Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Import price index up 7.8% in May

[02] Police arrest 4 foreign nationals suspected in 26 supermarket robberies

[03] Greece to host next CEMAT summit

[04] Budget deficit cut 46% in H1

[05] Stocks end flat on Mon.

[06] Edi Rama in Greece

[01] Import price index up 7.8% in May

[02] Police arrest 4 foreign nationals suspected in 26 supermarket robberies

Following a lengthy investigation over the course of several months, authorities on Saturday arrested four Albanian nationals aged 26, 27, 31 and 34 years old. The four were apprehended on their return to two residences they maintained in the seaside Kalamaki district after allegedly carrying out an armed robbery on a Vassilopoulos supermarket in the west Attica town of Elefsina, where more than 62,154 euros was taken.

According to police, the four suspects carried out carefully planned robberies that targeted large, busy supermarkets with lots of customers. The targeted supermarkets were staked-out by the gang for lengthy periods of time so that they knew exactly when and where security vans would arrive to pick up the weekly earnings, usually a Thursday or Saturday, and could strike at that time.

One of the assumed gang members would then enter the supermarket through the staff doors wearing a uniform issued to supermarket staff and go up to the offices that held the safe at the time the money was being handed over.

Once an opportunity arose, he would hold the employees at gunpoint, grab the money and exit the supermarket covered by his accomplices. The robbers then usually escaped in rented cars.

The four suspects stand accused of carrying out a total of 26 supermarket robberies in this fashion. Part of the money stolen was sent back to Albania and invested in businesses, while the rest was used to fund their luxurious lifestyle in Greece, complete with luxury cars and apartments.

At the time of their arrest, police found and confiscated 47,670 euros that were in their possession, as well as a Kalashnikov assault rifle with clip and 50 bullets, three guns with clips and 58 bullets, one knife, two uniforms issued to supermarket staff, wigs, a bullet-proof vest and various fake documents. Also confiscated by police were four luxury automobiles.

The four men arrested were taken before a public prosecutor and an investigation to discover whether they might be implicated in other criminal acts is continuing.

[03] Greece to host next CEMAT summit

The next CEMAT session will take place in three years, following the end of the most recent meeting in Moscow.

[04] Budget deficit cut 46% in H1

The ministry stressed that the first half figures of the budget surpassed an annual budget target of a 39.5 pct decline in the budget deficit. (ANA-MPA) Net budget revenues rose 7.2 pct in the January-June period, missing a budget target of a 13.7 pct annual growth, while budget spending fell 12.8 pct, surpassing a budget target of an annual decline of 5.5 pct. Primary spending fell 12.7 pct (budget target of 5.4 pct), while interest spending fell 13.3 pct (budget target of a 5.6 pct growth). (ANA-MPA)

Spending via the Public Investments Programme dropped 39.8 pct, while revenues fell 40.2 pct, compared with the same period in 2009. The ministry attributed the improved budget figures to a decline in spending and higher revenues and stressed that figures did not fully reflect additional measures taken so far this year. (ANA-MPA)

[05] Stocks end flat on Mon.

Chemicals (2.08 pct0 and Travel (0.67 pct) scored gains, while Food (1.97 pct) and Technology (1.69 pct) suffered losses. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 81 to 75 with another 55 issues unchanged.

Alco (9.43 pct), Elfico (8.70 pct) and Koumbas (8.33 pct) were top gainers, while Klonatex (14.29 pct), NEL (11.11 pct) and Hellenic Fish Farms (10 pct) were top losers.

[06] Edi Rama in Greece

According to Rama, discussions focused on cooperation between the two parties, both of whom belong to the SI group.

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