Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 14-04-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece to raise issue of debt restructuring in May 5 Eurogroup meeting, FinMin says

[02] Prime Minister Samaras hosts luncheon for Moldovan counterpart

[03] Opportunities offered by Greece dominate 3rd Greek-Chinese business conference

[04] PASOK leader says elections are about the prospect of government stability

[05] EU Health ministers' informal meeting at Zappeio

[06] Informal Health Council agenda; Health Minister Georgiadis meets with Cypriot counterpart

[07] FM Venizelos to address ambassadors meeting on Tuesday

[08] FM Venizelos to meet with EU Social Affairs, Employment commissioner on Tuesday

[09] Tsipras says May 25 Euroelections milestone for generation

[10] Interior ministry committee decides Euroelection television time, election financing

[11] Deputy Dev't minister Skordas on open-market producers' strike

[12] KKE supports open-air market vendor mobilizations; condemns lax safety standards in amusement parks for kids

[13] 'A message of hope and change comes from all sides' SYRIZA leader says

[14] Government spokesman Kedikoglou on SYRIZA leader's speech in Spain

[15] SYRIZA's Tsipras calls for an off-the-agenda debate on Baltakos' relations with ultra-right Golden Dawn

[16] Kedikoglou on Tsipras' letter to the parliament president on the Baltakos case

[17] Ultra-right GD calls for parliamentary preliminary examination committee on the Baltakos case

[18] Parliament President Meimarakis continues his visit to Albania

[19] Alternate Defence minister signs military cooperation agreement in Albania

[20] Foreign Ministry Sec'y General meets with US business delegation

[21] Union of Hellenic Chambers levels harsh criticism at government

[22] KKE party leader interviewed by Skai private television

[23] No copyright issue for Greek national anthem, Parliament told

[24] Development minister on bill hoping to reduce business licensing bureaucracy

[25] Six investment groups show interest in OLP share capital acquisition

[26] ESEE changes its name to 'Greek Commerce and Entrepreneurship Confederation'

[27] Eurobank to announce results of share capital increase plan on April 30

[28] Interim mid-season sales with optional Sunday opening begin on May 2

[29] Greek enterprises' sales down 6.3 pct in 2013, ICAP survey

[30] ASE announces changes in sector indices

[31] Greek stocks end 2.39 pct lower

[32] Greek bond market closing report

[33] ADEX closing report

[34] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

[35] Prosecutor presses charges against three over fatal funfair accident at Elliniko

[36] Children's fun park not properly licensed, agency says

[37] Girl injured in tragic play area accident at Elliniko out of danger

[38] Culture ministry unveils 'Green Cultural Pathways' programme

[39] Hellenic Olympic Committee presents new 'high priestess' of Olympic Flame ceremony

[40] Greek antiquities travel to US and Canadian museums

[41] Greek statue unveiled in Vancouver

[42] Northern Greece Theatre's artistic director arrested for unpaid IKA contributions

[43] Atlantic Bank president Spyros Voutsinas dies in NYC aged 80

[44] Alexandroupoli police arrests suspect over businessman's murder

[45] Fixed-rail transport employees request lifting of back-to-work order

[46] Armed robbers kill businessman in Alexandroupolis

[47] Overcast on Friday

[48] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies Politics

[01] Greece to raise issue of debt restructuring in May 5 Eurogroup meeting, FinMin says

Addressing Greek-Chinese Business Conference, organized by the Economics University of Athens and the Institute for Economic and Industrial Research, Stournaras said that "Eurostat's announcement paved the way for a discussion over a restructuring of Greek debt, based on an agreement reached with our partners.

The Greek government will raise the issue at the next Eurogroup to begin a discussion on the issue," the Greek FinMin said, adding that "Greece was eliminating a triangle of deficits (fiscal, productive, competitiveness) and supported the knowledge triangle (education, research, innovation)".

"The Economic Adjustment Program is bringing positive results. The road map of the Greek economy will be proper fiscal management and healthy growth initiatives focusing on a new export-orientated and sustainable growth model," Stournaras noted. He underlined that the Greek economy has significant comparative advantages unexploited so far, excellent potential and therefore offered business opportu-nities both in the medium-term and in the long-term.

"There is no doubt that much has yet to be done mainly on a structural reform level. These reforms will be accompanied by increased growth rates. In any case, only a few people, both inside and outside the country, expected that Greece could restore so quickly the basic fiscal imbalances and that a competitiveness deficit could develop into an investment destination so soon," Stournaras said.

He said that Greece was working intensively to support export activity and innovation, encouraging both domestic and foreign directi investments and promoting exports of goods and services. "In this effort to look forward to the precious contribution of Greek and Chinese enterprises," he said.

The Greek Finance Minister made special mention to a Chinese investment in the port of Piraeus, with cargo traffic up spectacularly since COSCO made its investment in the port. Stournaras added that Greece intended to invest more in this sector, taking advantage of the fact that Greece is the southeast sea gate of Europe, combined with the country's historical maritime tradition, a combination that could offer increasing added value to Greek economy.

The Greek minister referred to a partnership protocol signed between Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund and Invest in Greece with China Development Bank.

[02] Prime Minister Samaras hosts luncheon for Moldovan counterpart

They toured the museum exhibits, focusing on the caryatids, the sculpted female figures serving as architectural supports in the place of more customary columns or a pillars, which supported an entablature on their heads and on the Parthenon sculptures. The prime minister explained to his counterpart which sections were missing and were on display at the British Museum in London.

The luncheon was also attended by government vice-president and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

[03] Opportunities offered by Greece dominate 3rd Greek-Chinese business conference

Among the speakers was Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras and the Chinese Ambassador in Athens Zou Xiaoli, who urged Chinese businesses to visit Greece to explore these emerging prospects. He stressed the improvement in the Greek economy and said the climate was very favourable for further cementing business and bilateral economic relations.

The ambassador stressed the need for the right strategy in this direction, as well as mutual briefing between the two sides and good preparation, while referring to the opportunities offered by Greece's geographic position for those choosing to invest in the country. He also highlighted the benefits resulting from the existing COSCO investment in Piraeus and the prospects for Greek agricultural exports to China, inviting Greek businesses to visit China.

A long list of comparative advantages offered by Greece was presented by Deputy Development and Competitiveness Minister Notis Mitarakis, especially in tourism, the food sector, logistics and shipping. He noted that, according to the Bank of Greece, direct investment in Greece had recovered to pre-crisis levels and these large investment were also impacting SMEs and improving the business climate, generating demand.

Among these major investments he listed a 7.5-billion-euro development project at Elliniko, the site of the former Greek airport, with the participation of the Chinese group Fosun, the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline passing through Greece and a 1.3-billion-euro investment by the Canadian group Fairfax in the recapitalisation of Eurobank.

The business climate will continue to improve as a result of further measures, including lower taxes, privatisations and action to boost competitiveness and facilitate international trade, the minister added.

Other speakers pointed to a sharp rise in Greek exports to China, which had risen at around 40 pct a year on average to reach 420 million euros in 2013, while imports from China exceeded 2.2 billion euros a year. The increased flow of tourists to Greece from China was also emphasised, especially since the launch of direct flights between Beijing and Athens in 2011. According to some estimates, Greece could expect 100,000 Chinese tourists to visit over the next decade, greatly boosting revenues from tourism.

The head of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) Constantine Maniatopoulos referred at length to the privatisation of the former airport site at Elliniko, where a consortium of Greek, Chinese and Arab companies would develop the area in the next 10-15 years, building hotels, residential and commercial properties, within a huge park covering 400 hectares.

The main topics addressed at the conference included recent economic developments and macroeconomic prospects, investments, the environment, energy, infrastructure, tourism and trade.

[04] PASOK leader says elections are about the prospect of government stability

He added that the wager in government stability is the democratic lineup, Elia, and PASOK participating in it, a PASOK "that is struggling, neither hiding nor lowering its flags, that rallies all forces and shapes a platform of even greater rallying, a momentum in which all claiming of belonging to the sector of European social democracy must, if they are not persuaded, be pressured to join".

Venizelos further said that it was a mistake by the PASOK government to lift the burden of the crisis alone and that if his proposal for a 180-deputy majority had been called for it would have cleared the scene and deprived New Democracy of resorting easily to an anti-memorandum phase.

He also said that "the toughest circles of the IMF, the toughest German institutes, SYRIZA (the Radical Left Coalition) and its far-right nationalist partners... as soon as they realise that we do not need a new loan and a new memorandum, they go mad".

[05] EU Health ministers' informal meeting at Zappeio

After the meeting, Georgiadis said that "with Germany's help, we have managed all that time to plan the whole programme of the reforms in the Greek health sector. Upon its conclusion we anticipate that we will offer Greek citizens far better health services compared to the past, at less cost and with respect for the Greek people's money.

We wouldn't have been able to do this without German health professionals' help or the support of the German Health ministry, which has been on our side in every step.

Through this cooperation, I believe both ministries show how Europe can be in the future. A Europe of solidarity and cooperation that will leave misery and euroscepticism behind and give the European people the opportunity for a better common future."

Grohe said the conversation and the briefing were interesting and pointed out "we must and we do try to secure high quality health services for a country's economic and social development. I am impressed with the confidence the Greek government shows in implementing the necessary reforms.

We support and we want citizens to experience soon these changes in their daily lives. We cooperate closely to improve health services and the successful efforts already underway will continue. We also support the effort to offer all citizens, even the unsecured ones, full access to the health system. That entails that all health services entities -- hospitals, departments, doctors and all employees -- can and should contribute to bringing these services to the citizen. The upgrading of health services is, in our opinion, the most important of all the things we do."

[06] Informal Health Council agenda; Health Minister Georgiadis meets with Cypriot counterpart

Georgiadis said that the Informal Health Council agenda will focus on the development of e-health services, immigration and its effects on public health systems, as well as on the impact of the economic crisis on national health systems.

As regards his meeting with his Cypriot counterpart, the health minister noted that "Greece and Cyprus face common challenges as a result of the economic crisis," adding that "we can implement the necessary reforms in our national health systems to meet our common goal, namely improved health services with less cost. We have launched a very good communication between us that can guarantee our cooperation".

On his part, Patsalis underlined that both "Greece and Cyprus have a memorandum with the troika and many common obligations," adding that they discussed the obligations the two countries share and health sector reform issues, including "hospital reform, hospital independence and all necessary reforms that need to be implemented in the health sector."

Patsalis also said that they tackled bilateral issues focusing on the transfer of patients from Cyprus to Greece, as well as Cyprus' needs in the sector of health that can only be met abroad.

[07] FM Venizelos to address ambassadors meeting on Tuesday

The meeting is organized by the Foreign Ministry's general secretary of International Economic Relations, Panagiotis Michalos. Government officials and business representatives will brief the foreign envoys on the Greek economy prospects and the comparative advantages of its national product.

The Foreign Ministry took the initiative to establish a new institution that will contribute to the annual and organized briefing of ambassadors serving in Greece on developments relating to the national economy. The main purpose of the initiative is to promote the Greek new growth model, the opportunities presented by Greece as an investment destination and capabilities of our export economy. The innovation of the new institution is that entrepreneurs whose actions have contributed to the openness and competitiveness of Greece's national product will participate in the ambassadors' briefing.

[08] FM Venizelos to meet with EU Social Affairs, Employment commissioner on Tuesday

[09] Tsipras says May 25 Euroelections milestone for generation

Tsipras once again underlined the political importance of the Euroelections of May 25 and assessed that "they will prove to be a milestone for our generation. That, to a great degree, will determine the fate of the next as well".

In renewed criticism of the government on the occasion of the medium-term Programme 2015-2018, Tsipras said that "apart from liars they are also dangerous and they must leave".

[10] Interior ministry committee decides Euroelection television time, election financing

The air time for parties and party coalitions be allocated as follows: 40 percent on the basis of the percentages the parties received in the Euroelections of 2009, 40 percent on the basis of the percentages that parties received in the national elections of 2012 and the remaining 20 percent will be allocated equally among those parties participating in the coming Euroelections.

As regards election financing, it was announced that the amount that will be provided to parties that will participate in the Euroelections will amount to a total of 7million euros, or 2.4 million euros less compared to the election financing in the Euroelections of 2009. Out of the 7 million euros, 60 percent will be disbursed immediately and the remaining 40 percent will be given in June.

The issue of the advertising promotion of the Euroelections was also raised during the meeting to try and limit voter abstention.

[11] Deputy Dev't minister Skordas on open-market producers' strike

Skordas defended the regulations, saying that positions are not lost, but priority is given to the unemployed and vulnerable groups. "Those who react are those who have been favoured in the allocation of stalls and those are who instigate the strike," he underlined.

The president of the federation of open-market producers Pantelis Moschos told ANA-MPA that the new bill is a tombstone for farmers markets. "It will force producers and professionals out of the markets and will lead the retail trade to the big interests and the supermarkets."

Fruit and vegetable producers of open-air markets and sellers hold a long-term strike, to protest a new draft bill promoted by the Development and Competitiveness ministry.

The move suspends the operation of open-air markets until the issue is resolved. They said the measures "are threatening 50,000 families and serve large interests."

Among the contested articles in the bill, the federation of open-market producers and sellers mentioned the decision to allocate stalls by annual lottery, the right of municipalities to decide on the ceiling in the number of sellers at markets, the separation between producers and other sellers at the market, and the fines (ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 euros) and sanctions for transgressions, which they said in their majority also carry jail terms of three months to a year.

[12] KKE supports open-air market vendor mobilizations; condemns lax safety standards in amusement parks for kids

KKE called on other sectors to express solidarity and underlined that it will vote against the draft bill in question.

KKE also referred to the tragic death of a 13-year-old boy and the serious injury of his nine-year-old sister in an amusement park near the Elliniko district in Athens on Sunday, noting that serious questions were being raised about the safety standards for privately operated infrastructure for children, such as amusement parks, playgrounds etc. Children's entertainment was going into the hands of private operators as a result of the serious shortcomings in public infrastructure for kids, the party added.

[13] 'A message of hope and change comes from all sides' SYRIZA leader says

Speaking at a campaign rally of the Alternative Left party of Galicia (AGE) on Sunday in Spain, Tsipras stressed that neoliberalism is not a natural phenomenon, nor is it invincible.

"Instead of a Europe that fears unemployment and poverty, instead of today's Europe that redistributes income to the few and fear to many, instead of a Europe of bankers and capital, we want a Europe of human needs," Tsipras said. He also noted that for the first time after the war, a whole generation is aware that worse days are coming and underlined that SYRIZA will change this Europe.

Referring to his impressions of his tours, Tsipras said: "I have visited almost all the countries of Europe campaigning for change in Europe. A message of hope and change comes from all sides. Neoliberalism is not a natural phenomenon, nor is invincible. We are confident that the Left will be the positive surprise of the elections of May. The European Left counts on you. SYRIZA counts on you."

[14] Government spokesman Kedikoglou on SYRIZA leader's speech in Spain

"With brochures, reminiscent of the sort of leftist manifestos that might be released by a 15-member student council, which lack a serious plan and say both 'yes' and 'no' to the euro to suit its factions, SYRIZA and Tsipras show that they have not realized the country's problem and the extent of the sacrifices and agony of the Greek people," Kedikoglou underlined.

[15] SYRIZA's Tsipras calls for an off-the-agenda debate on Baltakos' relations with ultra-right Golden Dawn

In his letter, Tsipras pointed out that 25 days after a request for an off-the-agenda discussion no date has been set, adding that in the past two years, SYRIZA's Parliamentary Group has tabled five such requests of which only one has been met. He noted that "in the past two years, he has tabled 15 current questions addressed to the prime minister who did not respond in person to any of them," and underlined that the prime minister has not responded in person to any of the 60 current questions that have been addressed to him by the Parliamentary groups.

"Such provocative and anti-democratic behavior, such contempt for democracy and Parliament's Rules of Procedure is unprecedented," he underlined, adding that "former prime ministers Simitis, Karamanlis and Papandreou responded to 109 questions during their terms," while "Papadimos, who served a total of six months in office, responded to three current questions".

[16] Kedikoglou on Tsipras' letter to the parliament president on the Baltakos case

"Being in a state of panic and trying to hide the fact that SYRIZA lacks proposals and policy platform, Tsipras does not hesitate to toy with institutions," Kedikoglou said, noting that off-the-agenda discussions between the political party leaders are regulated by the Parliament's Rules of Procedure.

"The government is open to dialogue on all issues," Kedikoglou said, underlining that "an extensive public dialogue was held for several weeks on the specific issue that is being raised by Tsipras and the government has made its position clear".

[17] Ultra-right GD calls for parliamentary preliminary examination committee on the Baltakos case

According to Kassidiaris, "Baltakos' confession has clearly showed that the Samaras government has abolished the Constitution. This is why the memorandum prime minister is afraid to appear in Parliament."

Kassidiaris "called on all opposition parties to cosign a proposal to set up a Parliamentary preliminary examination committee, considering that the evidence against Prime Minister Samaras, Justice Minister Athanassiou and Public Order Minister Dendias is unshakeable". He also noted that "Tsipras, by calling for meaningless discussions and systematically rejecting an investigation into this very dirty case, in essence covers up a major crime against the country's system of government."

[18] Parliament President Meimarakis continues his visit to Albania

Parliament President Evangelos Meimarakis, currently on a visit here, met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and confirmed Greece's support in Albania's EU accession efforts, as its candidate state status is among the goals of the Greek EU Presidency.

Their discussion also focused on regional developments and referred to constructive cooperation between the region's countries that would serve their prosperity and reinforces peace and stability.

The Albanian prime minister noted that Meimarakis' visit strengthens regional cooperation and expressed gratitude for Greece's support to the European agenda of Albania.

Meimarakis took part on Monday in the 12th Conference of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative, of which Albania currently holds the chair.

[19] Alternate Defence minister signs military cooperation agreement in Albania

Gennimata met with Albanian Defence Minister Mimi Kodheli and chief of the country's armed forces, General Jeronim Bazo.

"Greece and Albania are countries linked by strong ties of good neighbouring relations, while the Greek minority in Albania and the hundreds of thousands of economic migrants in Greece constitute strong bridges of communication, friendship and solidarity," Gennimata said following her meeting with Kodheli. "It is our duty that these ties become even stronger, to benefit our people," she added.

The Greek minister said she was convinced there were significant opportunities to develop a greater and effective collaboration in the defence industry, and called on better utilisation of a bilateral agreement signed in November 1997.

Gennimata also met with Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania and with representatives of the Greek minority in the country.

"The archbishop is a beacon of Orthodoxy who stands by his flock not just in the good times, but mostly in hard times... The Greek government honours and recognises his contribution to the improvement of Greek-Albanian relations, which must always be denoted by mutual respect to differentness. The role of the Greek Orthodox Church in Albania is very important in the further improvement of ties between the two countries," she said.

[20] Foreign Ministry Sec'y General meets with US business delegation

Michalos presented new opportunities and comparative advantages that Greece can offer to investors with emphasis given to start-ups that engage in exports. In addition he referred to the importance of entrepreneurship as a key factor in Greek economy's development, while he also underlined the very important role that financial diplomacy plays in the creation of new jobs, with focus on innovation and extroversion.

The U.S. delegation consisted of 13 investors and entrepreneurs from the sectors of technology, financial services, gastronomy, marketing, consulting and real estate.

[21] Union of Hellenic Chambers levels harsh criticism at government

It also called for the immediate repeal of the provision of a legislative act which removes the obligation of businesses to register in chambers as of 01/01/2015.

The UHC president Constantine Michalos said that the struggle of the chambers, which are targeted by the troika and the government, primarily aimed at the preservation and upgrading of the institution, which is the voice of small and medium entrepreneurship across the country.

[22] KKE party leader interviewed by Skai private television

He said it was a mistake to handle serious issues of working people in either a nationalist or cosmopolitan way, adding that "the Lausanne Treaty is in effect here...These gentlemen of SYRIZA and some others, cadres of theirs or candidates of theirs, do not take this into account".

Asked whether the KKE distinguished among a New Democracy, a PASOK or a SYRIZA government or saw them as being the same, he said that "there is a difference and we are interested in who will come first, second, third and so on", stressing at the same time that "the issue that preoccupies us however is that in the frameworks of the policies that are applied currently and of the proposals that these parties have, there is no qualitative difference in the strategic, central issues".

[23] No copyright issue for Greek national anthem, Parliament told

"The digital platforms have recognised their error," Andrianos said in a written reply to a question tabled by two MPs concerning an attempt by the distribution company The Orchard to collect YouTube royalties for the use of the national anthem in a video soundtrack.

The two MPs said that YouTube considered that rights to Greece's national anthem, a poem written by Dionysis Solomos in 1823 and set to music by the composer Nikolaos Mantzaros, belonged to the global sales and distribution company IODA, since renamed as The Orchard. When employees of Greece's former public broadcaster ERT had posted their "rebel newscast" held with riot police stationed outside the ERT building on YouTube and this was subsequently posted on the website ThePressProject, the site was informed by YouTube that sections of the soundtrack including the national anthem were subject to copyright must be removed, or else the site must allow YouTube to play advertisements to pay the owner for the rights.

Replying to the concerns raised by the two MPs, the deputy culture minister pointed out that all copyright for the national anthem had in any case expired, since both the author and composer of the work had been deceased for more than 70 years, the first dying in 1857 and the second in 1872.

"Copyright (as it currently exists) lasts as long as the life of the creator [of a work] and for 70 years after their death, starting January 1 of the year in which they died. Therefore there are no intellectual property rights for the National Anthem," the minister pointed out. He also stressed that, above and beyond copyright technicalities, "The national anthem is not just a simple intellectual creation...it is the heart of the nation. It has emblematic value for all Greek men and women. The culture and sports ministry intervened and the digital platforms have recognised their mistake."

Financial News

[24] Development minister on bill hoping to reduce business licensing bureaucracy

The bill is hoped will "change the image of entrepreneurship in our country," Development and Competitiveness Minister Costis Hatzidakis told the committee, and said it served as a message that Greece is dealing decisively with bureaucracy and opening up to entrepreneurship.

With few exceptions, the bill will allow a business' operation without previous intervention by public administration, and include a Fast Track licensing process for all as well as online management. Law 4014/2011 on environmental licensing of projects and activities will not change, Hatzidakis added.

In addition, ministries will be given eight months to prepare themselves so that they may issue joint ministerial decrees. If they fail to meet the deadline, the right to issue the decrees passes to the Development ministry. A special work group will be set up to include a representative of the prime minister's office and of each ministry, and the group will collaborate with the World Bank, he added.

[25] Six investment groups show interest in OLP share capital acquisition

According to an announcement by the Hellenic Republic Assets Development Fund (TAIPED), the state privatisation agency, they are the following investment groups:

APM Terminals B.V.

Cartesian Capital Group, LLC

COSCO (Hong Kong) Group Limited

International Container Terminal Services, Inc

Ports America Group Holdings

Utilico Emerging Markets Limited

Consultants will evaluate the applications and forward their proposal to TAIPED regarding those candidates who fulfill criteria for participation in the tender's next phase.

[26] ESEE changes its name to 'Greek Commerce and Entrepreneurship Confederation'

Some 220 representatives from federations and commerce associations across the country approved and released a declaration, which among others calls for an essential, constructive and transparent dialogue between industry players and the government, aimed at rescuing and developing Greek small and medium-sized entrepreneurship.

[27] Eurobank to announce results of share capital increase plan on April 30

Eurobank launched on April 25, a public offer and an international offer of its new common nominal shares, issued in the framework of a share capital increase plan. The process ends on Tuesday, 29 April, while the outcome and the final offer price of its shares will be announced on April 30.

[28] Interim mid-season sales with optional Sunday opening begin on May 2

Shops can also choose to stay open on May 4, the first Sunday within the sales period, for a maximum period of 11:00-20:00.

In an announcement on Monday, the Piraeus Merchants' Association has proposed that its members in Piraeus open from 11:00 until 16:00. The Thessaloniki merchants' association also informed its members about the optional Sunday opening on May 4 and vendors' obligation to inform customers of both the old and new prices, in addition to the percentage reduction offered, on price tags.

[29] Greek enterprises' sales down 6.3 pct in 2013, ICAP survey

The survey, based on a sample of 1,210 enterprises, showed a 6.3 pct decline in total sales to 48.25 billion euros in 2013, while gross earnings dropped 12.9 pct and operating results plunged 69.4 pct in the same year. Total results showed a loss of 684.72 million euros in 2013, down 5.2 pct from the previous year, while EBITDA fell 35.8 pct in the year. The sample's losses were burdened by big losses reported by two specific loss-making enterprises (with accumulated losses of 720.9 million euros). Excluding these two enterprises, the final result is pre-tax earnings of 36.1 million euros.

ICAP said assets of the 1,210 enterprises in the survey fell 3.89 pct to 75.2 billion euros in 2013, reflecting a decline in the value of net fixed assets, while equity capital fell 3.3 pct to 32.4 billion euros.

Medium- and long-term debt obligations of all enterprises in the survey rose 1.7 pct, while short-term debt obligations fell 8.8 pct in 2013. Gross profit margin fell to 15.7 pct in 2013 from 17.06 pct in 2012. From the total 1,210 enterprises, 659 were profitable (with pre-tax earnings of 2.12 billion euros).

The top five profitable enterprises in 2012 were:

FOLLI - FOLLIE SA (profits of 459.60 million euros from losses of 3.3 million euros in 2012)

COSMOTE SA (profits of 431.4 million euros from profits of 461.2 million euros in 2012)

OPAP SA (profits of 190.7 million euros from profits of 644.4 million euros in 2012)

JUMBO SA (profits of 93.2 million euros from profits of 97 million euros in 2012)

AEGEAN AIRLINES (profits of 83.61 million euros from losses of 12.62 million euros in 2012

[30] ASE announces changes in sector indices

The statement added that the shares of Aegean Airlines, Lamda Development, Korinth Pipeworks and Frigoglass will be included in the FTSE Mid Cap index, replacing Eurobank, Hellenic Sugar, Elval and Plaisio Computers.

Finally, the shares of Viohalco, Voyatzoglou Systems and Flexopack will be included in the FTSE/ASE Industrial Products/Services index, replacing Karatzis.

[31] Greek stocks end 2.39 pct lower

The Large Cap index fell 2.22 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 2.18 pct lower. Ellaktor (4.18 pct), Folli Follie (3.78 pct), Mytilineos (3.61 pct) and Hellenic Exchanges (3.53 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses among blue chip stocks, while all sectors ended lower with the exception of Media (3.67 pct) and Health (0.01 pct), which moved upwards. The Insurance (-4.79 pct), Commerce (-3.77 pct) and Financial Services (-3.27 pct) suffered heavy losses.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 91 to 34 with another 16 issues unchanged. Kepenos Mills (25.49 pct), Perseus (20 pct) and SATO (19.29 pct) were top gainers, while AXON Holdings (-19.83 pct), Eurobrokers (-18.18 pct) and Atti-kat (-17.39 pct) were top losers.

[32] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates continued moving higher. The 12-month rate rose to 0.62 pct from 0.619 pct, the nine-month rate rose to 0.529 pct from 0.528 pct, the six-month rate rose to 0.444 pct from 0.443 pct, the three-month rate increased to 0.345 pct from 0.344 pct and the one-month rate was unchanged at 0.269 pct.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Banks: -1.82%

Insurance: -4.79%

Financial Services: -3.27%

Industrial Products: -2.08%

Commercial: -3.77%

Real Estate: -0.65%

Personal & Household: -2.79%

Food & Beverages: -0.61%

Raw Materials: -3.15%

Construction: -3.24%

Oil: -2.40%

Chemicals: -1.89%

Media: -3.24%

Travel & Leisure: -3.14%

Technology: -3.13%

Telecoms: -2.21%

Utilities: -2.79%

Health: +0.01%

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

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

Alpha Bank: 0.67

Public Power Corp (PPC): 10.42

Coca Cola HBC: 18.18

Hellenic Petroleum: 6.12

National Bank of Greece: 2.85

Eurobank Properties : 8.42

OPAP: 11.25

OTE: 10.60

Piraeus Bank: 1.66

Titan: 21.87

[33] ADEX closing report

Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 11,243 contracts worth 21.768 million euros, with 50,554 open positions in the market.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 12,273 contracts worth 4.604 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Eurobank's contracts (4,573), followed by Alpha Bank (338), Piraeus Bank (1,713), National Bank (1,354), MIG (381), OTE (759), PPC (1,110), OPAP (545), Hellenic Exchanges (122), Mytilineos (300), Hellenic Petroleum (224), GEK (254), Folli Follie (102) and Intralot (97).

[34] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

U.S. dollar 1.406

Pound sterling 0.835

Danish kroner 7.576

Swedish kroner 9.187

Japanese yen 143.98

Swiss franc 1.236

Norwegian kroner 8.439

Canadian dollar 1.550

Australian dollar 1.515

General News

[35] Prosecutor presses charges against three over fatal funfair accident at Elliniko

According to witness accounts, the two children were playing in an inflatable tube in a swimming pool at the funfair, set up within a municipal park in Athens' Elliniko district, when a sudden squall picked up the tube with both children still inside and dashed it against other objects in the park.

By order of the prosecutor, the case was sent to a regular investigating magistrate due to the severity of the incident.

The Italian's legal counsel said the accident was "the most unlikely and unbelievable tragedy to which all the least likely natural forces contributed."

Advocate Agis Tatsis expressed his grief over the tragic incident and claimed that the site was operating in accordance with all necessary safety standards. Moreover, he pointed out that, according to safety standards, the inflatable tube the two children were playing in cannot be used when winds exceed 9.0 on the Beaufort scale, which "was not the case yesterday".

"No one could have anticipated that an 80-kilo object could be lifted up by wind. No accident has happened during the 17 years that my client has been in this business," he said. He noted that the air pressure had been checked and the inflatable tube had been properly tied down but "the rope snapped and the ball was lifted eight metres up into the air."

Police earlier on Monday arrested the manager of the company that operates the site -- a Greek national who showed up at Elliniko police station. The manager will be led before the prosecutor.

The municipality of Elliniko said in a statement that the municipal board had approved the concession-leasing of the property, at the request of HAPPY FUN Company. Nevertheless, it clarified that the company never submitted an application with the necessary documentation asking for a license to establish and operate a funfair on the site and no such license had been granted by the municipality.

The special secretary of Public Administration Inspectors and Auditors Paraskevas Nomikos, following an order by Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, asked for an immediate investigation in the Elliniko-Argyroupolis municipality to check whether the funfair was operating legally.

[36] Children's fun park not properly licensed, agency says

It stressed that the certificate appearing in press reports does not concern the specific game nor the specific organised children's park facility at Elliniko.

In the announcement, the agency also expressed its profound regret over the tragic event and stressed that it does not have the slightest involvement in the specific case.

[37] Girl injured in tragic play area accident at Elliniko out of danger

Meanwhile, an Italian national allegedly manager of the park and two other employees both from Bagladesh, who were arrested, will be led before the prosecutor within the day. The three suspects are facing charges for manslaughter and serious injury.

[38] Culture ministry unveils 'Green Cultural Pathways' programme

"It is a very important programme that reflects the philosophy of the political leadership and the government as a whole, because in a country like Greece that combaines cultural heritage with unbelievable natural beauty, policy for the environment and culture must be fully cooperative and convergent," Panagiotopoulos said.

He also informed the media about Greek exhibitions due to travel abroad in the current year, such as the "Heaven and Earth" exhibition on Byzantine-era art that toured the National Gallery in Washington and was now at the Getty Centre in Los Angeles, or the exhibition "Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" that was due to open in Ottawa in December.

Another major Greek archaeological exhibition that would be travelling abroad, he added, was that on the Antikythera Mechanism, with senior culture ministry officials due to begin discussions on its transfer to Washington in June.

"The issue of holding exhibits of Greek cultural heritage abroad is a key policy direction. We believe the country needs this extroversion, which will rebuild the country's image abroad, show Greece's cultural heritage and promote the country in the best possible way. The image of Greek culture is the best possible ambassador for the country," he said.

The Greek Cultural Pathways programme includes a number of events taking place throughout this week until Sunday, including rambles, hikes, bike rides, thematic tours, artistic events, educational programmes and presentations. All events are free of charge and take place in all 29 Greek prefectures, involving more than 150 agencies and organisations and large numbers of volunteers.

Highlights of the week's events include the tour "In the footsteps of Aristoteles and Theophrastus" organised by the Museum of Natural History and the Lesvos Petrified Forest on the island of Lesvos, highlighting the island's natural environment, or the hikes organised around the Eleftherna archaeological site in Rethymno, a region known for hundreds of endemic plants.

[39] Hellenic Olympic Committee presents new 'high priestess' of Olympic Flame ceremony

The event was attended by dozens of Chinese journalists and TV crews, as well as representatives of the host-city Nanjing seeking to promote the event taking place on August 16-28. More than 3,500 athletes aged 15-18 will be taking part, competing in 28 events that include the newly introduced 3x3 basketball.

The Olympic Flame ceremony for the Nanjing games will take place on Wednesday at the Panathenian Stadium in central Athens, with the final rehearsal on Tuesday morning. So far, seven Greek athletes have qualified to take part but the HOC hopes the Greek team will finally reach the same size as that for the 2010 Singapore games, when 27 Greek athletes competed.

[40] Greek antiquities travel to US and Canadian museums

The shipwreck, named after the southern Greek island off the Peloponnese, was discovered over a century ago and yielded bronze statues and what is considered the world's earliest computing mechanism. All objects date between the 4th and 1st centuries BC.

Culture and Sports Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos met with the National Gallery's director recently to agree on the exhibition, which is hoped to be the first after the renovation of part of the museum.

The National Gallery recently hosted the "Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections" exhibit, with the Culture ministry and Benaki Museum. It is currently on show at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles until August 25. Panagiotopoulos said a section of this exhibit will be then shown at Chicago's Art Institute until the end of the year.

Ottawa will host the exhibit "The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" as of December 14. In June 2015 it will travel to Montreal, in December 2015 to Chicago's Field Museum and in spring 2016 to National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC.

"Cultural extroversion is a basic pillar of our policy," Panagiotopoulos said, "because it builds Greece's public image anew, internationally. It shows up our cultural heritage and our national rights, responding to ridiculous, unhistorically proven propaganda, such as that used by Skopje. It also attracts visitors from throughout the world."

[41] Greek statue unveiled in Vancouver

The statue of ancient Greek goddess of victory "Nike", gift from the Ancient Olympia municipality, was unveiled in the Vancouver, host city of 2010 Winter Olympics.

The official unveilling ceremony was addressed by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Consul General for Greece in Vancouver Ilias Kremmydas alongside the Hellenic Community of Vancouver president Effie Kerasioti and the sculptor's partner and son who travelled to Canada for the occasion.

Approximatelly 350 persons participated in the event, which concluded with a traditional Greek dance performance.

The statue's sculptor, Pavlos-Angelos Kougioumtzis, is an architect, painter and sculptor specialising in large modern sculptures and inspired by ancient Greece.

[42] Northern Greece Theatre's artistic director arrested for unpaid IKA contributions

Vouros, who was later released pending trial, was charged of not paying a Social Security Foundation (IKA) contribution that was determined in November 2013. According to the theatre group's consultant, the amount was deducted from the state funding that the NTNG received a few days ago. "There is no debt," he said.

In an announcement, the theatre - one of the largest threatre troupes in Europe with multiple appearances in national festivals - stressed that the issue arose because of bad understanding between the State General Accounting Office and IKA.

"We are up-to-date on our payments as NTNG," Vouros said, adding that "we will not allow NTNG's image to be damaged, especially during a year when the results do justice to the efforts of employees and management, and while we are proceeding with such unity through difficult times."

[43] Atlantic Bank president Spyros Voutsinas dies in NYC aged 80

The president of the Atlantic Bank of the United States, Spyros Voutsinas, who had been born on the Ionian Island of Cephalonia, died in a hospital in New York at the age of 80.

Atlantic Bank was a subsidiary of Greece's National Bank from 1953 until 2006. Voutsinas, who had served as a board member and cadre of Atlantic Bank, became president and managing director of Atlantic in 2006, the year it was sold to the New York Community Bank, of which he had been board member since October 2003.

[44] Alexandroupoli police arrests suspect over businessman's murder

According to the charges, the 43-year-old suspect is a Georgian national of Greek descent who with an Albanian accomplice attacked the businessman and stole a briefcase with 10,000 euros in cash, while they managed to escape on a motorcycle.

The police found the 43-year-old near the coast, where he had abandoned the motorcycle, with the cash on him. His alleged accomplice is being sought.

[45] Fixed-rail transport employees request lifting of back-to-work order

The back-to-work order was issued by the prime minister and the minister of development, while requisition orders have also been issued for the utilization of movable and fixed "Attiko Metro SA" and Urban Rail Transport SA ("STASY SA") means, to ensure that public transport service will be carried out.

The fixed rail transport employees mentioned in their appeal to the CoS that in October 2013 a written request they had addressed to the premier and the minister of Development to lift the back-to-work order was rejected. The appeal underlines that the back-to-work order is unconstitutional and notes that the reasons and preconditions that led to the issuing of the order have ceased to exist.

[46] Armed robbers kill businessman in Alexandroupolis

According to initial information, two unidentified individuals, who were riding a motorcycle, stopped outside the businessman's house while he was leaving for work and attempted to take the briefcase he had left on the co-driver's seat.

The businessman reacted and confronted one of the perpetrators. The other robber got off the motorcycle and shot the victim twice in the chest. The two robbers then took the briefcase and fled.

Ten firearm shell cases were found at the crime scene. Police has launched a manhunt to locate the perpetrators

Weather forecast

[47] Overcast on Friday

[48] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Who will be affected from the changes in the social security system.

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: The 12 plus 1 changes in retirement age limits.

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: The opportunities for pension before the age of 62.

ESTIA: Prime Minister (Antonis Samaras) with huge amount of work

ETHNOS: Rapid arrangement for Social Housing Organisation's loans.

NAFTEMPORIKI: How the tax rates will be drastically reduced.

TA NEA: Real estate market defreezes.

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