Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-04-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: First signs of economic recovery already visible

[02] Greece must focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, Commissioner Hahn says

[03] Greek finmin: 'Nothing finalised until everything's finalised'

[04] Stournaras: 'Negotiations with troika are tough'

[05] No timetable for troika negotiations with Greece, Commission

[06] German FinMin says progress achieved in Greece, as in Ireland

[07] SYRIZA-EKM: 'New measures just as repulsive and criminal'

[08] SYRIZA charges coalition party leaders of 'deceiving citizens' over property tax

[09] KKE calls for rally and action against troika, gov't blackmail

[10] Greek FM Avramopoulos holds talks in Bucharest

[11] SYRIZA-EKM leader Tsipras visits military commands in Larissa, central Greece

[12] 'Cyprus is not alone,' SYRIZA says

[13] Alavanos announces creation of new political formation

[14] Golden Dawn MP expelled from session of Parliament's Lagarde list inquiry

[15] Relations with Cyprus must remain fraternal, Greek Embassy official tells ANA-MPA WebTV

[16] Pros and cons of Cyprus memorandum analysed by Cyprus expert on ANA-MPA WebTV

[17] Decongesting jails hinges on bilateral agreements, minister

[18] General Accounting Office WWI, II archives report 'confidential'

[19] Democrats Abroad Greece elect new Executive Committee

[20] Clause restructuring overseas Greeks bureau to be reintroduced shortly

[21] Gov't to propose Single Tax on real estate in lieu of extraordinary surtax to Troika, sources say

[22] Proposed unified tax will lower average fees by 10-15 pct, spokesman

[23] Greek exports up 109.4 pct in 2004-2012

[24] Piraeus port more than doubled container traffic in last three years

[25] Omnibus bill on port facilities before Parliamentary committee

[26] Parliament passes draft bill on growth and investments

[27] Greece gov't will carefully examine ICIJ report on offshore companies, official says

[28] Tourism minister visiting London

[29] KKE general secretary Papariga meets with Heracles Cement workers in Halkida

[30] Greek economic sentiment index up in March

[31] New hirings surpass dismissals in March, report

[32] Piraeus Bank to hold general shareholders' meeting in April 12

[33] Greece seeks to broaden tax base

[34] Business briefs

[35] Greek stocks recover moderately

[36] Greek bond market closing report

[37] ADEX closing report

[38] Foreign Exchange rates - Friday

[39] Ancient Pella excavations to continue

[40] Athens mayor on moslem places of worship

[41] European Jazz Festival at Technopolis

[42] Raid in Trikala Prison reveals drugs, knives hidden in inmates' cells

[43] More arrests in relation to power company embezzlement case

[44] Athens police to fine negligent pet owners

[45] Court approves extradition of foreign national wanted on international warrant, ruling appealed

[46] Businessman found shot in the head

[47] Three arrested for possession of counterfeit banknotes

[48] Newborn puma and lion cubs steal hearts of Zoo's staff

[49] Piraeus authorities confiscate 867 kg of frozen beef

[50] Rainy on Friday

[51] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] PM: First signs of economic recovery already visible

Addressing the 1st National Development Conference for the programming period 2014-2020, jointly organized by the Development Ministry and the European Commission, Samaras said that the year 2013 is a turning point that will lead to growth, given that the results of the measures taken by the government will begin to be clearly visible in the next quarter and become tangible on the market by the end of the year.

Indeed, Samaras made a specific reference to the fact that in February a positive balance between hirings and layoffs was posted for the first time in many years, which he said was a significant sign of recovery.

On the overall course of the economy, the premier said that Greece is not at risk of finding itself outside the Eurozone, but pointed out that the crisis has traumatized the European vision, especially in the South. "That is why we must change much more, so that the waves of populism will not annul all that has been done to date. We must see Europe as an ally and not as a punisher, and the assistance provided to us by European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn via the 36 billion euros in funds that will flow into the country by 2020 are the response -- to the anti-European voices inside the country -- that Europe is our home," Samaras said.

"I believe that even those who react, hope inside that we will remain in the euro and Europe," he added.

On the mode of operation of public administration, with the focus on absorption of the Community funds and materialization of the projects, the premier said that "the eras of lax rates of the public sector have ended...there is neither room nor justification for allowing any delays because of bureaucracy when you are asking for money from the citizens".

In closing, Samaras said that he has sent dossiers with instructions to all the ministries for actions to coordinate and accelerate efforts aiming at better utilization of the funds.

"We are making the transition from the vicious cycle of recession to the virtuous cycle of growth," Samaras said.

[02] Greece must focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, Commissioner Hahn says

Addressing a conference in Athens on the exploitation of community funds in the period 2014-2020, organized by the Development Ministry and the European Commission, the EU Commissioner said: "The issue is not just how to give money to address an urgent problem, but to emphasize on innovation and entrepreneurship".

Hahn said investments must be channeled to modern technologies of waste management and investments, in energy and tourism, and on culture. "The sun and sea are not enough," he noted, adding that a framework for managing Community funds for the 2014-2020 period would be completed by June. "Money should be given to projects that will change Greece," Hahn said.

The Commissioner said he will meet with Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis to discuss restarting national road projects and predicted that works could begin this month. He said that Greece will receive 16 billion euros in Community funds from a new National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)programme by 2020, another 4.0 billion euros from an Alexandros Baltatzis programme, 15 billion euros in direct farm support and 500 million euros in relief against illegal immigration.

Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis, addressing the same conference, said the planning focused more on entrepreneur-ship, exporting activity, innovation, social cohesion, vocational training, combating unemployment, new technologies and protection of the environment, and less on infrastructure projects. He noted that environmental programmes included waste management and green economy.

Hatzidakis also said the government was drafting a programme to modernize public services and a wider development plan for 'the day after' the memorandum in Greece. He noted that each region will have its own development programme and that national programmes will be fewer..

[03] Greek finmin: 'Nothing finalised until everything's finalised'

"There is still work to do," the minister told reporters after the three-hour-plus meeting with the troika, who are back in Athens to determine whether Greece has met requirements for the next tranche of bailout loans.

Asked whether the meeting had dealt with the troika's rumoured objections to a planned merger between National Bank of Greece and Eurobank, Stournaras replied only that "we talked about everything".

A finance ministry source earlier reported that the full range of economic issues - from public finances to banks and structural reforms - was discussed during the meeting and that arrangements were made for the meetings and negotiations that will take place during the troika's visit.

The Greek side raised the issue of a new method for taxing real estate in the current year, while the troika representatives posed questions about whether the measure would raise the necessary amount.

The government is hoping to secure disbursement of the remainder of last December's tranche, amounting to 2.8 billion euro, which is conditional on meeting requirements relating to mobility in the public sector, in addition to the tranche for the 1st quarter of 2013, amounting to 6 billion euros.

The latter will depend on agreement between the two sides on the progress of privatisations, the course of tax revenues, the settlement of overdue debts in taxes and social insurance contributions and bank recapitalisation.

The government hopes that the talks will be wrapped up by April 15, so that disbursement of the next tranche of bailout loans can be approved by the emergency Eurogroup at the end of the month.

[04] Stournaras: 'Negotiations with troika are tough'

Speaking during a book presentation at a central Athens hotel, the minister stressed that the current round of talks with Greece's troika of international lenders (EC-ECB-IMF), on the disbursement of the next tranche of the rescue loan "remain tough".

In the wake of Wednesday's meeting between the three party leaders of the coalition government on the special property levy, the minister said "the three-party government, in spite of the difficulties, passed its 'child illnesses'. Yesterday, the three political leaders rose to the occasion. They showed self-knowledge and political realism."

Referring to developments in the economy in general, Stournaras said "the markets' stance toward Greece has changed and is changing. No-one speaks of an exit from the euro anymore. We have now covered two-thirds of the way that is necessary for fiscal consolidation and three-fourths of the path for the restoration of competitiveness. Meaning, we have covered the biggest distance. Of course, just like in every marathon, the last kilometres are more difficult because the runner is tired."

[05] No timetable for troika negotiations with Greece, Commission

The troika of lenders is under no timetable for negotiations with Greece, European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly said in Brussels Thursday.

The EU, ECB and IMF representatives are in Greece to review progress on the country's loan agreement terms before releasing the next tranche.

"In such missions, there are no specific timetables because we all know that one needs time for negotiations to be completed," he said, while declining to go into details about the issues under negotiation between Greece and the troika.

[06] German FinMin says progress achieved in Greece, as in Ireland

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Thursday that efforts are being made so that Greece "may exit the very difficult position it is currently in", as the country is burdened by a large debt.

Speaking after the conclusion of a lecture on the theme "The French-German duo: Starting point for a federal status in Europe?", held at the French National Public Administration School of Strasbourg, which was also addressed by French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici, Schaeuble noted "although the end of the tunnel has not yet appeared, progress has been achieved in Greece, as it has in Ireland."

Schaeuble briefly referred to negotiations with Cyprus on a rescue deal with Europe and the IMF.

On his part, Moscovici expressed the conviction that "the programmes for Cyprus and for Greece were necessary", to enable them to exit the crisis.

He added that "growth in these countries could also be based on the energy sector," and focusing his interest on the case of Cyprus he noted that "the business model" of Cyprus could not be considered an advantage, since the structure of its banking system contained elements which may be risky for the Eurozone.

The French minister also replied to an address by Italian representative of the "Jeunes Europ?ens" with regard to the rise of extreme political parties in Europe, such as the Golden Dawn (Chyssi Avghi) in Greece and V. Orban in Hungary. Moscovici said the "Golden Dawn is a nazi and anti-Semitic party", and spoke of "intolerable people". He said Europe should adopt a joint position on extreme parties.

[07] SYRIZA-EKM: 'New measures just as repulsive and criminal'

It also accused the three-party government of thinking it could fool the Greek people with promises to 'draw a line in the sand' one day, followed by blackmail about whether Greece will get the next tranche of bailout loans and assurances that all was being done for the sake of the country's exit from the crisis.

According to SYRIZA-EKM, the members of the government "do not care that they leave behind them social and economic ruins, millions of unemployed and poor and a country levelled by the increasingly barbaric memorandum policies".

"There is not other way apart from that of resistance and the unifying struggles of the Greek people. Only [the Greek people] can stop them, putting an end to the disaster," the announcement concluded.

[08] SYRIZA charges coalition party leaders of 'deceiving citizens' over property tax

"They incorporated an emergency tax into the unified tax and are continuing its collection in the same extortionist manner, through the Public Power Corporation (DEI) bills," Skourletis said to public tv station NET. He also said "the government is fully subjugated to the troika" of lenders and accused the party leaders in the coalition of "negotiating only one thing, how to divide government [power] amongst themselves."

[09] KKE calls for rally and action against troika, gov't blackmail

"A shield of solidarity must be formed to stop the foreclosures," the KKE said in an announcement on the coalition government party leaders' agreement on the real estate tax and the deliberations with the EC, ECB, IMF troika heads, adding that the people should "not be intimidated by the threats regarding the debts".

"This should be the response to the government's and troika's blackmail and mockery," noted the KKE, adding that the people should have no confidence in the parties that promise a people-friendly negotiation, in whatever format, within the EU and with the monopolies untouched".

[10] Greek FM Avramopoulos holds talks in Bucharest

Addressing a joint press conference with Corlatean, Avramopoulos said their talks focused on bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in the political, economic and cultural sectors. Talks also included regional and European issues of common interest and the incorporation of Western Balkans in European and Euroatlantic institutions, he added.

"A European prospect constitutes the safe catalyst for the implementation of reforms. And for this reason the steadfast European prospect of all our neighbours in Southeastern Europe is in the common benefit of Greece and Romania," Avramo-poulos said.

"This naturally means," he added, "that all in the region must respect the principle of good neighbourliness and work for the resolution of pending issues. It also means that it should be made clear to the region's leaders that extremism, nationalism and xenophobia have no place here. This is inconceivable today in the big European family."

Avramopoulos noted that his talks with Corlatean also touched on the current economic crisis in Europe and the ways employed by the EU and the Eurogroup to tackle it. "Greece is determined to go ahead in implementing structural reforms and fiscal adjustment...the Greek people are going through tremendous sacrifices, but their efforts are yielding results that are recognised by all," Avramopoulos underlined.

The Greek foreign minister also briefed his Romanian counterpart on Greece's preparation to assume, in the first half of 2014, the EU's six-month rotating presidency, as well as its priorities.

"During our talks today, it was confirmed that our countries, which are partners and allies in the EU and Nato, share common views on important international, European and regional issues," Avramopoulos added.

On his part, Romanian Foreign Minister Corlatean said that talks on bilateral issues were constructive. "We have clearly proved that we will continue at a fast pace political contacts at a high level between our countries and of course on a Foreign Ministers' level," he added.

Referring to economic and trade relations between Romania and Greece, Corlatean said that Greece is the sixth important trade partner and foreign investor in Romania. Trade transactions between the two countries reached 1.116 billion euros in 2012, he said.

The Romanian minister also expressed his government's gratitude towards Greece for its steadfast support to Romania's accession to the Schengen Treaty.

[11] SYRIZA-EKM leader Tsipras visits military commands in Larissa, central Greece

During his visit to the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command and 110 Combat Wing in Larissa, Tsipras underlined that "only during war has the country experienced a similar decline in living standards and the insult to the core of our national sovereignty attempted by our lenders."

Tsipras was received by Defence Minister Panos Panagioto-poulos.

The SYRIZA leader stressed that "we should realize that we are going through a very crucial historic period characterized by geopolitical changes in the greater region," adding that "our lenders cannot have a say in the drawing up our country's defence planning".

Referring to wage cuts for military personnel, he said that SYRIZA wishes to put an end to indiscriminate wage reductions, adding that the armed forces' will have to be reorganized to ensure lower operating cost without jeopardizing their effectiveness.

Tsipras also praised the armed forces deterrent ability and the high level of readiness.

In a later press release, Panagiotopoulos said that Tsipras had been welcomed by the leadership of the Air Force and himself and stressed that the armed forces must remain the "primary area that unites the entire nation, all the Greek people, all the political forces," stressing that Greece must above all preserve its national and social cohesion in this difficult time.

[12] 'Cyprus is not alone,' SYRIZA says

In a written statement issued by the party, titled "Cyprus is not alone", the political conclusion drawn by SYRIZA on the latest developments in Cyprus is that the EU is following a harsh austerity policy, ripping apart the few existing social rights and expropriating sovereign rights.

The people of Cyprus, adds SYRIZA, and the country itself, are regarded a guinea pig for this strategy, and it is clear that the decisions of the Eurogroup are of a punitive nature.

As such, SYRIZA believes, these decisions are aimed at serving as a deterrent to the adoption of alternative radical policies.

[13] Alavanos announces creation of new political formation

Alavanos criticised both the government and the main opposition party SYRIZA, stressing that they constitute the two versions of "Plan A". He said that "the government's conception that the completion of the memorandum is leading to growth is baseless, with the dissolution of the Cypriot economy" and "the conception of the main opposition party that 'the memorandum will be abolished in the eurozone' has totally collapsed, given the tool of the discontinuation of liquidity in euros by the European Central Bank".

"We call on the people to confront the two versions of Plan A with a liberating Plan B," Alavanos said, claiming that "withdrawal from the euro is an essential precondition for salvation and recovery".

The new political formation's inaugural assembly is scheduled to take place in Athens on May 18-19. As Alavanos pointed out "Plan B" will be "present" in the next elections, either autonomously or in the framework of some cooperation.

[14] Golden Dawn MP expelled from session of Parliament's Lagarde list inquiry

Committee chairman Christos Markogiannakis expelled Kasidiaris after the latter called Venizelos "ridiculous and fat."

The MP's actions were later roundly condemned by PASOK and the Democratic Left (DIM.AR), the two junior members of Greece's three-party coalition government, who accused him of "fascist attacks".

Three PASOK MPs (Apostolos Kaklamanis, Leonidas Grigorakos and Ioannis Maniatis) later officially requested an emergency meeting of the Parliament presidium in order to discuss the stance of the ultra-right-wing nationalists Golden Dawn in the Parliamentary inquiry, in a letter sent to Parliament President Evangelos Meimarakis.

Democratic Left (DIM.AR) Parliamentary spokesman Vassilis Economou, also on the same committee, described his behaviour as "undemocratic, sordid and vile, an outcome of his Nazi ideology," and said that Kasidiaris had no interest in uncovering the facts concerning the Lagarde list case but only in promoting his "anti-democratic and fascist beliefs" through so-called "outbursts" that concealed the truth and made a mockery of institutions.

Golden Dawn, for its part, later announced its intention to table a censure motion against Markogiannakis. The announcement was made by the party's spokesman Christos Pappas before the Parliament plenum, provoking an incensed reaction from ND MP Adonis Georgiadis. The censure motion accuses Markogiannakis of preventing Kasidiaris from posing questions to Venizelos; according to Georgiadis, the MP had neither spoken nor posed questions but simply hurled verbal abuse at Venizelos and other members of the committee, before throwing a glass and breaking a microphone.

"This was the reason why the committee imposed the specific penalties and condemned this behaviour. All this is recorded in the minutes," Georgiadis added.

In another episode during the morning's stormy session of the committee, Venizelos also reportedly clashed with main opposition SYRIZA-EKM MP Zoi Constantopoulou, in what quickly devolved into an exchange of insults.

In statements to reporters, Constantopoulou later asserted that there was a systematic effort from the start of the session to prevent questions that would put Venizelos in a difficult position.

"From 10:30 until 12:30 we had only outbursts, explosions and arguments," she said, while accusing Venizelos of repeatedly refusing to reply to key questions, relating to his public statements and the precise route taken by the controversial USB flash drive and printouts once they came into his possession.

Among others, she pointed out that PASOK's leader had for the first time changed the date and time that he claimed to have sought the USB, after speaking to the former head of the SDOE financial crimes squad Ioannis Diotis on the telephone on October 1, 2012.

"They frittered away the time so that I could not pose questions, since they knew that I could not attend the committee this afternoon," she said.

Venizelos' testimony before the committee, interrupted due to the incident with Kasidiaris, is scheduled to resume on Thursday evening.

[15] Relations with Cyprus must remain fraternal, Greek Embassy official tells ANA-MPA WebTV

The purchase of Greek government bonds by Cypriot banks entailed some risk, the head of the economic and trade affairs office of the Greek Embassy in Nicosia Vassilis Skronias said in an ANA-MPA WebTV interview on Thursday.

Skronias countered the accusations levelled against Greece regardings its role in the island republic's economic crisis and stressed that relations between Greece and Cyprus must remain fraternal. He was pessimistic, however, about the prospects of the roughly 60,000 Greeks currently living and working on Cyprus, as well as for bilateral relations in trade and finance.

Commenting on the Eurogroup's decision, he suggested the aim was to shrink the island's banking sector and predicted that Luxembourg and Malta would be next in line.

Regarding Cyprus' future development, Skronias said the island's hope lay in exploiting the hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone.

[16] Pros and cons of Cyprus memorandum analysed by Cyprus expert on ANA-MPA WebTV

Among the positive aspects of the agreement, Zenios listed the effort to rebuild the island's banking sector. Even more important, in his opinion, was the effort to put the island republic's public finances in order and bring about improvements in the broader public sector, in line with a "general philosophy in modern states that citizens must be share responsibility for their states".

The most significant negative aspect, in his view, was the sudden and violent way in which the correction in the banking system occurred.

Dr. Zenios is known internationally for his work in computational finance and financial services, high-performance and parallel computations, and operations research. In his career he authored two books, edited twelve books and journal issues, and (co)authored over 130 scholarly articles in some of the premier journals in the field. One of his books was even translated into Chinese in 2005.

His interview with ANA-MPA WebTV can be found in full at the website http://www.amna.gr

[17] Decongesting jails hinges on bilateral agreements, minister

Responding to a question by PASOK Deputy Apostolos Kaklamanis, who asked that bilateral agreements include clauses allowing convicts to complete their jail sentences in their countries of origin, Karagounis said, "There are such bilateral agreements, but according to their clauses you cannot return anyone without the detainee's consent." Other countries have refused to change the agreements with Greece, he added, while detainees have declined to give their consent to be repatriated.

"During the tenure of Haris Kastanidis as justice minister," Karagounis said, "Greece proposed building jails in Albania with Greek funds, but it was refused." The offer has been reintroduced by Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos to his counterpart and the neighbouring country's president, but has been declined again.

Kaklamanis said the congestion of jails is a "megaton bomb", and called on the prime minister to deal with the issue personally, as it raises security and social stability issues as well as human rights issues for detainees held in crowded jails.

[18] General Accounting Office WWI, II archives report 'confidential'

In a letter to parliament presented on Thursday, Alternate Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said the report had been delivered by the deadline, the first week of March, to the Foreign Ministry, as law requires, and that he also had a copy.

The working group has collected, codified, recorded, classified and digitised the large historic archive - 761 archival volumes - for the first time, and the originals are at the GAO building.

Staikouras was replying to a question by Independent Greeks Deputy Notis Marias, on "the legal and related actions to collect from Germany the war reparations and loan made by force which amounts to 162 billion euros, exclusive of interest."

The working group was initiated in April 2012 by the former government under finance minister Filippos Sahinidis.

[19] Democrats Abroad Greece elect new Executive Committee

Former US Consul General in Thessaloniki Alec Mally committed to providing his full support to the Chapters to inform and expand their membership, and stated: "Our Country Committee currently suffers many of the same issues that plague our host country; we see it most acutely in the 'hollowing out' of the American community in Greece as employment opportunities disappear. This requires us to focus this next term on reinforcing our existing Athens and Thessaloniki chapters while exploring expansion into underserved areas where American communities are found."

The full Executive Committee is as follows:

Chair: Alec Mally (Florida)

Vice Chair: Arleen Zafirakis-Komninou (New York)

Secretary: Meg Matsaganis (Massachusetts)

Treasurer: John A. Bacalis, MBA, CPA (New York)

Counsel: Alexandra Jelkes (Georgia)

At-Large members (representing the rest of Greece):

Amalia Kalogridakis-Lagoudakis (New Jersey)

Karen Lee (Ohio)

The Athens Chapter elected new officers:

Chair: Steven M. Medeiros (Massachusetts)

Representative: John Lewis (Massachusetts)

Outgoing DAGR Chair, Yvette Jarvis, presently visiting family in Colorado, addressed the meeting via Skype and expressed her appreciation to those who worked side-by-side with her since 2010.

The Greece Country Committee of Democrats Abroad is the official representative of the U.S. Democratic Party in Greece. DAGR has helped thousands of Americans register to vote, and organized many functions to educate votersand build a sense of community among like-minded Americans resident in Greece. Membership is free and open to all American citizens who share our ideals. To join, please click JOIN at www.democratsabroad.org or contact Secretary Meg Matsaganis at demsabroadgreece@gmail.com or call 210 6106 488

[20] Clause restructuring overseas Greeks bureau to be reintroduced shortly

The regulation was originally tabled in a bill setting up an office to facilitate Greece's assumption of the rotating presidency of the EU in the first half of 2014 currently in Parliament. Tsiaras said the regulation would be reintroduced in the draft bill on the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), expected to be tabled shortly.

Financial News

[21] Gov't to propose Single Tax on real estate in lieu of extraordinary surtax to Troika, sources say

The sources said that the coalition leaders were briefed on all the outstanding matters, adding that "there will be a uniform proposal on everything that was jointly agreed" by the coalition government leaders.

Specifically concerning the extraordinary real estate surtax (Extraordinary Levy on Electricity-Supplied Surfaces/EE-THDE), which is collected via PPC electricity bills, the sources noted that the proposal to be discussed with the troika is to rename it as the Single Tax (on real estate), with a reduced rate. The new rate will incur a loss of 10-15 percent to state revenues in relation to the EETHDE.

The loss in revenues is estimated at 200 million euros and will be made up for in three ways: