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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras to meet EU Council president Tusk on Tuesday

[02] EU Commission will do its best to complete program's review, spokesman says

[03] Creation of hotspots is in the interest of Greece and the EU, says minister

[04] Greece inaugurates first - albeit empty - hotspot in Chios on Tuesday

[05] Defence Minister to visit hotspots in Lesvos, Chios, Leros on Tuesday

[06] German VC Gabriel warns against expulsion of Greece from Schengen

[07] Mardas sees significant impact of farmers' protests on economy

[08] Farmers' union delivers social security proposals to government; say they form basis for talks

[09] Farmers at Tempi 'don't recognize' proposals submitted by other farmers' union to gov't

[10] Thessaly farmers escalate their mobilisations; Tempi Valley closed indefinitely

[11] FM Kotzias meets counterparts in Cyprus and Lebanon

[12] Alternate FM Xydakis to attend a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council

[13] German FM spokesman favours Greek FM participation at Visegrad Group meeting

[14] ND leader presents Greek positions on refugees problem to EU ambassadors

[15] Six Turkish fighter jets violate Greek airspace in the Aegean

[16] ADEDY plans 48-hour strike at end of February

[17] Greek budget primary surplus jumped to 1.193 bln euros in Jan

[18] Privatization agency denies reports on new concession deal for Athens airport

[19] Nominal apartment prices down 5.4 pct in Q4 2015

[20] Athina ATE begins trading of new shares in ASE

[21] Employment flows balance negative in January, report

[22] Italian-Greek Business Forum on Feb 18

[23] Greek stocks jump 7.40 pct on Monday

[24] Greek bond market closing report

[25] ADEX closing report

[26] Athens Concert Hall to host 'Hamlet' to mark Shakespeare Year

[27] Former director of public hospital using fake certificate arrested

[28] Western Peloponnese rattled by 5.2-magnitude quake

[29] Mostly fair on Tuesday

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

[01] PM Tsipras to meet EU Council president Tusk on Tuesday

[02] EU Commission will do its best to complete program's review, spokesman says

He also said that the first round of the negotiations was "constructive" adding that "substantial progress was recorded in several issues."

He underlined that intensive work at technical level continue so that the heads of the institutions' representatives return "as soon as possible" in order to reach an agreement on a technical level in the coming weeks.

[03] Creation of hotspots is in the interest of Greece and the EU, says minister

"The hotspot in Kos will be built, just like we've already built and operating the ones in Chios, Leros, Samos and Mytilene. This is in the interest of Greece and part of its obligations towards the European Union and in the interest of the country and the island as well," Vitsas told public radio station Athens 9.84, commenting on the protests of the inhabitants in Kos against the construction of the hotspot.

"It's important to conduct in an organized fashion the registration and identification and within 48 hours the refugees and irregular migrants will cross over to the mainland, and from there they'll be led to the relocation camps - that is the places from where they'll be transferred to other countries," he added.

He also said that the relocation camp at Schisto, near Piraeus is complete and will be delivered on Tuesday. "Those who have seen it have been impressed and I'm not just talking about Greeks," he noted.

[04] Greece inaugurates first - albeit empty - hotspot in Chios on Tuesday

The new so-called hotspot, built in a defunct industrial complex near the village of Halkios, has the temporary capacity to register 600 refugees and migrants on a daily basis which is expected to increase by up to 1,200 people per day.

The center will remain completely empty for now as no refugees or migrants have arrived on the island in the past three days.

Public sector employees union ADEDY's local branch said it will stage a protest on Tuesday outside the center to "express its opposition to the attempted ghettoization of the victims of the brutal war in Syria and Iraq as well as NATO's entrance into the Aegean."

[05] Defence Minister to visit hotspots in Lesvos, Chios, Leros on Tuesday

Before his visit, he will hold a press briefing to present the progress made in the construction of the so-called hotspots. The ministry also said that the Armed Forces are work intensively to complete the work in all centers within the deadline given to the country, which includes a total of five centers on five islands in the eastern Aegean, as well as two relocation centers in the mainland.

[06] German VC Gabriel warns against expulsion of Greece from Schengen

"The exit or expulsion of a member-state from the Schengen zone is a pseudo-solution which would poison the European debate," Sigmar, who's also the Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader wrote in.

"You can't just redefine Europe's borders and expel affected states over their heads," he added, noting that such an expulsion could happen if the ideas of the conservatives come to be or if FYROM builds fences at its borders.

He also argued that the refugee crisis offers an opportunity to renew the European idea, noting that the refugee crisis and asylum policy should be linked to a just distribution of the weight, with growth policies and measures to fight unemployment.

[07] Mardas sees significant impact of farmers' protests on economy

He said that the government cannot withdraw from its positions if it is not aware of the farmers' demands and added that their demands will be submitted to the Prime Minister on Monday.

Mardas also estimated that the draft law will be supported by the majority of deputies and there will be no problems provided a dialogue is held and improvements are made.

[08] Farmers' union delivers social security proposals to government; say they form basis for talks

After the meeting, government sources, the two sides held a general discussion on their problems and the current situation and noted that the government wants to hold talks as soon as possible.

On the other hand, the Committee made clear what it wanted. "To the logic that the government does not talk to farmers, we respond that we've come here to Maximos Mansion and to the other political leaders, we submitted our proposals and requested a meeting with the government and the prime minister, but only if the discussion is based on the proposals we have submitted," member of the Committee Dimitris Dimogiannis told journalists after the meeting with Gerovasili, adding they are essentially asking to start talks from scratch.

Asked if they are giving the government an ultimatum, Dimogiannis said it is not an ultimatum, but a "reasonable time frame" after which farmers expect an answer. "However, and until [the proposals] are answered, the message we get from all the farmers in Greece is to intensify protests and step up blockades."

He also warned that farmers will have their eyes set on a possible new protest in Athens. "This will be the next move. Therefore, time is running out."

[09] Farmers at Tempi 'don't recognize' proposals submitted by other farmers' union to gov't

Commenting on the development, they said they have also sent proposals to the government since last Wednesday, which were approved by 30 roadblocks and are waiting for an invitation to a dialog based on these terms.

At a separate roadblock in Nikaia, near Larisa, farmers said they are planning more labour action as they have not received a response to their own proposals. Members of the block are scheduled to meet at 19.00 (local) to discuss further action.

[10] Thessaly farmers escalate their mobilisations; Tempi Valley closed indefinitely

On their part, the farmers of Nikaia blockade, one of the largest in Greece, will convene on Monday afternoon to decide on the ways they will escalate their mobilisations.

[11] FM Kotzias meets counterparts in Cyprus and Lebanon

This first such trilateral meeting was dominated by issues of regional and international interest, while special emphasis was put on the refugee crisis, terrorism and the peace process in the wider Middle East.

The talks looked at the prospects for building trilateral cooperation in the economic and trade sectors, as well as in the sectors of energy, security and culture.

Finally, Kotzias and Kasoulides agreed to carry out a joint visit to Lebanon in the near future.

[12] Alternate FM Xydakis to attend a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council

The GAC agenda includes the debate on the European semester, the interinstitutional agreement on better law-making, and preparations for the European Council meeting to be held this Thursday and Friday, 18 and 19 February.

Xydakis will present to his European counterparts Greece's positions on the preparations for the upcoming European Council meeting, including with regard to migration and the European Union's relations with the United Kingdom.

[13] German FM spokesman favours Greek FM participation at Visegrad Group meeting

It would be "the right approach" to include the Greek foreign minister in the meeting of the Visegrad Group countries in Prague next week, the German foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday.

The Group is made up of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and on Monday participants will discuss measures on guarding the external borders of the EU in view of the ongoing migrant crisis.

"We hear - and I hope it's so - that in the meeting of the Visegrad Group the Greek Foreign Minister will be present. That would be, in our view, exactly the correct approach - to talk with those who are mostly burdened and not for them, or bypassing them," foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said during a regular press briefing.

Asked to comment on an article by German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel in which he opposed the possibility of Greece being excluded from the Schengen zone, Schaefer said: "I understood Sigmar Gabriel's article as a very strong advocacy for European solutions - for European rather than national solutions. And this is a fundamental belief of the government."

[14] ND leader presents Greek positions on refugees problem to EU ambassadors

The working breakfast was part of Mitsotakis' initiative for the promotion of the Greek position on the refugees issue abroad.

The main opposition leader, who has already met with Alternate Migration Minister Giannis Mouzalas and has visited the refugees camps in Mytilene, will have a series of meetings with the European leaders and officials within the week on the sidelines of the European People's Party meeting in Brussels.

During his meeting with the envoys, Mitsotakis said that the closing of the northern Greek borders is a wrong approach and referred to Austrian Foreign Minister's recent statements saying that their are not in the right direction and do not assist a country and the people that are doing everything to face a huge issue.

He also said that Turkey must become more cooperative particularly in the fight against human smuggling.

[15] Six Turkish fighter jets violate Greek airspace in the Aegean

The 19 out of 22 violations were committed by the CN-235 which passed between islands of the eastern and central Aegean. According to Air Force sources, the aforementioned aircraft entered Athens' FIR at 14.09 (local)) between Lemnos and Lesvos and exited at 16.21 east of Rhodes.

In all the incidents, the Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted by Greek fighter jets respectively, while in two cases the interception process developed into a dogfight. Two of the Turkish aircraft were armed.

[16] ADEDY plans 48-hour strike at end of February

ADEDY has also planned labour action for this week, starting with a rally along with the teachers' union OLME outside the Education ministry on Wednesday at 13.30 (local) and another rally on Thursday outside the Health ministry at noon, to support the union of employees working in public hospitals. On Monday, ADEDY union members will also gather outside the Labour ministry to demand support for the civil servants' pension fund.

Financial News

[17] Greek budget primary surplus jumped to 1.193 bln euros in Jan

The budget also recorded a primary surplus of 1.193 billion euros in January, from a primary surplus of 443 million last year and a budget target for a primary surplus of 307 million euros.

State budget net revenue totaled 4.219 billion euros in January, up 10.4 pct from targets, while regular budget net revenue amounted to 3.654 billion euros, down 0.2 pct from budget targets.

Tax returns totaled 296 million euros in January, down 49 million euros from budget targets, while Public Investment Programme revenue amounted to 565 million euros, up 405 million from targets.

State budget spending totaled 3.141 billion euros, down 483 million from targets, while regular budget targets amounted to 3.006 billion euros, down 469 million from targets.

Regular budget spending were down 167 million from January 2015 and Public Investment Programme spending totaled 135 million euros, down 15 million from targets.

[18] Privatization agency denies reports on new concession deal for Athens airport

"Everything that is being written and said about the 'Eleftherios Venizelos' airport have no connection to reality," Stergios Pitsiorlas said in a press release, adding that HRADF has simply requested the opening of talks to extend the concession rights with the AIA.

He also noted that the procedure has not even started yet.

AIA was established in 1996 in order to build, maintain and operate the "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport on a 30 year concession. The current shareholders of AIA are the Greek State (25%), HRADF (30%), Canadian company AviAlliance GmbH (26.7% plus 8 shares), Canadian AviAlliance Capital GmbH (13.3%) and the Copelouzos Group (5% minus 8 shares).

In addition, the Greek State has also transferred to HRADF the right to extend the existing concession by 20 extra years (until 2046).

[19] Nominal apartment prices down 5.4 pct in Q4 2015

The central bank, in a report, said that in the fourth quarter of 2015 the prices of "new" apartments, i.e. up to 5 years old, dropped by 5.7 pct year-on-year and the prices of "old" apartments, i.e. over 5 years old, fell by 5.2 pct year-on-year. The prices of "new" apartments declined by 5.5 pct on average in 2015, against a decline of 6.5 pct in 2014, whereas "old" apartment prices declined by 4.7 pct in 2015, against a drop of 8.1 pct in 2014.

According to data broken down by geographical area, in the fourth quarter of 2015 apartment prices are estimated to have declined year-on-year by 4.9 pct in Athens, 5.9 pct in Thessaloniki, 6.1 pct in other cities and 5.3 pct in other areas of Greece. For the whole of 2015, apartment prices dropped on average by 5.3 pct, 5.3 pct, 5.2 pct and 4.4 pct respectively in the above-mentioned areas. Finally, as regards all urban areas of the country, in the fourth quarter of 2015 apartment prices declined by 5.5 pct year-on-year, whereas for the whole of 2015 the average annual decline was 5.0 pct.

[20] Athina ATE begins trading of new shares in ASE

[21] Employment flows balance negative in January, report

According to figures released by the Ergani IT system of the Labor ministry, new hirings totaled 110,490 and dismissals amounted to 120,444 in January.

A ministry announcement said that January was always a month of negative employment flows balance since 2001, with the exception of January 2014 when a positive employment flows balance was recorded.

[22] Italian-Greek Business Forum on Feb 18

The forum will be held Thursday, February 18, 2016, from 11.30 to 16.15, in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Athens.

The Forum aims at seeking and finding possible ways of future cooperation between the two countries, the future joint-ventures and exchange of expertise in the food industry.

[23] Greek stocks jump 7.40 pct on Monday

The composite index soared 7.40 pct to end at 487.92 points, off the day's highs of 491.63 points. Analysts said that the fact that the composite index surpassed the 475-point technical resistance level paved the way for the next technical level of 520 points. The index has risen 10.67 pct in the last two sessions, while the bank index is up 45.34 pct in the same period, after falling by 39.84 pct in the previous two weeks.

Eurobank jumped 29.94 pct, Piraeus Bank soared 28.57 pct, National Bank was up 26.67 pct and Alpha Bank jumped 21.21 pct. Folli Follie (10.22 pct), PPC (9.82 pct), GEK Terna (7.96 pct) and Hellenic Exchanges (7.77 pct) scored big gains among blue chip stocks.

Turnover was a low 74.602 million euros in volume of 160,351,783. The Large Cap index rose 10.17 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 4.95 pct higher. National Bank and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day. All sectors moved higher, led by Banks (24.75 pct), Commerce (10.19 pct) and Financial Services (8.23 pct).

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 86 to 32 with another 18 issues unchanged. Eurobank (29.94 pct), Piraeus Bank (28.57 pct) and Alpha Bank (21.21 pct) were top gainers, while ANEK (20 pct), AXON Holdings (18.18 pct) and VIS (17.55 pct) were top losers.

[24] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates were mixed. The 12-month rate rose to -0.008 pct from -0.009 pct, the nine-month rate rose to -0.063 pct from -0.064 pct, the six-month rate was -0.116 pct, the three-month rate was -0.0183 pct and the one-month rate fell to -0.241 pct.

[25] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 94,111 contracts with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (41,107), followed by Alpha Bank (9,373), Piraeus Bank (21,560), Eurobank (16,423), MIG (1,391), OTE (699), PPC (816), OPAP (764), Hellenic Exchanges (189), Titan (108), Mytilineos (279), Hellenic Petroleum (220), Motor Oil (210), Ellaktor (183), Folli Follie (203) and Jumbo (206).

General News

[26] Athens Concert Hall to host 'Hamlet' to mark Shakespeare Year

Starting on February 27, "Megaron" will host "Globe to Globe Hamlet" by the prestigious Shakespeare's Globe, which on April 23, 2014 embarked upon a two-year global tour of the play to every country in the world, in a completely unprecedented theatrical adventure. The event reinvents Elizabethan touring theatre for the twenty-first century by using a stage design inspired by images from the time that allows Globe's travelling players to recreate all the fun and excitement of early theatre. The play is directed by the Globe's Artistic Director Dominic Dromgoole.

Following the show, on February 29, the venue will broadcast live Shakespeare's "As you Like It" from the National Theatre.

On the same day, the award winning theatre director and artist-in-residence at University College London, Gregory Thompson, will present at 19.00 (local) the lecture "Times change but Shakespeare remains" (in English with simultaneous interpretation).

Thompson - using as points of reference in his lecture the presentation of Shakespeare plays in the rain forest of the Caribbean, at the church where the great dramatist has been buried, in Kathmandu and in the productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company - will explore the relationship between the time in which a play is written, the time of the dramatic action and the time when the production was presented. He will also talk about the way this relationship affects the public today and speak to people's hearts, at a time when Shakespeare is as pertinent as ever, and as his work continues to be staged in theaters around the world.

Thompson's productions combine ensemble performances with innovative stagings and actor-audience relationships. He's directed for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Young Vic amongst others in the UK and his own company AandBC has performed Shakespeare all over world.

At UCL he matches scientists with performing artists to enhance, extend and disrupt academic activities to yield deeper or more surprising research outcomes; and applies creative and collaborative practises to various enterprise activities.

The lecture is held in cooperation with the British Embassy in Athens and the British Council, as part of the program "Shakespeare Lives". The event is free and will also be broadcasted live through the web and will be open to all. To watch it, viewers can click on Megaron's webpage (http://www.megaron.gr).

[27] Former director of public hospital using fake certificate arrested

Kastanis was charged and condemned to 21-month imprisonment for submitting fake university certificate that allowed him to become director of the hospital.

The 58-year old was arrested in the USA for infringement of the residence conditions and after the completion of the relevant procedures was delivered to the Greek authorities.

[28] Western Peloponnese rattled by 5.2-magnitude quake

The epicenter of the tremor was near the village of Krestena, 72 klm south of the city of Patras and because of its shallow depth at 10 klm was felt throughout the region. No injuries or damages were immediately reported.

Weather forecast

[29] Mostly fair on Tuesday

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

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Who will avoid pension at 67

ESTIA: The left in decomposition

ETHNOS: Pension cuts

NAFTEMPORIKI: An explosive mixture of problems

TA NEA: Statement-shock at the borders

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