Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 09-08-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign ministry spokesman on Rasmussen visit

[02] Pavlopoulos praises local gov'ts for efforts to fight wildfires

[03] PASOK sharply criticises gov't over wildfires, eco protection

[04] Gov't: 'Populism in PASOK's DNA'

[05] Call for Synaspismos congress

[06] Self-styled anarchists claim responsibility for firebombs against Greek embassy in Belgrade

[07] Parliamentary Committee ratifies bill on compensation for victims of crimes of violence

[08] Cyprus FM in Athens next month

[09] Papandreou meets professionals' confederation

[10] Gov't eyes reduction in wasteful pharmaceutical spending

[11] Nine candidates in Larco privatisation

[12] SMEs see 200,000 jobs threatened this year

[13] Piraeus Bank reports improved Q2 results

[14] Heracles Group reports lower H1 results

[15] ATEbank reports improved H1 results

[16] Aegean Airlines eyes remote isle routes

[17] Mutual funds assets up 6.45%

[18] Stocks end 1.59% higher

[19] ADEX closing report

[20] Greek bond market closing report

[21] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

[22] Suspect killed during armed robbery

[23] Another fatal accident reported at Larco

[24] Wildfire in N. Greece immediately extinguished

[25] Metro to resume airport route

[26] Meeting on TIF security measures

[27] NCO killed after tank overturns

[28] Firebombings in Thessaloniki

[29] Fair on Thursday

[30] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] Foreign ministry spokesman on Rasmussen visit

[02] Pavlopoulos praises local gov'ts for efforts to fight wildfires

"KEDKE, the union for local and municipal governments, is offering its own contribution, following a decision of its board, of 500,000 euros to fire-stricken areas, while the ministry will offer the same amount plus the 150,000 euros," Pavlopoulos said.

[03] PASOK sharply criticises gov't over wildfires, eco protection

PASOK spokesman George Papaconstantinou said that "within the DNA of the (ruling) New Democracy party lie incompetence, corruption and insensitivity," adding that "they did not even apologise; no one had the decency to assume the responsibilities, and they have the audacity to attack PASOK."

He further said that "what we are hearing from the government spokesman is unacceptable and insults the intelligence and the sensitivity of the Greek people."

Asked to comment on the measures taken by the government in the wake of the wildfires, Papaconstantinou said "some are self-evident, but the problem is the credibility that the government lost in 2007, seeing what happened in the affected regions. We have no confidence at all in the government that it is performing the task of reforestation, protection of the environment and the controlling of trespassing."

Queried over critical press reports concerning policies of past PASOK governments on the issue of forestland and environment protection of such areas, he said "the protection of the environment and applied rules is a complicated issue. The governments of PASOK took a series of measures to protect from trespassing. We are not claiming that we did everything correctly. Surely, the current situation is entirely different ... a new policy is now required for this and the policy whose focal element is 'green development' is part of this."

Asked if a PASOK government will "demolish unauthorised (illegally built) buildings in forests," he said "we are in favour of the strict observance of the law that concerns unauthorised buildings, therefore, yes."

Earlier, PASOK sector head and MP Haris Kastanidis charged that in "two years we have experienced an unbelievable ecological disaster with huge consequences" and accused the government of having "the absolute responsibility for these two huge ecological crimes, that of 2007 and of 2009."

He stressed that despite the fact that already since December 2006, the Ombudsman had sent a document to the then Development minister, according to which a precondition for the effective protection of forests is the preparation and issuing of forest maps, adding that "there was nothing that made us wiser."

Siemens

In an unrelated issue and regarding the ongoing Siemens affair and a written reply sent on Tuesday to PASOK by the German attorney for one-time Siemens Hellas CEO Michalis Christoforakos, Papaconstantinou said "first of all it was a reply in a very regular tone. The reply confirms the correctness of our move and makes it clear that Mr. Christoforakos or his lawyer cannot produce evidence (of illegal contributions to political parties)."

Papaconstantinou stressed that PASOK feels vindicated and asked why "ND did not take the same challenge."

[04] Gov't: 'Populism in PASOK's DNA'

Spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, in fact, said "populism appears to be part of PASOK's DNA".

"...The things ticked off by PASOK's leader and his leadership coterie is extremely dangerous. We will not follow him ... Their so-called responsible stance is merely baseless danger-mongering," Antonaros said during his regular press briefing.

In turning to the aftermath of the wildfires, the spokesman said a recording of damages has already begun, with the relevant environment and town planning ministry assuming the task.

Asked about the ever-present suspicions that the scores of wildfires that erupted within a four-day period owed mostly to arson, the spokesman said whenever evidence arises against individuals the latter are sent before the courts.

Along those lines, Antonaros noted that 10 case files were handed down on July 1, 2009 by the misdemeanors judicial council of Ilia prefecture for further investigation into the deadly fires of 2007 in the western Peloponnese.

"This issue belongs within the jurisdiction of the judicial system," he concluded.

[05] Call for Synaspismos congress

Alexis Tsipras, who heads up Synaspismos but is not a Parliament deputy, will table the proposal at the party's central committee meeting on Saturday, he announced to members of another party meeting, by the political secretariat, on Wednesday.

The small leftist party's poor showing in the recent June Euro-elections, below 5 percent, and recent charges by a SYRIZA claiming that unnamed leftist politicians took money from Siemens Hellas in the late 1980s has generated friction between Synaspismos and SYRIZA cadres.

[06] Self-styled anarchists claim responsibility for firebombs against Greek embassy in Belgrade

A self-styled anarchist group in Belgrade calling itself "Crni Ilija" (Black Sun) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the tossing of two firebombs against the Greek embassy in the Serbian capital a day earlier.

According to a proclamation, published on a website, "the anarchists of Belgrade" decided to support "their Greek comrades in Greece and in the rest of the world" with solidarity actions in demand of the release of a Greek man remanded to custody for the urban riots in Athens last December. The latter remained on a hunger strike on Wednesday as part of his demand for a speedy trial.

Serbia's foreign ministry condemned the attack, while an investigation is continuing.

Meanwhile, in related development, the head of the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) party, Alexis Tsipras, visited the man identified by the group in Belgrade, Thodoris Iliopoulos, in an Athens hospital on Wednesday.

Iliopoulos is being treated in the hospital due to his more than month-long hunger strike, demanding that he be tried for the charges he faces. Iliopoulos has rejected the charges against him, filed after his arrest last December.

On his part, Tsipras called on the justice minister to immediately rule on the man's request for bail pending trial.

[07] Parliamentary Committee ratifies bill on compensation for victims of crimes of violence

Voting in favour of the bill were the ruling New Democracy party, the main opposition PASOK party and the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party, while the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) cast blank votes and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) declared itself "present".

[08] Cyprus FM in Athens next month

Financial News

[09] Papandreou meets professionals' confederation

After the meeting, GSEVEE president Dimitris Asimakopoulos said Papandreou listened to their problems concerning the lack of liquidity in the market and consumption, as well as the problems of debt loads burdening professionals and self-employed individuals in the country.

"If we don't undertake measures we will face extreme situations and a major loss of job positions in the next six months," he said.

Later, Papandreou met with the board of the federation of chambers of commerce in the country, with officials later saying they pointed to the budget deficit and fiscal policy vis-à-vis commitments to Brussels as their main concerns.

[10] Gov't eyes reduction in wasteful pharmaceutical spending

According to an economy and finance ministry announcement, the committee decided to implement a new system to verify and monitor medical prescriptions, as well as to restrict the costs of diagnostics and medical check ups.

[11] Nine candidates in Larco privatisation

The report advised that all nine participants in the tender fulfilled pre-selection criteria and will participate in the final stage of the tender.

The nine candidates are: Aktor SA, Cunico Resources NV (of the Netherlands), Fevamonitico SARL (Luxembourg), Hellenic Halyvourgia SA, Mytilineos Holdings SA, Panegean Ltd. (Cyprus -- a consortium between Glencore Int. and Swissmarine Inc.) -- Solway Industries Ltd. as well as an international investment bank and an international metals group that preferred anonymity at this stage of the process.

[12] SMEs see 200,000 jobs threatened this year

The survey, conducted by the MARC polling company, focused problems facing small enterprises because of the financial crisis and showed that job losses in the last six months totaled 85,250 in the country, while it predicted that another 90-100,000 job positions could be threatened by the end of the year.

GSEVEE also said that based on figures provided by the country's regional chambers, a difference between business closures and opening was narrowing mainly because business closures have risen lately. The survey also showed that 72 pct of enterprises reported a significant decline in demand despite the fact that 90 pct of them kept or lowered their prices and services this year, compared with 2008.

GSEVEE recommended changes in the operations of OAED, the Manpower Employment Organisation, and expressed its opposition to a government decision to hire private companies for tax inspections. A prolonged pre-election period, combined with uncertainty over the timing of the next general elections in the country, was also cited as another negative factor for business in the sector.

[13] Piraeus Bank reports improved Q2 results

The bank said provisions totaled 207 million euros, 2.5 times more compared with the same period in 2008, while net earnings to shareholders totaled 128 million euros, down 55 pct on an annual base, reflecting mainly a significant increase in provisions.

Net interest revenue fell 5.0 pct to 528 million euros in the six-month period, although they were up 7.0 pct in the second quarter (272 million euros), while net interest margin rose to 2.6 pct in the second quarter from 2.4 pct in the first quarter of 2009. Operating cost slowed to 1.0 pct despite a 5.0-pct increase in branch network, while the bank's assets totaled 54 billion euros, up 5.0 pct compared with the first six months of 2008.

Piraeus Bank said its cash flow improved after the successful securitization of two loans, totaling 1.625 billion euros (another securitization worth 3.45 billion euros was completed in August 2009 adding 1.9 billion euros to the bank's cash flow. The bank said its non-performing loan rate was 4.5 pct, while equity capital rose by 203 million euros in the second quarter of the year. The capital adequacy rate was 11.2 pct.

Saving deposits and retail bonds totaled 31.8 billion euros at the end of June, up 8.0 pct from last year, with domestic savings totaling 26.8 billion euros and savings abroad rise 2.0 pct to 5.0 billion euros.

The loan portfolio annual rate was 5.0 pct totaling 38.3 billion euros, with domestic loans rising 4.0 pct to 29.5 billion euros and loans abroad rising 4.0 pct to 6.1 billion euros.

Commenting on the results, Mihalis Sallas, the bank's chairman, said conditions in global economy remained difficult, however serious evidence of a gradual recovery and stabilization of markets emerged in the second quarter of the year.

"The bank's cash flow rose to around historic highs, non-performing loans were 4.5 pct and operating cost was 1.0 pct. These developments are creating a climate of cautious optimism and set the stage, combined with a more effective management and loan portfolio quality, to take advantage of future opportunities from a stronger position, he said.

[14] Heracles Group reports lower H1 results

The company attributed its results to a decline in cement and other building materials sales volume.

Gross profits margin was 20.2 pct for the group and 18.5 pct for the parent company in the first six months, down from 21.1 pct and 23.1 pct last year, respectively. Net consolidated after-tax profits totaled 11.3 million euros, down from 29 million euros in 2008, while parent net profits fell from 31 million euros in 2008 to 22.9 million euros in 2009.

[15] ATEbank reports improved H1 results

Operating profits grew in the second quarter of the year despite a negative effect of Hellenic Sugar Industry's results, with net interest revenues up 8.4 pct in the January-June period to 338.8 million euros. The loan portfolio to households grew 19.1 pct (more than triple the average market growth rate of 6.2 pct) to 8.2 billion euros, with mortgage loans growing 15.7 pct to 6.5 billion euros, while consumer credit growth was 33.1 pct. ATEbank said loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises totaled 2.5 billion euros at the end of June, up 61.6 pct from last year.

Despite adverse financial conditions, the non-performing loans rate was 7.0 pct in the first half, slightly down from a 7.3 pct reading in the first half of 2008, while provisions rose to 85.9 million euros in the second quarter, from 56.8 million euros in the first quarter of 2009. The bank said saving deposits totaled 21.1 billion euros, up 5.2 pct from last year.

Commenting on the results, Dimitris Miliakos, the bank's chairman, said he was confident that the bank would exceed its goal of a 10 pct growth rate in loans this year.

[16] Aegean Airlines eyes remote isle routes

The remote flight schedule includes the islands of Astypalea, Ikaria, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kythira, Sitia (Crete), Skiathos and Skyros as well as the routes Aktio-Sitia, Alexandroupoli-Sitia, Corfu-Aktio-Cephallonia-Zakynthos, Limnos-Mytilene-Hios-Samos-Rhodes and flights from Thessaloniki to Kalamata, Corfu, Samos, Skyros and Hios.

Aegean Airlines said it will service these routes with its Avro RJ 100 and ATR 72-500 aircraft.

[17] Mutual funds assets up 6.45%

[18] Stocks end 1.59% higher

Most sectors moved upwards, with the Utilities (4.24 pct), Banks (3.83 pct), Food/Beverage (1.74 pct) and Healthcare (1.68 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Insurance (4.14 pct), Travel (3.33 pct), Financial Services (2.86 pct) and Telecommunications (1.87 pct) suffered losses.

The FTSE 20 index jumped 2.03 pct, the FTSE 40 index fell 0.09 pct and the FTSE 80 index eased 0.89 pct. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 121 to 95 with another 50 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -4.14%

Industrials: +1.34%

Commercial: +1.18%

Construction: -1.41%

Media: +1.03%

Oil & Gas: -0.75%

Personal & Household: +0.48%

Raw Materials: -0.94%

Travel & Leisure: -3.33%

Technology: -1.05%

Telecoms: -1.87%

Banks: +3.83%

Food & Beverages: +1.74%

Health: +1.68%

Utilities: +4.24%

Chemicals: -1.67%

Financial Services: -2.86%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Alpha Bank, OPAP and Piraeus Bank.

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

Alpha Bank: 12.00

ATEbank: 1.76

Public Power Corp (PPC): 16.99

HBC Coca Cola: 15.88

Hellenic Petroleum: 7.21

National Bank of Greece: 23.60

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 10.97

Intralot: 4.43

OPAP: 16.25

OTE: 10.50

Bank of Piraeus: 11.51

Titan: 21.55

[19] ADEX closing report

Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 6,398 contracts worth 43.089 million euros, with 21,710 open positions in the market.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 23,561 contracts worth 23.796 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Marfin Popular Bank's contracts (4,890) followed by OTE (1,305), PPC (1,226), OPAP (2,103), Piraeus Bank (2,653), National Bank (2,089), Alpha Bank (3,664) and Cyprus Bank (1,133).

[20] Greek bond market closing report

The 10-year benchmark bond (July 19, 2019) was the most heavily traded security with a turnover of 1.562 billion euros. The yield spread between the 10-year benchmark Greek and German bonds was 119 basis points, with the Greek bond yielding 4.43 pct and the German Bund 3.24 pct.

In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-month Euribor rate was 1.31 pct, the six-month rate 1.0.9 pct, the three-month rate 0.83 pct and the one-month rate 0.49 pct.

[21] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

U.S. dollar 1.438

Pound sterling 0.885

Danish kroner 7.502

Swedish kroner 10.225

Japanese yen 135.39

Swiss franc 1.531

Norwegian kroner 8.693

Canadian dollar 1.569

Australian dollar 1.73

General News

[22] Suspect killed during armed robbery

[23] Another fatal accident reported at Larco

The incident comes on the heels of another fatal accident this month at the plant, near the city of Lamia, when a 36-year-old worker was killed.

Police later arrested seven Larco executives and foremen at the plant following an order by a Lamia misdemeanor courts' prosecutor. All seven were taken to a nearby police precinct in the town of Larymna.

[24] Wildfire in N. Greece immediately extinguished

[25] Metro to resume airport route

Only the Nomismatokopio (state mint) station is expected to operate at this stage, while the other two stations will be inaugurated at a later date.

[26] Meeting on TIF security measures

Police officials called on protesters and protest organisers to contribute to TIF's smooth operation by respecting the institution and safeguarding their mobilisations.

[27] NCO killed after tank overturns

The accident occurred in the Protokklissi area of Evros, a border prefecture.

According to reports, the victim, a sergeant major in command of the "Leopard 1 A5" tank, died when the vehicle overturned as it was returning from a military exercise. The remaining three members of the crew were reported in good health.

[28] Firebombings in Thessaloniki

According to the fire brigade, the first device was placed under an Alumil company car, which was parked in the Ano Poli district. The second device was placed under a Neapolis municipality patrol car while the third device was placed under a parked car in the Ano Poli district. Only material damages were reported.

Weather Forecast

[29] Fair on Thursday

[30] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Rise in all colleges entry scores".

APOGEVMATINI: "31,650 job opportunities in public sector".

AVGHI: "Forest protection depends on our patriotism".

AVRIANI: "Minister George Souflias on construction of new roads and fire belts".

ELEFTHEROS: "Industrialists and professionals to PM Costas Karamanlis: Enough! Take measures for society and enterprises".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "You were burned too, Dear ministers".

ESTIA: "Political alibi for forests".

ETHNOS: "Main college entry scores skyrocket".

KATHIMERINI: "Why Attica will never again be the same".

NIKI: "How the ashes will become expensive land".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Communist Party on wildfires: Policy and demand for people, protection of forests and land".

TA NEA: "Ashes in eyes with measures from ... 2007".

VIMA: "Back stabbing in the ashes".

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