Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-06-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] ND, PASOK, DHM.AR representatives discuss policy text

[02] PASOK's Venizelos says gov't will have been formed by noon on Wednesday

[03] Venizelos: Optimism on formation of coalition government

[04] Kouvelis: Talks for stable, efficient coalition government

[05] Democratic Left leader Kouvelis addresses Central Committee

[06] DIMAR spokesman: Name of prime minister will not be a problem

[07] Samaras to keep MP seat in Messinia

[08] Rehn spokesman underlines urgent need to form gov't in Greece

[09] Measures imposed on Greece were wrong, says EuroParliament S & D group president

[10] Bulgarian PM Borissov sends congratulatory telegram to Samaras

[11] SETE: Greeks deserve government worthy of its 'titanic' task

[12] GNTO inaugurates 'True Supporters'

[13] Greece raises 1.3 bln euros from T-bill auction

[14] Action plan to boost competitiveness of olive oil sector

[15] Business Briefs

[16] Greek stocks extend rally for third consecutive session

[17] Greek bond market closing report

[18] ADEX closing report

[19] Foreign Exchange rates - Wednesday

[20] New Acropolis Museum celebrates 3rd anniversary on Wednesday

[21] Roma gypsies attack bus, injure 5 policemen in Ano Liossia

[22] Attack against 2 foreign nat'ls in Hania

[23] Wildfire in Pavlokastro under partial control

[24] WWII-era live shell neutralised in Hania

[25] Former Greek nat'l football team coach Panagoulias dies in US

[26] Fair on Wednesday

[27] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] ND, PASOK, DHM.AR representatives discuss policy text

The meeting, which lasted three and a half hours, will continue on Wednesday at 13:00 hours. Officilas said that Wednesday's meetimg has no relation with the agreement for the immediate formation of a government, as there is a political volition expressed by the leaders of the three parties to go ahead with procedures leading to the swearing in of a government even on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by ND's Eveangelos Meimarakis and Chrysanthos Lazaridis, Costas Skandalidis of PASOK and DHM.AR's Dimitris Hatzisokratis, according to sources.

[02] PASOK's Venizelos says gov't will have been formed by noon on Wednesday

"The refusal of SYRIZA (the Radical Left Coalition) now renders as the only practical solution the formation of a government with the support of New Democracy, PASOK and the Democratic Left," he said, stressing that the government must be formed as soon as possible, adding that on the basis of the present factors this can be achieved by noon on Wednesday.

As regards the way of PASOK's participation in the government, he said that "for the credibility of PASOK's participation to be safeguarded, however, it is necessary that what we shall do after the elections to correspond with what we were saying before the elections."

He also added that in Wednesday's working meeting that he will be having with the party's Parliamentary Group which, as he said, is being called on to support the new government with its confidence, will specialise democratically as it is entited to PASOK's way of participation.

"The most crucial is not the government's composition but the national negotiating team that will pursue the best possible revision of the loan contract so that we can keep all the positive and do what we must to combat the recession and unemployment, to bring positive growth and employment rates," he said.

[03] Venizelos: Optimism on formation of coalition government

Venizelos said what was of great importance now was for the procedures to be accelerated so that Greece will have a government as soon as possible and send a message abroad of the country's stability and credibility and internally a message of domestic security and perspective.

He described his talks with Kouvelis as analytical, substantive and creative, adding that they both agreed that all the procedures need to be stepped up.

Venizelos said that the formation of a government was proceeding in tandem with the need for the formation of a national negotiating team that will have to see to the revision of the adverse conditions of the loan agreement, adding that there is an open invitation -- acceptance of which is vital -- for participation in this team of political forces beyond those that will take part in the coalition government, because "this is not a wager of the government but on the future of the country".

[04] Kouvelis: Talks for stable, efficient coalition government

He said the deliberations process was being sped up because the country needs to acquire a government with a specific policy content to be exercised both at home and abroad, with respect to negotiation for Greece to disengage itself from the adverse terms and regulations of the Memorandum.

"Consequently, policy issues are being put forward...that could comprise the decisive connective tissue for a government in order that it may produce specific results, obviously to the benefit of the country and society which is dissected today," said Kouvelis.

He said that based on the meeting he had on Monday with ND leader Antonis Samaras in the context of the latter's exploratory mandate for the formation of a government, he was awaiting very specific positions from ND with respect to the policy issues the DIMAR leader put forward, adding that policy agreement is the decisive element for the formation of a stable and efficient government that can lead the country to outlets from its current impasses.

[05] Democratic Left leader Kouvelis addresses Central Committee

Kouvelis said, according to reports, that "we are proceeding, we are giving a vote of confidence to the government but we are not participating with deputies or party officials."

Consequently he only left open the possibility of persons participating in the government who adhere to the Democratic Left ideologically but have no party capacity.

[06] DIMAR spokesman: Name of prime minister will not be a problem

"Different opinions prevail regarding the support or the participation in the government. If we agree on the policy, then we will agree on the persons".

"We have set out several realistic matters regarding the labour and social issues and on this basis we estimate and hope that in the end the country will have a government. The worst for the country at this moment is the instability and the uncertainty," he said.

To a query whether DIMAR will support or participate in the government, Papadopoulos noted that this depends. "The Constitution provides many abilities, participation and support, as well as the vote of tolerance".

There are many procedures, he said, adding that "we will look at all of these in due course".

[07] Samaras to keep MP seat in Messinia

[08] Rehn spokesman underlines urgent need to form gov't in Greece

The discussions will assess the progress made as regards the goals set and jointly decide next steps, he said, stressing that a new government will have to take over implementation of the programme and put the country "back on the right track".

Responding to a relevant question, Amadeu Altafaj pointed out that the European Commission does not make any "guesses" on the likelihood of a new memorandum when it has been just a few months since the second programme was decided for Greece.

However, Eurozone sources stressed on Tuesday that if Greece has a new government, one of the goals of an upcoming Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg, on Thursday, will be the opening of a discussion on a new memorandum that will include adjustments of the programme already implemented in the country.

[09] Measures imposed on Greece were wrong, says EuroParliament S & D group president

The head of the European Parliament's Socialists and Democrats group Hannes Swoboda on Tuesday criticised the mix of economic measures imposed on Greece, saying that they had been "all wrong" and had not contributed to overcoming the debt crisis.

Speaking in Nicosia after a meeting with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, Swoboda called for an readjustment of the measures, which he said had helped make Greece's economic situation worse. The lesson that could be learned from the European Commission, ECB and IMF troika and the way it operated was that it was often not helpful, he added.

Concerning the message of the Greek elections to the eurozone, Swoboda said that Greek voters had voted in a way that sent a clear message, indicating that they wished to stay in the eurozone and have a stable government. At the same time, he added, the strong vote for SYRIZA meant that there had to be a change on social issues.

"The vote must be combined also in relation to the Democratic Left. It is a clearly European vote," he added, noting that he had personally visited Greece while European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and others had not gone to the country to see the conditions of poverty that people were faced with.

[10] Bulgarian PM Borissov sends congratulatory telegram to Samaras

In his telegram, the Bulgarian prime minister stressed that the Greek people voted in favour of a responsible European behaviour.

He also expressed his solidarity, his government's and the Bulgarian people's to the citizens of Greece, in their effort to overcome the economic crisis.

"You can always count on the support of the Bulgarian people," Borissov underlined.

Financial News

[11] SETE: Greeks deserve government worthy of its 'titanic' task

He urged a cooperation government comprising "the best that all the pro-Europe parties have, surrounded by capable technocrats", a government that now has a clear popular mandate to proceed with decisive steps to the reformation of the Greek economy from a "Soviet-type" economy to a "modern European" economy, a government that will renegotiate -- in the best possible way and on the basis of the rapidly changing facts -- a lengthening of the fiscal adjustment time but also the reinforcement of the financially weaker citizens, an efficient government that will at last proceed unwaveringly with the necessary structural reforms.

[12] GNTO inaugurates 'True Supporters'

The philosophy of this initiative is based on the certainty that that best way to answer to the negative comments on Greece presented in the international media is through people that admire and can promote the positive and real facts of Greece as a tourism destination.

Whoever is interested in supporting this initiative can visit the True Supporters page at http://www.truegreece.org/.

[13] Greece raises 1.3 bln euros from T-bill auction

[14] Action plan to boost competitiveness of olive oil sector

The action plan includes measures aimed at promoting the quality of the product, the restructuring of the sector and the protection from third country competition.

A discussion on the action plan took place in Luxembourg on Monday in a meeting between the commissioner and the ministers of agriculture from Greece, Spain, Italy and the rest olive oil producing EU members.

Caretaker Agricultural Development & Foods Minister Napoleon Maravegias stated that "olive tree cultivation is an income source in many, otherwise, disadvantaged regions. The implementation of a public policy with actions that will settle any market problems for such a product, focusing on high quality production, is necessary."

[15] Business Briefs

-- The turnover index in the industrial sector (measuring both the domestic and external markets) rose 14.1 pct in April this year, after a 12.6 pct increase recorded in the same period in 2011, the Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Tuesday.

-- Elecrticity consumption fell to its lowest levels since 2005 in the first five months of 2012, official figures showed on Tuesday.

[16] Greek stocks extend rally for third consecutive session

The Big Cap index rose 3.21 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 4.71 pct higher. The Travel (8.68 pct), Telecoms (6.99 pct) and Financial Services (6.51 pct) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while the Construction sector (-1.02 pct) was the only one to end lower. OPAP (8.95 pct), Motor Oil (7.45 pct), OTE (6.99 pct), National Bank (6.67 pct) and Folli Follie (5.31 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Piraeus Bank (3.68 pct), Titan (2.47 pct) and Cyprus Popular Bank (1.05 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, Kreka (24.79 pct), Paperpack (22.22 pct) and Altec (20.0 pct) were top gainers, while Unibios (20 pct), Sciens (19.58 pct) and Selman (19.46 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials: +3.38%

Commercial: +5.18%

Construction: -1.02%

Oil & Gas: +3.92%

Personal & Household: +1.53%

Raw Materials: +3.12%

Travel & Leisure: +8.68%

Technology: +0.53%

Telecoms: +6.99%

Banks: +2.52%

Food & Beverages: +2.82%

Health: +1.99%

Utilities: +3.67%

Financial Services: +6.51%

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

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

Alpha Bank: 1.42

Public Power Corp (PPC): 2.13

HBC Coca Cola: 13.15

Hellenic Petroleum: 4.41

National Bank of Greece: 1.60

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.82

OPAP: 4.75

OTE: 1.99

Bank of Piraeus: 0.29

Titan: 13.45

[17] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates eased slightly. The 12-month rate fell to 1.21 pct, the six-month rate was 0.93 pct, the three-month rate fell to 0.65 pct and the one-month rate eased to 0.37 pct.

[18] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 56,136 worth 9.436 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Alpha Bank's contracts (19,877), followed by National Bank (18,484), OTE (2,432), OPAP (3,999), Piraeus Bank (2,491), Cyprus Popular Bank (412), Hellenic Postbank (209), ATEbank (269) and Hellenic Exchanges (507).

[19] Foreign Exchange rates - Wednesday

U.S. dollar 1.280

Pound sterling 0.817

Danish kroner 7.544

Swedish kroner 8.972

Japanese yen 101.06

Swiss franc 1.218

Norwegian kroner 7.629

Canadian dollar 1.308

Australian dollar 1.260

General News

[20] New Acropolis Museum celebrates 3rd anniversary on Wednesday

The 25,000 square-meter Museum will be open to the public on Wednesday from 8:00 in the morning until midnight, with a reduced entry fee, to celebrate the anniversary.

The Museum includes more than 4,000 exhibits spread over 14,000 square meters of exhibition space.

To mark the event, the public is invited on a live tour of antiquity set to a musical backdrop. From 11:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening, small music ensembles, featuring renowned soloists, will be set up in the Museum's various halls for a musical journey starting off from antiquity with 'stops' in the Renaissance, baroque, the classical and the romance eras, but also exceptional works of the 20th century.

From 8:00 in the morning to midnight on Wednesday, all the exhibition areas of the Museum will be open to the public, but also its restaurant.

The programme includes the following music ensembles: Expromte, Guitart, the violion-piano duo Papagiannakis-Mantzouratos, Ritornello, the Karpathiou-Lykoura ensemble of Greek musical instruments, the Chrysea-Forminx ensemble, the Q-Innegal Quintet, the Christodoulou-Neofytidou violin and piano duo, the Kitharis ensemble of the Filippos Nakas Conservatory, the Trio Solvista, Guitar 4-Tune, and a trio of operatic artists.

Visitors will also be treated to two concerts by the state television/radio broadcaster ERT Choir and Orchestra of Contemporary Music.

More specifically, at 8:30 in the evening on the ground floor of the Museum, the ERT Choir will present the Dodecannesian works of Y. Konstantinidis and excerpts of compositions by Javier Busto and Lajos Bardos, while at 9:30 p.m. in the Museum's courtyard the ERT Orchestra of Contemporary Music and Choir will present works by Theodorakis, Hatzidakis, Papadimitriou and Xarhakos.

[21] Roma gypsies attack bus, injure 5 policemen in Ano Liossia

The incidents began at around 10:00 p.m. on Monday night when the gypsies attacked the bus with stones and then forced the driver and passengers to get out before they doused it with petrol and set fire to it. Police from the local Ano Liossia police station rushed to the scene after they were alerted by the driver but the enraged gypsies did not hesitate to attack them as well, charging at them with stones and sticks. Some among them also fired hunting shotguns that injured a number of officers.

The marauding gypsy gang then set fire to rubbish dumpsters and looted at least two shops before fleeing back to their camp.

The situation is now calm but MAT riot police are now on the scene and an investigation has been launched to determine what sparked the outbreak of violence.

[22] Attack against 2 foreign nat'ls in Hania

According to police, two suspects attacked the man with sticks and crowbars, resulting in his serious injury. The victim was transferred to a local hospital where he underwent surgery to remove a damaged kidney.

The incident marked the second assault against non-EU foreign nationals in less than a week in the same city. On Saturday evening, unknown individuals injured two homeless Algerian nationals camping on a nearby beach. The two victims were hospitalised.

[23] Wildfire in Pavlokastro under partial control

Firemen are continuing their effort to extinguish the wildfire completely.

[24] WWII-era live shell neutralised in Hania

The shell was discovered in the water at a depth of half a meter by a fisherman, and according to experts, was in very good condition and active. Its neutralisation took place in the waters.

Soccer

[25] Former Greek nat'l football team coach Panagoulias dies in US

Panagoulias was plagued with health problems recently, those close to the family said.

With Panagoulias at the helm, the Greek team qualified for the 19802 European championship in Italy and the World Cup in 1994 in the United States He also coached the US Olympic soccer team and a number of Greek-American teams in the States.

He also served as the head coach for Olympiakos Piraeus, which won three championships under his guidance.

Panagoulias played for Aris Thessaloniki, beginning in 1949, where later he served as coach and club president.

A funeral service will take place at St. Catherine's Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Virginia, on Friday.

Panagoulias is survived by his wife, two children and two grand-children.

Weather forecast

[26] Fair on Wednesday

[27] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Government of national salvation and of full term".

AVGHI: "Memorandum reinstitution".

AVRIANI: "The collusion publishers' blackmail".

DIMOKRATIA: "Whim at the edge of the cliff".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Agreement on the points for a three-party government".

ESTIA: "Restoration of confidence".

ETHNOS: "The keys for the government of the 'three'."

IMERISSIA: "The negotiation package - Battle in three fronts with the troika".

KATHIMERINI: "In orbit for formation of government".

LOGOS: "Government by Tuesday night...".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "In search of balances for a cooperation government".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The Communist Party together with the people in the battle for their interests".

TA NEA: "Government with...dowry".

VRADYNI: "Government of policy agreement with prime minister New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras".

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