Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 15-09-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] SYRIZA leader Tsipras: 'Greece will have a government the day after the elections'

[02] ND leader Meimarakis: 'Greeks want a national team' after the elections

[03] President Pavlopoulos calls on US and Russia to use their influence to stop the war in Syria

[04] Refugee crisis to big for countries to handle on individual basis, Greek Alt. FM tells EU Council

[05] It is high time for Europe to show solidarity on refugee crisis, Greek minister Mouzalas says

[06] Greek authority for managing EU funds for refugee, migrant actions begins operation

[07] President Pavlopoulos visits Syrian refugee baby given heart surgery in Athens

[08] Greece will have a government the next day of the elections, SYRIZA leader Tsipras says

[09] Former gov't VP Dragasakis: Only a single-party majority for SYRIZA can ensure stability

[10] ANEL leader asks for PM intervention in alleged interference in corruption case

[11] Communist Party leader says Greeks must decide who they want in opposition

[12] KKE's main pre-election rally to take place on Wednesday, party announces

[13] PASOK says 18 laws introduced by its governments have helped tackle corruption

[14] Popular Unity leader urges Greeks to abolish memorandums with their vote

[15] SYRIZA-New Democracy tie in Metron Analysis poll

[16] Woman named in Lagarde list investigation rushes to pay half million in taxes on undeclared income

[17] Las Incantadas attracted 170,000 visitors of TIF

[18] National Bank begins cooperation with Blueground

[19] Greek banks reduced borrowing from ELA in August

[20] Industrial import price index down 11.5 pct in July

[21] Construction production index up 0.9 pct in Q2

[22] Visitors, revenues to museums, archaeological sites up in Jan-May 2015

[23] Greek stocks end slightly lower

[24] Greek bond market closing report

[25] ADEX closing report

[26] Rescue operation to locate missing migrants after the capsizing of sailboat continues on Monday

[27] No missing migrants found in sunken ship

[28] Coast guard rescues 1,429 migrants in 58 separate incidents

[29] Greek free clinic, winner of EU Parliament's Citizen's Prize, says child mortality has risen

[30] Innovative 3D printing and plastic recycling workshop 'The New Raw' to be shown in Greece

[31] National Theatre launches 'Open Rehearsals'

[32] Short film festival of Drama begins on Monday

[33] Mostly fair on Tuesday

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

[01] SYRIZA leader Tsipras: 'Greece will have a government the day after the elections'

He noted, however, that he will respect the result of the elections and will try to create the conditions for the formation of a new government, but not by accepting a coalition with New Democracy.

"There will either be a progressive government or a conservative government," Tsipras said, stressing that there will be an opportunity to cooperate with the Independent Greeks. He also said stability will be secured with the largest possible percentage for SYRIZA.

Asked about pensions and MP privileges, Tsipras said his government had brought to parliament a draft bill, but there wasn't enough time to vote it. He added however that privilege cannot exist for the political system and this is something on which the two main parties can agree upon without being in a coalition government.

On pension reforms, the leader of SYRIZA said his government gave a "very tough battle" keeping pensions and leaving open the possibility of founding alternatives and avoid a zero deficit clause. He described the issue as a "time bomb" citing the coalition government of ND and PASOK who removed 25 billion euros from pension funds.

"We have a plan for reforms which will protect the weak," he said adding that there must not be a different treatment between the people and their representatives, recalling that he ordered a bill that removes a series of privileges of political personnel.

[02] ND leader Meimarakis: 'Greeks want a national team' after the elections

"If we have a common course we can cooperate because Greeks demand a national team; Greeks want us to cooperate, to forge a new plan on how the country will be governed; a national negotiating team," Meimarakis said in reply to a journalist's question on whether they will cooperate with SYRIZA after the elections.

The leader of New Democracy admitted that there are many capable and worthy officials from different political sides whom he intends to use, if elected, which could include members of the caretaker government and the previous government of SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras.

Asked by Tsipras to respond on accusations that ND has not tackled corruption, Meimarakis said: "The country went ahead, mistakes were made, but let's not tear down everything. We cannot have lessons on corruption from people who didn't bring a single law [against corruption] to parliament." He continued to present measures brought by ND to fight corruption and tax evasion.

"What did Mr. Tsipras do for six months? The only thing he did was to abolish Diavgia. Why didn't he pass the law on media licenses? He wanted to blackmail," he added.

Responding to a question on the harsh criticism leveled by the leader of the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, against Greece a few months ago, Meimarakis distanced himself from the comments: "Just because we participate in EPP, it doesn't mean we all agree between us."

Commenting on Greece's debt, he said that there already is a clause on debt restructuring - and not haircut - in the deal signed by the country, "something which Mr. Tsipras doesn't seem to know."

Discussing the issue of investments and employment, Meimarakis said his party is ready to unblock all major projects. "We'll absorb EU funds, we'll move ahead of major projects; we start work on Monday," he said, adding that Tsipras has not pushed ahead with anything. "The government of Tsipras sent the message that he doesn't want businesses to come here.

Talking on layoffs, he said the issue was never raised by the ND government. ""Mr. Tsipras has forgotten that in 2013-2014 we were moving towards growth and that in 2014 the country had a positive GDP. We brought all the investments."

[03] President Pavlopoulos calls on US and Russia to use their influence to stop the war in Syria

"I would like to send a cry of agony to the US not only from Greece and Europe over the cause of these flows and these humanitarian crises. And this is the war in Syria and the Middle East in general," noted Pavlopoulos and underlined the need to stop the war in Syria.

"It is not right for the world community, especially the major powers, primarily the United States and Russia, not to use all their means to impose the international law so that peace is restored in the area," he underlined.

Pavlopoulos said that such a war does not fit either in the history or the culture of the West, nor to the principles and values that must be respected at this period of time.

Referring to Greece's role, the President said that it is called to deal with a humanitarian crisis which is caused by the large inflow of migrants coming to Greece in order to find a way to go to Europe.

[04] Refugee crisis to big for countries to handle on individual basis, Greek Alt. FM tells EU Council

The loss of human lives and especially those of young children at the Greek border, which were also the external borders of the European Union, was unacceptable and demanded immediate, tangible and final measures, he said.

If the urgent outstanding issues cannot be tackled, he added, then a joint meeting of the foreign affairs and the justice and home affairs councils must be held. He also voiced Greece's position in favour of an urgent EU summit to decide on rules to deal with the emergency situation.

Flogaitis noted that a problem of that size could not be dealt with by member-states individually and required an overall strategy to address its causes. He assured his counterparts that Greece is making every possible effort to guard Europe's external borders and if all EU countries worked together "we can all be more efficient".

On the sidelines of the Council, minister had successive meetings with European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth, French State Secretary for European Affairs Harlem Desir and Romanian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs George Ciamba.

[05] It is high time for Europe to show solidarity on refugee crisis, Greek minister Mouzalas says

Greece is making efforts to meet its responsibilities toward refugees but now it is high time for Europe to show its solidarity, Greece's caretaker Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Ioannis Mouzalas said here on Monday, in a doorstep statement as he arrived for the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on the refugee crisis.

"We welcome the proposals of the Commission, the measures that recognise the European dimension of the problem, we welcome Juncker's proposals that show the Europe of enlightenment, of human rights. We will work had with Europe to resolve the problem, taking a distance from racism and xenophobic ideas," he said.

The minister underlined that the problem faced by Greece was primarily a European problem, with thousands of refugees arriving and seeking shelter in Europe, and that Greece was working hard in line with European rules and a national plan to manage the refugees' problems.

Replying to questions, he also denied that Greece was not registering the migrants that arrived on its shores. "We have the solution, we have the answers," he noted, adding that this will be discussed at the Council meeting.

[06] Greek authority for managing EU funds for refugee, migrant actions begins operation

The umbrella authority will coordinate the three individual managerial authorities and send payment requests to the European Commission.

On Monday the Responsibile Authority will complete the first stage of certification (with improvements still required for the second and final stage) and then immediately submit a request for the disbursement of the advance.

Talking to the ANA-MPA, the head of the authority Giorgos Karatzoglou said that the top priority on receipt of these funds will be to allocate them to existing hospitality structures so that they do not need to be financed by the national budget and creating additional hospitality places, until a capacity for 2,500 people agreed with the EU is reached.

Other priority actions will include a new, more flexibile framework for the supervision of unaccompanied minors, creating a register of interpreters and funding for relocations and voluntary returns.

Emergency actions, for which the Commission has approved 11 million euros for 2015, is excluded, he said.

[07] President Pavlopoulos visits Syrian refugee baby given heart surgery in Athens

"There are no borders for humanity," Pavlopoulos said after meeting and talking with the infant's parents and wishing for a speedy recovery, as well as congratulating the hospital's staff.

"I want to stress to all directions that this is how the Greek people and Greek doctors understand their duty, within the crisis that we are facing as a country. We do not consider what resources wer are lacking ourselves. We we are dealing with people, we treat them as people, based on the values and principles of Greek and European culture," he said.

This was a message that must also be understood by Greece's partners and form a basis for the asylum policy for Europe as a whole, he added.

The baby's parents were refugees from Kobani and recently entered Greece by crossing the Aegean from the shores of Turkey to the island of Kos. They were originally aiming to reach the German city of Hamburg in order to seek treatment for their child.

[08] Greece will have a government the next day of the elections, SYRIZA leader Tsipras says

"What is at stake is whether we will have a progressive government with SYRIZA opening the roads or a government that will represent the old political system," he added.

Tsipras underlined that if he does not have parliamentary majority, he will take the mandate and form a government within three days. "We all know that the first one will form a government. Nobody will assume the cost of dragging the country to elections again. We will respect the people's verdict," he said.

He also noted that SYRIZA is in favour of cooperations and has proven it with Independent Greeks (ANEL). What is important, though, he said, is that this cooperation is decent and both parties have the same goals. "We have proven that our aim is to unite and not divide the people," he stressed. Regarding his opposition to cooperating with New Democracy, he explained that its leader Evangelos Meimarakis does not want cooperation, but integration to the old political system.

He also said that he is proud of the harsh negotiation and the fact that Greeks know they have a government fighting for them.

[09] Former gov't VP Dragasakis: Only a single-party majority for SYRIZA can ensure stability

"This is the crucial question and our own answer is that, as things stand today, only a single-party majority for SYRIZA and a government with Alexis Tsipras as prime minister can ensure this stability which is necessary, and these preconditions to have fair governance," Dragasakis was quoted as telling the radio station.

He then urged Greek voters to decide which government can implement which program and noted that the situation will clarify during this week.

The SYRIZA MP also said that what's ahead is not just the faithful implementation of the memorandum, as this is just part of a wider government program that ensures the implementation of other pledges.

[10] ANEL leader asks for PM intervention in alleged interference in corruption case

Speaking to public broadcaster ERT, Kammenos said that the report alleged someone tried to interfere while the prosecutor was taking deposits from a former minister, or an active prosecutor, noting that this would mean someone is trying to "cover up" the story until the elections.

[11] Communist Party leader says Greeks must decide who they want in opposition

"If the Communist Party is strengthened, then it will be able to form a dynamic popular opposition inside and outside the parliament, so that immediate relief measures can be taken and the road will open for a different organization of the economy and society, where people will be in power," he noted.

[12] KKE's main pre-election rally to take place on Wednesday, party announces

[13] PASOK says 18 laws introduced by its governments have helped tackle corruption

"All the investigations have been facilitated and have become more effective because of the large number of institutional changes on transparency and the fight against corruption introduced by PASOK governments in the period 2010-2012," the party said in an announcement.

"Many of these changes were not voted by SYRIZA," it added.

[14] Popular Unity leader urges Greeks to abolish memorandums with their vote

He also accused SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras of "surrendering and capitulating" and added that "people are not going to follow him, just like they didn't follow New Democracy, PASOK and DIMAR on the path of surrender, humiliation, indignity and subjugation."

[15] SYRIZA-New Democracy tie in Metron Analysis poll

According to the survey, 24.6 pct of participants chose SYRIZA and another 24.6 pct chose ND. Golden Dawn follows with 5.6 pct, the Communist Party with 4.8 pct, Potami with 4.6 pct, Democratic Coalition (PASOK-DIMAR) with 4.2 pct, while Popular Unity and Union of Centrists receive 3 pct each. The Independent Greeks (ANEL) received 2.3 pct.

The undefined voter came to 9.1 pct and includes 7.7 pct of undecided voters and 1.4 pct of participants who didn't want to answer.

[16] Woman named in Lagarde list investigation rushes to pay half million in taxes on undeclared income

According to sources, the woman entrepreneur was under investigation in connection with an organised group involved in the concealment of criminal proceeds - which were the main crux of the Falciani deposition in Paris on Friday. She informed the head of the first-instance court prosecution Ilias Zagoraios, in the presence of four public prosecutors, that she wanted to settle the entire sum that tax authorities consider she owes.

Her name was included in the list of Greek depositors on the 'Lagarde list' and she was named as one of those who took advantage of "facilities" provided by the criminal organisation for those seeking to evade taxes and conceal illegal income.

She had earlier been summoned by the prosecutors investigating the case to testify as a suspect for tax evasion. Though she initially asked for time to prepare her testimony, she then negotiated immunity from prosecution in exchange for the return of the money, after the publicity given to Falciani's testimony.

The investigation concerns leads that current Justice Minister Dimitris Papaggelopoulos sent to the public prosecution in August, regarding individuals that provided organised services to those seeking to send money to a "safe" banking environment abroad.

Financial News

[17] Las Incantadas attracted 170,000 visitors of TIF

The number of visitors reached 216,300 and 170,000 of them visited "Las Incantadas", the statues that are known as "the Caryatides of Thessaloniki" that returned home (as copies from Louvre), 150 years after their stealing from the city.

Pavilion 3 that hosts Las Incantadas and the exhibition "the most important inventions and the music instruments of the Ancient Greeks " will close for a short period for maintenance works and will reopen in early October.

TIF-Hellexpo will gift the statues to the city when the suitable location to place them will be found.

[18] National Bank begins cooperation with Blueground

Blueground offers services of promotion, management and reforming real estate assets transforming apartments and houses into fully-serviced high-quality houses using up-to-date technology. The company has established significant presence in Greece and was in the process of expanding its operations abroad.

[19] Greek banks reduced borrowing from ELA in August

[20] Industrial import price index down 11.5 pct in July

The statistics service, in a report, attributed this development in the so-called imported inflation to a 0.5 pct decline in the import price index from Eurozone states and a 19.9 pct drop in import prices from countries outside Eurozone. The composite index fell 2.4 pct in July from June.

[21] Construction production index up 0.9 pct in Q2

[22] Visitors, revenues to museums, archaeological sites up in Jan-May 2015

It also said that in the period January-May 2015, there were 12.4 pct more visitors in museums and revenues rose by 19 pct, compared to the same period last year.

In terms of archaeological sites, ELSTAT said, that the number of visitors rose by 9.3 pct in May 2015 while revenues increased by 6.5 pct in comparison with the same month last year.

In the period January-May 2015, the number of visitors in archaeological sites rose by 12.8 pct and revenues increased by 11.1 pct.

[23] Greek stocks end slightly lower

Titan (4.45 pct), Grivalia Properties (3.22 pct) and Hellenic Exchanges (2.65 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Piraeus Bank (11.20 pct), Eurobank (9.52 pct) and National Bank (7.80 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

Among market sectors, Construction (3.05 pct), Financial Services (2.05 pct) and Personal Products (1.73 pct) scored big gains, while Banks (7.53 pct), Health (3.85 pct) and Chemicals (2.08 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 50 to 48 with another 16 issues unchanged. Dionic (20 pct), Yalco (19.44 pct) and Akritas (17.39 pct) were top gainers, while Audiovisual (16.15 pct), G.E.Demetriou (14.29 pct) and Dromeas (13.97 pct) were top losers.

[24] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-month rate was 0.157 pct, the nine-month rate was 0.088 pct, the six-month rate was 0.037 pct, the three-month rate was -0.038 pct and the one-month rate was -0.104 pct.

[25] ADEX closing report

General News

[26] Rescue operation to locate missing migrants after the capsizing of sailboat continues on Monday

34 persons drowned, among them 4 infants, 11 children, 10 women and nine men while 99 persons were rescued.

The survivors were sent to Leros island while the bodies will be transferred to Rhodes with a Greek Navy warship.

[27] No missing migrants found in sunken ship

Meanwhile, an underwater unit's operation to locate missing persons in the sailboat's hold was conducted without finding trapped migrants in the hold.

The vessel is submerged approximately two metres off the coast and in 4 metres depth.

[28] Coast guard rescues 1,429 migrants in 58 separate incidents

The incidents took place near the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Agathonissi, Kos, Symi and Rhodes.

[29] Greek free clinic, winner of EU Parliament's Citizen's Prize, says child mortality has risen

The charity group, along with a soup kitchen operating in Athens, refused last Friday to accept the European Parliament's 'Citizen's Prize' for 2015, in protest against the austerity policies imposed on Greece.

According to data collected by Prolepsis Institute and presented by the charity group, six out of 10 students in 64 state schools in Athens are facing food shortages, while 61 pct of students in the aforementioned schools have one unemployed parent and 17 pct have both parents unemployed.

Another 11 pct of children are without social security and 7 pct as lived without electricity for more than a week in 2014, while 3 pct still lived without power. The charity group also said 406 schools from around Greece received help in 2014 their 61,876 students.

"The policies which were implemented and continue to be implemented in our country have pushed over three million homeless and destitute unemployed citizens out of public healthcare," Vihas said.

"We don't turn our backs to Europe or the European people who stand in impressive solidarity. But we have to turn our backs to the politicians and the institutions, like the European Parliament, who have for a long time dealt with the human lives as accounting numbers," he stressed, a mentality that has become Europe's "shame".

[30] Innovative 3D printing and plastic recycling workshop 'The New Raw' to be shown in Greece

Set up as a non-profit initiative by Greek architects Fotini Setaki and Panos Sakkas based in Rotterdam, 'The New Raw' team seeks to inform and raise public awareness on environment issues, especially alternative proposals for recycling plastic and using it to create new objects, using 3D printing.

As part of the exhibition, which was first shown on the island of Syros, the organisers have transported the interactive installation Perpetual Plastic Project (PPP) from Rotterdam to Greece.

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the group City Index Lab and will be open to the public from 18:00-21:00.

As part of the demonstration, the PPP - which organisers describe as child-friendly - will link up with the autonomous device charger Aktina and those present will be able to witness the on-the-spot recycling of the plastic cups that held their drinks into useful items via 3D printing.

The Aktina installation, developed by City Index Lab and Energize, is a hybrid art object that also doubles as a solar-powered charger for devices like phones and laptops and is already set up in the foundation's forecourt.

[31] National Theatre launches 'Open Rehearsals'

This new institution will start with the following plays: "Richard III" directed by Yannis Chouvardas, "The Life of Galileo" directed by Vangelis Theodoropoulos, "Kangaroo" directed by Dimitris Mylonas and "Magda Goebbels" directed by Angela Brouskou.

A total of 30 persons can attend the rehersals. Those interested can contact the National Theatre from September 14 to September 21 (except Saturday and Sunday), between 12.00- 15.00, at 210 5288112.

[32] Short film festival of Drama begins on Monday

Over 210 short films will be screened at Drama while the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) will award the best foreign production. 57 films from 47 countries will participate in the international competition of the festival.

Weather forecast

[33] Mostly fair on Tuesday

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

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Tears (for Merkel) before the cameras, fences behind the camera

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Pension before 67 for thousands of insured people

ESTIA: Governments exposed on tax evasion issue

ETHNOS: (New Democracy leader Evangelos) Meimarakis: I need a mandate for political stability

KONTRANEWS: Burning figures from Paris

TA NEA: Balance of fear

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