Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-04-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Samaras briefed on infrastructure projects in the Peloponnese

[02] PM: Government stronger after ratification of omnibus bill

[03] Eurozone states approved 2.8-billion-euro disbursement to Greece, sources say

[04] Task Force for Greece presents 4th quarterly report, sees 'steady progress'

[05] SYRIZA-EKM says government's hidden agenda is revealed

[06] PASOK satisfied with the approval of its clause against unemployment

[07] Gov't spokesman: No reshuffle in the horizon

[08] Immediate transfer of 1,891 administrative employees

[09] PASOK amendment another blow to minimum wage, KKE says

[10] Unions urge large turnout for Labour Day rallies; Athens rally in Klafthmonos Square

[11] Public transport strikes and work stoppages planned for Labour Day

[12] Seamen on 24-hour strike on Wednesday

[13] Deputy FM holds talks with Russian official

[14] Deputy Finance Minister Mavraganis addresses conference in Helsinki on tax-evasion

[15] Health minister chairs meeting on accident response on holidays, peak travel days

[16] Theodoros Ambatzoglou new OAED governor

[17] Former DI.SY cadres return to ND

[18] Opinion poll gives ND marginal lead over SYRIZA

[19] Greek state overdue debt to private sector down in March

[20] Greek PPI down 1.5 pct in March

[21] Four investment groups express interest in privatization of Thessaloniki Water

[22] National Bank CEO confident ahead of share capital increase plan

[23] Alpha Trust Andromeda reports losses in Q1

[24] Coca Cola HBC begins triple listing in UK, Greek and US markets

[25] Frigoglass reports lower Q1 results

[26] Greek stocks end 2.08 pct higher

[27] Greek bond market closing report

[28] ADEX closing report

[29] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

[30] Freighters collide, 2 dead, 8 missing

[31] City of Athens removes 25 tonnes of toxic waste from Votanikos area

[32] Car containing dead body found in Neda River gorge

[33] Fair on Tuesday

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

[01] PM Samaras briefed on infrastructure projects in the Peloponnese

Tatoulis informed the prime minister on the initiatives undertaken by the regional authority in order to set up an Institute of Research and Innovation, to shape policy for solid waste management, poliyc for tourism development and to help investments in primary production, through the creation of livestock breeding parks.

The prime minister was also briefed on the Peloponnese Entrepreneurship Fund, which aims to support small and medium-sized businesses of the region.

A second meeting with Tatoulis, with the participation of the appropriate ministers, is to be arranged in the next few days.

[02] PM: Government stronger after ratification of omnibus bill

The omnibus bill was passed with 168 votes for, 123 against, one present but not voting, late on Sunday night. A total of 292 deputies voted.

[03] Eurozone states approved 2.8-billion-euro disbursement to Greece, sources say

Eurozone member-states have approved the disbursement of 2.8 billion euros in bailout funds for Greece, according to a statement by well-informed sources in Brussels on Monday.

The same sources said that the disbursement of the next tranche of bailout loans, amounting to 4.3 billion euros, will be decided at the Eurogroup meeting on the Monday after next.

That amount represents the sums to be contributed by Eurozone member states, to which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) contribution of 1.7 billion euros will be added for the full sum of 6.0 billion euros due to be loaned to Greece.

[04] Task Force for Greece presents 4th quarterly report, sees 'steady progress'

The head of the European Commission Task Force for Greece (TFGR) Horst Reichenbach on Monday said there has been steady progress in efforts to help Greece carry out reforms and maximise its use of available Community funding, while presenting the TFGR's fourth quarterly progress report on technical assistance to Greece in Brussels.

The report describes the assistance provided by the Task Force, the EU member-states, international organisations and other specialist bodies to support Greece in the implementation of a comprehensive programme of reforms.

It said that notable progress has been made in areas such as reforming central administration, through a review of the organisation of Greek ministries, in concession agreements for the construction and improvement of motorways, facilitating exports through simplified legislation and new structures allowing an out-of-court settlement of disputes through arbitration.

In comments after the TFGR report was approved, European Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs Olli Rehn said that the Task Force plays an important role in supporting Greece during the implementation of the very demanding processs of deep structural reforms.

He noted that the reforms were necessary to make Greece's economy more competitive and capable of generating sustainable growth and employment, stressing the need to keep up the pace of reforms, combined with the commitment and determination show in recent months by Greek authorities and the Greek people.

Politics

[05] SYRIZA-EKM says government's hidden agenda is revealed

"The government repeated the same blackmail threats made thousands of times before against the Greek people, and paved the way for even tougher memorandum policy measures that lead nowhere," SYRIZA-EKM said, noting that "the legislative procedure used has trivialized and downgraded the Parliament".

According to SYRIZA, "the government's hidden agenda of more lay-offs, taxes, wage and pension cuts, was exposed completely in the debate ahead of the omnibus bill vote".

The statement underlined that "the clauses sponsored by (Administrative Reform Minister Antonis) Manitakis, abolishing the temporary court protection of employees and by (Labour Minister Yiannis) Vroutsis, cutting the (Self-employed Professionals Insurance Organization) OAEE pensions, that were withdrawn only to be reintroduced at a later time; as well as, (PASOK leader Evangelos) Venizelos' clause on the hiring of the unemployed, constitute the memorandum canvas on which the government talent will unfold over the next months, utterly razing all rights and conquests of the Greek people."

SYRIZA accused the prime minister of hiding from the Greek Parliament, in panic and completely unable to justify the catastrophic impact of the memorandum, which he was insisting that he would renegotiate.

"There is no room to continue on the same catastrophic path of the memorandums. The memorandum is incompatible with economic growth, investments and the social state, and as such it should become a thing of the past, together with its supporters," the SYRIZA statement concluded.

[06] PASOK satisfied with the approval of its clause against unemployment

A statement issued by its press office noted that the importance of the specific intervention is highlighted by the reactions of main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA-EKM) and opposition Communist party (KKE), underlining that both political parties react because they realize the importance of the new programme and the approval it has from society.

According to the statement, those who speak about minimum wage reduction falsify the truth with purposeful lies, noting that numbers give a clear answer.

PASOK underlined that the enacted minimum gross wage for employees over the age of 25 is 586.8 euros.

The minimum net wage is at 490 euros after the social insurance deductions, PASOK clarified, adding that the wage for employees under the age of 25 is calculated in an similar manner, while the procedure is supervised and inspected by the civil service staff selection agency ASEP.

[07] Gov't spokesman: No reshuffle in the horizon

Speaking to private radio RealFM, Kedikoglou said, "I am not the one to give you such information. I know that at this time the government's urgent priorities are to implement the relief measures."

Asked about the issues of German reparations and the WWII loan to Germany, he said that "a process is under way that at this phase is purely legal. We must be prepared in the best possible way."

[08] Immediate transfer of 1,891 administrative employees

The list was finalized after the civil service staff selection agency ASEP assessed the objections filed by staff on suspension, refusing to be moved to other posts.

According to the administrative reform ministry, the next and final step will be the issue of a transfer announcement by the minister, expected to take place immediately and its publication in the Government Gazette. Employees who fail to show up to their new posts will be fired.

[09] PASOK amendment another blow to minimum wage, KKE says

"On the pretext of tackling unemployment, the government passed an amendment that allows the unemployed to be hired for public programmes and be paid less than the current, already pitiful minimum wage. In other words, by up to 490 euros gross a month, or 427 euros for young people under 25, and with a daily wage of 19.6 euros and 17.1 euros and self-insurance," the announcement said.

According to KKE, the amendment also 'opened the way' for extending such programmes to all public-sector services. The move confirmed KKE's estimate that the aim of the public-sector lay-offs was the "root out permanent jobs with rights and replace employees with others that are cheaper and have no rights," it added.

It was also combined with new privileges for big capital and a further reduction of employer contributions to social insurance funds, further exacerbating their financial difficulties and possibly allowing a new strike against the pension system on the grounds of its poor finances, the party said.

[10] Unions urge large turnout for Labour Day rallies; Athens rally in Klafthmonos Square

The umbrella trade union group General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE), representing the majority of Greece's private-sector workers, and the civil servants' union federation ADEDY issued announcements demanding effective action against unemployment, the signature of collective labour agreements and restoration of labour laws abolished under the terms of bailout loan agreements, as well as action to end austerity and fight uninsured 'black' labour.

The GSEE, ADEDY and Athens Labour Centre rally will be held at Klafthmonos Square at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

[11] Public transport strikes and work stoppages planned for Labour Day

Unlike shops and many businesses, which have opted to transfer the Labour Day holiday to the Tuesday after Easter, several public transport unions will participate in the 24-hour strike declared on May 1 by the country's largest umbrella trade union organisations, the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) and the civil servants' union federation ADEDY.

The trains of the Athens metro and electric railway will not be running from the start of the shift until 9:00 a.m. and all trains will terminate at Doukissis Plakentias station, with no trains running to the airport.

Buses and trolleys in the capital will not be running from the start of the shift until 9:00 a.m. and from 9:00 p.m. until the end of the shift.

In Thessaloniki, city buses will not be running from the start of the shift until 9:00 a.m. and from 9:00 p.m. until the end of the shift on May 1, participating in the strike mobilizations called by GSEE.

The country's entire railway network, including the Proastiakos railway serving the airport, will be at a standstill throughout the day. The strike will also affect some train services on the previous and following days that cannot be completed before the strike begins.

Cancellations on Tuesday include the 500 and 501 trains between Athens and Thessaloniki, the 1686 from Alexandrou-polis to Dikaia, the 743 and IC 85 between Thessaloniki, Edessa and Florina, the 3593 and 3592 from Larisa to Thessaloniki and the 2576 and 2577 from Larisa to Volos.

The 500 and 501 that depart after the end of Wednesday's strike for Athens and Thessaloniki will not have car-transportation carriages, while the Thursday 1681 service (Alexandroupolis-Dikaia) and IC 82 service (Thessaloniki-Florina) are also canceled.

No passenger and goods trains will run on Wednesday with the exception of trains serving tourist sites on the Olympia-Pyrgos-Katakolo line and from A. Lehonia-Milies line.

Also on strike throughout the day are Greek ferries and all shipping, due to strike action announced by the seamen's union federation PNO.

[12] Seamen on 24-hour strike on Wednesday

Passenger ships will stay in dock from 01:00 a.m. on Holy Tuesday, April 30 until midnight on Holy Wednesday May 1.

The industrial action called by the Panhellenic Seamen's Union PNO was decided in the context of mobilizations against the omnibus bill sponsored by the ministry of shipping & Aegean passed in parliament last week. According to PNO, the omnibus bill destroys the existing legal framework for employment on ferries.

Passengers set to travel on Wednesday are advised by the members of the coastal shipping companies' association SEEN to contact their travel agents.

Industrial action has been called for May 1 and 2 by the towboat crews at Corinth Canal protesting against the decision of the finance ministry-supervised managing company operating it, to incorporate them in the uniform public sector wage scale.

According to the strikers, the decision does not take under consideration the fact that they are seamen and are paid based on the collective work contracts signed by their union PNO.

The Corinth Canal in the Peloponnese connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.

[13] Deputy FM holds talks with Russian official

The excellent climate in bilateral relations between Greece and Russia was confirmed during the meeting and the possibilities of further strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries were discussed.

[14] Deputy Finance Minister Mavraganis addresses conference in Helsinki on tax-evasion

Mavraganis underlined the initiatives introduced by the Greek government in this direction, noting that countries are deprived of necessary resources and social justice is affected negatively for as long as such practices continue.

Addressing the conference, Mavraganis said that the EU and international organizations, like the OECD and the G20, should promote the strengthening of administrative cooperation through information exchange, adopt a joint EU strategy as regards third countries on issues of taxation agreements and locate offshore companies through information exchange and coordinated action.

On the sidelines of the conference, Mavraganis discussed taxation issues with European Commissioner Algirdas Semeta responsible for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud. Later in the afternoon, he will meet with Finnish Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen.

[15] Health minister chairs meeting on accident response on holidays, peak travel days

The meeting was held at the National Centre for Health Operations (EKEPY), with the participation of officials from the health ministry, the EKAB ambulance service, the National Organisation for the Provision of Healthcare Services (EOPYY) and the national traffic police headquarters.

After the meeting, Lykourentzos expressed satisfaction with the system's readiness and with the substantial reduction in road accidents seen in 2012, which fell to 15,235 in that year from 16,841 in 2011.

The minister noted that the traffic police, ambulance service and EKEPY had all issued advice to motorists to help avoid accidents.

Asked about the need to renew the country's fleet of ambulances, Lykourentzos said: "It is a significant challenge for our country to achieve the renewal of EKAB's fleet of ambulances to a percentage exceeding 50 percent of their current availability, using the funds of the 4th programme period."

In order for this to be achieved, however, the health ministry must step up its activity and the companies participating in the relevant tenders must avoid initiating court action over the slightest cause and thus delaying or cancelling tenders, the minister added.

The ambulance service has taken emergency measures to cover the entire national road network over the Easter holiday, with the deployment of mobile emergency pre-hospital care units and ambulances at selected locations along the network. EKAB has also appealed to the public to ensure that they only call the 166 emergency line for real emergencies.

Road accidents currently rank third as a cause of death after circulatory diseases and tumours in the EU, with 1.3 million traffic accidents leading to 43,000 deaths and 1.7 million injuries a year.

[16] Theodoros Ambatzoglou new OAED governor

Ambatzoglou is succeeding outgoing Ilias Kikilias.

[17] Former DI.SY cadres return to ND

Petros Androulakis, Stella Vassiloglou, Giorgos Lefopoulos, who served as DISY Prefectural Committee head, and Asterios Tsoukalas member of the DISY Temporary Administrative Committee in Thessalonki, met with local ND Administrative Committee President Minas Samantzidis making their return to ND official.

[18] Opinion poll gives ND marginal lead over SYRIZA

According to the poll results, ND was leading with 20.5 percent, followed by SYRIZA with 19.9 percent, ultra-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) with 9.3 percent, PASOK with 5.5 percent, Independent Greeks with 5 percent, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 4.9 percent and Democratic Left (DIMAR) with 3.7 percent, while 5.2 percent of the respondents expressed support for other parties.

In response to who would be most suitable for prime minister, current Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (and ND leader) was preferred by 35 percent of the respondents, followed by SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras with 21 percent, while 44 percent said neither of the two.

The geographic coverage of the opinion poll was nationwide and was conducted between 23 and 26 April 2013.

Financial News

[19] Greek state overdue debt to private sector down in March

Finance Alternate Minister Christos Staikouras, presenting the report, said that pending tax returns fell to their lowest levels since the start of the year, reflecting an improving repayment of tax returns to the private sector.

Social insurance funds' overdue debt to the private sector totaled 4.098 billion euros in March, down from 4.295 billion euros in February, state hospitals' debt fell to 1.902 billion from 2.012 billion euros, local governments' debt rose to 1.039 billion euros in March from 1.018 billion in February and government ministries' debt eased to 523 million euros from 538 million euros over the same periods, respectively.

"The government's cash figures for March offer quantitive evidence showing a satisfactory trend of public finances in the first quarter of 2013," Staikouras said.

The figures showed that the state cash budget recorded a primary surplus of 970 million euros in the January-March period, while the government has earmarked 1.7 billion euros in repayment of the state's overdue debt to the private sector.

[20] Greek PPI down 1.5 pct in March

The statistics service, in a report, attributed this development to an 1.3 pct decline in the domestic market index and a 2.4 pct fall in the external market index. The producer's price index fell 1.1 pct in March from February.

[21] Four investment groups express interest in privatization of Thessaloniki Water

According to sources close to EYATH, the four investment groups are: the French group Suez Environment (jointly with Aktor of Ellaktor Group), GEK (in a consortium with Greek businessman Apostolopoulos owner of Athens Medical Group and the Israeli water utility), Ivan Savvidis and the "136 movement" (a citizens' initiative).

A statement by Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund said that the privatization advisors will evaluate all four expressions of interest and will advise on the next stage of the tender, which envisages submission of binding bids by candidates.

[22] National Bank CEO confident ahead of share capital increase plan

Addressing a general shareholders' meeting, the Greek banker said: "With the reassurances and message we have so far we believe that we will achieve this goal," adding that hundreds of thousands of traditional and new shareholders were joining their forces in this effort. He also stressed bank clients, individual depositors, large investors along with the bank's workers and pensioners were also participating in this effort.

Tourkolias, in his address said that National Bank's shareholders will be asked to reach a decision "over a National Bank as we all want it: independent, very shareholding, in private hands, healthy, fortified against any risk, dynamic, innovative and the main growth tool for the economy and prosperity of the nation".

"I am not asking you to participate in an endeavor with idealistic content. National Bank has multiple comparative advantages which distinguished the bank from other credit institutions in the country, advantages which will become the basis of its future recovery and will allow it to play its traditional role as a main source of funding and growth in the Greek economy," Tourkolias said. Commenting on the Greek economy, in general, the Greek banker said its basic weaknesses have been largely corrected and noted that reduced uncertainty and gradual restoring of the country's credibility paved the way for incoming investments. "Early signs of a Greek economic stabilization could be visible even during the currenty year," Tourkolias said.

He noted there were encouraging signs of stabilization in the growth rate of bad loans in the first months of 2013, compared with the corresponding period last year.

[23] Alpha Trust Andromeda reports losses in Q1

[24] Coca Cola HBC begins triple listing in UK, Greek and US markets

Under the plan, the company will list 355,023,939 common nominal shares, worth 6.7 Swiss france each, in the premium market of the UK Listing Authority to be traded in the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

The same number of shares will be secondarily listed in teh main market of the Athens Stock Exchange, while its American Depository Receipts, each one representing a common share of Coca Cola HBC, will begin trading in the New York Stock Exchange.

[25] Frigoglass reports lower Q1 results

Net profits totaled 3.6 million euros, a decline of 53.3 pct compared with the first quarter of 2012.

EBITDA fell 16.7 pct to 20.3 million euros, while pre-tax earnings fell 31.4 pct to 7.3 million euros.

[26] Greek stocks end 2.08 pct higher

Turnover, however, remained a low 59.44 million euros. The Big Cap index rose 1.27 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 2.02 pct lower. The Food (13.36 pct) and Telecoms (1.09 pct) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Banks (4.30 pct), Commerce (2.45 pct) and Utilities (2.20 pct) suffered the heaviest losses.

Coca Cola HBC (13.53 pct), National Bank (2.08 pct) and Hellenic Petroleum (1.12 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Piraeus Bank (14.18 pct), Alpha Bank (9.09 pct) and Frigoglass (3.80 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 84 to 53 with another 24 issues unchanged. Fieratex (29.01 pct), Pegasus (20 pct) and Sato (19.44 pct) were top gainers, while Athina (19.18 pct), Spider (18.0 pct) and Nutriart (17.65 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials: -2.21%

Commercial: -2.45%

Construction: -2.16%

Oil & Gas: +0.69%

Personal & Household: -1.61%

Raw Materials: -2.13%

Travel & Leisure: -0.25%

Technology: -0.93%

Telecoms: +1.09%

Banks: -4.30%

Food & Beverages: +13.36%

Health: -0.95%

Utilities: -2.20%

Financial Services: -2.18%

The stocks with the highest turnover were OTE, National Bank, Bank of Piraeus, Alpha Bank and PPC.

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

Alpha Bank: 1.10

Public Power Corp (PPC): 6.99

Coca-Cola 20.89

Hellenic Petroleum: 8.12

National Bank of Greece: 0.79

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.23

OPAP: 6.88

OTE: 6.50

Bank of Piraeus: 0.23

Titan: 13.85

[27] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates continued moving lower. The 12-month rate fell to 0.51 pct, the nine-month rate eased to 0.41 pct, the six-month rate was 0.32 pct, the three-month rate was 0.20 pct and the one-month rate was 0.12 pct.

[28] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 37,410 contracts worth 5.359 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (21,719), followed by Piraeus Bank (9,054), Eurobank (747), OTE (2,525), PPC (1,524), OPAP (289), Mytilineos (212), GEK (589), Frigoglass (106), MIG (162), OPAP (289) and Sidenor (64).

[29] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

U.S. dollar 1.331

Pound sterling 0.856

Danish kroner 7.568

Swedish kroner 8.678

Japanese yen 130.19

Swiss franc 1.246

Norwegian kroner 7.723

Canadian dollar 1.349

Australian dollar 1.286

General News

[30] Freighters collide, 2 dead, 8 missing

The Antigua-Barbuda -flagged freigther "Consouth" with 16 member crew (5 Russians, 10 Polish and one Philippino national) collided under inidentified conditions with Cook Islands - flagged freighter "Piri Reis" with 17 member crew, all from Syria.

A huge rescue operation is underway in the area including a C-130 military aircraft, a helicopter, four ships and coast guards vessels.

"Piri Reis" had sailed from Algeria loaded with fertiliser destined for Ukraine. According to initial information the freighter sank within seven minutes.

"Consouth" freighter was void of cargo and had left from Turkey with destination Malta.

[31] City of Athens removes 25 tonnes of toxic waste from Votanikos area

The waste had been stored in plastic reservoirs and tubs in the abandoned factory on Orfeos Street in the western section of Athens. The company went bankrupt ten years ago and the waste had been stored inside the factory building, next to a densely-populated section of the capital.

The city stepped in when the agency responsible did not respond to continuous messages of concern by local residents on health issues. A Greek company will process the waste and send on what it cannot recycle to Germany and Belgium for processing there.

[32] Car containing dead body found in Neda River gorge

The car was spotted by two hikers on Sunday evening, who first noted the strong smell of decay and called the police.

A coroner has been summoned to examine the body and authorities are investigating all angles, while the exact time that the incident took place has not yet been determined.

Weather forecast

[33] Fair on Tuesday

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

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "New school mergers on the verge".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Retirement age limits for women in all social security funds'.

ELLADA AVRIO: "Dirty game with the minimum salary".

ESTIA: "The employer's death".

ETHNOS: "The criteria for layoffs in public sector".

IMERISSIA: "Banks open the markets' gates'.

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Bank deposits' seizure for debts to social security funds".

TA NEA: "Relief for the financially weaker households".

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