Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 15-12-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras on ERT: Greece has overcome difficult milestones, is implementing its commitments

[02] Prior actions to be voted in Parliament by Dec.18

[03] SYRIZA Parliamentary group's cohesion 'indisputable', gov't spokeswoman tells 'News247'

[04] Moscovici: Cooperation with Greek authorities is continuing on 2nd reform package

[05] A lot of time was spent on Greece but 'that programme is also back on track,' Djisselbloem comments

[06] Alternate Migration Policy Min Mouzalas on scenarios over Greece's exit from Schengen zone

[07] Frontex agents to arrive at Greek-FYROM border next week, EU spox Bertaud says

[08] PM Alexis Tsipras to receive visiting Egyptian president on Tuesday

[09] PM Tsipras' interview to public ERT-1 TV on Monday

[10] Gov't VP discusses Greek debt with leading UN rights expert

[11] Greece has a government with which we discuss, German gov't spokesman says

[12] The government has to pass difficult, but necessary measures, Energy Min Skourletis says

[13] EU's Dombrovskis: Greece needs a viable and more just pension system

[14] Alt. FinMin says gov't to submit draft bills on black money, wealth register soon

[15] Greece is always a safe country, Alternate Tourism Min Kountoura says

[16] Greece lifts capital controls in stock market transactions

[17] Greek Economy minister presents funding tools to support innovation, SMEs

[18] Credit Agricole returns to Greece as major shareholder in Alpha Bank

[19] IfG to begin operations in June 2016

[20] Equity Investment Forum in Athens

[21] Greece completes work to request EU funds from new NSRF

[22] PPC offers additional discount of large electricity consumers

[23] RAE energy authority decides to lower so-called 'monopoly' charges on electricity

[24] Greek stocks end slightly higher

[25] Greek bond market closing report

[26] ADEX closing report

[27] Greek National Opera to perform 'The Merry Widow' at the Megaron this Christmas

[28] 'Ultimate test' of Einstein's theory of relativity expected in 2017, Greek scientist tells ANA-MPA

[29] Cedefop conference: Can robots replace humans?

[30] Greek coast guard wins Lloyd's award for safety and environmental protection

[31] Eight people arrested during Sunday's riots charged with felonies

[32] Idomeni residents threaten with mobilisations

[33] Greek parliament sacks employee with fake degree

[34] 1,822 refugees arrive at Piraeus port on Monday

[35] Fair on Tuesday

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

[01] Tsipras on ERT: Greece has overcome difficult milestones, is implementing its commitments

"The official voice of the German government in Greece, the German embassy, completely dismissed the report," Tsipras said, adding that the story doesn't represent the official German government but that conservative circles never miss an opportunity to attack the government.

"Our country is not only implementing its commitments, but has also achieved very difficult milestones. What was threatening our country is off the table," he noted, adding that Greece has allies.

Die Welt cited an alleged report of the German Embassy in Athens which described Greece as a "rudderless ship" and accused the government of delaying the implementation of reforms.

Asked whether he is considering widening the government coalition, he said he "feels very safe" with the current parliamentary majority of 153 MPs and clarified his intention was not to create a unity government, as Greeks have only recently expressed their will.

"This government is a government with a 4-year mandate and this should be in everyone's mind," he said, noting that the opposition parties should indulge in some self-criticism.

Tsipras explain the government is instead interested in forging a wider consensus in society, which "may also be mirrored at a parliamentary level" on major issues such as pension reform, the refugee crisis and a review of the constitution.

"We don't need support. We want parties to table their proposals on big issues which extend beyond the 4-year mandate, such as the pension system reform, which is a national issue, and say 'No' to horizontal cuts, to draw a national red line," he said.

Commenting on the issue of vested interests, the prime minister said the triangle formed by the political, banking and media system will be crushed. "We've reached a point today where politicians are supported by media groups," he said, adding that the government will introduce rules which will apply to all. "SYRIZA and I have gone through the hoop," he said, pointing to attacked he has faced from media.

He also wondered why the main opposition has not presented any proposals for the formation of the independent TV regulators, such as the Greek National Council for Radio and Television (NCRTV) and warned that if nothing is contributed by the meeting of the parliament's council, the government will take its own initiatives by altering the law to stop New Democracy from blocking the process.

[02] Prior actions to be voted in Parliament by Dec.18

The meeting focused on coordinating the government's work and upcoming deadlines for the milestones in implementing Greece's programme.

The government must also pass legislation on social insurance reforms within January, the meeting agreed, after organising an in-depth public dialogue on the issues. The aim is to agree on a comprehensive reform that is fair and also viable for the next generations while avoiding any further reduction to basic pensions.

At the forefront on the meeting on Monday was the "intensive negotiation" that is expected to occur over the coming days between the government and the institutions.

The meeting also discussed the "thorny" issue of privatising ADMIE, the Greek power grid operator, with the government confident regarding the outcome of upcoming negotiations with the institutions.

Another issues discussed was a proposal made by Parliament President Nikos Voutsis to hold talks with the opposition on the composition of the national broadcasting standards council (National Council on Radio and Television)and the body supervising public-sector and civil service appointments, the Supreme Council for Staff Selection (ASEP), with a December 20 deadline.

The government has warned, however, that if the opposition parties do not contribute to this discussion, it will not "sit by idly" but take matters into its own hands

[03] SYRIZA Parliamentary group's cohesion 'indisputable', gov't spokeswoman tells 'News247'

She noted that the recent meeting of party leaders chaired by President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos was held to launch a dialogue on major issues, including sweeping pension reforms, the refugee crisis and a revision of Greece's constitution.

Commenting on a decision to postpone legislation on pension reforms until January, Gerovasili said that there was no specific deadline for passing the measures, "only an initial goal to table the bill before the end of 2015." Further pension cuts should not be considered certain, she added, saying that the draft legislation will include a comprehensive plan for refinancing the system from various sources and using pension fund assets.

"Our aim is a reform that ensures protection of low and medium pensions here and now and makes no cuts to the basic pension," she said.

The goal was a comprehensive reform that was fair and sustainable in the generations to come, she added.

Commenting on last week's intense speculation regarding pressures to oust Greece from the Schengen Treaty over its handling of refugee and migrant flows, Gerovasili denied that there was ever any risk that Greece would find itself kicked out. She attributed the entire affair "pressures exerted by those seeking a fortress Europe that raised walls against people seeking asylum and a better future."

"[These pressures] are exerted by political forces hostile to European culture itself and the ideals of humanism," she added.

She denied that the government had "ever accepted the guarding of Greek borders with FYROM by Frontex," and said that this was a misinterpretation that was due to the unacceptable exploitation of the refugee issue by a section of the Greek press and the opposition parties.

According to Gerovasili, Greece had requested assistance from Frontex in registering refugees and migrants as long ago as last September. The country was already one billion euros out of pocket due to the refugee crisis, she said, while it had only received 30 million euros from the EU, while Frontex had only covered one tenth of its obligations in terms of personnel and equipment.

She said the government was racing to meet the commitments it made in relation to the refugee crisis at the October summit, which she emphasised concerned the creation of hotspots and "certainly not the guarding of internal borders by Frontex forces."

[04] Moscovici: Cooperation with Greek authorities is continuing on 2nd reform package

Greek authorities and the institutions are cooperating well on the completion of the second package of prior actions required by the country's lenders, Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said as he arrived for the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels on Monday.

Commenting on the recapitalization of Greece's systemic banks, he said it is proceeding well and that he hoped all sides can proceed with the completion of the second batch of reforms. On the same issue, he said there's no agreement yet between the two sides, but that there's a spirit of cooperation.

Concerning today's Eurogroup, the Commissioner said Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos is expected to make a presentation on the state of play on these negotiations, while he noted that the vote of the 2016 budget from the Greek parliament which was based on "more favorable or less adverse estimations" is a "good development".

He noted however that work still remains to be done to complete the agreement on the reforms which will complete the first Greek program review.

In an earlier tweet Moscovici said he had had "constructive discussions" with Greek Labour Minister George Katrougalos on issues of pension and labour market reforms in Greece. Katrougalos is in Brussels to attend a meeting of EU's employment council.

A well-informed source also said on Monday that Tsakalotos had a meeting with ECB head Mario Draghi.

[05] A lot of time was spent on Greece but 'that programme is also back on track,' Djisselbloem comments

In an upbeat comment about the overall economic prospects of the euro area, in a doorstep statement as he arrived for a Eurogroup meeting in Brussels on Monday, Eurogroup President Jeroen Djisselbloem noted that there had been "good news and bad news" during a year that was ending with signs that economic recovery was growing stronger in all countries except for one.

"The bad news is that we had to spend a lot of time on Greece but that programme is also back on track," he added, noting that on the economic front there were "reasons for some optimism" even though there were a lot of other issues in Europe.

[06] Alternate Migration Policy Min Mouzalas on scenarios over Greece's exit from Schengen zone

However, he added, that "this was transferred to Greece as being Europe's aspects."

He noted that the issue was not even raised to the council of Interior Ministers in Brussels, adding that among the issues raised were the protection and reduction of migration flows in relation to terrorism, in the aftermath of the attacks in Paris."

Mouzalas argued that "isolation and national solutions" such as building fences do not help. "It is a European problem", he said.

Regarding FRONTEX, he noted that Greece has asked for 1,600 persons.

Mouzalas was also optimistic over the situation at Idomeni, saying that "it will soon clear out."

"Whoever wants can submit an application for asylum. But they do not want to do so. A lot of them want to go back," he added.

[07] Frontex agents to arrive at Greek-FYROM border next week, EU spox Bertaud says

Frontex agents will be deployed at Greece's border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) next week in order to assist in the registration and fingerprinting of refugees and migrants arriving there, European Commission spokeswoman on migration issues Natasha Bertaud said on Monday.

"On Friday we had confirmation of two things from Greece: one was the finalisation of the operational plan with Frontex to deploy agents at the land border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) - this as of next week," Bertaud said in response to an question posed by the ANA-MPA.

She noted that it would be Frontex who decided and "tell us the exact number of people to be deployed."

In addition to finalising the operational plan with Frontex for the Greek-FYROM border last Friday, Greece had also activated the Rapid Border Intervention Team (RABIT) mechanism for the Aegean islands, Bertaud added.

"Frontex has five days to take a decision and finalise a plan, so we are also still waiting on that," she said.

Regarding those that did not wish to apply for asylum in either Greece or FYROM but continue their journey north, Bertaud simply noted that " if a third country national presents themselves at a border and does not request asylum in that country, they may be refused entry" under the Geneva Convention.

[08] PM Alexis Tsipras to receive visiting Egyptian president on Tuesday

The two leaders will first have a meeting in private, followed by talks between delegations of the two sides. The Greek prime minister and Egypt's president will then hold a joint press conference.

[09] PM Tsipras' interview to public ERT-1 TV on Monday

The interview that was planned to take place last week, but was put off due to a light illness of Tsipras, will be held at the ERT-1 studios, in the presence of three reporters (V.Kechagia, G.Kouris, V. Skouris).

The interview will be conducted by the channel's news anchorman Panos Haritos.

[10] Gov't VP discusses Greek debt with leading UN rights expert

According to a press release from the Vice-Presidency, Dragasakis hailed Bohoslavsky's comment as well as his view that funds need to be channeled into the country saved to stimulate the real economy and strengthening the development process.

The meeting was held ahead of the UN expert's Tuesday's briefing where he will present his preliminary findings, which form part of his final report expected to be submitted to the UN's Human Rights Council in 2016.

[11] Greece has a government with which we discuss, German gov't spokesman says

"Greece has a government and whatever we have to discuss with the country, we discuss it with the government and its associates," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Monday.

Seibert said that he is not aware of a press report describing Greece as a "rudderless ship." However, he said that German government officials referred to the frequent contact of the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

Asked if Berlin is content with the implementation of reforms in Greece, Seibert underlined: "The point is that Greece's EU partners in total are content, not only one member state. That is the role of the institutions and the Eurogroup. We are not making bilateral evaluations."

[12] The government has to pass difficult, but necessary measures, Energy Min Skourletis says

The government's aim is to create a climate that will gradually and steadily put an end to austerity policies, he added.

Referring to pensions cuts, Skourletis underlined that "the government is making efforts not to reduce main pensions."

Asked on the possibility of privatisation of Independent Power Transmission Operator ADMIE, he said: "The scenario of ADMIE privatisation is not under discussion, and we are looking for an alternative solution."

He cleared out that the government has submitted the relevant proposals and the discussion on the issue will start on Monday. "The energy networks need to be state run," he stressed.

[13] EU's Dombrovskis: Greece needs a viable and more just pension system

Greece needs to build a long-term, sustainable, less fragmented and more just pension system, European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis told journalists as he arrived at the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels on Monday.

He noted, however, that the pension system reforms are linked to the targets set in the country's 2016 budget which was ratified last week and the first program review expected in early 2016. "The important issue is going to be the first program review which we expect early next year and recent Greek parliament vote on 2016 budget aiming to reach a primary surplus target set in this program is an important step in this direction," he said.

"However, now we need to continue discussions with Greek authorities on how exactly those targets are going to be reached and probably important element there is the situation regarding the pension reform because it is first needed to ensure long-term, sustainable, less fragmented and more just pension system in Greece, but also has substantial tax implications," he added.

He also said Greek authorities and the institutions now need to finalize a second set of milestones to disburse the remaining one billion from the first tranche by mid-December.

[14] Alt. FinMin says gov't to submit draft bills on black money, wealth register soon

Outlining the government's taxation policy for 2016, Alexiadis also noted that wider changes will be made in income declaration in February, while in the next few months, objective property prices will be equated with their market price and the unified property tax known as ENFIA will be replaced by a new one.

The minister described the 2016 budget as difficult "both in terms of its content as well as in what we had to include in its forecasts" and described a total of 10 changed in taxation being prepared by the economic staff.

[15] Greece is always a safe country, Alternate Tourism Min Kountoura says

"We sign contracts with foreign stakeholders, we promote our country, and we give tourists the opportunity to have a good time and feel safe in our country," she explained.

Regarding the VAT increase on islands, Kountoura noted that "depending on where they come from, some tourists may also be favored."

On Greece's image abroad and the impact of the refugee and economic crisis, Kountoura said that "Greece's image abroad was always good thanks to its history, civilisation, tourism services and hospitality and the countries that always supported us and continue to support us - France, Britain, Germany - are still very close to us."

Financial News

[16] Greece lifts capital controls in stock market transactions

Speaking to reporters, Gotsis said a ministerial decisions has already been signed and will be put in force immediately. Capital controls in stock market transactions have been imposed since July after the government decided to impose capital controls in the country.

Following the lifting of capital controls, Greek investors will be able to make purchase of stock shares using so-called "old money" as during the last six months they were able to buy shares using only fresh money.

The head of the country's capital market commission said he expected the full lifting of all capital controls within the second half of 2016. Gotsis noted that in cooperation with the Athens Stock Exchange, incentives will be given to list new companies in the stock market and said that among the plans of capital market authority was to create a corporate bond market.

He announced an extension of a ban in short selling on bank shares at least until December 20.

[17] Greek Economy minister presents funding tools to support innovation, SMEs

Addressing an Equity Investment Forum in Athens, Stathakis said that "in comparison with the past, the government's strategy in dealing with innovation and its contribution to export activity of Greek businesses is very different".

The Greek minister presented the funding tools to be used:

-a community funding programme (2014-2020). "We have achieved more funds while the programme will be more friendly to enterprises," Stathakis said.

-transforming ETEAN into an umbrella organization to mobilize tools from other European programmes to fund small- and medium-sized enterprises and innovation. "The necessity of such an institution has been agreed with the European Investment Bank and the European Commission," the minister said.

-the Institute for Growth (IfG), a fund created by Greece, France and Germany and scheduled to begin operations in June 2016.

-a supportive development fund focusing on research and technology. "There will be state money but private capital as well along with funding through European mechanisms," Stathakis noted, adding that a new development law will be structured very differently, focusing on priority innovative investments, small- and very-small businesses.

[18] Credit Agricole returns to Greece as major shareholder in Alpha Bank

Alpha Bank, in an announcement, said that Credit Agricole owned 9.75 pct of Alpha Bank's shares through an affiliate insurance company, thus becoming the largest institutional shareholder in the Greek bank and one of the largest institutional shareholders among Greek banks following completion of their recapitalization.

The French bank's participation in Alpha Bank's equity capital was the result of Alpha Bank's bonds held by Credit Agricole, which were transformed into shares during the recapitalization process.

Credit Agricole SA had sold Emporiki Bank to Alpha Bank for one euro.

[19] IfG to begin operations in June 2016

Economy Minister George Stathakis, addressing an Equity Investment Forum, said that the IfG has covered one pylon of borrowing and activation of equity participation from June 2016 has already begun.

Hellenic Investment Fund (IfG), based in Luxembourg, is a non-financial institution operating under market terms and aims to operation supplementary to other funding tools. Its aim is to operate basically as a platform to attracting foreign capital to Greece and will have three sub-funds: a Debt Sub Fund (IfG - Greek SME finance SA), a S+ME Growth Equity Sub Fund and an Infrastructure Sub Fund.

The fund will have a capital of more than 500 million euros (350 million from the Greek state, 100 million from KfW in Germany, 50 million from European Investment Fund, 30 million euros from France's economy ministry and another 30 million from the Onassis Foundation).

[20] Equity Investment Forum in Athens

The forum is organized by the Athens Stock Exchange, Enterprise Greece, Hellenic Venture Capital Association (HVCA), New Economy Development Fund (TANEO) and Praxis Network, coordinator of Enterprise Europe Network-Hellas.

The Forum, which brings together more than 1,300 participants, is presenting more than 330 business plans by Greek start-ups, developing, small- and medium-sized enterprises, by large Greek enterprises as well. All these plans will be evaluated by Greek, Israeli and international venture capital funds.

Israel is the honoured country in this year's Forum, one of the top technologically and investment-wise countrires in the world. Greek Development Minister George Stathakis and the Israeli ambassador to Greece addressed the opening of the forum.

More than 600 bilateral meetings have been scheduled for Tuesday, while distinguished Israeli experts in fields such as innovation, research and development, venture capital and patent rights will organize business laboratories presenting issues such as the Israeli high technology eco-system, methods of success, encouraging R&D, business tools, corporate innovation and patent rights.

More than 130 investments in Greek enterprises have been completed by venture capital and private equity funds since early 19990, when the specific market began operating in Greece, channeling more than 1.0 billion euros and creating around 50,000 new job positions, Yiannis Papadopoulos, chairman and chief executive of Attica Ventures told the Forum.

Greek venture capital enterprises basically invest in growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, while private equity investments focus on the purchase of enterprises.

The Greek market includes 21 private equity, venture capital, incubators with investments to more than 120 Greek enterprises, many of which listed in the Athens Stock Exchange. A total of 14 new funds have been created since 2004, while TANEO channeled more than 70 million euros to the Greek market.

Papadopoulos said that the markets presenting the most advantages are agricultural technology and food, value added IT technologies, tourism, energy, infrastructure, pharmaceutical technology and health.

[21] Greece completes work to request EU funds from new NSRF

According to the ministry, the approval of the system and its submission to the EU's agencies opens the way for Greece to submit payment requests from the Union for programs included in the new NSRF in the current year. This would allow more European funds to flow into the country.

[22] PPC offers additional discount of large electricity consumers

The board proposal envisages seven different rates deending on consumption profile of each industry. The new proposal presented by secretary-general of Environment and Energy ministry, envisages additional discounts based on the annual consumption of each industry.

Up to 10 GWh zero discount, from 10-50 GWh a 4.0 pct discount, for 50-200 GWh a 6.0 pct discount, from 200-400 GWh an 8.0 pct discount, from 400-700 GWh a 10 pct discount, from 700-1,000 GWh a 12 pct discount, from 1,000-2,0000 GWh a 13 pct discount and from 2,000 plus GWh a 15 pct disocunt.

M. Panagiotakis, chairman and chief executive of PPC said the proposal by the basic shareholder was obligatory and added that the electricity utility has not yet assessed whether this proposal covered or not costs, although he stressed that the proposal was legitimate.

[23] RAE energy authority decides to lower so-called 'monopoly' charges on electricity

These include fees consumers are charged for use of the electricity grid and a tax (ETMEAR) raised to subsidise power production using renewable energy sources. According to RAE, there will be a 5.4 pct reduction in the ETMEAR charge as of January 1, as well as a discounts for the fees that businesses are charged for use of the grid. Distribution charges for households will remain at the same level as in 2015.

[24] Greek stocks end slightly higher

The Large Cap index ended 0.62 pct higher and the Mid Cap index jumped 8.12 pct. Turnover was an improved 47.304 million euros in volume of 41,712,320.

PPC (5.11 pct), National Bank (3.42 pct), METKA (2.55 pct) and Hellenic Petroleum (2.07 pct scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Viohalco (4.10 pct), Ellaktor (3.85 pct), Alpha Bank (3.63 pct) and Eurobank (2.70 pct) suffered heavy losses.

Among market sectors, Banks rose 12.51 pct, followed by Telecoms (1.50 pct) and Utilities (2.10 pct), while Insurance (-10 pct), Health (-2.44 pct) and Constructions (-1.03 pct) suffered the heaviest losses.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 43 to 35 with another 26 issues unchanged. Attica Bank (29.85 pct), MIG Real Estate (18.10 pct) and Unibios (14.64 pct) were top gainers, while Dromeas (29.63 pct), Sidma (19.29 pct) and Kathimerini (16.25 pct) were top losers.

[25] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates continued moving lower. The 12-month rate fell to 0.066 pct from 0.068 pct, the nine-month rate was 0.014 pct, the six-month rate fell to -0.031 pct from -0.030 pct, the three-month rate was -0.0116 pct and the one-month rate fell to -0.175 pct.

[26] ADEX closing report

General News

[27] Greek National Opera to perform 'The Merry Widow' at the Megaron this Christmas

One of the best loved and most frequently revived operetta's in the world since its 1905 premiere in Vienna, it will be performed in Greek, with Greek surtitles, in the Christos Lambrakis Hall at 20:30 on December 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26, 27 and 28.

The performance is directed by Vassilis Nikolaidis and accompanied by the Athens State Orchestra and Fons Musicalis Choir, conducted by Miltos Logiadis and Stathis Soulis on alternate nights.

In a presentation on Monday, Nikolaidis said he had sought to give his 'Widow' more of a "bite" and add an almost contemporaneous, interesting and bold element that would "slightly undermine the action, make it less inoffensive, without altering the essential nature of the operetta."

"We decided, keeping the people and situations intact, to create 'our own Widow', a world of decadence and charming corruption, full of innuendo, secret passions, unconfessed loves, intrigues, that largely exist in the work," he added.

Tickets are available from 14, 25, 35 and 50 euros, with discount prices for students, young people, unemployed, disabled, elderly and large families.

[28] 'Ultimate test' of Einstein's theory of relativity expected in 2017, Greek scientist tells ANA-MPA

Psaltis said that his team had developed the 'test' to be conducted by the EHT and that its first observations from black holes are expected in early 2017. He did not rule out the possibility that the findings of the new super-telescope might lead to modifications of Einstein's theory.

The EHT is an array of many radio-telescopes covering the entire planet, with observation points from Hawaii to the French Alps and the mountains of Arizona to the South Pole. When the different readings of these radio-telescopes are combined using a super-computer, they act as a single 'virtual' telescope as large as the Earth, allowing the EHT to achieve levels of magnification that are impossible with individual telescopes.

[29] Cedefop conference: Can robots replace humans?

Freedman, who has been awarded with the Mincer and IZA prizes, was addressing a conference of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (cedefop) entitled "Impact of technology and workplace change on skill needs," held in Thessaloniki.

"The lawyers are just as likely to lose their jobs as the truck drivers or factory workers [...] The robots can make burgers and control dishwashers, but in the future the so-called 'white collar' jobs will also be affected," he estimated.

Indeed, the prospect of robots - bosses is also "on the table", as for example, in Amazon's warehouses, portable robotic devices are responsible for monitoring the employees' working hours, he said.

"We are entering a new world where machines are gradually becoming more human than humans while not making mistakes or having prejudices," noted Professor Freedman.

However, he added, the role of humans is not downgraded. "I am very optimistic about the future of the humans [...] In the future we will find new things to do," he said.

[30] Greek coast guard wins Lloyd's award for safety and environmental protection

"From the start of this year, the Coast Guard has managed more than 750,000 refugees in about 5,000 separate incidents, rescuing about 90,000 people," Coast Guard director Vice Admiral Athanasios Athanasopoulos said during the ceremony last Friday.

This is the second time Lloyds awards the body.

[31] Eight people arrested during Sunday's riots charged with felonies

After being charged, the eight individuals, which include four minors, were led before the prosecutor, police said, while another two minors which had been arrested were set free. Three more individuals are facing misdemeanor charges.

Groups of hooded individuals attacked riot police with Molotov cocktails and rocks, while the police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them. During the clashes, four policemen were injured.

[32] Idomeni residents threaten with mobilisations

As they said, they have run out of patience and the issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

"Unless refugees have left by Tuesday, we will call for mobilisations," the president of the local community Xanthoula Soupli said to ANA-MPA. "We will not let another bus come to Idomeni. The situation cannot go on forever," she added.

[33] Greek parliament sacks employee with fake degree

The fraud was discovered during a review of the qualifications of parliament employees which started in 2012 and concluded under the current presidency.

Reviewers contacted the University from which the employee supposedly graduated and discovered that he had never attended. He is one of the 15 employees whom reviewers discovered had presented fraudulent qualifications.

[34] 1,822 refugees arrive at Piraeus port on Monday

Weather forecast

[35] Fair on Tuesday

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

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: 'Trojan Press'

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: How you can take a pension 8 years earlier

ESTIA: New instability period starts

ETHNOS: The new tax system for vehicles

KONTRANEWS: Politicians' relatives took bribes and deposited them in Swiss banks

NAFTEMPORIKI: Road full of thorns

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 210 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 210 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: MICHALIS PSILOS

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