/dispatches reached 1,255.6 million euros in June, down 20.7 percent from 1,583 million euros in June 2008. [08] Development ministry on fuel pricesThe price of unleaded oil has reached 1.099 euros per litre, increasing by 2.42 percent compared to the average recorded last Friday, that had been 1.073 euros per litre, and the Development Ministry stressed that "compared to the average for the past 4 w eeks, an increase of 0.040 euros per litre or of 3.78 percent occurred in the retail prices of unleaded oil (95 octanes 10 ppm)."[09] PPC denies electric power rate increasesThe Public Power Corporation (DEH), in an announcement on Monday evening, denied reports that increases will be taking place in electric power rates and that bonuses have been approved for Corporation staff.The announcement stressed that DEH has requested no increase whatsoever for its rates, adding that no bonus has been approved for any of its staff members. On the contrary, it pointed out, the salaries of the president and of the managing director, of the vice president and the alternate managing director have already been decreased by 60 percent. Lastly, it said that the Corporation has approved moral and material benefits (one monthly salary) for six staff members for their contribution to their sectors of responsibility. [10] Stocks end 1.72 downStocks dropped on Monday at the Athens Stock Exchange with the composite index of the market losing 1.72 pct to end at 2,339.66 points. Turnover was a very low 128.2 million euros, of which 5.2 million were block trades.Sector indices moved mostly upward in Travel and Recreation (2.73 pct) and Oil and Gas (0.49 pct). Telecoms (3.47 pct), Banks (3.11 pct), Media (2.70 pct), Health (2.49) and Technology (2.43) recorded the biggest losses. The FTSE 20 index ended 2.12 pct down, the FTSE 40 index 1.28 pct down and the FTSE 80 dropped 1.52 percent. From the stocks moved, 60 ended up, 148 declined and 40 remained unchanged. Sector indices ended as follows: Insurance: -0.63% Industrials: -1.83% Commercial: -1.11% Construction: -1.40% Media: -2.70% Oil & Gas: +0.49% Personal & Household: -0.44% Raw Materials: -1.49% Travel & Leisure: +2.73% Technology: -2.43% Telecoms: -3.47% Banks: -3.11% Food & Beverages: -0.59% Health: -2.49% Utilities: -1.35% Chemicals: -0.67% Financial Services: -1.52% The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, OPAP, OTE and Alpha Bank. Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows: Alpha Bank: 9.21 ATEbank: 1.59 Public Power Corp (PPC): 15.00 HBC Coca Cola: 15.69 Hellenic Petroleum: 7.48 National Bank of Greece: 20.47 EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 9.25 Intralot: 4.24 OPAP: 17.90 OTE: 10.00 Bank of Piraeus: 8.64 Titan: 21.20 [11] Foreign Exchange rates - TuesdayReference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:U.S. dollar 1.431 Pound sterling 0.860 Danish kroner 7.504 Swedish kroner 10.294 Japanese yen 139.11 Swiss franc 1.546 Norwegian kroner 8.763 Canadian dollar 1.548 Australian dollar 1.703 General News [12] Two children found strangledTwo siblings, an 8-year-old girl and a 10 year-old-boy, were found dead in their house in Elefsina, southwest of Athens on Monday. According to first estimations the two children were strangled.Their mother attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself in front of a car. The 37-year-old woman has been hospitalised in critical condition at the Tzanneio Hospital in Pireaus. Police are investigating the case. [13] Foreign national wanted by Denmark arrested in FlorinaA 42-year-old FYROM national wanted on a European arrest warrant issued by Denmark was arrested on Monday morning at a border post in the northwestern town of Florina as he attempted to cross into Greece.The arrest was made at the Niki post during a passport check. The man, who is wanted by the Danish authorities on charges of aggravated fraud, was taken before the Western Macedonia prosecutor. [14] Fire in Kouvaras under controlA wildfire that had broken out in a forest in the region of Peta, near the town of Kouvaras in the Attica prefecture, early on Monday afternoon was reported under control later in the evening. The blaze was tackled by 30 firemen, backed by 10 fire engines and a firefighting helicopter.[15] Fire in Rethymno under controlA fire that broke out on Sunday night in the municipality of Phinikas in the region of Asomatos in Rethymno, Crete, was placed under control early Monday morning.According to first estimations, the blaze burned five hectares of olive trees and brushland. Weather Forecast [16] Fair on TuesdayFair weather, and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the country on Tuesday, with wind velocity reaching 3-7 beaufort. Temperatures will range between 17C and 35C. Fair in Athens, with northerly 4-6 beaufort winds and temperatures ranging fro m 22C to 32C. Cloudy with possible showers in Thessaloniki, with temperatures ranging from 21C to 27C.[17] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceElections speculation, the Siemens case and the state of the economy were the main front-page items in Athens' dailies on Monday.ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The A students raise the base passing grade for university entry". APOGEVMATINI: "Judicial thriller with Christoforakos - The Munich prosecutor accuses the Siemens Hellas former CEO of bribes to Greek political parties in the period 2004-2007". AVRIANI: "Prime minister Karamanlis responds with (early general) elections in October to the new attempt to decompose the government and main opposition PASOK's intransigent refusal of consensus on the economy and the Presidential election". ELEFTHERI ORA: "The Turks should be tried as war criminals", referring to identification of the remains of five Greek Cypriot National Guard soldiers from the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which were found in a mass grave". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "They're hanging by 5 billion euros - Government unable to collect the taxes, while the expenditures budget has been excessively overshot". ESTIA: "Big opportunity for the government - Radical change in incomes taxation". ETHNOS: "Five landmines on the road to elections - Karamanlis' hands tied ahead of a 'hot' autumn". TA NEA: 'Ruling ND preparing to 'sacrifice' Pavlidis (former minister) and those implicated in the Vatopedi-state land transactions scandal - The secret recommendations in view of the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF, where the prime minister traditionally unveils the economic policy for the following year)". VRADYNI: "Increased incentives for young professionals (doctors, lawyers, notaries, etc) - Subsidy Program to be formally unveiled on August 25". 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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