Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-06-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras chairs meeting on strategy for equitable growth, to be unveiled on Thursday

[02] Government convenes meeting to discuss national plan for reducing plastic bag use

[03] Creditors have not asked the abolition of bonus salaries, Labour Min says

[04] State Min Pappas meets his French counterpart Desir

[05] Greek, French State ministers discuss bilateral economic issues in Paris

[06] Greek ambassador at Tirana asks Albanian FM to denounce banner hung at Euro 2016 game

[07] Polakis, SYRIZA dismiss abuse aimed at minister in Ierapetra as 'minority behaviour'

[08] Government to use drones to locate illegal buildings, says minister

[09] Gov't reaction to 'Resign' movement shows 'panic', main opposition spox says

[10] About 1,200 persons pre-registered under the new programme

[11] President Pavlopoulos condemns terror attacks in US Orlando

[12] PM Tsipras condemns Orlando mass shooting

[13] Next round of Greek-FYROM talks to be held in September, says foreign ministry

[14] Railway workers' strike action to affect rail services throughout Greece from Tuesday

[15] Civil aviation union announces 5-day strike as of June 20

[16] Russian Orthodox Church calls for postponement of Pan-Orthodox Council

[17] Greek banks reduced dependence from ECB, ELA in May

[18] Private building activity down 34.8 pct in March

[19] Greek stocks end sharply lower

[20] ADEX closing report

[21] UNHCR to organise events on Lesvos to celebrate World Refugee Day on June 20

[22] Poverty, refugee crisis, solidarity discussed in first day of Street Paper summit in Athens

[23] Migrants on board wooden boat off Crete ask to be sent to Italy

[24] First 423 refugees arrive at Vasilika accommodation centre from Polykastro

[25] Police completes evacuation of 1,158 refugees from gas station near Polykastro

[26] Refugees from Syria and Iraq leave voluntarily from the camp at Polykastro

[27] 'Worrisome' increase of refugee arrivals in last 48 hours, says senior police official

[28] 57,194 identified migrants and refugees in Greece on Monday

[29] Artistic director Theodoropoulos talks about Athens & Epidaurus Festival ahead of opening party

[30] Fire breaks out near Knossos archaeological site on Crete

[31] Wildfire near Megara

[32] Cloudy on Tuesday

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

[01] PM Tsipras chairs meeting on strategy for equitable growth, to be unveiled on Thursday

The government is now in the process of unfolding its strategy for the period after the review is completed, focusing on three main areas: growth, social policy and institutional reforms, such as changing election law and revising the Constitution.

The prime minister intends to unveil the government's planning for growth with social justice at an event taking place at the Acropolis Museum on Thursday, which will focus on the following three aspects: a reorganisation of production, an "unblocking" major projects and using financing tools (Juncker package, EU funds, public investments programme, developmental law, developmental bank, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank) to attract investments and support small- and medium-sized enterprises.

[02] Government convenes meeting to discuss national plan for reducing plastic bag use

According to an announcement, the meeting was held in the wake of the incorporation of European directives into Greek law, which require Greece to take measures to reduce average annual consumption to not more than 90 thin plastic bags per person by the end of 2010 and to just 40 a year by the end of 2025.

The meeting ended with an decision to set up a joint working group to decide on the actions that will be taken and draw up a national action plan with the involvement of the participating bodies, in order to sensitise consumers to the need to cut down on their use of plastic bags. This will take place alongside pilot schemes set up by the Hellenic Recycling Agency on the islands of Santorini and Tinos.

Participating in the meeting were representatives of the secretariat, the Attica regional authority, the Hellenic Recycling Agency, the Central Markets and Fishing Agency, and the Retail Goods Research Institute.

[03] Creditors have not asked the abolition of bonus salaries, Labour Min says

"We fight against mass layoffs," Katrougalos noted. "We do not want this situation to continue; it is unacceptable, it is a labour jungle. We want to protect the social Europe."

[04] State Min Pappas meets his French counterpart Desir

"The conclusion of the programme review is an important step for boosting Europe's development course, that will be tested in case of a negative vote in the British referendum," the French Minister noted. Desir praised the way Greece is handling the refugee issue adding that the relocation programme should be accelerated in all EU member states, including France. "We should insist on the issue of the refugee relocation despite the challenges on the issue of security. If France can implement the EU-Turkey agreement, then all EU countries can do so," he underlined.

Pappas briefed the French minister on the Greek reforms, which have increased confidence in the economy stressing the need for policies that promote growth and employment instead of austerity policies.

On the debt issue, he stressed the importance of starting a discussion on substantial resolution at European level by adopting sustainable and human-content economic policies and not options that aim at accounting and nominal debt relief.

[05] Greek, French State ministers discuss bilateral economic issues in Paris

Relations between Greece and France, particularly in the economic sector were discussed in a meeting between State Minister Nikos Pappas and French counterpart Harlem Desir in Paris.

The two men discussed economic issues as part of the "Strategic Partnership for the Future" signed during the visit of President Francois Hollande in Athens last October, a press release by the French foreign ministry said.

They also discussed French technical support for the implementation of Greece's third bailout program and for a "European answer" to the issue of refugee flows.

Pappas is accompanied in Paris by the general secretary of Information and Communication, Eleftherios Kretsos.

[06] Greek ambassador at Tirana asks Albanian FM to denounce banner hung at Euro 2016 game

The Greek Ambassador in Tirana, Leonidas Rokanas handed over to the Albanian Ambassador in Athens the demarches that described the action as "deplorable, unacceptable and brazen".

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Efstratios Efthymiou issued an immediate response to the provocation, setting out the Ministry's position on the hanging of the provocative banner. The Deputy Culture and Sports Minister, Stavros Kontonis, sent a very stern letter of protest to the Secretary General of UEFA, Theodoros Theodoridis and the Greek Embassy in Paris proceeded to an expression of protest to the French foreign ministry.

Subsequent to the above expressions of protest, the French organizers and UEFA noted that the hanging of the banner in question was carried out before the match began, stressed that its removal was immediate, and assured us that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure this unacceptable incident is not repeated.

"The Albanian side was asked to condemn this brazen action officially. So far, Albania appears not to have grasped the necessity of such a move, but the required actions will be taken to make this necessity understood," the ministry says.

[07] Polakis, SYRIZA dismiss abuse aimed at minister in Ierapetra as 'minority behaviour'

Polakis held talks with the 7th Healthcare Region of Crete in Iraklio on ways to control the pharmaceutical spend and lessen the strain on hospital pharmacies, before visiting Ierapetra's municipal authority and hospital. Arriving at the hospital, he found a protest made up of citizens and representatives of local agencies and organisations, who objected to the poor state the hospital had been allowed to sink into.

Speaking after a meeting on the hospital's problems, Polakis promised to hire an additional 26 staff, including five permanent doctors and three assistant doctors. He also expressed support for its new director, saying that a young candidate with fresh ideas had been chosen.

In a tweet referring to the protests that he met on his arrival, Polakis said he had "an excellent talk" with the hospital agencies, residents' committee, mayor and staff and, in a "postscript", went on to dismiss the protests as a "side-show by some 10 far-right supporters and five LAE supporters to create a furore for the television channels."

"They could neither mar nor stop the discussion with the people. WE CONTINUE AND LET THE DOGS HOWL," he added.

The incident was also condemned by the SYRIZA party in an announcement, which noted that "such minority behaviours by a very few, supposedly 'outraged citizens' have nothing to do with societal demands" and called on "every democratic citizen to isolate these, very few, troublemakers."

[08] Government to use drones to locate illegal buildings, says minister

"Control mechanisms will be strengthened by electronic means, such as drones and high precision satellite imaging," Tsironis said, speaking at a press conference in Thessaloniki where he presented the main points of the new draft bill being prepared by the ministry.

He said the bill be posted for public consultation around July 15, so that it can be voted on in September. "As soon as the law is voted and because we'll need the drones in the next fire-fighting season, we'll have these instruments next year," he added.

[09] Gov't reaction to 'Resign' movement shows 'panic', main opposition spox says

Koumoutsakos again focused his fire on Education Minister Nikos Filis and the latter's comments about the movement, particularly criticising a suggestion that the movement's demands "bordered on the limits of constitutional legality".

"The truth is that this statement by the education minister clashes with constitutional legality, not one but two times," Koumoutsakos pointed out, noting that the minister's statement was contrary to both the right to freedom of expression and participation in social, economic and political life, as enshrined in the constitution, and contrary to article 11 protecting the right to gather, demonstrate and protest.

"New Democracy has absolutely no involvement or engagement in this citizens' movement. It is our conscious decision that was expressed from the first moment. Each person, as a citizen, does what he or she feels and believes [is right]. And the political forces, all the political forces, have an obligation to listen to the citizens," he added.

[10] About 1,200 persons pre-registered under the new programme

The programme will last two months and aims to pre-register all applicants who have entered the country from January 1, 2015 until March 19, 2016. In Attiki, the authorities have pre-registered the applicants in former international Elliniko airport. The aim is to pre-register 700 applicants daily.

[11] President Pavlopoulos condemns terror attacks in US Orlando

"Following the instructions of the President of the Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the Secretary General of the Presidency, George Gennimatas, conveyed to the American Ambassador, Mr. David Pearce, the full conviction of the President of the Republic for yesterday's deadly terrorist attack in the US Orlando. The President expressed his solidarity and deepest condolences, and those of the Greek people, to the US President, Mr. Obama Barack, the American people and the families of the victims," the statement said.

[12] PM Tsipras condemns Orlando mass shooting

"Our thoughts today are with the relatives of the victims of the shocking and appalling Orlando massacre," he tweeted.

"We strongly condemn acts based on racism, homophobia and hatred. We strive for a society that is based on the acceptance of diversity."

[13] Next round of Greek-FYROM talks to be held in September, says foreign ministry

Earlier today, the two sides held talks on the basis of the agreement reached by the two foreign ministers in Skopje a year ago, focusing on connectivity projects, police cooperation, European programmes, culture, education, civil protection, public administration, health, Diplomatic Academies' cooperation and launching business initiatives.

The talks were held with the participation of experts from the respective relevant authorities.

[14] Railway workers' strike action to affect rail services throughout Greece from Tuesday

The disruption will continue into the following week as well, with more work stoppages planned on Tuesday week and a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, June 22.

The staff have announced three work stoppages a day on June 14-16 and on June 21, from 5:00-8:00 in the morning, from 13:00-16:00 in the afternoon and from 21:00-24:00 at night.

The strike will affect the country's entire railway network, including the Proastiakos suburban railway serving Athens, the airport and going as far as Kiato in the Peloponnese. The strike will also affect the buses from Kiato station to Patras.

The strikes are being held in protest against plans to privatise the trains operator TRAINOSE and the Hellenic Company for Rolling Stock Maintenance SA and peak on June 22, when a deadline for submitting binding offers in tenders for the two companies expires, and plans to transfer the Greek Railways Organisation (OSE) to a new privatisation agency.

TRAINOSE has already stopped booking tickets for the trains and routes affected by the strike action.

[15] Civil aviation union announces 5-day strike as of June 20

According to OSYPA, which does not include air traffic controllers, the strike is planned on June 20-24 and is expected to affect the operation of the country's regional airports.

[16] Russian Orthodox Church calls for postponement of Pan-Orthodox Council

In a press release issued after a meeting of its Holy Synod, the Patriarchate of Moscow said that for the Church to participate, the problems must be smoothed out and then hold the Council.

In statements made recently, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew underlined the importance of the event noting that such a meeting has not been held for over 1,000 years.

Financial News

[17] Greek banks reduced dependence from ECB, ELA in May

The central bank, in a report, said that Greek banks' direct borrowing from European Central Bank's refinancing operations fell to 30.9 billion euros at the end of May from 32.7 billion a month earlier. Greek banks' total borrowing from ECB and ELA fell to 95.7 billion euros in May from 99.6 billion in April.

[18] Private building activity down 34.8 pct in March

The statistics service, in a report, said that building permits issued in March fell 11.6 pct, compared with the same period last year.

In the first quarter of 2016, private building activity was down 14 pct in building permits and 11.9 pct in volume, compared with the corresponding period last year.

[19] Greek stocks end sharply lower

Turnover was an improved 85.73 million euros of which 14.5 million were a block trade in Trastor. Volume was 179,001,235.

Lamda Development (2.16 pct) was the only blue chip stock to end higher, while National Bank (10.4 pct), Piraeus Bank (9.17 pct), Viohalco (7.38 pct), Alpha Bank (6.94 pct) and PPC (6.21 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses.

Among market sectors, only Chemicals ended higher (0.74 pct), while Banks (7.81 pct), Raw Materials (5.24 pct) and Telecoms (4.55 pct) suffered losses. National Bank and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 84 to 26 with another 12 issues unchanged. Kepenos Mills (17.32 pct), Euromedica (16.67 pct) and Nexans (15.91 pct) were top gainers, while Motodynamic (22.19 pct), Evrofarma (20.50 pct) and Boutaris (19.42 pct) were top losers.

[20] ADEX closing report

General News

[21] UNHCR to organise events on Lesvos to celebrate World Refugee Day on June 20

Among the planned events are a "solidarity tree" that will be set up on June 18 where visitors can write messages of hope and compassion on pieces of the plastic dinghies that carried the refugees and migrants to the shores of Lesvos from Turkey. From June 16, performers from various European countries will present the play "Meeting the Odyssey" at Kara Tepe, Molyvos and Mytilene fort, combining elements of the Odyssey with modern issues relating to Europe.

Also on June 16, the Bulgarian artist Nora Ampova will open her exhibition "Hide and Seek" - a series of paintings and sculptures created on Lesvos that were inspired by the refugee crisis - at the Mytilene Municipal Gallery. The exhibition, which will run until June 30, is a wry commentary on the destruction wrought by war and society's response to it, in this case replacing the human form with images of ostriches.

More than half of the refugees that reached the European Union via Greece in 2015, almost 600,000 people, first arrived in EU territory when they alighted on the shores of Lesvos.

[22] Poverty, refugee crisis, solidarity discussed in first day of Street Paper summit in Athens

"When you meet the refugees you understand the effort, their agony and you get closer to them," said Efi Latsidou from the "Village of all together" in Lesvos.

Mihalis, a seller of the Greek street paper "Schedia", said that a few years ago he was prejudiced towards migrants. "But living with them in the homeless shelter they [prejudices] came tumbling down. I understood they are same as us, only they have a bigger struggle. If a Greek or a German steals something, then they alone are thieves. But if for example an Afghan steals something, automatically all the Afghans are thieves," he said. "But personal contact shows anyone how wrong it is to generalize."

Paola Gallo, manager of Switzerland's "Surprise", said that while her country used to implement policies based on humanism, when 39,000 refugees applied for asylum in 2015, they were all rejected. The government has now said it will only accept 3,000 Syrians in the next five years, she said. On the other hand, the Swiss help the refugees, raise money and essential items.

[23] Migrants on board wooden boat off Crete ask to be sent to Italy

A freighter that is currently in the area said that the vessel in not in danger for the time being, however, the approximately 200 migrants that are on board ask to be sent to Italy.

Deliberations among the involved services are underway provided that the incident is taking place in Libya's waters.

[24] First 423 refugees arrive at Vasilika accommodation centre from Polykastro

The new refugee centre at Vasilika is on the Thessaloniki-Vasilika rural road and can accommodate up to 1800 refugees and migrants.

Some families with children opted to leave Vasilika immediately after their arrival for other centres, while local residents also object to the decision to set up the camp there.

[25] Police completes evacuation of 1,158 refugees from gas station near Polykastro

The refugees, mostly Syrians, had packed their belongings and boarded the busses freely, police said. They were transferred to the accommodation centre of Vasilika. The motorway, which had been closed in the section between the Agios Athanasios junction and Polykastro turn to allow for the move, was reopened to traffic.

On Tuesday, police will evacuate two more makeshift camps in the area - one formed in a gas station near the borders with FYROM and another in a hotel, near Evzones.

[26] Refugees from Syria and Iraq leave voluntarily from the camp at Polykastro

The refugees who left voluntarily are transferred to the hosting center at Vassilika.

Police said that is observing the refugees' departure without making any use of violence.

[27] 'Worrisome' increase of refugee arrivals in last 48 hours, says senior police official

Since last Saturday, 108 people arrived in Lesvos, 53 in Chios and 65 in Samos, while on Monday, 67 refugees arrived at the islands of the eastern Aegean.

"The activity over the weekend is worrisome because it shows that the Turkish side has stopped patrolling the migrant routes towards the coast," the police official said, adding that there are also fewer checks from the Turkish coast guard.

[28] 57,194 identified migrants and refugees in Greece on Monday

According to the Refugee Crisis Management Coordination Body's figures, 26,110 of the refugees are in northern Greece, 14,851 are hosted in the region of Attica, 8,464 on the Greek islands and 2,409 are hosted in different areas in central and southern Greece. 5,360 refugees and migrants are hosted in several facilities rented by the UNHCR.

[29] Artistic director Theodoropoulos talks about Athens & Epidaurus Festival ahead of opening party

The entrance ticket comes with one glass of cold beer, free of charge, and live music by Himerinous Kolymbites, the Florina Brass Band and Matoula Zamani.

The festival will pick up momentum with multiple events in Athens and the ancient theater at Epidaurus in June and July, with a programme of more than 70 Greek and foreign productions of theatre, dance and music. It will wind down in August, when there will be four theatre performances at the ancient Theatre of Epidaurus.

Taking over after Loukos was replaced and a brief, abortive attempt to appoint the Belgian Jean Fabre as curator for the 2016 festival, Theodoropoulos launched his three-year appointment as the festival's artistic director by choosing productions from the protocol of Greek proposals submitted to Loukos, numbering some 300.

He said he was also very fortunate in managing to book foreign productions, where he was assisted by one of his consultants, the head of the Berlin summer festival Matthias von Hartz.

"It was something exceptionally difficult, because these are normally booked a year or two in advance, but he told me he would try. The next day he telephoned me and told me he had asked 22 foreign directors and that they all agreed. I find the response touching, both for the festival and for Greece," Theodoropoulos said.

Whereas he had been hoping for maybe five foreign directors, he suddenly had the luxury of choosing 10 from among 22 and was able to lead the festival into the "more youthful, alternative and more political" direction that he wanted, he added. According to Theodoropoulos, "theatre is political in its nature" throughout the world, in that it "listens to what is happening around us."

The task of organising the festival was nevertheless difficult and a "race", given the shortage of time but also money, after the budget was cut from four million euros to three million euros in order to pay last year's debts to those that worked for it.

The full programme throughout the summer is available at the festival website www.greekfestival.gr.

[30] Fire breaks out near Knossos archaeological site on Crete

The efforts to contain and put out the fire are being hampered by strong winds blowing in the area, fire-fighting forces said.

[31] Wildfire near Megara

25 fire engines with 70-member crew, two teams of firefighters on foot, four firefighting aircrafts and two water-dropping helicopters are currently battling the blaze.

A Fire Brigade official told ANA-MPA that residential areas are not threatened for the moment.

Weather forecast

[32] Cloudy on Tuesday

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

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: "Resign" movement is New Democracy's Plan B

ESTIA: Serious failures in the Balkans

ETHNOS: Return to collective agreements

NAFTEMPORIKI: The third memorandum brings 18 changes in taxation

TA NEA: Measures passed, strikes continue

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