Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM meets with Troika

[02] Finmin, troika to have follow-up meeting next Wednesday

[03] Labour minister, troika meeting on Tuesday

[04] PASOK party leader calls on troika representatives to 'realise the endurance limits of society'

[05] Police to stop supplying guards to Golden Dawn MPs; Rafina station chief suspended

[06] Supreme Court prosecutor calls for rapid investigation of GD attacks in Rafina, Messolongi

[07] Leftist leader says "new school year worst ever"

[08] PASOK leader meets with representatives of judicial associations

[09] Independent Greeks leader: Greeks are considered a drug addict

[10] Papariga: KKE in favour of disengagement from eurozone

[11] KKE party on proposal by president of German industrialists

[12] Greek FM to hold talks with Cyprus counterpart on Tuesday

[13] Justice minister receives Speaker of Canadian Senate

[14] Dozens more properties, bank accounts owned by Tsohatzopoulos discovered abroad

[15] ILO chief warns against reforms undermining collective bargaining in Greece

[16] Development minister holds talks with SETE president and board

[17] Tourism minister holds meeting with Canadian senators

[18] DIMAR leader meets with Hellenic Postbank employees

[19] Inflation up 1.7pct in August

[20] Imports down 1,6pct in July

[21] Industrial production off 5.0% in July

[22] Initiative to promote fruit exports at Moscow fair

[23] Business Briefs

[24] Stocks jump 4.7 pct

[25] Greek bond market closing report

[26] ADEX closing report

[27] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

[28] Giant 'balloon of magma' inflates under Santorini

[29] SDOE tracks down 92 undeclared antiquities in Ptolemaida jewellery shop

[30] Armed robbery with one injury in Perama

[31] Wildfire on Rhodes under partial control

[32] Wildfire in Langadas region

[33] Illegal migrants arrested in Evros

[34] Two arrested for espionage in Limnos

[35] Copper cable thefts interrupt train service in south-central Greece

[36] 4.5R quake in Halkidiki

[37] Trial of TIF protesters postponed for Wed.

[38] Cloudy on Tuesday

[39] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] PM meets with Troika

Finance minister Yannis Stournaras, who also attended the 50-minute meeting, said afterwards that efforts were being made to convince the troika of the justness of the Greek positions.

Sources said that details concerning the measures were not discussed, but a substantial discussion took place on what is feasible and what is not feasible, while the Greek side told the troika that the Greek citizens cannot withstand further austerity measures.

A high-ranking Finance Ministry official later told AMNA that Greece must present a completed draft with 11.9 billion euros in measures for the two-year period 2012-2013 to next Friday's (Sept. 14) Eurogroup meeting in Nicosia, even if there is no total agreement with the troika and unveiling of the measures in Greece by that date.

The ministry official described the climate of the discussion with the troika as "tough and sticky", and confirmed that the troika were adamant in not accepting the proposed measures concerning the restructure of the state and in their insistence on dismissals in the civil service, including the core public sector, which the Greek side refuses, as affirmed after Sunday night's meeting of the leaders of the three parties participating in the coalition government.

[02] Finmin, troika to have follow-up meeting next Wednesday

The meeting will take place at 4:00 p.m. and precede that of the party leaders in the coalition government. Its aim is to find the 'common ground' between the government and the troika ahead of the Eurogroup meeting in Nicosia next Friday.

[03] Labour minister, troika meeting on Tuesday

Vroutsis' meeting with the troika will focus on the course of the implementation of Greece commitments and the results of the already imposed measures. Moreover the two sides will discuss labour relations and the possibility of cutbacks in social allowances and welfare benefits.

[04] PASOK party leader calls on troika representatives to 'realise the endurance limits of society'

He stressed that this must take place in an internally fair and balanced way and not horizontal, something that, as he added, "the relevant proposals by PASOK are trying to serve which consider as being a foregone conclusion the government's proposals to the troika on the restriction of expenditures that are linked to the functioning of the state".

Venizelos also stressed that "in parallel Greece is prepared to undertake all the legislative and other structural initiatives that render reliable and effective the fiscal measures that are not linked with decreases of salaries, pensions and bonuses, but with the reforming of the state and the restriction of the operational expenditures".

Moreover, when Venizelos called on them to realise the endurance limits of society, the representatives of the troika urged the Greek side to appeal also to a "higher" political level as regards these issues with PASOK party sources terming Tuesday's meeting between Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and the head of the ECB Mario Draghi as a "good opportunity for negotiating at political level".

Responding to a relevant question, the same sources said that an issue of layoffs was not discussed and referred to the "clear" pre-election position of PASOK that there be no layoffs.

[05] Police to stop supplying guards to Golden Dawn MPs; Rafina station chief suspended

Meanwhile, following an inquiry ordered by Public Order Minister Nikolaos Dendias, the chief of the Greek police Lieut. Gen Nikolaos Papagiannopoulos has also suspended the Rafina police station chief over his handling of the incidents involving Golden Dawn members at the Rafina street market. A more formal internal investigation has also been launched into the affair.

The leadership of the police decided to stop supplying police officers for the protection of the party's MPs in order, according to an announcement, to avoid involving the officers in the covering-up of criminal acts that are not their responsibility or presenting them with conflicts in the line of duty, forcing them to choose between their obligation to protect and their obligation to prosecute and arrest offenders.

Exempted from the decision are the officers supplied to guard the party's central offices and for the protection of the party's general secretary.

The public order ministry stressed that the Greek Police is the only legitimate authority for enforcing the law and ensuring the country's security and that anyone attempting to replace the police in this role will face legal repercussions, with clear instructions to police officers to lead such individuals to justice.

In an announcement later on Monday, Golden Dawn protested at a decision to station police vans and patrol cars outside its party headquarters and the constant surveillance of those entering and exiting, claiming this was done on the public order ministry's instructions.

"The regime of the memorandum and the loan sharks is violating the Constitution and exercising raw terrorism against a legal political party," a GD announcement said, while terming the police chief's initiative "arbitrary".

GD also claimed in its announcement that the police had until now failed to supply guards for its central offices, in violation of its legal obligation and that the party would be filing legal action against all responsible.

[06] Supreme Court prosecutor calls for rapid investigation of GD attacks in Rafina, Messolongi

Tentes said the investigations into the two incidents must be completed as soon as possible and the files on the case sent to Parliament so that the Parliamentary immunity of any GD MPs involved might be lifted.

[07] Leftist leader says "new school year worst ever"

Tsipras expressed disappointment over the situation in the education sector, after separate meetings he had with the boards of the primary school teachers' union federation (DOE) and the Federation of Private School Teachers (OIELE).

Tsipras stated that "often classrooms are with no teachers" and underlined that infrastructure problems are huge.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that we'll go back to the way we were many years ago," he said, adding that "they want to downgrade Greece into a country that has no future or prospects".

[08] PASOK leader meets with representatives of judicial associations

The president of the Association of Judges and Prosecutors, Vasiliki Thanou, stated after the meeting that the sector's wage scale is constitutionally guaranteed and stressed that the judges cannot tolerate further wage cuts.

[09] Independent Greeks leader: Greeks are considered a drug addict

Kammenos is in Thessaloniki fir the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) and on Monday he met with Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki, to 'receive his blessing', and with whom he discussed matters concerning the city and national issues.

The Independent Greeks leader will meet with representatives of local organisations and on Tuesday at 13:00 will give a press conference at the TIF, while on Wednesday he will address a political gathering in Thessaloniki.

[10] Papariga: KKE in favour of disengagement from eurozone

Speaking to an Athens-based private radio, Papariga blamed the private sector umbrella trade union GSEE and the civil servants' union federation (ADEDY), claiming that because "the people were unprepared and disorientated as regards the causes of the crisis and the way out of it."

She characterised as a "joke" the main opposition Radical Left Coalition's (SYRIZA) position for a negotiation with the German chancellor and the European Central Bank (ECB) president and underlined that if SYRIZA became a government it would have implemented exactly the same policy.

Papariga stressed that KKE is "in favour of a disengagement not just from the eurozone. Disengagement by unilaterally writing off the debt with the people deciding on the economic growth course to be followed based on their needs and not based on profits."

[11] KKE party on proposal by president of German industrialists

[12] Greek FM to hold talks with Cyprus counterpart on Tuesday

A joint press conference will follow the talks at the foreign ministry, the announcement added.

[13] Justice minister receives Speaker of Canadian Senate

Roupakiotis noted that "the immigration problem is not a Greek, but a European issue", stressing that "its handling requires overall planning at the national and European level, and mainly economic backing by the European Union".

[14] Dozens more properties, bank accounts owned by Tsohatzopoulos discovered abroad

Sources said that a process of inspections and cross-checking is now underway that may lead to these assets being frozen if it is shown that they were used to legalise illegally obtained wealth. The estimated value of the properties under investigation exceeds 10 million euro and their acquisition involves at least seven of the suspects now under investigation in connection with the former minister's affairs.

The Greek State and the Union of Greek Tax-Payers has already applied to preside at the former minister's trial as a civil prosecution, in connection with a suit for damages sustained as a result of the minister's concealment of large sums of money received as kickbacks for arms procurement programmes over a series of many years.

Indicative of the minister's illegal transactions are private hand-written notes confiscated by authorities, in which he records sums spent during his pre-election campaigns. Typical entries include some 100,000 euro given to an individual identified only as 'gypsy Bakas', 30,000 euro for Russian Black Sea expatriates, 350,000 euro spent on tickets to ship in Greek ex-pats from Russia and 230,000 spent on 1,150 season tickets for the PAOK football team.

The same notes, now being carefully studied by investigators, also refer to 'outstanding' settlements to various individuals or possibly organisations, such as '140,000 euro for Akritidis', '50,000 for Filotheou', '50,000 for IMB event (believed to refer to Vatopedi Monastery) or '80,000 for another 160 from Russia tonight'.

Financial News

[15] ILO chief warns against reforms undermining collective bargaining in Greece

The new Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Guy Ryder on Monday advised against reforms undermining collective bargaining in Greece while warning that a Greek exit from the Eurozone could bring a soaring rise in unemployment across Europe, even in Germany.

In an interview with Agence Europe, Ryder expressed disagreement with a series of reforms being promoted in Greece and stressed that these needed to be re-examined, noting that there was now a situation "where the entire process of collective negotiations is collapsing".

"One could validly claim that the system of collective negotiations in Greece needed revision, as did its results in terms of the cost of labour. Many people would agree with this. I am afraid, however, and I hope this not being done intentionally, that the repercussions of the changes that have been made will simply marginalise collective bargaining in Greece altogether. If we get to this, that will be exceptionally harmful," the new ILO chief said.

Ryder also noted a breakdown in social dialogue, with the government not talking to unions and no one talking to anyone else. He stressed that, in his opinion, collective bargaining was the best way to link wages to productivity.

Answering questions about the possible impact of a Greek exit from the Eurozone, Ryder cited ILO projections predicting a negative knock-on effect for employment throughout the Eurozone.

"The same calculations show that unemployment, in this case, would rise from current levels to over 17 percent throughout the Eurozone, while even countries such as Germany would not be spared.

"We would have, as a consequence, a rise of unemployment in Germany by 26 percent from now until 2014. This is the best possible illustration of the common interest that exists in the EU," he pointed out.

The ILO chief stressed that in the effort to find solutions to the Eurozone crisis, no one should imagine that the exit of Greece or some other country could come without cost.

"All those that see only the cost of the help they are giving to Greece must take into account the true cost that will arise from Greece's failure to stay in the euro. It is a very alarming situation and I believe that those making policy must take into account the possible hidden cost or the cost that now goes unobserved," he added.

[16] Development minister holds talks with SETE president and board

It was stressed at the meeting that the aim of the Development ministry in the sector of land transport is for deregulation to be completed by 2015, while as far as air transport is concerned, the policy framework will be prepared by the end of October that will also include the airport dues policy and the bill on the restructuring of the Civil Aviation Authority will be presented by the end of the year.

SETE's board submitted proposals on amendments to the investments law and adjustments to incentives for tourist enterprises that will be discussed in a new meeting with the secretary general of Strategic and Private Investments.

[17] Tourism minister holds meeting with Canadian senators

The meeting, also attended by Greek ambassador to Canada El. Angelopoulos, focused on issues concerning investments in tourismn and university exchanges at tourism level.

The Tourism minister stressed the government's interest in attracting investments to Greece, referring to prospects existing in the tourist sector, and underlined that the tourist market of North America is high in the government's priorities.

[18] DIMAR leader meets with Hellenic Postbank employees

According to a DIMAR announcement the talks focused on the recapitalisation of TT, on which Kouvelis noted that after the completion of the procedure the bank will be viable.

Moreover, Kouvelis referred to TT's role in the development of the Greek economy and on the very important social nature of its operation.

[19] Inflation up 1.7pct in August

Despite cutbacks in the incomes of salary earners and pensioners and a drastic drop in consumer demand, ELSTAT recorded a plethora of price hikes in staple goods and services that comprise the so-called "family basket", as well as substantial increases in fuel prices (gasoline, petrol, heating oil) and electricity prices, which additionally burden consumers.

ELSTAT, in a report, said that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in August 2012 compared with August 2011, increased by 1.7%. In August 2011, the annual rate of change of the CPI was 1.7%. The CPI in August 2012 compared with July 2012 decreased by 1.0%. In August 2011, the monthly rate of change of the CPI was -1.4%.

In the twelve-month period from September 2011 to August 2012 compared with the period from September 2010 to August 2011 the annual average rate of change of the CPI was 2.1%. The corresponding annual average rate of change of the CPI in the previous year (September 2010 to August 2011), was 4.1%.

The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) in August 2012 compared with August 2011, increased by 1.2%. In August 2011, the annual rate of change of the HICP was 1.4%. The HICP in August 2012 compared with July 2012, decreased by 1.2%. In August 2011, the monthly rate of change of the HICP was -1.4%.

In the twelve-month period from September 2011 to August 2012 compared with the period from September 2010 to August 2011, the annual average rate of change of the HICP was 1.8%. The previous year, in the corresponding twelve - month period, the annual average rate of change of the HICP was 4.0%.

[20] Imports down 1,6pct in July

ELSTAT, in a flash estimate, said that the total value of imports-arrivals, excluding oil products, in July 2012 amounted to 2565.5 million euros against 2607.4 million euros in July 2011, recording a drop of 1.6%.

The total value of exports-dispatches, excluding oil products, for the 12-month time period of August 2011 - July 2012 increased by 6.0% compared to the corresponding 12-month time period of August 2010 - July 2011.

The total value of imports-arrivals, excluding oil products, for the 12-month time period of August 2011 - July 2012 decreased by 9.9% compared to the corresponding 12-month time period of August 2010 - July 2011.

The total value of exports-dispatches, excluding oil products, in July 2012 amounted to 1421.4 million euros against 1436.6 million euros in July 2011, recording a drop of 1.1%.

[21] Industrial production off 5.0% in July

The statistics service, in a report, said that industrial production was down 1.9 pct in July 2011 and attributed the 5.0 pct decline this year to: a 2.6 pct fall in mining production, a 7.8 pct drop in manufacturing production (leather/footwear production off 47.5 pct, pharmaceutical products -15.4 pct, non-metal minerals -16.3 pct, furniture -27.2 pct, food -1.0 pct, beverage -7.5 pct, tobacco -16.2 pct and clothing -2.2 pct), while electricity production increased by 1.2 pct and water production rose 1.3 pct.

The average industrial production index in the January-July period was down 4.8 pct compared with the corresponding period in 2011.

[22] Initiative to promote fruit exports at Moscow fair

The campaign, financed by the EU (50 percent), by the Greek state (20 percent) and the central chamber of commerce (30 percent) aims to promote Greek fruits to Russia, the Ukraine and China.

[23] Business Briefs

-- Intracom Defense Electronics has won an international tender to supply Germany's Federal Office of Defense Technology and Supplies (BWB) with its WiSPR (Wideband Intercom & Secure Packet Radio) system.

-- Foreign investors slightly decreased their exposure at the Athens Stock Exchange in August, with their share in the market's capitalisation falling to 51.5 pct, from 51.7 pct in July, although it was up from 50.2 pct in August last year.

[24] Stocks jump 4.7 pct

The composite index of the market surpassed the 700 level to end at 726.05 points, up 4.70 pct, off the day's highs of 729.21 points. Turnover was an improved 80.721 million euros. Analysts said a strong upward momentum is supported by the prospect of ECB's intervention in sovereign bond markets and by a positive change of comments made by European officials towards Greece.

The Big Cap index soared 6.12 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 3.57 pct higher. The Commerce sector was the only one to end lower (-0.68 pct), while Banks (10.77 pct), Construction (9.41 pct), Raw Materials (9.39 pct) and Personal Products (6.64 pct) were top gainers. Folli Follie (-0.75 pct) was the only blue chip stock to end lower, while Cyprus Bank (27.75 pct), Piraeus Bank (15.73 pct), Titan (11.60 pct), Cyprus Popular Bank (10.26 pct) and Eurobank (9.52 pct) were top gainers.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 108 to 42 with another 20 issues unchanged. Cyprus Bank (27.75 pct), Sidenor (20.80 pct) and Sato (20 pct) were top gainers, while Compucon (19.54 pct), Attica Holdings (10.11 pct) and Elbe (10 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials: +4.23%

Commercial: -0.68%

Construction: +9.41%

Oil & Gas: +5.06%

Personal & Household: +6.64%

Raw Materials: +9.39%

Travel & Leisure: +1.15%

Technology: +4.18%

Telecoms: +4.51%

Banks: +10.77%

Food & Beverages: +2.11%

Health: +5.65%

Utilities: +2.27%

Financial Services: +5.86%

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: 1.56

Public Power Corp (PPC): 3.34

HBC Coca Cola: 14.50

Hellenic Petroleum: 6.56

National Bank of Greece: 1.69

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.82

OPAP: 6.02

OTE: 3.01

Bank of Piraeus: 0.33

Titan: 14.72

[25] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates continued moving lower. The 12-month rate fell to 0.76 pct, the six-month rate was 0.51 pct, the three-month rate was 0.26 pct and the one-month rate was 0.12 pct.

[26] ADEX closing report

[27] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

U.S. dollar 1.296

Pound sterling 0.811

Danish kroner 7.563

Swedish kroner 8.620

Japanese yen 101.48

Swiss franc 1.227

Norwegian kroner 7.500

Canadian dollar 1.267

Australian dollar 1.253

General News

[28] Giant 'balloon of magma' inflates under Santorini

The growth of this "balloon" of magma, More than 15 times the size of the London Olympics Stadium in volume, resulted in an 8-14 centimeter rise of the surface of the island during this period, the team of scientists, led by Oxford University scientists, found during an expedition. A report of the research is published in the latest edition of the montly 'Nature Geoscience' journal appearing this week.

In January 2011, a series of small earthquakes began beneath the islands of Santorini. Most were so small they could only be detected with sensitive seismometers but it was the first sign of activity beneath the volcano to be detected for 25 years.

Following the earthquakes, signs of movement of the Earth's surface on Santorini were spotted in satellite radar images. Oxford University undergraduate students then helped researchers complete a new survey of the island.

The team calculates that the amount of molten rock that has arrived beneath Santorini in the past year is the equivalent of about 10-20 years growth of the volcano. But this does not mean that an eruption is about to happen. In fact the rate of earthquake activity has dropped off in the past few months.

The findings are helping scientists to understand more about the inner workings of the volcano, which had its last major explosive eruption 3,600 years ago that buried the island of Santorini under meters of pumice -- one of the largest volcanic eruptions in world history and possibly leading to the destruction of the Minoan civilization but do not provide an answer to the biggest question of all: when will the volcano next erupt?

[29] SDOE tracks down 92 undeclared antiquities in Ptolemaida jewellery shop

In an operation conducted with the assistance of an archaeologist, SDOE said many of the articles found fall under the auspices of the antiquities-protection and cultural heritage act.

Among the finds are Hellenistic-era silver and gold coins with the head of Alexander the Great, a silver coin minted by the Romans during the time of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, two ancient silver coins, a gold coin minted by the Roman empire, a worn ancient gold coin, 73 gold coins from the Ottoman era and a gold Byzantine coin that had been converted into a pendant, four gold Ottman coins made into two pairs of earrings, European gold coins dated to 1758 and 1800 AD, respectively, a silver belt buckle and a fez decorated with gold Ottoman coins.

The finds were turned over the local Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities bureau and the shop owner arrested and led before a public prosecutor.

[30] Armed robbery with one injury in Perama

Two individuals riding a motorcycle attempted to stop a 23-year-old man who had left a supermarket carrying a bag with cash.

The man reacted and the two perpetrators shot him in the leg, grabbed the bag with the cash and fled. The victim, who according to initial information is an employee of the supermarket, was taken to Nikaia hospital.

Police have launched a manhunt to locate and arrest the robbers.

[31] Wildfire on Rhodes under partial control

However, a strong force of firefighters is in the area to prevent it from spreading. Approximately 250 acres of forestland have been burned.

[32] Wildfire in Langadas region

The blaze is burning scrubland, while farmland and residential areas are not in danger so far. It is being combatted by 28 firemen with backing by 14 vehicles and two firefighting aircraft.

[33] Illegal migrants arrested in Evros

Border police spotted and arrested the traffickers while as they were disembarking the illegals on the Greek coast, and also detained the 13 migrants.

With these arrests, police also averted the illegal entry into Greece of 13 more migrants who were waiting on the opposite Turkish coast for transportation across the river.

Twelve of the illegal migrants detained were from Iraq and two from Syria.

The dinghies were confiscated and traffickers and migrants will be sent before an Orestiada prosecutor.

[34] Two arrested for espionage in Limnos

A check of the videocamera and camera they had with them revealed army camps and other military installations of the island that had been videotaped and photographed.

A file of proceedings was prepared against them and they were brought before a Mytilene prosecutor with the charge of espionage.

The defendants claimed that they worked for the company Bohemia Interactive and that with the photos they took they would "enrich" the graphics of the electronic game "Arma 3" which is taking place in Limnos and Agios Efstratios.

[35] Copper cable thefts interrupt train service in south-central Greece

The theft was reported after last month's vandalism interrupted suburban rail (Proastiakos) service between Kinetta and Agii Theothori, west of Athens proper.

[36] 4.5R quake in Halkidiki

According to the Aristotle University Seismological Station, the quake's epicentre was located in the sea region southeast of Ierissos and 150 km southeast of the city of Thessaloniki.

No damage was reported.

[37] Trial of TIF protesters postponed for Wed.

The defendants face charges of disturbing public peace, resistance to arrest, causing serious material damages and unprovoked physical harm, amongst others.

A group of supporters gathered outside the court building in a show of solidarity to the defendants, without any incidents reported.

Weather forecast

[38] Cloudy on Tuesday

[39] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Public sector a jungle!".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Troika demands layoffs in public sector".

ETHNOS: "The two 'troikas' weigh the measures".

IMERISSIA: "Thriller with the troika that asks for layoffs in public sector- Tough deliberations".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Parties disagree on the new horizontal measures".

TA NEA: "The incomes declared by the 'stars'."

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