Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-02-03

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras tells SYRIZA gov't has been legitimized by the people

[02] Meetings between government and institutions to continue on Wed.

[03] Government discussing tax reform proposals, extending loan protection with institutions, sources say

[04] Labour Minister: The negotiation is very hard

[05] PM Tsipras discusses refugees issue with PASOK leader Gennimata

[06] Gov't must not 'send wrong messages' on refugee issue, PASOK's Gennimata says after meeting PM

[07] Commission adopts Schengen report on Greece, urges changes in management of refugee crisis

[08] Defence Minister Kammenos to visit hotspots on five Greek islands on Wednesday

[09] Greece and Germany are allies and partners in the management of the refugee crisis, says Alt.FM Xydakis

[10] Labour unions escalate mobilisations against pension reforms; nationwide strike on Thursday

[11] Roads throughout the country closed due to farmers' protests

[12] Cities will experience unprecedented conditions, say protesting farmers

[13] Gov't spokeswoman Gerovassili rules out scenarios of early elections

[14] Defence minister denies Turkish claim that Greek fighter jets harassed its aircraft

[15] I do not believe in an ecumenical government, says ND Vice President Geordiadis

[16] French Interior Minister Cazeneuve to visit Athens on Feb. 4-5

[17] Dutch journalist Judit Neurink talks to ANA-MPA about ISIS, living in Iraq ahead of her TED talk in Athens

[18] Journalists to hold 24-hour strike on Tuesday against social security reform bill

[19] Former Samaras aide pays 3.3-million euro fine for 'Lagarde list' deposit, insists it's 'unjust'

[20] Oil producer Energean Oil & Gas to continue increasing production, says CEO

[21] Greek consumer confidence index unchanged in Q4, Nielsen report

[22] PPC to offer discounts to consistent customers

[23] Athens airport set new January record in passenger traffic

[24] Greek stocks end lower on Tuesday

[25] ADEX closing report

[26] Lesvos coast guard rescues record 413 migrants and refugees in single operation on Tuesday

[27] Two foreign nationals accused of possession of war material sent to the prosecutor

[28] Large number of refugees at Greece-Fyrom buffer zone; crossing conducted very slowly

[29] 14,000 discarded refugee lifejackets travelling to Berlin for art project

[30] Olympic Air cancels 16 domestic flights on Thursday

[31] Weather forecast

[32] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] PM Tsipras tells SYRIZA gov't has been legitimized by the people

According to party sources, the prime minister focused on the government's central policy, with Tsipras expressing confidence that the Greek people support the government and on the labour action called by farmers and other unions against the planned social security reforms.

"The government received three times legitimacy from the Greek people in less than a year," he said. "Some people didn't like that, but it's not them who support and legitimize us."

He noted that the Greek people gave a clear mandate to implement the agreement without straying from the red lines which concern the protection of the weak and the majority and noted that this is what his government will do with "vested interests inside the country and abroad".

Commenting on the strikes called by the unions, Tsipras said among others:

1. That all pensioners, but also the vast majority of workers, employees, the unemployed, but also farmers and self-employed, will benefit from our proposal, because our basic choice is not to cut pensions again, while we distribute social security contributions depending on income, so that each person will be burdened according to his economic situation.

2. It is not true that the government's proposal burdens incredibly the farmers. The 15-25 euros per month, which will take place after four years, as increases in contributions will be gradual, so that farmers can receive a pension instead of a tip, is neither unbearable, nor irrational or a burden without a gain.

3. In 2014 farmers paid a total of 411 million euros in taxes, while in 2016 they'll pay about 225 million euros because, after an intervention by the government, agricultural aid will not be taxed.

[02] Meetings between government and institutions to continue on Wed.

It will be followed by a meeting at 10.30 on issues concerning public administration, at noon on fiscal issues, at 14.30 on income tax and on 16.30 on pension reforms.

Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis will meet again with the heads of the institutions' mission in the morning to discuss non-performing loans (NPLs).

Today, the two sides concluded talks on whether to extend the protection on NPLs which mortgage the main residence, as well as those of SMEs until March 15. The government wants to achieve a horizontal exemption of all NPLs which mortgage the main residence, while it is also discussing small improvements in the law passed by former minister Nikos Dendias, a senior government official said after the meeting, adding that the extension will be granted.

Concerning the meeting with Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos earlier today, a government official said the institutions didn't ask for pension cuts, but noted that negotiations will be tough on all the pending issues.

[03] Government discussing tax reform proposals, extending loan protection with institutions, sources say

The proposal includes the suggested tax brackets and taxation rates, with the highest rate set at 50 pct, though there are recommendations for an even higher rate.

It does not suggest any changes to the emergency levy, while the sum total of the measures targets an additional 300 million euros in revenues on an annual basis. The changes to the taxation of farmers are not included.

Discussion on the government's proposal is expected to take place at a meeting with the mission heads on Wednesday. The government's aim is a redistribution of the tax burden to favour lower incomes and its transfer to higher income brackets, the source said.

The changes that are agreed will be included in the draft tax bill that will be tabled in Parliament.

Meanwhile, another government source said that Economy, Development and Tourism Minister George Stathakis was currently discussing extending protection for non-performing mortgage loans and small business loans until March 15 during talks with the institutions.

The transfer of these loans from banks to funds will be forbidden until there is an agreement on the procedure between the government and the creditors, the source said.

[04] Labour Minister: The negotiation is very hard

Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and Economy Minister George Stathakis were also present at the meeting.

Katrougalos noted that "the meeting was held in a climate of constructive discussion" adding that "the issues are the already known issues that are always set by the institutions. I believe that this hard negotiation will continue and that the final outcome will be in the country's interest".

[05] PM Tsipras discusses refugees issue with PASOK leader Gennimata

Tsipras called Gennimata's initiative to meet him and discuss the refugee issue very good "because it is a matter that exceeds party contradictions" he said adding that it is "a matter that concerns the whole of Europe, an international issue but it concerns particularly our country".

The prime minister expressed the opinion that it is important to deal with the problem through a progressive approach and show a human face to the refugees.

On her part, Gennimata underlined that "the discussion on Greece's exit from the Schengen zone must come to a halt" adding that "regardless of the Greek government and the European institutions mistakes and delays we must deal with the problem in its real dimensions" and noted that it is not only a Greek problem and that Greece should not bear the whole burden of the refugees issue.

PASOK leader stressed that she undertook a series of initiatives and has briefed the European Socialists at Malta meeting and that she has sent a letter to PES president Sergey Stanishev last Saturday as well as to the president of the Socialists-Democrats of the europarliament Gianni Pittella, to European parliament president Martin Schulz and to the leaders of all the socialist parties of Europe. She also said that Gianni Pittella responded very positively.

Gennimata said she will continue in this direction and noted that it's "the time of Greece and Europe's common action".

[06] Gov't must not 'send wrong messages' on refugee issue, PASOK's Gennimata says after meeting PM

She noted that Greece's European partners must not load all the responsibility onto Greece, which was being asked to face a crisis within a crisis.

"I asked the prime minister that the country immediately meet its obligations and ask for emergency funding and technical assistance," she said.

She also noted the need to set up a mechanism to monitor whether Turkey was implementing its own commitments and called for a change in the Dublin II treaty.

The meeting focused entirely on the refugee issue and no other topic, she said.

[07] Commission adopts Schengen report on Greece, urges changes in management of refugee crisis

Following a positive opinion by the Schengen evaluation committee on Friday, the College of Commissioners adopted on Tuesday the Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece and a proposal for a Council Recommendation on addressing the serious deficiencies identified in the report on the application of Schengen rules in managing the external borders by Greece.

The recommendations will be submitted to the Council for adoption.

The recommendations are made in a number of areas such as the improvement of the registration procedures, including ensuring a sufficient number of staff and fingerprint scanners for registration and verification of migrants and their travel documents against SIS, Interpol and national databases.

Greece is urged to provide the necessary facilities for accommodation during the registration process and launch return procedures for irregular migrants who are not seeking asylum and who are not in need of international protection. Border surveillance should be improved, including the establishment of a risk analysis system and increased training of border guards. Improvements should also be made to infrastructure and equipment at the border crossing points.

The Schengen evaluation mechanism, established in October 2013, provides for the verification of the application of the Schengen rules through monitoring visits to a given member-state by Commission-led teams with experts from member-states and Frontex. The Schengen evaluation report for Greece and the Proposal for a Council Recommendation has been drawn up jointly by member-states experts and Commission representatives.

"The recommendations call on Greece to establish effective coastal surveillance system covering the whole sea border between Greece and Turkey. Such action should be supported by an offshore patrol boats, helicopters as well as sufficient number of land patrols on the island," European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told journalists after the meeting.

"This would help to detect all vessels, including small boats that are crossing the sea border from Turkey to Greece. Our recommendations also call on Greece to provide the necessary facilities for accommodation during the registration process," he added, noting that Greece must immediately launch the return procedures for irregular migrants who are not seeking asylum and who are not in need of international protection.

These recommendations will now need to be adopted by the Council.

"Our ability to maintain an area free of internal border controls depends on our ability to effectively manage our external borders," Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commis-sioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said on his part.

"Today we are proposing a set of recommendations to ensure that, at all external borders of Greece, controls are carried out and brought in line with Schengen rules. At the same time, we take note of the efforts of the Greek authorities to improve the situation and are reminding that all parts of the Commission's comprehensive plan need to be applied to face the unprecedented pressure at Europe's external borders," he added.

In order to ensure compliance with these recommendations, the Commission may, in addition, recommend that Greece takes certain specific measures under Article 19a of the Schengen Borders Code, given the serious deficiencies noted in the Schengen Evaluation Report.

Where, after three months from the adoption of the Council recommendations, serious deficiencies persist and the measures taken have not proved sufficient to ensure the adequate remedy of these deficiencies, the Commission may trigger the application of the procedure provided for in Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code.

Under Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code, if the measures under Article 19a have not been effective, the Council may, based on a proposal from Commission, recommend that one or more member-states reintroduce border controls at all or at specific parts of their internal borders as a matter of last resort, to protect the common interest of the Schengen area. The Council recommendation needs to be adopted by qualified majority.

[08] Defence Minister Kammenos to visit hotspots on five Greek islands on Wednesday

Presenting details of the ministry's plan for completing the hotspots on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Le-ros, Kammenos announced that work on the hotspots and two relocation centres will be finished by February 15.

Reporting on the state of play at present, the minister said that work on the Lesvos hotspot was virtually complete, while progress in Chios was good. He said the armed forces will supply generators and a desalination system to provide lighting and water for the Chios centre.

The Samos hotspot will be supplied with tents and infrastructure to install toilets will be created. On the island of Kos, the land on which the centre will be created must first be expropriated, since 50 pct currently belongs to the Church and the other 50 pct to two private owners, one of whom disagrees with its use as a hotspot.

On the island of Leros, land to build the hotspot has been offered by Hellenic Petroleum. In Sindos and Schisto, dormitories will be created and tents supplied to replace looted military installations.

Kammenos outlined an organisational plan and envisaged departments at each hotspot, such as transport, catering and others, many of which will be manned using armed forces personnel and resources. The catering service will for the first month be assigned to specific, certified companies for the first month, with armed forces personnel and 10 mobile kitchens on standby.

The minister clarified that the state will cooperate with NGOs whose action has been certified, as well as local and regional authorities in health and sanitation issues.

He welcomed an agreement between the EU and Turkey on refugee issues as a "very good development" and expressed Greece's intention to assist the Turkish coast guard and Frontex by supplying information on the departure of refugee boats, so that their movement can be stopped at the Turkish shore and operations are carried out in Turkish territorial waters.

Finally, he again ruled out any possibility of joint Greek-Turkish patrols in the Aegean and said the presence of the Greek Navy will act as a deterrent for migrant traffickers.

Stressing that the migration policy ministry was responsible for migration policy, the defence minister said there will be constant updates on the progress of work on the seven hotspots.

[09] Greece and Germany are allies and partners in the management of the refugee crisis, says Alt.FM Xydakis

"Germany has saved and received people regardless of what some extreme circles inside the country say and Germany is Greece's ally and partner, they have a relation," said Xydakis.

Referring to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he said that with lots of courage she successfully overturned the stereotypes. "There is a significant part of the public opinion in Germany that supports her but extreme voices exist in her party too."

Commenting on the continuous aggressive statements of European officials against the Greek government's dealing with the refugees issue, he said that based on the national law of the European countries, nothing different from what is applied can be done and reminded that if Italy, Germany, Sweden and Austria are excluded, there are a number of countries that accepted a few number of refugees or none.

"What is lurking behind every aggressive statement is the easily explainable need of every member state to avoid whatever repercussion of that historic pressure that plagues the Mediterranean and the Middle-East. Not to take a single refugee," he noted.

Besides, responding to those who link Greece's management of the refugees with the economic crisis, Xydakis said that any country after six years of recession succeeds in this field with work and infrastructure is a feat.

Concluding, the minister said that high tension prevails inside EU, huge differentiations from country to country and an effort, that is still fruitless, for a common policy. "I believe that the non-achievement and non-implementation of a common strategy and a common practice is the source of all the problems and the centrifugal tendencies that we are experiencing at the moment," he said.

[10] Labour unions escalate mobilisations against pension reforms; nationwide strike on Thursday

Public transport is also disrupted on Tuesday, February 2, as there are no services on the Athens metro, tram, electric railway (ISAP) between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. On Thursday, there will be no trolleys, trains, suburban train and taxis. Busses will run from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm while the metro, the electric railway and the tram will operate from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The media sector will go on strike from 6:00 am Wednesday to Thursday 6:00 am, so that they can provide coverage of the general strike.

The Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen & Merchants (GSEVEE) and the National Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) also participate in Thursday's strike.

The Greek Seamen's Federation (PNO) will hold a 48-hour strike starting from 06:00 on Thursday until 06:00 on Saturday.

Lawyers, notaries, truck drivers, doctors and pharmacists have also decided to participate in the general strike as well as fuel station owners. Meanwhile, farmers continue the road blocks across the country's highways.

The main rally has been scheduled for 11:00 am on Klafthmonos Square, while PAME (labour union affiliated to Communist Party) has decided to hold its own rally at 10:30 in Omonia.

[11] Roads throughout the country closed due to farmers' protests

Among the most important, the militant protest bloc at Tempi, where farmers have closed off the Athens-Thessaloniki motorway until 20:00. It will also be closed at Mikrothives until 18:00 and at Nikaia throughout the day due to the large number of tractors.

The Arta-Antirrio road to western Greece will be closed from 18:00 until 23:00 on Tuesday night, while the Antirrio-Ioannina road at Kefalovryso will close until midnight. Farmers will also block roads in other areas in western Greece at various times, such as Preveza, Ioannina and Igoumenitsa.

The Patras-Athens national highway will be blocked by farmers at Aigialeia from 19:00 to 22:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the Patras-Pyrgos road will close from 18:00 to 21:00.

The Athens-Corinth national highway at the Isthmus tolls remains closed for a week now, with farmers preventing trucks carrying agricultural goods from entering Attica.

Similar protest actions are taking place in Arcadia, Messinia and other parts of the Peloponnese, on the Greek islands of Crete, Kefallonia and Zakynthos and throughout northern Greece at junctions on the Egnatia Highway, the Exohi customs in Drama, the Evzones customs in Kilkis, the Krystallopigi customs on the border with Albania in western Macedonia and elsewhere.

The action is expected throughout the country on Wednesday.

[12] Cities will experience unprecedented conditions, say protesting farmers

Farmers give a 5-day deadline for the setting up of an interparty committee. "All party leaders should clearly state their positions," said the member of the the coordination committee of Malgar blockade Achilleas Kambouris.

[13] Gov't spokeswoman Gerovassili rules out scenarios of early elections

Gerovassili stressed the importance of completing the program review as soon as possible and reiterated that the government meets its commitments. She described the climate of the negotiations started on Monday as positive adding that the aim is to have the program review completed by March.

She underlined that the government remains committed to the proposal for dialogue with the farmers and spoke of interests that make use of the farmers anxiety destabilising the government and creating a climate of political turmoil.

The government spokeswoman referred to the prime minister's future trip abroad. As she said, Tsipras will participate in the conference "Supporting Syria and the Region" that will be held on February 4, in London. He will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and he will have other bilateral meetings, including the Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. As she stated, the participation of the government at the summit will confirm Greece's central role in the management of refugees and pointed out that what matters is not simply dealing with the issue of refugee flows, but addressing the causes of the crisis.

Tsipras will be accompanied by State Minister Nikos Pappas and Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs Issues Nikos Xydakis.

The prime minister will also visit Tehran where he will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, Energy Minister Panos Skourletis, Economy Minister George Stathakis, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas and the secretary general of the Foreign ministry George Tsipras.

[14] Defence minister denies Turkish claim that Greek fighter jets harassed its aircraft

Kammenos said he had been in a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador in Athens David Pearce at the time and had been alerted to the incident by an alarm on his computer. He had then explained to the ambassador, who asked what the alarm signified, that they were watching the violation of Greece's national airspace by Turkish aircraft in real time.

[15] I do not believe in an ecumenical government, says ND Vice President Geordiadis

"The government has lost precious time,", he estimated speaking to radio ATHINA 9.84.

Asked on the possibility of an ecumenical government or early elections, he said: "I do not believe in an ecumenical government."

[16] French Interior Minister Cazeneuve to visit Athens on Feb. 4-5

According to the announcement, Cazeneuve will travel to Lesvos, where he will visit the identification and registration center at Moria, accompanied by Greek Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas.

On Friday, the French minister will meet with Interior and Administrative Reconstruction Minister Panagiotis Kouroumblis and German counterpart Thomas de Maiziere who will also be visiting the country.

Cazeneuve will then visit Ankara.

[17] Dutch journalist Judit Neurink talks to ANA-MPA about ISIS, living in Iraq ahead of her TED talk in Athens

From her vantage point covering events in the Middle East, and for the needs of her book "The Women of the Caliphate", Neurink said she had heard shocking stories from women in ISIS, as well as speaking about the refugee crisis and the role of journalism in democracy.

She said that Islamic State appears to be losing ground in Syria and Iraq, in terms of both territory and support in the lands it had occupied, where the economy was extremely bad and people were becoming impoverished "because Islamic State is busy filling its own pockets and the pockets of its leaders."

She warned, however, that defeating ISIS in Syria and Iraq would not make the problem go away since they were already moving on and becoming strong in Libya.

"The rumour here in Iraq is that the leaders of ISIS have already left. This means that even if you managed to drive ISIS out of Syria and Iraq, that is not the end of them."

Another problem, she said, was the collapse of the education system, with schools converted to "training camps" teaching only the Koran and Sharia laws.

"This means that even if ISIS leaves, the problem with the children will not be solved. It will be like what happened in Germany after WWII with the so-called Hitler Youth," she added.

Talking about her book, Neurink said that had heard "horrible" and "shocking" stories about the abuse suffered by women and young girls.

"There are many ugly things that ISIS has done but they way they treat women are one of the worst," she said.

On the refugee crisis, Neurink noted that the problem was both the war and some mistaken ideas about life in Europe.

"Very many believe that Europe is a paradise.... The situation for those arriving in Europe is that they cannot work and cannot bring the rest of their family...people have the wrong impression about these things," she said.

Neurink is due to speak for TEDAthens at the Pallas Theatre in the city.

[18] Journalists to hold 24-hour strike on Tuesday against social security reform bill

Journalists are participating in the general strike called by the country's biggest unions - GSEE and ADEDY - on Thursday, but following a request to cover the event, the labour action in the media has been transferred to Tuesday.

According to a decision by the Greek Federation of Journalists, no news will be printed, broadcasted or uploaded from 06.00 (local time) on Wednesday to 06.00 on Thursday in any private or public media, the General Secretariat of Information and Communication and all press offices.

The Athens News Agency - Macedonian Press Agency (ANA-MPA) will also participate in the strike in the aforementioned times which will affect its subscribers' online service, the renewal of the website and the issuing of the Bulletins.

[19] Former Samaras aide pays 3.3-million euro fine for 'Lagarde list' deposit, insists it's 'unjust'

Despite his decision to pay the fine, Papastavrou insisted that it was unjust and said that he had been forced to borrow the amount to pay the fine from the account's true owner, his childhood friend Saby Mioni.

Papastavrou was investigated after his name was found on a list of depositors with a Swiss branch of HSBC, also known as the 'Lagarde List'. The lawyer, who along with his parents had power of attorney for the account owned by a company called Stabri, said that the company's list of shareholders proves that Mioni is the real owner - something also confirmed by Mioni in deposition.

Greek tax authorities proceeded to impose the fine, however, based on additional evidence in the form of an Excel document, in which Papastavrou and his parents are listed as the 'beneficial owners' of the Stabri account. They concluded that Papastavrou was the real beneficiary of the funds in the account and had concealed income from 2000 to 2012.

The Excel document was among evidence recently leaked to Greek authorities by Herve Falciani, the whistleblower that also leaked the original 'Lagarde list'.

Papastavrou questioned the validity of the evidence against him, calling it "constructed" and of doubtful origin. He said that he will exercise all his legal rights to prove that the fine was unjustly imposed and to have it revoked and refunded.

Financial News

[20] Oil producer Energean Oil & Gas to continue increasing production, says CEO

"Despite the large drop in oil prices which has even touched 75 pct in a year and a half, Energean Oil & Gas continues to invest in Prinos, having created about 150 jobs and having multiplied the country's known oil reserves of 2 million barrels to 30 million barrels in seven years," Rigas said.

"The very existence of these proven reserves, but also the particularly low breakeven - even below $25 if we achieve the objective of increasing production to 5,000 barrels a day - which characterizes the operation of Prinos is the main incentive for the continuation of investments which are taking place for the past two years and focus on the 15 drillings which Energean Force's drilling rig has started in the Gulf of Kavala," he added.

Rigas also urged the banks to support the businesses which invest in the country's prospects so that they can acquire the know-how in the operation of new sectors, such as the research and utilization of hydrocarbons in Greece.

[21] Greek consumer confidence index unchanged in Q4, Nielsen report

The report showed a significant increase of views that Greece will remain in a recession in 2016 to 85 pct of respondents, up six points compared with the previous quarter and 31 points up from the start of 2015. Eight out of 10 respondents seemed worried about their personal finances as a 32 pct of respondents said they had no spare money, while a 35 pct said they were using their spare money to repay debts. Eight out of 10 respondents said they were constantly trying to cut their household expenses by purchasing cheaper food, cutting spending for outdoors entertainment and spending money on clothing and food delivery.

Greek were more concerned about their jobs (42 pct compared with a 19 pct average rate in the rest of Europe), the economy (38 pct compared with 20 pct) and their debts (24 pct from 11 pct). Concern about a possible war grew by seven percentage points to 11 pct, while concern about immigration were low (5.0 pct).

[22] PPC to offer discounts to consistent customers

Manolis Panagiotakis, chairman and chief executive of PPC, said the discount will be offered to enterprises and professionals using PPC's low- and mid-voltage grids. PPC has already decided to return fixed capital payment to consistent household consumers and to offer discounts to high-voltage electricity rates. He noted that these decisions were not related with similar moves made by competition in the retail electricity market and said that a liberalization of the market should proceed with a relative loss of market share for PPC. Panagiotakis said the corporation was open to business partnerships for investments in electricity production using lignite and more particularly to build a new power unit in Florina and upgrading existing units in Amyntaio.

[23] Athens airport set new January record in passenger traffic

Passenger traffic continued its successful course of 2015, with Greek and foreign travelers rising by 12 pct in January. Domestic passengers amounted to 438,000, up 16.5 pct, while international passengers totaled 654,000, up 9.1 pct. The number of flights totaled 11,452 in January, up 6.5 pct, of which domestic flights grew 8.0 pct and international flights rose 5.4 pct.

[24] Greek stocks end lower on Tuesday

The composite index fell 0.84 pct to end at 552.50 points, off the day's lows of 548.55 points. The Large Cap index fell 0.98 pct and the Mid Cap index rose 0.08 pct. Turnover was a thin 46.523 million euros in volume of 48,570,399.

PPC (4.58 pct), Hellenic Exchanges (2.01 pct) and Athens Water (1.55 pct) scored big gains among blue chip stocks, while Motor Oil (5.03 pct), Aegean Airlines (3.70 pct) and Eurobank (2.91 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

National Bank and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day. Among market sectors, Utilities (2.87 pct) and Financial Services (1.62 pct) scored big gains, while Oil (3.63 pct), Commerce (2.21 pc) and Travel (1.90 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 54 to 37 with another 23 issues unchanged. Lavipharm (19.30 pct), Athina (19.05 pct) and Boutaris (16.67 pct) were top gainers, while Sidma (17.99 pct), Sfakianakis (17.16 pct) and Galaxidi (9.97 pct) were top losers.

[25] ADEX closing report

General News

[26] Lesvos coast guard rescues record 413 migrants and refugees in single operation on Tuesday

In statements from Mytilene harbour, which was filled with the women, children and men rescued at sea, the patrol boat's captain Lieut. Argyris Fragoulis said they had come across a "fleet" of nine plastic dinghies in Greek territorial waters, heading toward the island.

"Most were sailing adrift due to engine failure and at risk of capsizing at any minute, since each one carried between 40 and 50 people and all their belongings," he said.

"This was a difficult day but we made it safely and without any problem collected and rescued 413 people," he added.

The very good weather prevailing in the northeast Aegean on Tuesday brought more than 2,000 refugees and migrants to the eastern shores of Lesvos, with the coast guard and Frontex called to rescue 1,000 from boats. The Norwegian Frontex patrol boat alone managed to collect a total of 200 people in three rescue operations on Tuesday.

[27] Two foreign nationals accused of possession of war material sent to the prosecutor

The two men arrested on January 25 are facing charges for illegal weapon possession and possession of war materials with the aim of supplying a terror group.

[28] Large number of refugees at Greece-Fyrom buffer zone; crossing conducted very slowly

According to the police, the procedure is very slow as the crossing point on Fyrom's side remains closed for many hours.

700 refugees are currently at the camp waiting to cross the border while another 4,000 are at a nearby gas station waiting to reach the buffer zone.

[29] 14,000 discarded refugee lifejackets travelling to Berlin for art project

The decision to give away the used lifejackets - bought by refugees in Turkey and most of them flimsy - was taken by the island's mayor, Spyros Galinos, who told ANA-MPA that the aim is to create a work that "will affect and mobilize the entire international community regarding the crime that takes place every day in the Aegean by unscrupulous traffickers".

He also said the island will have the "distinctive honour" of having a monument created by Weiwei in Lesvos, which will be dedicated to the refugees making the perilous journey towards Europe.

Municipal authorities have gathered hundreds of thousands of lifejackets during the past year from various landing areas around Lesvos.

[30] Olympic Air cancels 16 domestic flights on Thursday

The work stoppage will be held from 08.00 (local) until 12.00 and will affect flights to and from the islands of Paros, Milos, Kalymnos, Leros, Kos, Astypalea, Ikaria and Kythera.

For more information, travellers may contact the company at the following numbers: From a landline - 801 801 0101 / From a mobile phone: 210 3550500

[31] Weather forecast

Mostly fair weather and northerly winds are forecast for Wednesday. Wind velocity will reach 6 on the Beaufort scale. Partly cloudy in the northern and the western parts of the country with temperatures ranging from 04C-20C. Scattered clouds in the eastern parts with temperatures between 06C-22C. Sunny over the Aegean islands and Crete, 11C-20C. Mostly fair in Athens, 07C-21C; the same for Thessaloniki, 07C-18C.

[32] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

DIMOKRATIA: Help, we die (referring to the exhausting working hours of doctors at Evangelismos hospital)

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: That is how the blackmail was organised

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: The troika abolishes the government's planned social security reforms

ESTIA: The critical role of the Army

ETHNOS: Traps in tax declarations

IMERISSIA: The big bet

KATHIMERINI: Athens' race in two fronts (refugee issue and the negotiation with the creditors)

NAFTEMPORIKI: The tax issue on the agenda of the negotiations with the creditors

RIZOSPASTIS: The negotiation brings new anti-popular measures

TA NEA: April program review

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

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