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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 15-08-26Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Wednesday August 26 2015CONTENTS
[01] President Pavlopoulos calls on Europe to take measures on migrationPresident of the Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Tuesday stressed the need for Europe to take measures immediately on the migration issue during his meeting with the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania Anastasios.The President supported the view of holding an EU summit on migration and welcomed the statements of European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who recognized the need for a European policy according to the principles and values of the European Union. Pavlopoulos noted that the migration issue has taken explosive dimensions, adding that this is not only a humanitarian problem but it also affects the World Peace. [02] President Pavlopoulos not to convene political leaders meeting, ANA-MPA sources sayPresident of the Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos is not expected to convene a political leaders meeting, according to ANA-MPA sources. This is not considered necessary taking into account the refusal of SYRIZA, ANEL and KKE leaders to participate in that meeting.The same sources said that Pavlopoulos will have a series of phone contacts with party leaders, and possibly meet with them in case anyone asks for it, in order to discuss their intentions. It is estimated that a mandate to form an interim government will be given to the president of the Supreme Court Vassiliki Thanou on Thursday evening. Elections will likely be held on September 20. [03] PM Tsipras meets Archbishop of AlbaniaPrime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday welcomed the Archbishop of Tirana Durres and All Albania Anastasios at the Maximos Mansion and referred to his important work in religious and social issues.Tsipras also referred to the important role of the Archbishop in Albania as the leader of the Orthodox community. "We follow with interest your work in Albania in all fields," the Prime Minister underlined. On his part, the Archbishop of Albania wished him wisdom to take the right decisions at these critical moments. "What people want is truth and love and creative work," he added. [04] Government says main opposition is in 'complete confusion'The government accused the main opposition on Tuesday of "complete confusion" in its message for the upcoming elections, following the publication of a non-paper by New Democracy in which the party listed 14 measures included in the third bailout."New Democracy has plunged into complete confusion because of its anxiety for the result of the imminent elections," government sources said. "On the one hand, it warns people on the tough measures ahead and on the other it requests a postponement of the elections and a national unity government in order to participate in their implementation," it added. [05] President Pavlopoulos tells PASOK leader he will implement Constitution on leaders' meetingGreek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos reassured PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata on Tuesday that he will invite political leaders to discuss further political developments once the exploratory bids are concluded, as requested.In a letter to Gennimata, Pavlopoulos says he "will fully implement the provisions of article 38 par. 1 and 37 par. 3 of the Constitution." [06] PASOK agrees with meeting of political leaders, leader to send request to PresidentPASOK leader Fofi Gennimata will ask President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to convene the council of political leaders when the three-day exploratory mandate received by Popular Unity leader Panagiotis Lafazanis expires, sources said on Tuesday.Gennimata has written a letter which will be sent in the coming days, in which she requests not to specify the election date before political leaders have met. [07] SYRIZA to soon present realistic 'parallel' programme to run alongside creditor agreements, Gerovasili saysSYRIZA will soon present a "parallel, realistic and adapted" programme that will not conflict with the bailout agreements signed by Greece but counterbalance their harsher repercussions for the weakest sections of society, government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said on Tuesday."There are commitments to which we have agreed and will support. Nevertheless, we have a parallel programme that will run and that we believe will counterbalance the harshest repercussions, especially for the weakest, which we have an obligation to address because we have promised this to the Greek people," Gerovasili said on the radio station 'Real FM'. She noted that this parallel programme was "beyond the negotiation" and would be based on feasible and clearly stated goals, which would be doable, realistic and not clash with the terms of the agreement. "We are entering a pre-election period, therefore there is no issue of negotiation on the parallel programme," Gerovasili added. She dismissed proposals made by main opposition ND leader Vangelis Meimarakis for a cooperation government to avoid snap elections as a "last communications tactic" that was not realistic. The government and prime minister considered resort to elections essential, in order to receive a new and strong popular mandate, and did not consider a single-party majority in Parliament out of reach, she said. [08] ANEL leader Kammenos meets with Debout La Republique leader Dupont-AignanIndependent Greeks (ANEL) leader and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos met on Tuesday with the leader of the French party Debout la Republique Nicolas Dupont-Aignan.The two officials discussed issues regarding the migration, the imminent general elections in Greece and France as well as the cooperation of the two parties. [09] Civil Protection GenSec discusses migration with new Austrian envoyMigration was the main issue discussed in a meeting between the general secretary of Civil Protection Dimitris Anagnostakis and the new Austrian Ambassador to Greece Andrea Ikic-Bohm at the ministry on Tuesday.During the meeting, Anagnostakis presented the ambassador the government's initiatives to protest citizens and the sense of security in society. He also explained the role of Greek police in managing the refugee crisis. On her side, Bohm presented the problems faced by Austria from the increased migratory flows, and expressed her conviction that there will be a fruitful collaboration between the two countries. [10] Government spokeswoman: ND leader Meimarakis wants to avoid 'political collapse'The leader of Greece's main opposition, Vangelis Meimarakis, is only concerned with how to avoid his party's political collapse, government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said on Tuesday."Even by making a fool of himself, he cannot hide the embarrassment in which New Democracy finds itself, as it is facing the popular verdict," the spokeswoman said. She noted that Meimarakis is not concerned with what is good for the country but with how he will manage New Democracy's "political collapse", which is why he's trying to delay the elections. "It's time for the Greek people to grant a clear and strong four-year mandate," she added. [11] ND spokesman rules out post-election cooperation with SYRIZAMain opposition New Democracy's spokesman Costas Karagounis on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of cooperation with SYRIZA after the elections, saying that the ruling coalition leader lacked a "reform mentality".He noted that the period after the elections will demand decisive policies and rapid reforms, which could be carried out by ND and "some other forces that believe in these reforms". "We cannot have SYRIZA, three days ago, on the same day as it proclaimed elections, shutting down Skouries...and there is much more. Or what Voutsis said, that if [SYRIZA] finds itself in the opposition, it will go back to being anti-memorandum. They don't believe in the reforms," he added. He said that ND must work with forces that believed in the changes and reforms that must be carried out in the economy, while making improvements on the fiscal front to ease the overtaxation and high contributions included in the current package in order to put more emphasis on growth. [12] Main opposition leader calls for meeting of political leadersNew Democracy (ND) leader Vangelis Meimarakis called for a meeting of the council of political leaders after the completion of the exploratory process, following a meeting with Popular Unity leader Panagiotis Lafazanis in parliament on Tuesday.He said the meeting is necessary to discuss the possibility of forming a government from the current parliament but also to decide on a caretaker government. If no agreement is reached, the mandate to form a government will be granted to Supreme Court President Vasiliki Thanou. Popular Unity MPs Dimitris Stratoulis and Kostas Isychos attend the meeting between the two party leaders. [13] New Democracy accuses PM Tsipras of hidingMain opposition New Democracy (ND) accused Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of hiding on Tuesday, adding he should show up during the process of the exploratory bids.We call on Mr. Tsipras to show up in the framework of the exploratory mandates, as the president of New Democracy Vangelis Meimarakis has asked him," the party said in a statement. Commenting on government leaks claiming the premier is showing social sensitivity, the main opposition said the "answer to this is provided by the painful measures imposed by the monstrous memorandum of Tsipras and [ANEL leader Panos] Kammenos." [14] Snap elections a result of PM's 'personal and internal party problems', MP Anna Karamanli tells ANA-MPAIn a statement to the ANA-MPA on Tuesday, main opposition New Democracy MP Anna Karamanli said the resort to snap elections was a direct result of the problems faced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras within his party and on a personal level."The farce we have experienced in recent months with the SYRIZA-ANEL government has culminated with Tsipras' resignation and a rushed resort to elections. The outgoing prime minister triggered elections last January by promising to abolish the memorandums. Now, trapped by his internal party and personal impasses, he is once again causing elections, with his main argument being that he can best implement the third memorandum," she said. She accused Tsipras of "political opportunism" and using elections as a way to "clear things up" in his own party, regardless of the repercussions for Greece's flailing economy. "He insists on doing politics with bluffs, evasive action and tacticism, having as his only goal to remain in power at all costs. This is why he is ignoring the desire of the overwhelming majority of citizens, who want a national understanding and return to stability," Karamanli said. [15] Institutions and Transparency Committee to reconvene on WednesdayThe Greek parliament's Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency will reconvene on Wednesday, Parliament President Zoi Konstantopoulou announced on Tuesday, after the session was cancelled due to a lack of quorum.Konstantopoulou said she will summon the Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras at 17.00 (local time) for a third time to testify on an out-of- court settlement which was reached with German conglomerate Siemens. She said the summoning to Stournaras will also be communicated to the public prosecutor, clarifying however that this will not be done to subpoena him but to officially notify him. [16] Potami leader Theodorakis calls on Tsipras, Meimarakis to hold TV debatesPotami party called on all political leaders on Tuesday to agree to a televised debate with direct dialog between leaders, noting that the usual pattern of monologues are pointless. "The parallel monologues of 7-8 political leaders make no sense as each person is merely parroting the prepared answers written by their associates," Potamni said in a statement adding that this is what has been happening for decades in all developed democracies.In this spirit, party leader Stavros Theodorakis invited outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and main opposition leader Vangelis Meimarakis in an open televised discussion. [17] Potami leader: Greece's crisis is product of old political system, solution is oursThe crisis facing Greece today is a product of the governance of SYRIZA and New Democracy but the solution lies in the hands of the people, Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis told private station Alpha on Tuesday evening, in his first pre-election interview."The crisis we are experience today belongs to them. To the old political system. But the solution is ours," he noted, while discussing his party's electoral aims. "Potami is a machine for reform. There cannot be an effective government without Potami. Our electoral aim is for the party to be the regulator of the next government," he said. Theodorakis clarified however that the prospect of cooperating with ND or SYRIZA didn't make him feel comfortable and blamed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for the country's collapse, explaining that "he was far below the people's expectations". Commenting on ND leader Vangelis Meimarakis, he said "he speaks straight but he cannot forget he was a lawmaker and ND official, taking decisions." [18] Popular Unity is just 'SYRIZA no. 2', says KKE's KoutsoumbasCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Tuesday dismissed the Popular Unity party led by former SYRIZA minister Panagiotis Lafazanis as simply a second version of SYRIZA.With the parties vying for their vote in the few weeks ahead of elections, he said, the people's choice cannot be about who will complete the slaughter but how, with a strong KKE, "we will open the way for its reversal, without capitalist property and power, an issue that is not questioned in the least by the new "buffer", Lafazanis' SYRIZA number 2, who for seven months supported the government that preserved the memorandums of ND and PASOK while negotiating for its own, even worse memorandum." [19] Popular Unity's Lafazanis says president should not 'rush' elections even moreIn statements after his meeting with main opposition New Democracy leader Evangelos Meimarakis on Tuesday, the head of the breakaway 'Popular Unity' group of MPs Panagiotis Lafazanis urged Greece's President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to not set an election date before September 27."The president of the Republic cannot...decide as if he were an agent of the government. He is president of all Greeks and must allow time for Greek citizens to be fully informed about the repercussions of the memorandum. He cannot set elections before September 27, it would be unacceptable and inexcusable if he did," Lafazanis said. He also noted that with Parliament still open, it was possible to hold a vote to scrap the "feudal" 50-seat bonus given to the leading party under existing election law and adopt a system of simple proportional representation in the upcoming elections. Regarding his meeting with Meimarakis, held in the context of a three-day exploratory mandate to attempt to form a coalition government without resorting to elections, Lafazanis said the differences between ND and Popular Unity were too wide to be bridged. Lafazanis, as leader of the third-largest bloc of MPs in Parliament, received a mandate to attempt to form a government on Monday. [20] 2,489 refugees from Syria expected at Pireaus port on TuesdayEleftherios Venizelos ferry carrying 2,489 refugees from Syria is expected to dock at Piraeus port on Tuesday. The ferry sailed from Mytilene island early in the morning.Meanwhile, Coast Guard's operation to locate four missing migrants that were on a boat that capsized early Monday east of Lesvos is still fruitless. The bodies of two other migrants of the 14 in total that were on the same boat were found on Monday. [21] Commission close to disbursing 30 mln euros to Greece as refugee aidBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Aroni) - The European Commission is very close to disbursing financial aid totaling 30 million euros to Greece to help the country deal with the refugee and migrant influx of recent months, Natasha Bertaud, spokesperson for the European Commission, said on Tuesday.Bertaud said the Commission is waiting for the Greek authorities to announce the establishment of the Agency which will handle the funds to release the first tranche of the aid. The spokeswoman also noted that the European Commission has identified two "hotspots" of migration one in Sicily and one in Piraeus. In the coming days, visiting staff from Europol, Frontex and the European Support Office (EASO) are expected to travel to these two towns to help authorities' fast track actions which record, fingerprint and authenticate incoming migrants. Asylum seekers will immediately go through an asylum procedure with support groups from EASO helping in the processing of asylum cases as fast as possible, she added. [22] Prosecutor seeks Parliament permission to prosecute Mitropoulos on tax evasion chargeAssistant Financial Prosecutor Yiannis Dragatsis on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court public prosecution to forward a request to Parliament, asking for the suspension of immunity from prosecution of SYRIZA MP and Parliament Vice-President Alexis Mitropoulos so that he might face charges of tax evasion and money laundering.The charges relate to allegations made by two former associates of Mitropoulos, who said that he had failed to pay them their share of fees for a past case several years ago, for which Mitropoulos allegedly earned about one million euros. Investigation of their claim showed that the sum had not been declared by Mitropoulos, who is now facing charges of tax evasion and money laundering as a result. According to sources, Mitropoulos had repeatedly contested the accuracy of the accusations with evidence submitted to the SDOE financial crimes investigative unit and has also countered with legal action in the administrative courts. In spite of this, the legal proceedings initiated by the financial prosecutor must still go ahead, since the amount of tax that the Parliament vice-president potentially owes amounts to 940,000 euros. Finacial News [23] Greek stocks bounce back on Tuesday, recover lost groundGreek stocks bounced back strongly on Tuesday, tracking European markets and recovering nearly all the ground lost in the wake of China's 'Black Monday' to climb comfortably above 600 points. The recovery was predominately powered by the banking sector, where the index gained 26.93 pct by close of trade.The composite index of the market rose 9.38 pct to end at 621.70 points, off the day's highs of 623.43 points. The market's total capitalisation increased by 3.212 billion euros compared to Monday. Turnover was low at 36.609 million euros. The Large Cap index rose 11.69 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 4.42 pct up. All blue chip stocks ended higher, with the exception of Grivalia Properties (-1.84 pct). The biggest gains were for Alpha Bank (29.17 pct), Piraeus Bank (29.17 pct), Eurobank (26.47 pct), National Bank of Greece (25.42 pct), OTE (20.90 pct), Titan (20.51 pct), Folli Follie (17.42 pct) and Ellaktor (15.60 pct). All market sectors moved higher except Real Estate (-0.58 pct), with the biggest gains for Banks (26.93 pct), Telecoms (20.93 pct), Construction (17.60 pct), Commercial (17.25 pct) and Health (15.84 pct). Broadly, advancers led decliners by 77 to 33 with another 8 issues unchanged. Piraeus (29.17 pct), Alpha Bank (29.17 pct) and Inform Lycos (28.68 pct) were top gainers, while AEGEK (20.00 pct), Sekonta (18.75 pct), Nireas (18.67) and GIE Dimitriou (17.65 pct) were top losers. [24] Athens Bourse Close 2Sector indices ended as follows:Banks: +26.93% Insurance: +13.82% Financial Services: +8.43% Industrial Products: +5.50% Commercial: +17.25% Real Estate: -0.58% Personal & Household: +4.18% Food & Beverages: +5.25% Raw Materials: +7.81% Construction: +17.60% Oil: +8.27% Chemicals: +3.23% Travel & Leisure: +8.30% Technology: +1.94% Telecoms: +20.90% Utilities: +10.10% Health: +15.84% The stocks with the highest turnover were OTE, NBG, OPAP and Alpha Bank. Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index closed in euros as follows: Alpha Bank: 0.093 Eurobank 0.043 Public Power Corp (PPC): 4.04 Coca Cola HBC: 17.84 Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE): 4.10 National Bank of Greece: 0.449 OPAP: 7.09 OTE: 8.10 Piraeus Bank: 0.093 Titan: 21.21 Grivalia Properties: 7.46 Aegean Airlines: 6.42 [25] ADEX closing reportThe September contract on the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index was trading at a premium of 2.23 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Tuesday.The FTSE/ASE Large Cap index closed at 182.19 points, registering gains of 11.69 pct. Volume on the Large Cap index totaled 1,263 contracts with 6,851 open positions in the market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 18,534 contracts with investment interest focusing on Piraeus Bank's contracts (4,902), followed by Eurobank (4,824), Alpha Bank (2,886), National Bank's contracts (3,032), PPC (653), OTE (339), Mytilineos (209), MIG (542), Hellenic Petroleum (145), OPAP (115), METKA (169) and Folli Follie (240). General News [26] Wildfires on Crete under controlTwo wildfires that broke out on Monday near Aghios Nikolaos on Crete were set under control on Tuesday. The fire burned 6 hectares of forest, farmland and brushland.ANAMPA English Bulletin Stathis Giannopoulos Tel.6974507878 [27] Forecast on WednesdayFair weather and northerly winds are forecast for Wednesday. Wind velocity will reach 6 on the Beaufort scale. Mostly fair in the northern and the western parts of the country with temperatures ranging from 18C-34C. Fair in the eastern parts with temperatures between 18C-33C. Sunny over the Aegean islands and Crete, 23C-31C. Fair in Athens, 21C-32C. Mostly fair in Thessaloniki, 19C-31C.Athens News Headlines at a glance AVGHI: The social SYRIZA should come to the forefront DIMOKRATIA: 100,000 job positions to open by February 2016 EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Lost in translation ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Abandoning SYRIZA ESTIA: Global worries as a result of the new crisis ETHNOS: Divorces and weddings ahead of the elections IMERISSIA: Black Monday KATHIMERINI: 'Yellow fever' in markets KONTRA NEWS: Fortunately (PM Alexis) Tsipras signed the agreement NAFTEMPORIKI: Close to a crash RIZOSPASTIS: Everyone to (communist party) KKE's rally on Thursday 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE - TEL: 64.00.560-63 - FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr - E-MAIL: anabul@ana gr PRESIDENT & GENERAL DIRECTOR: MICHALIS PSILOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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