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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-08-09Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Focus on deregulationANA-MPA/The government and the EU-IMF troika are focusing their attention on deregulation of the energy market and not on privatisation of Public Power Corporation (PPC) units, environment, energy and climate change minister Tina Birbili said in an interview appearing in the Realnews newspaper on Sunday.There is a specific area for private initiative in energy production from renewable sources, from natural gas and from lignite, she said, reiterating that the government has not intention of privatising the PPC in the deregulation of the energy market. Commenting on the strong reactions by PPC unionists, Birbili said that "we are all on the same side, because we have common targets", adding that the dialogue should be carried on in a cool-headed manner and that "elements of antagonism or coercion must be avoided". S [02] No layoffs in transportsANA-MPA/There will be no layoffs in the Hellenic Rails Organisation (OSE) or any other public transport company, infrastructure, transport and networks minister Dimitris Reppas reiterated in a newspaper interview appearing on Sunday.In an interview with the Sunday edition of Eleftherotypia daily, Reppas said it is self-evident that changes are necessary in the personnel policy and determination of a rational operation cost so as to keep OSE running, but stressed that the government is opposed to layoffs and is waging a battle for that. He said that much needs to be changed, and that a streamlining is necessary that will include a new modern structure of the OSE corporate group with the involvement of private investors too in the operational division, as well as a new routes and prices policy with an agreed state subsidy that will have a ceiling. Reppas said that public transport means cannot operate without evaluation and control, nor can they borrow constantly without a corresponding provision of services. [03] ASE opening: RiseEquity prices were rising at the opening of trade on Monday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index up 1.26 percent, standing at 1,734.65 points at 11:00 am, and turnover at 5.760 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving mostly upward, with the biggest gains in Banks, up 1.95 percent; and Financial Services, up 1.49 percent. The biggest losses were in Insurance, down 1.36 percent; and Chemicals, down 0.88 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 1.25 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 0.67 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.31 percent. Of the stocks traded, 43 were up, 12 were down, and 8 were unchanged. [04] Áthens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe University passing entry grades, the implementation of the Memorandum and government's next actions for opening the closed-shop professions, the streamlining of Public Utilities and Organisations (DEKO) and the clamp down on tax evasion, mostly dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers. ADESMETOS TYPOS: "Government and opposition on vacation! Country closed for summer". APOGEVMATINI: "Guide for the insured in all social security funds". AVRIANI: "Black September arriving - Shut downs, mass lay offs, unemployment, high cost of living and poverty comprise an explosive cocktail that may lead us into uncontrollable situations". ELEFTHEROS: "New cutbacks in salaries in public sector and layoffs foreseen in government's plan in order to collect two billion euros". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "University entry base grades fall". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Shocking plunge in State Revenues in July - Government worried". ESTIA: "Greece has huge potential if we decide to change policy". ETHNOS: "University entry exams: The crisis a criterion for candidates' selection of college". IMERISSIA: "IMF's directive for mergers - 'Marriages' with foreign banks". NAFTEMPORIKI: "Government proceeds with major changes in DEKO". TA NEA: "University entry grades: Rise in many colleges". VRADYNI: "Public property for sale - Mass privatisations in 2011". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |