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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 15-05-14

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Thursday, 14 May 2015 Issue No: 4956

CONTENTS

  • [01] FinMin Varoufakis: Negotiations at their most difficult, precarious point
  • [02] Elections or a referendum not currently on government agenda, Interior Min Voutsis says
  • [03] SYRIZA will not agree on an agreement cancelling basic aspects of the programme, Alternate Min for Social Insurance Stratoulis says
  • [04] No double currency solution, says FinMin Varoufakis
  • [05] 'Difficult' to strike right balance on Greece, ECB's Coeure says-Reuters
  • [06] Belgian expert Toussaint says majority of Greek debt is 'illegal, toxic, unsustainable'
  • [07] Government circles on plans 'to divide Europe'
  • [08] Foreign Minister Kotzias attends NATO meeting, stresses repercussions of Afghanistan war on Greece
  • [09] Greece respects freedom of expression regardless of religion, says ForMin spokesman
  • [10] Previous government rushed elections due to 452-mln-euro 'gap' in revenues, Alt. FinMin Mardas claims
  • [11] New Democracy urges government to avoid 'disrupting' the economy
  • [12] Greek President welcomes Japanese atomic bomb survivors
  • [13] Greece will not claim Parthenon Marbles through courts, culture minister says
  • [14] Banks' liquidity dominates meeting between gov't vice-president Dragasakis and heads of banks
  • [15] Greek budget shows primary surplus of 2.164 bln euros in Jan-April
  • [16] Greek economy grew 0.3 pct in Q1
  • [17] OTE reports improved Q1 results
  • [18] Greece raises 1.138 bln euros from T-bill auction
  • [19] Budget revenues up 15.2 pct in April
  • [20] Productive Reconstruction Minister attacks central banker over ATEBank break up
  • [21] Greek stocks end flat
  • [22] Greek bond market closing report
  • [23] ADEX closing report
  • [24] 'Five Years with Myrtis' conference kicks off at Acropolis Museum; live streaming on ANA-MPA site
  • [25] Three NGO's criticise SYRIZA MP for saying HIV is transmitted through saliva
  • [26] Mayor of Athens: Ethical and European obligation to construct a mosque
  • [27] Full steam ahead: Restored 'Moutzouris' locomotive returns to Kalavrita railway
  • [28] Greek police discover 93 migrants hidden in train in northern Greece
  • [29] Greek national receives suspended jail sentence for death of 6-year-old British boy
  • [30] Mostly fair on Thursday
  • [31] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

  • [01] FinMin Varoufakis: Negotiations at their most difficult, precarious point

    The negotiations between Greece and its creditors were now at "the most difficult ...precarious point," Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Wednesday. The minister was talking to tax office employees that had gathered outside the finance ministry to make wage-related demands.

    Referring to pressures being exerted by Greece's creditors in the context of the negotiations on a new agreement, Varoufakis said they had reached the point of saying that the government "should take all existing wages above 700 euros and bring them below 700 euros."

    The government was fighting this ruthless policy and stance on a daily basis, the minister added.

    He asked the tax office employees to help so that the negotiations can be concluded, promising that their demands will be discussed once the negotiation was over.

    Concerning his earlier comment while talking to fired cleaners, in which he appeared to suggest that the government might not be in power in January, Varoufakis said that his remark had been taken out of context and given greater importance than it deserved.

    [02] Elections or a referendum not currently on government agenda, Interior Min Voutsis says

    "There is no agreement until there is a package deal," Interior Minister Nikos Voutsis said in statements to ANT1 TV on Wednesday.

    "That means that if there is no final agreement, nothing will apply because we are not proceeding step by step," he added.

    Voutsis underlined that the full package of the proposals will be made known in the next few days. He cleared out that there will be no more prerequisites from the agreement, for the main agreement that will be reached after June regarding the debt and the growth package.

    The minister reassured that the government has the money to pay salaries and pensions adding that the crucial period is from May 29 to June 6 when the first IMF installment needs to be paid.

    Regarding the negotiations, he said that the main issue is the primary surplus. "If they insist on a 2.0-2.5 percent primary surplus for 2015-2016 and a 3.5 percent surplus for the next years, instead of 0.8-1.0 percent which was originally planned, that will be an obstacle in the negotiation," he said.

    On the VAT issue, he said that in case they insist on a 20-21 percent single rate, then the government may not proceed to a single rate and keep the current system with a 23 percent VAT ceiling.

    The Uniform Real Estate Tax (ENFIA) will be maintained, he said, but with some important changes, while real estate objective values will be reduced by 20-30 percent.

    Voutsis said that the government's will is to undertake political initiatives in parliament and cleared out that currently elections or referendum are not on the government agenda.

    [03] SYRIZA will not agree on an agreement cancelling basic aspects of the programme, Alternate Min for Social Insurance Stratoulis says

    I believe that SYRIZA will not come to an agreement that will cancel basic aspects of the programme, Alternate Minister for Social Insurance Dimitris Stratoulis on Wednesday said in statements to Real FM.

    "Manoeuvres are always done, certain retreats are always made, this is legitimate, but not canceling the backbone of your policy statements; such an agreement can't and will not be reached," he added.

    Asked whether the single VAT rate and the maintenance of ENFIA (Uniform Real Estate Tax) cancel the government's red lines, Stratoulis said: "My estimate is that the agreement has not closed yet. I also believe that our policy statements on VAT and ENFIA need to be respected. Some days are left to negotiate and ensure an agreement that does not lead us into humiliating submission, but will open promising paths, at least it will offer some positive way out for the people and the country."

    On the occasion of Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis' statement that the country would face a cash crunch within two weeks if an agreement is not reached, he said: "Our country has many alternative solutions ... and this was also proved this week."

    Asked whether BRICS is an alternative solution, Stratoulis replied: "Even that. If we need to ask for funding and give it to us with favourable terms, without memoranda and unconditional subordination of our country and lend us money as a normal country, why should we rule it out? This is an option that is also on the table."

    [04] No double currency solution, says FinMin Varoufakis

    "There is "no Mayer solution" for double currency. There is only political solution," stated on Wednesday Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis upon his arrival to the ministry adding that "there are mutual compromises in a negotiation."

    Thomas Mayer is former macroeconomics chief of Deutsche Bank.

    [05] 'Difficult' to strike right balance on Greece, ECB's Coeure says-Reuters

    Finding a deal on Greece takes time because it is hard to strike the right balance between the new government's plans and the euro zone's rules, ECB executive board member Benoit Coeure said on Wednesday, according to Reuters news agency.

    "We must find the right balance between two democratically legitimate things, the result of the Greek election and the euro zone rules ... this is quite difficult with a new government that has a very different programme. So it takes time," Coeure told French lawmakers.

    The ECB cannot finance the Greek government but can only help its banks, Coeure said.

    [06] Belgian expert Toussaint says majority of Greek debt is 'illegal, toxic, unsustainable'

    Initial estimates show that the majority of Greek debt is illegal, toxic and unsustainable, Belgian scientific advisor Eric Toussaint, who is advising the Greek government on its debt pile, told Alternate National Defence Minister Costas Isychos during a meeting on Wednesday.

    "The way in which Greek debt has been handled constitutes a violation of the basic rules of International Law on human rights, considering that the implemented policy caused a humanitarian crisis," Toussaint said adding that the loan agreement and the memorandums violate international conventions on human rights and the Greek Constitution.

    "The unilateral suspension of payment of the debt due to the humanitarian crisis is the Greek side's right," he noted.

    The minister, on his side, noted that considering the international economic reality, the issue of public debt must first be examined through political criteria and then through numbers.

    The initial report of the Audit Committee on Public Debt will be published on June 18.

    [07] Government circles on plans 'to divide Europe'

    Government circles warned there are forces who want to divide Europe, commenting on foreign press reports published on Wednesday.

    "It's a strategic decision for Europe which is not related to the economic sustainability of member-states, but with their vision on the future of the EU," the circles noted. "Thankfully, there are forces on the other side which oppose the breakdown and are not the minority," they added.

    [08] Foreign Minister Kotzias attends NATO meeting, stresses repercussions of Afghanistan war on Greece

    ANTALYA (ANA-MPA/ S. Aravopoulou)

    Addressing a NATO foreign ministers' meeting taking place here on Wednesday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias referred to the negative repercussions of the war in Afghanistan on Greece, due to a sharp rise in migrant flows and drug trafficking.

    Kotzias called for control mechanisms capable of dealing with the problem, noting that 13,000 Afghan irregular migrants were arrested in Greece in 2014 and another 3,000 in the first trimester of 2015, while Greek authorities had officially recorded the presence of 55,000 unauthorised Afghan immigrants in the country.

    Earlier, Kotzias attended a brunch given by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry before the start of the meeting, where the issue of adopting a more realistic approach to Russia over the issue of Ukraine was discussed.

    The NATO ministers' meeting then kicked off with the main issues on the agenda, including security in Ukraine, Middle East and North Africa.

    Kotzias, who was already in Turkey on an official visit, arrived in Antalya on Tuesday night.

    [09] Greece respects freedom of expression regardless of religion, says ForMin spokesman

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Koutras said on Wednesday that the holding of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) conference in Komotini in northern Greece is an "indisputable proof" that Greece respects freedom of expression regardless of religion.

    Responding to a journalist's question regarding the conference, the minister said: "First of all, the unhindered and smooth holding of the conference in question is indisputable proof that in Greece there is complete freedom of expression and that the rights of all Greek citizens to assemble and associate freely are fully respected, regardless of religious identity, as provided for by the Hellenic Constitution."

    Regarding the agenda of the conference and the accusations allegedly expressed in the resolution up for adoption, Koutras noted: "The Greek state respects the human rights and the individual and collective freedoms of all citizens without exception, ensuring for the members of the minority a status of full equality before the law."

    Commenting on the protection of Ottoman heritage, an issue included in the agenda of the conference, the minister noted that even under current difficult economic conditions, Greece continues to fund the promotion and protection of Muslim and Ottoman monuments, not just in Thrace, but throughout Greece.

    He said Greece implements the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne and international law more generally, respecting the religious convictions and cultural origins of the three components of the Muslim minority of Western Thrace.

    "In contrast with the members of the Greek Orthodox minority of Istanbul, Imbros and Tenedos, who were forced under painful conditions to abandon their hearths, the Muslim minority of Western Thrace not only prospers, but is also represented by three MPs in the Hellenic Parliament; an opportunity denied many FUEN members," he added.

    In recent years, Greece has introduced a number of modern pieces of legislation that are aimed at improving the education of the members of the Muslim minority, Koutras said. "It is the will of the new Greek government to accelerate and strengthen legislative initiatives aimed at better integration of the minority."

    "The religious freedoms of the Muslim minority are fully respected. Simply consider that Thrace is the only region in the European Union where Islamic Sacred Law, too, is in force. The implementation of Sharia is also the reason why the Greek state participates in the process of choosing the Muftis of Thrace, as they, beyond their religious duties, also have judicial powers; a process that, moreover, is also followed in most Muslim countries."

    The minister also said he hoped that FUEN members will ensure the equal representation of the three components of the Muslim minority, both at the conference and in their organization.

    [10] Previous government rushed elections due to 452-mln-euro 'gap' in revenues, Alt. FinMin Mardas claims

    Criticising the previous ND-PASOK coalition government over its decision to speed up Greece's presidential elections - and thus trigger early general elections - Alternate Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas on Wednesday said an emerging 452-million-euro gap in state finances, which would have become apparent on February 24, had forced the hand of then prime minister Antonis Samaras.

    He called the decision to hold presidential elections in December a "big mistake" that had plunged the country into a pre-election climate "at the worst time, since that month is the most vibrant period of the market. That should have been avoided by all means."

    The decision was at least explained by the figures now at the present government's disposal, which revealed that the outgoing government might have found itself fighting an election campaign and simultaneously unable to pay pensions and salaries, he added.

    Mardas was speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on the Financial Statement and the General Balance Sheet and the implementation of the State Budget, which was briefed on the three-monthly report for January-March 2015 drawn up by Parliament's State Budget Office.

    [11] New Democracy urges government to avoid 'disrupting' the economy

    Main opposition New Democracy on Wednesday urged the government to work "methodically, effectively and with a plan" to avoid disrupting the reforms which have been implemented "with great sacrifice" in the last two years.

    ND's Economic Affairs Coordinator Christos Staikouras said data from the implementation of the state budget show tax revenues fell short of the target by about 750 million euros, costs reached about 2 billion euros below the target and interest payments increased by about 500 million euros or 22 pct higher compared with the corresponding period of 2014.

    [12] Greek President welcomes Japanese atomic bomb survivors

    Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos welcomed on Wednesday atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki who are travelling on the Peace Boat, a Japan-based international NGO which aims at informing the world about the consequences of nuclear weapons.

    "Respect for human dignity requires the prevalence of peace and democracy," Pavlopoulos said in his address to survivors who met with his at the Presidential Mansion.

    The President also noted Greek-Japanese diplomatic relations are one of the oldest relations recorded in Greek history, as they were first established in 1899. "We maintain excellent bilateral relations, especially since we share a long harmonious friendship, based on shared values. In particular the values of peace and respect for human dignity," he said.

    [13] Greece will not claim Parthenon Marbles through courts, culture minister says

    Greece does not intend to make a legal claim for the return of the Parthenon Marbles held at the British Museum through the courts, Alternate Culture Minister Nikos Xydakis announced on Wednesday on Mega television.

    "The route for claiming the return of the Marbles is diplomatic and political," the minister said, adding that the report drawn up by barrister Amal Alamuddin Clooney was part of the legal opinion on the issue that was gradually being handed over by the Robertson-Palmer law firm, who were experts in the field.

    "You cannot go to trial over any issue, on the one hand, while on the other hand the outcome is uncertain in international courts - things are not that simple," Xydakis added. He noted that the climate on the issue was slowly shifting but needed persistent work at a low level.

    Referring to the finds at Amphipolis, the minister said the these were very significant but that the publicity surrounding the discovery had been mishandled, with elements of a media "circus". He noted that work on the site was continuing, in order to preserve and restore the area.

    Financial News

    [14] Banks' liquidity dominates meeting between gov't vice-president Dragasakis and heads of banks

    The liquidity of the banking sector, the contribution of banks in the fight against tax evasion, the improvement of public revenues collection and the more efficient use of development actions dominated a meeting between Government Vice-President Yiannis Dragasakis and the board of Hellenic Bank Association on Wednesday.

    During the meeting, the officials decided to set up a committee that in the next 30 days will draft a strategic plan for the development of digital transactions in Greece and the drastic limitation of cash.

    They also decided a further cooperation aiming at the best use of the opportunities arising from a series of development initiatives ("Juncker investment plan", various European programs, etc.)

    Dragasakis was also briefed on the course of the implementation of the government plan to set up a National Development Bank.

    Finally, they discussed the government's intention to explore the opportunities for Greece's participation in the New Development Bank of BRICS after the relevant proposal submitted to our country.

    [15] Greek budget shows primary surplus of 2.164 bln euros in Jan-April

    The Greek state budget showed a deficit of 508 million euros in the January-April period this year, from a shortfall of 1.146 billion euros in the corresponding period in 2014 and a budget target for a deficit of 2.918 billion, official figures showed on Wednesday.

    The Greek budget showed a primary surplus of 2.164 billion euros in the four-month period, from a primary surplus of 1.046 billion euros last year and a budget target for a primary deficit of 287 million euros.

    Net budget revenues totaled 15.816 billion euros, up 2.4 pct from targets, while regular budget net revenues totaled 14.291 billion euros, down 0.6 pct from targets.

    Tax returns totaled 943 million euros in the January-April period, up from a budget target of 844 million, while Public Investment Programme revenues totaled 1.525 billion euros, up 465 million from targets. State budget revenues were up 8.0 pct in April, while regular budget revenues jumped 15.3 pct from targets and tax returns fell short of targets by 35 million euros or 19.2 pct.

    State budget spending totaled 16.323 billion euros, down from a budget target of 18.361 billion, while regular budget spending were 15.503 billion euros, down 1.628 billion from targets. Budget spending were down 2.4 pct from the same period last year, while Public Investment Programme spending totaled 821 million euros, down 409 million form targets and down 577 million euros from last year.

    Budget spending were down in April from targets while regular budget spending were also lower from targets.

    [16] Greek economy grew 0.3 pct in Q1

    The Greek economy grew in the first quarter of the year, with the country's Gross Domestic Product rising 0.3 pct compared with the same period in 2014, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Wednesday.

    The statistics service, in a report, said that the Greek GDP fell 0.2 pct in the first quarter of 2015, from the fourth quarter of 2014. On a non-seasonally corrected basis, the GDP grew 0.1 pct in the first quarter. The Greek economy grew by 0.7 pct in 2014 (-0.3 pct in the first quarter, 0.3 pct up in the second, 1.5 pct up in the third and 1.3 pct higher in the fourth quarter).

    [17] OTE reports improved Q1 results

    Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) on Wednesday announced improved first quarter results, with revenues rising, free cash flows at 53 million euros and strong EBITDA margin of 34.7 pct. In an announcement, OTE said that cost control, strong operating profitability and cash flows allowed the company to continue investing dynamically in networks and services during the three-month period.

    OTE Group said its turnover eased 2.4 pct in the January-March, although excluding a recent reduction in end-call fees in Romania, group turnover would have been up in the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was 326 million euros, down 2.2 pct from the same period last year, while EBITDA margin was 34.7 pct, up 0.1 percentage points from 2014.

    Adjusted net group profits totaled 53.9 million euros, down 6.3 pct from last year, while investments reached 228.2 million euros in the quarter. Free cash flows jumped to 53 million euros from negative flows of 12.5 million euros last year. Adjusted net borrowing was 1.1 billion euros at the end of March, down 28.3 pct from March 2014.

    Fixed telephony turnover grew for the second successive quarter. OTE attracted 27,000 new broadband services subscribers, or 46 pct of net new connections in the market to a total 1,394,000 customers VDSA attracted more than 107,000 subscribers at the end of the quarter, while OTE recorded 367,000 customers.

    In the mobile telephony business, Cosmote revenues were almost unchanged, while services revenue fell 4.9 pct. In Romania, fixed telephony revenues fell 5.1 pct while in the mobile telephony business turnover fell 12.7 pct. In Albania, AMC's revenues fell 16.4 pct.

    OTE expects to continue stabilizing its performance in Greece this year, based on a constant expansion of new services and a favorable comparison base.

    Mihalis Tsamaz, chairman and chief executive, commenting on the results said that cost control, strong operating profitability and cash flows allowed the company to invest dynamically in networks and services during the quater. "We expect this trends to continue for the rest of the year".

    [18] Greece raises 1.138 bln euros from T-bill auction

    Greece on Wednesday successfully auctioned a three-month Treasury bill issue raising 1.138 billion euros from the market at an unchanged cost. The Finance ministry, in an announcement said that the interest rate of the issue was set at 2.70 pct unchanged from the previous auction of same issue in April. Bids submitted were 1.3 times more than the asked sum of 875 million euros.

    [19] Budget revenues up 15.2 pct in April

    Net budget revenues surpassed targets by 15.2 pct, or by 500 million euros, in April offering a large breathe to the Finance ministry in managing its obligations. A Finance ministry announcement on Wednesday attributed this positive development to a massive response by taxpayers to a ministry plan offering more favorable payment terms for overdue debt, dividend payment by public sector enterprises and a delayed payment of a property tax.

    Net revenues surpassed 3.7 billion euros in April, further reducing a shortfall in the first quarter of the year. Ministry data showed that a total of 380,000 taxpayers have applied for inclusion in a favorable payment terms plan, with a total overdue debt of 2.8 billion euros, while cash collected so far reached 135 million euros.

    [20] Productive Reconstruction Minister attacks central banker over ATEBank break up

    Productive Reconstruction Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis and SYRIZA Parliamentary spokesman Thanassis Petrakos on Wednesday both attack Bank of Greece government Yannis Stournaras in Parliament, holding him responsible for the dismantling of the Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATE Bank) when he was Greece's finance minister.

    Lafazanis warned that all "political and legal liability will be fully investigated" and no one would be above the law, for both ATE Bank and the privatisation of the TT Post Bank.

    "Overnight he decided ATE was not viable. We asked him then on what evidence. He never brought it to Parliament," the minister said, saying the transfer of the 'healthy' portion of ATE to Piraeus was "suspect" and that a similar process had been followed for TT Post Bank.

    [21] Greek stocks end flat

    Greek stocks ended flat in the Athens Stock Exchange on Wednesday with the composite index of the market ending at 828.87 points, down 0.03 pct, unable to hold on to its earlier gains (1.92 pct). The Large Cap index ended 0.40 pct higher and the Mid Cap index jumped 1.27 pct. Turnover was an improved 94.29 million euros. Hellenic Petroleum (4.94 pct), OTE (3.66 pct), Folli Follie (3.36 pct) and Piraeus Bank (2.22 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while MIG (7.86 pct), PPC (5.65 pct) and GEK Terna (4.37 pct) suffered heavy losses.

    Among market sectors, Telecoms (3.66 pct), Commerce (3.35 pct) and Oil (1.26 pct) scored big gains while Utilities (3.58 pct), Technology (2.29 pct) and Constructions (2.06 pct) suffered losses.

    Broadly, advancers led decliners by 59 to 48 with another 21 issues unchanged. Hellenic Sugar (15.50 pct), ANEK (15 pct) and Mohlos (11.82 pct) were top gainers, while Pegasus (19.87 pct), Varvaressos (19.35 pct) and PC Systems (18.37 pct) were top losers.

    Sector indices ended as follows:

    Banks: +0.92%

    Insurance: -1.39%

    Financial Services: -1.17%

    Industrial Products: +0.29%

    Commercial: +3.35%

    Real Estate: -0.04%

    Personal & Household: -0.41%

    Food & Beverages: 7.241.13 +0.26%

    Raw Materials: 2.557.67 -1.23%

    Construction: -2.06%

    Oil: +1.26%

    Chemicals: +1.22%

    Media: unchanged

    Travel & Leisure: +0.01%

    Technology: -2.29%

    Telecoms: +3.66%

    Utilities: -3.58%

    Health: -0.65%

    The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank and Eurobank.

    Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE

    Large Cap index closed in euros as follows:

    Alpha Bank: 0.321

    Public Power Corp (PPC): 5.18

    Coca Cola HBC: 19.41

    Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE): 4.67

    National Bank of Greece: 1.21

    OPAP: 8.50

    OTE: 8.50

    Piraeus Bank: 0.460

    Titan: 22.14

    Grivalia Properties: 7.85

    Aegean Airlines: 7.70

    [22] Greek bond market closing report

    The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds eased to 10.11 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond market on Wednesday, with the Greek bond yielding 10.82 pct and the German Bund yielding 0.71 pct. There was no turnover in the market.

    In interbank markets, interest rates moved lower. The 12-month rate eased to 0.167 pct from 0.168 pct, the nine-month rate eased to 0.106 pct from 0.107 pct, the six-month rate fell to 0.060 pct from 0.061 pct, the three-month rate was 0.082 pct and the one-month rate was -0.044 pct.

    [23] ADEX closing report

    The May contract on the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index was trading at a discount of 0.58 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Wednesday. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 54,971 contracts with 58,146 open positions in the market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 80,099 contracts with investment interest focusing on Piraeus Bank's contracts (22,412), followed by Alpha Bank (15,475), National Bank (15,818), Eurobank (19,738), MIG (1,391), OTE (1,122), PPC (1,695), Mytilineos (173), Hellenic Petroleum (377), GEK (358), Folli Follie (139), Jumbo (136), Frigoglass (449) and Ellaktor (87).

    General News

    [24] 'Five Years with Myrtis' conference kicks off at Acropolis Museum; live streaming on ANA-MPA site

    The conference "Five years with Myrtis" began on Wednesday at the Acropolis Museum, with distinguished scientists, academics and representatives of the arts and letters participating, speaking and attending.

    The conference coincides with the fifth anniversary since scientists succeeded in reconstructing the features of 11-year-old 'Myrtis', the 5th century B.C girl who put a face to distant antiquity.

    Streamed live on the ANA-MPA website, the seminar kicked off with an address by Prof. Constantinos Bourazelis, the Norwegian Ambassador in Athens Sjur Larsen and the Alternate Minister for Research and Innovation, Prof. Constantinos Fotakis.

    Speakers noted that this is the end of the first 'cycle' in the story of Myrtis, 25 years after Athens University Professor of Orthodontics Manolis Papagrigorakis first had the idea of reconstructing her face.

    Then at the University of Bergen in Norway for postgraduate studies, Papagrigorakis launched the project, along with his professors, creating a programme for studying the craniofacial traits of the Greeks.

    It also marks a new cycle for the Acropolis Museum, since the conference brings together at least 25 distinguished scientists from throughout the world to speak on the project.

    A girl struck down nearly 2,500 years ago by typhoid fever - the plague that also killed the ancient Athenian statesman Pericles and a third of all Athenians living at that time - 'Myrtis' was the name given her by the scientists that "resurrected" her.

    Since "rejoining" the modern age, she has been made a "Millenium Friend" and her picture was posted on a website supporting the UN Millenium Goals as a message to the world about disease prevention.

    "My death was inevitable. In the 5th century BC we had neither the knowledge nor the means to fight deadly illnesses. However, you, the people of the 21st century, have no excuse. You possess all the necessary means and resources to save the lives of millions of people. To save the lives of millions of children like me who are dying of preventable and curable diseases. 2,500 years after my death, I hope that my message will engage and inspire more people to work and make the Millennium Development Goals a reality," a letter posted next to her picture says.

    Her bones were discovered in 1994-1995, in a mass grave with another 150 bodies, during work to build the metro station in Kerameikos. Her skull was in an unusually good condition and this inspired Professor Papagrigorakis to enlist the help of specialist scientists from Sweden to recreate her features, using the 'Manchester' facial reconstruction technique. The final result, wearing a linen dress made especially for the purpose by Greek fashion designer Sophia Kokosalaki and based on images of clothing styles of that time, forms the backbone of an exhibition that explores both the various stages of a facial reconstruction.

    It also exhibits the finds uncovered by archaeologists at Kerameikos, which date around 430-426 B.C. and are linked with the plague that contributed to Athens' defeat from Sparta during the Peloponnesian Wars. Scientists decided to give 'Myrtis' brown eyes and brown hair, arranged in a Classical era style, like the majority of Athenians at that time but stressed that her true colours could only be discovered by expensive DNA analysis that has not yet been carried out. DNA analysis techniques have confirmed, however, that Myrtis and two other bodies in the mass grave had died of typhoid fever, confirming theories about the historic plague.

    When orthodontics professor Manolis Papagrigorakis, the man who first conceived the project of reconstructing Myrtis, was asked how much the ancient Greeks resemble to modern Greeks, he replied: "My study at the University of Bergen in Norway showed that the skull of modern Greeks is exactly the same, statistically, while the cerebral skull has changed, this is normal and this is how it needed to be developed ... due to the human evolution."

    According to the World Health Organization, 500,000-700,000 people still die from typhoid fever every year and almost nine million children under the age of five die from diseases that can be prevented and cured.

    The conference is held under the auspices of the University of Athens, the Ministry of Research and Innovation, the UN and the Norwegian Embassy in Athens.

    [25] Three NGO's criticise SYRIZA MP for saying HIV is transmitted through saliva

    Three Greek cooperating NGOs' which are active on issues relating to HIV/AIDS criticized SYRIZA MP Giannis Mihelogiannakis on Wednesday for arguing that the disease is transmitted through saliva during an interview at a private TV station.

    "We watched with surprise as you attributed to almost metaphysical factors the 'courage' of a doctor, who in fact specializes in infectious diseases, to take communion from the same cup as 'children with AIDS'," the association of HIV positive patients "Positive Voice", the Center for Life and PRAKSIS said in a joint statement.

    "We call on your capacity as a doctor to highlight the scientifically proven assumption that HIV is not transmitted through saliva," they added.

    The NGO's also urged Mihelogiannakis to consider the negative consequences of his rhetoric on the lives of people living with HIV and to help fight stereotypes instead of fuelling them. "For people who live with HIV, the correct and responsible information on the disease, the mode of transmission and prevention is the most important condition in reducing and eliminating the stigma and social exclusion," they concluded.

    [26] Mayor of Athens: Ethical and European obligation to construct a mosque

    The mayor of Athens Giorgos Kaminis supported on Wednesday the construction of a mosque in Athens saying it's "an ethical duty" and a "European obligation".

    Speaking during the innovation and entrepreneurship event Innovathens, Kaminis said: "It goes without saying that Muslims living in Greece, either as residents or as visitors, have every right to worship their own God in a decent environment."

    [27] Full steam ahead: Restored 'Moutzouris' locomotive returns to Kalavrita railway

    A slice of living history, the original DK 8001 steam locomotive that first ran on the tracks of the Diakofto-Kalavrita rack railway has been put back to work, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience some ravishing scenery, as well as an authentic taste of bygone eras.

    Hellenic Railway Organisation (OSE) on Tuesday took delivery of the fully restored and refurbished steam engine from the Hellenic Company for Maintenance of Railway Rolling Stock, which returned the historic locomotive to its base, where it will once again ply the dramatic and scenic route from Diakofto to Kalavrita.

    First built under the Harilaos Trikoupis government of 1896, the 750 mm gauge rack railway runs 22 km from Diakofto through the Vouraikos Gorge and the old Mega Spilaion Monastery and up to Kalavryta, stopping en route at Zachlorou. The DK 8001 engine was the original locomotive built by Cail and a historic part of the country's railway fleet.

    [28] Greek police discover 93 migrants hidden in train in northern Greece

    Greek police on Wednesday discovered 93 irregular migrants, most of whom are Syrians, hidden in commercial train wagons which had just arrived from Hungary to the northern town of Kilkis.

    Migrants, among which 19 minors, told police they had been defrauded by the trafficker who had promised to send them to Serbia, not Greece. They said they each paid 500 euros to the trafficker to travel from FYROM - where they boarded the train - to Serbia, from where they would attempt to reach countries in central and northern Europe to find relatives and work.

    According to police, the trafficker is a male of Afghan origin and is still at large. After examining their paperwork, authorities concluded that all migrants except one held temporary residence notes which allowed them to stay in Greece but not to approach border regions, like the town of Kilkis. This means they would be sent back to inner parts of the country. The migrant who had no legal documents will be deported.

    Police was alerted just after 09.00 am this morning after one of the migrants called the European emergency number 112. He said he was in a train along with dozens of other people and that they were disoriented. The final destination of the train was Thessaloniki.

    [29] Greek national receives suspended jail sentence for death of 6-year-old British boy

    A court on the island of Zakynthos imposed on Wednesday a suspended jail sentence of four years and 10 months to a Greek national who fatally injured a six-year-old boy from Britain and caused minor injuries to his father in a car accident in the summer of 2012.

    The incident took place in the road linking Kalamaki to the popular town of Laganas where the boy was holidaying with his parents.

    The court also ordered the convicted man to hand over his driving licence and pay a 1,500-euro compensation to the boy's father. The trial was attended by Britain's vice consul on the island as well as the boy's parents who testified during the proceedings.

    Weather forecast

    [30] Mostly fair on Thursday

    Mostly fair weather and winds from variable directions are forecast for Thursday. Wind velocity will reach 5 on the Beaufort scale. Scattered clouds in the northern parts of the country with temperatures ranging from 14C-28C. Mostly fair in the western parts and temperatures between 15C-28C. Scattered clouds in the eastern parts with temperatures between 14C-29C. Sunny over the Aegean islands and Crete, 17C-26C. Mostly fair in Athens, 16C-28C. Scattered clouds in Thessaloniki, 14C-26C.

    [31] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

    AVGHI: So close, so far.

    DIMOKRATIA: Where are we heading to?

    EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Exchange of ultimatums

    ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: 5 years in the queue for pension

    ESTIA: Economic policy is non-existent

    ETHNOS: 4 settlements for bad loans

    IMERISSIA: Ten crucial days

    KATHIMERINI: Report-bomb on pensions

    KONTRANEWS: Enough with the negotiations. They are making fool of us

    NAFTEMPORIKI: Time is running out

    RIZOSPASTIS: People should reject obvious and hidden blackmails

    TA NEA: Shadow theatre for an agreement

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