Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 11-02-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece critical of EU-IMF troika 'interference in domestic affairs'

[02] PM telephone discussion with IMF chief

[03] Troika: Regrets, 'deepest respect' for Greek people's efforts

[04] FinMin replies to troika interviews in Sunday press

[05] ND demands FinMin's sacking

[06] KKE: No to fiscal dialogue

[07] Tsipras bashes Memorandum

[08] PM chairs meeting on Athens' city centre; problem of illegal migration

[09] Opinion poll

[10] Evert laid to rest

[11] Lebanese national ID'd in Italian press report to terror group arrested

[12] Italian women say 'Basta' to Berlusconi scandals in demonstration outside Embassy in Athens

[13] FinMin: No measures such as those of 2010

[14] Development minister: 2.15 billion euro program to be tendered mid-March

[15] Finance ministry denies Dow Jones report

[16] Greece's IMF rep: Memorandum expires in 2013

[17] Transport stoppages, strike

[18] Serres farmers to abandon attempt at blocking border crossing

[19] PPC: Overdue power bills at 139 mln euros

[20] 'Chemistry: Our Life, Our Future - The Nobel Chemistry Prizes 1901-2010'

[21] Pilot eMPOWER project completed; ANA-MPA participation

[22] Rescue operation underway on White Mountains in Crete for injured mountaineer

[23] Cars, motorcycles targetted by arsonists in Athens

[24] Olympiacos retains distance

[25] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance Politics

[01] Greece critical of EU-IMF troika 'interference in domestic affairs'

"We asked them to help, and we are honoring our commitments to the utmost. But we did not ask of anyone to interfere in the country's domestic affairs. Everyone must understand their role. And we will make this clear to all our partners," government spokesman George Petalotis said in a late-night statement following a troika press conference earlier in the day.

"We have need, but we also have limits," Petalotis said, adding that "we will not negotiate the limits of our dignity with anyone".

"We take orders only from the Greek people," the spokesman stressed.

In a statement issued after midnight Friday, Petalotis said:

"The attitude of the EC, IMF and ECB representatives, during their press conference, was unacceptable. We asked them to help, and we honoring our commitments to the utmost. But we did not ask of anyone to interfere in the country's domestic affairs. Everyone must understand their role. We have need, but we also have limits. And will not negotiate the limits of our dignity with anyone. We take orders only from the Greek people," the spokesman's statement said.

"The government has repeatedly taken a position on the need to take advantage of the State's real estate property with transparent conditions, so that it will contribute to growth, and also to reducing the state debt. Official announcements have been made on that, as well as detailed planning covering a horizon of many years. It is, of course, obvious that the exploitation of the State's real property in no instance means sell-off of public land. It is equally obvious that the only authority for the taking of such decisions is the Greek government," the statement added.

The troika chiefs said in a press conference earlier that Greece must step up privatisations in order to help reduce the state debt and boost larger investments in growth.

Interior minister Yiannis Ragoussis, speaking in Veria on Saturday, stressed that the exclusive responsibility lies with the Greek government, adding that "the Greek people have not given a mandate to any troika representative to interfere in the country's political life and give lessons".

"No one of all those who have the duty to assist Greece to exit from the crisis can misunderstand his role. And the Greek people have given to representative the mandate to interfere in the political life of the country. The Greek people have not given any troika representative the order, or the authorisation, to give lessons. And we have already clarified the roles. The responsibility belongs to us exclusively, and we are in a position to justify our decisions to the Greek people at any time," Ragoussis added.

Ruling PASOK's National Council secretary Michalis Karchimakis, in his own statement on Saturday, slammed what he called "ultimatum-like recommendations and orders".

"The troika representatives overstepped all boundaries. What they said yesterday (at Friday's press conference) is unacceptable and deplorable. We do not accept from anyone ultimatum-like recommendations and orders on how the Greek state's assets, the property of the Greek people, should be exploited. And we do not accept anyone pointing their finger at the Greek people inside their own home. They can do that in their own homes," Karchimakis said.

"The PASOK government and (prime minister) George Papandreou know very well what the interests of Greece and the Greek people are, and are serving them successfully. That is why we took harsh decisions and saved the country from bankruptcy. That is why we are proceeding with radical changes in order to take the country out of the crisis permanently, so that we will no need another Memorandum, or troikas or, naturally, their representatives," he concluded.

[02] PM telephone discussion with IMF chief

Strauss-Kahn expressed to the prime minister his understanding for the "spirit" of his statements and his respect for the Greek government and the Greek people.

[03] Troika: Regrets, 'deepest respect' for Greek people's efforts

The statement said that the troika noted that Greece's economic program remains on track and also indicated "our continuing strong support" for the government's efforts to meet the objectives of fiscal consolidation and restoring growth and competitiveness.

The collaboration in this effort "has always been, and continues to be, based on mutual trust", the statement said, adding that the three institutions (EC, ECB, IMF) "have full respect for the prerogatives and initiatives of the government in all areas of economic decision-making", noting that their role is to advise and support the government.

The full text of the troika statement appears below:

"At the conclusion of our joint mission yesterday, we noted that Greece's economic program remains on track. We also indicated our continuing strong support for the Government in meeting its objectives of fiscal consolidation and restoring growth and competitiveness, as reflected in the Memorandum on the program. Our collaboration in this effort has always been, and continues to be, based on mutual trust. Our three institutions have full respect for the prerogatives and initiatives of the Government in all areas of economic decision-making, and our role is to advise and support the Government while considering options during the decision-making process. It is regrettable if a different impression was perceived at any time. We recognize the difficult challenges facing the Greek economy and we have the deepest respect for the tremendous efforts being made by the Greek people. We continue to support those efforts."

Statements by the troika chiefs during a press conference on Friday at the conclusion of the delegation's inspection sparked a sharp retort by the Greek government, which accused the troika of interfering in Greece's domestic affairs.

Criticism was also forthcoming throughout Friday from the opposition parties as well as several government officials, while the complaints over the troika's "unacceptable attitude" were conveyed by prime minister George Papandreou personally on Saturday in a telephone conversation with IMF managing director Dominique Strauss Kahn.

[04] FinMin replies to troika interviews in Sunday press

Papaconstantinou's statement was prompted by interviews by European Commission Deputy Director General for economic and financial affairs Servaas Deroose, the head of the Commission inspectors in the EU-IMF 'troika' delegation, and IMF European Department deputy director Poul Thomsen, who heads the IMF inspectors in the troika delegation, which appeared in Sunday newspapers.

The finance minister called Deroose's statements "off target, at the least, and definitely inaccurate", and at the same time stressed that the decisions are taken with absolute transparency and with the public interest as the only criterion.

Papaconstantinou further said, characteristically: "The exploitation of the state's real property constitutes the choice of the government. It is a choice that can contribute decisively to speeding up growth but also to reducing the country's currently immense debt. It is a choice that the government is advancing in tandem with the denationalisations program that has been decided by the authoritative government bodies -- with stability, absolute transparency, respect for environmental protection and our cultural heritage, and with the sole criteria being the public interest."

In an interview appearing in the weekly Proto Thema newspaper on Sunday, Deroose said that "you will make denationalisations of 15 billion euros" in the next two years, adding that "the first 5 billion will come from the sale of the former Ellinikon Airport (expanse) and the remaining 10 billion euros from Athens Stock Exchange-listed and non-listed companies", while in the three-year period 2013-2015 "airports, ports and real estate property will be sold, from which 35 billion euros will be collected".

To a question that now is not the best time on the stock exchange for the companies with state holdings, such as the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), the Public Power Corporation (PPC) and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), Deroose said that those corporations "are profitable and have added value...If we create the proper infrastructures and serious investment banks are hired to act as consultants, we could make a substantial profit", adding that he does not consider it necessary for the state to be a shareholder in the PPC and OTE.

In an interview in Kathimerini appearing in the newspaper's Sunday edition, Thomsen said it is necessary for structural reforms to proceed immediately. He said that although the 2010 target for reducing the deficit to 9.5 percent of GDP was achieved, it would be difficult for the government to achieve the 2011 target of 7.8 percent if structural reforms do not progress speedily. "I am not saying that the program will derail, I anticipate that the March targets will be me, but I see a need arising for decisive moves," he said.

Thomsen further ascertained delays in the denationalisations, adding that when the full extent of the state assets are recorded "by mid-year", then "the sale of land, such as the old airport (Ellinikon)" will go ahead.

[05] ND demands FinMin's sacking

ND press spokesman Yiannis Michelakis rejected the government's criticism of the troika rejected the government's reaction as "hypocritical", calling it a "post-midnight theatrical farce", and accused the government of having decided the measures together with the troika, while also charging that it was the government's tolerance that allowed the troika to become so brazen and to insult the dignity of the Greek people.

Michelakis, in a statement, further said that Friday's "televised abolition of the government by the troika, which insulted the dignity of the Greek people, had already been effected with the Memorandum the government signed in jubilation". He added that the "delayed indignation" by the government aims only to dupe the Greek people, who felt rage over the "insulting attitude of the foreign partners of the government".

ND further charged that the members of the government "knew full well both the intentions and the decisions of the troika" and had decided them together with the troika, and personally blasted the prime minister that the troika representatives were given the go-ahead by Papandreou himself. "How else can one explain the unbelievable ease with which they want us to sell off the state assets or the insulting references to the people's reactions to the harsh measures?"

The main opposition spokesman further recalled the proposals for exiting the crisis that had been submitted in July 2010, in which ND insisted on exploitation of the state assets "and not selling off the family silver".

[06] KKE: No to fiscal dialogue

The KKE said that there is no meaning to such a dialogue "with a government that brought to Greece the Memorandum and all those barbarous mechanisms that seek to boost the profits of capital at the expense of the most fundamental rights of the working people".

The KKE announcement further said that the government "already has the consensus of the industrialists, the shipowners, the big-time merchants...the entire forces of capital".

It added that the people must respond to the "plutocracy's war" with its own war, beginning with disobedience and struggle for the popular authority.

[07] Tsipras bashes Memorandum

The aim, via internal devaluation, is to make the Greeks poorer and the capital stronger," Tsipras said to a meeting of his party's Central Political Committee, and accused the government of having chosen "on whose side it is on", and called the government spokesman's reaction to the troika press conference "a pretext".

"The government has selected its road, that of the Memorandum, of social bankruptcy and economic impasse," Tsipras said, adding: "If the government does not agree with general sell-off, does not plant to sell-off the country at a bargain price, then what is it seeking consensus for?"

He called on the government to publicly and clearly condemn the Memorandum, not the troika staff.

Tsipras further charged that, at the recent EU summit, the Greek government "already agreed the 'constitutionalisation' of the Memorandum, of poverty", and "now, they are acting surprised".

"And all this, in absentia of the people but also the national parliament," he said.

Tsipras also criticised main opposition New Democracy's (ND) and ND leader Antonis Samaras' stance as "anti-Memorandum rhetoric", noting that in July 2010 Samaras had criticised the PASOK government of not proceeding with a "bold advancement" of privatisations.

[08] PM chairs meeting on Athens' city centre; problem of illegal migration

According to reports, the meeting focused on the adoption of economic incentives to lure back residents to the specific area, while also touching on the problem of homeless and drug addicts congregating in certain districts and on the active participation of the City of Athens.

It was underlined that the number of work stamps necessary for the renewal of immigrant resident permits should be reduced, while the prime minister called for the intensification of relevant procedures and the drastic reduction of red tape to ensure that problems will be solved in a more effective manner.

Solution of the problem of illegal migrants that are long-time residents was characterised as urgent.

[09] Opinion poll

To a question on the "electoral influence", 38 percent of the more than 1,000 respondents opted for PASOK, followed by ND with 30.5 percent, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 10.5 percent, Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) with 6.0 percent, the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA parliamentary alliance) with 4.6 percent, and the non-parliamentary Ecologists-Greens with 3.0 percent, Democratic Left with 2.5 percent and Democratic Alliance with 2.0 percent.

The respondents expressed insecurity regarding the coming years, with 83 percent saying the lacked certainty, while 57 percent anticipated that their financial situation will deteriorate, against 37 percent anticipating that it will remain the same as now.

On elections, half of the respondents believe early general elections will be held, although 73 percent believe it is not necessary.

[10] Evert laid to rest

The eulogies for Evert, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 72, were delivered by Samaras, Petsalnikos and Kaminis.

[11] Lebanese national ID'd in Italian press report to terror group arrested

According to a statement by Greek police (EL.AS), Ghaleb Taleb was arrested along with another man following a lengthy surveillance operation. The arrest by intelligence and anti-terrorism personnel followed a report in the Italian mass daily "Corriere della Sera", with authorities reportedly acting before the suspect could flee.

Additionally, another man the newspaper claimed as Taleb's predecessor in Greece, Mohammed Mousa, has also been arrested. Both men face deportation.

The Italian daily on Saturday charged that Taleb was in Greece to coordinate some type of attack in Greece or another European country.

[12] Italian women say 'Basta' to Berlusconi scandals in demonstration outside Embassy in Athens

The women held banners with such slogans as "I'm a woman and I say enough", "Enough - Italy is not a bordello", and "Basta" (enough).

Financial News

[13] FinMin: No measures such as those of 2010

In an interview with the financial newspaper "Ependytis", Papaconstantinou said that as long as the country's deficit continues to exist, the country continues to be in recession, the debt continues to rise and Greece continues to be dependent on borrowing, "we cannot stop the effort...this means that we need other interventions, deep changes and not measures similar to those we were obliged to take in 2010".

Papaconstantinou further described the reasoning behind the 'No Pay' movement as "short-sighted, self-destructive and deeply anti-social", noting that "a conscientious society facing its problems" was one thing, and a "dissatisfied society" that was on the brink of exploding was something else. He said he did not see the latter prospect as likely, regardless of the efforts of some quarters to take advantage of the people's dissatisfaction for their own purposes.

[14] Development minister: 2.15 billion euro program to be tendered mid-March

More specifically, 400 million euros will be earmarked for the regional cohesion plan, 100 million euros for investments in technological development, 100 million euros for young entrepreneurship, and 50 million euros for networking investments, the minister said while addressing producer agencies in Crete.

He also said that the "Social Economy Fund", with a 150 million euros budget, will have been set up by the end of the year.

Chryssohoidis said that his ministry, in collaboration with the other ministries, was launching an effort to boost youth entrepreneurship in both consultative and informational capacity, via a digital platform, and in funding capacity, through the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) programs for Young Innovative Entrepreneurship.

[15] Finance ministry denies Dow Jones report

According to the ministry, Giorgos Christodoulakis also flatly denied making the comment that was attributed as such: "the country tops the list of states likely to become insolvent".

Finally, Christodoulakis said there was only discussion with the news agency over a possible report and not an interview.

[16] Greece's IMF rep: Memorandum expires in 2013

Greece's representative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Panagiotis Roumeliotis, on Sunday clarified, in a statement to ANA-MPA, that he has never said that the Memorandum will expire in 2030, "as mistakenly written in some media" after his address to the International Relations Institute in Athens on Thursday.

"What I said is that, after the expiry of the Memorandum in 2013, Greece will have to continue by itself its effort in the fiscal sector," Roumeliotis stressed.

[17] Transport stoppages, strike

Employees in all public transports have called a 24-hour strike on the day the controversial bill will be voted on, tentatively planned for Tuesday. That same day, public transport workers will hold a large protest rally outside parliament.

On Monday, the Athens Metro and ISAP urban trains will not be running from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. due to a five-hour work stoppage called by the respective employees' unions.

Meanwhile, ISAP employees will hold a motorcycle demonstration on Monday, starting with a rally at Athens' central Kotzia Square at 11:00 a.m. and on to the Transport Ministry on Messogion Avenue.

[18] Serres farmers to abandon attempt at blocking border crossing

Several farmers were arrested last week for trying to reach the border post with farm machinery, ostensibly to block the crossing. They had been blocked at the 26th kilometre of the Serres-Promahonas highway by police units.

[19] PPC: Overdue power bills at 139 mln euros

The power utility underlined that only a small percentage of overdue bills remain unpaid longer than six months and therefore, the revenue loss does not equal the total amount of the overdue electricity bills.

General News

[20] 'Chemistry: Our Life, Our Future - The Nobel Chemistry Prizes 1901-2010'

Described by international media as "a unique opportunity for the global scientific and cultural projection of Greece", the exhibition is organised in the context of the 2011 International Year of Chemistry.(ANA-MPA)

Rare objects of research, unpublished documents, photographs, diaries, books and other items from Alfred Nobel's (1833-1896) Chemistry Products Factory in the Italian town of Avigliana will be presented for the first time in Greece (at the National Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, Athens) and in Italy (Avigliana municipality, Turin, on the 150th anniversary of the Republic of Italy 1861-2011).(ANA-MPA)

All the items of both Exhibitions belong to the Museum of the Hellenic Nobel Collection, the result of 20 years of methodical work and research throughout the world.(ANA-MPA)

A rare Collection of precision scales used by Alfred Nobel in Avigliana for his chemistry experiments (1870-1895), the invention of dynamite (1866) and tens of other patents, will be on display for the first time, and only in Athens.(ANA-MPA)

Also on display, in both exhibitions, is a unique collection of photographs from the Avigliana laboratory, which belonged to the personal collection of the German emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941), later a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Museum of the Hellenic Nobel Collection discovered Kaiser Wilhelm's II photography Collection in Argentina and acquired it in 2000.(ANA-MPA)

On display for the first time to the Greek public are:

1) Stamps: Special editions and commemorative envelopes of postal services on Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Chemistry laureates of the 20th century.(ANA-MPA)

2) Rare commemorative medals of Alfred Nobel and the 20th century Nobel Chemistry laureates.(ANA-MPA)

3) Research objects from Alfred Nobel's laboratory at the Avigliana factory.(ANA-MPA)

4) Original British patents and explanatory drawings, color and black & white lithographs of Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Chemistry laureates of the 20th century.(ANA-MPA)

5) Rare photographs with the signature of the Nobel Chemistry laureates of the 20th century.(ANA-MPA)

The exhibition is prologued by 12 Nobel Chemistry laureates, and will be on display through March 12.(ANA-MPA)

[21] Pilot eMPOWER project completed; ANA-MPA participation

The two-year eMPOWER programme, an "eParticipation trial project" co-funded by the European Commission under the EU eParticipation Preparatory Action, was launched on Jan. 1, 2009.

Its purpose was to motivate and strengthen the involvement of NGOs and citizens in the decision-making process on environmental issues at the national and European level by providing method and tools for supporting citizens' participation and collection of signatures to promote relevant public initiatives.

Online voting will continue to take place at www.ep-empower.eu <http://www.ep-empower.eu> on issues concerning climate change, genetically modified organisms, water resources and waste management.

[22] Rescue operation underway on White Mountains in Crete for injured mountaineer

A local Fire Brigade station was alerted of the injury at 4:20 p.m. by other mountaineers, and 10 minutes later began the climb to the spot, at an altitude of 1,620 meters.

The 35-year-old mountain climber was injured in the leg as he was trekking in the area together with two other mountaineers.

The rescue team, which includes EMAK special operations members and Hellenic Red Cross rescuers, will require at least two hours to reach the spot, according to estimations.

Very low temperatures were prevailing in the area, according to rescuers.

[23] Cars, motorcycles targetted by arsonists in Athens

The barrage of attacks started in Pangrati, where arsonists set fire to two parked motorcycles and three cars in a spate of three hours (to 6am), while three cars were set on fire at 5am in Aghios Panteleimonas.

The Fire Brigade, in collaboration with security police, are investigating the arsons.

Soccer

[24] Olympiacos retains distance

In other action:

Ergotelis Crete-Kavala 2-1

Panionios Athens-PAOK Thessaloniki 1-0

Kerkyra-Panseraikos Serres 3-0

Iraklis Thessaloniki-Asteras Tripolis 0-0

Xanthi-Atromitos 3-0

Larissa-Olympicacos Volos 1-2

Standings after 22 weeks of play:

1. Olympiacos Piraeus 57 points

2. Panathinaikos 50

3. PAOK 34

4. AEK 33

5. Ergotelis 31

6.Kavala

7.Olympiacos Volos

8. Aris 28

9. Iraklis 27

10.Kerkyra 27

11.Xanthi 27

12. Atromitos 26

13. Panionios 24

14. Asteras 22

15. Larissa 18

16. Panseraikos 16

[25] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance

APOCALYPSES: "Wages, 20-percent discount and tax breaks end: Troika".

AVGHI: "(Snap) Elections now mandatory".

AVRIANI: "Troika exposed government and entire creaking political system".

CHORA: "They're selling-off everything".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Party of corruption and kickbacks."

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Operation OPAP (the state-controlled football and lottery pools): 'Silence the media'."

EPOCHI: "(Troika to government) Sell Maximos Mansion (government house)"

ETHNOS: "Clash with troika (and government) over privatisation programme".

KATHIMERINI: "Troika pressure sparks tensions".

LOGOS: "Privatisations at any cost and adherence to (EC-ECB-IMF) memorandum".

NIKI: "Country being mortgaged in order to pay off debt".

PARON (weekly): "Greece ... up for sale".

PROTO THEMA (weekly): "We paid 50 percent more for new submarines than the Turks (for the same type of subs)".

REALNEWS (weekly): "We found Akis' (Tsohatzopoulos, the former PASOK minister) treasurer".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Abandon PASOK, ND -- Alliance with KKE," is the main headline of the communist party's newspaper.

TO VIMA: "PM against troika; Provocation by EC rep: Sell everything, power company, Helliniko site, beaches".

VRADYNI: "Labour system collapsing".

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