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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-07-14Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Samaras: The word default is forbiddenANA-MPA/Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras, addressing a Political Committee's session on Wednesday, said that "the word default is forbidden in our vocabulary," adding that "its mere utterance may have disastrous results and function like a self-fulfilled prophecy. And this is valid in all its versions, and in English."Samaras said that Prime Minister George Papandreou said that it (the word default) is mentioned by those wanting to gain from the destruction of the country. "Now that his vice president is using it, what does Mr. Papandreou have to say?" the ND leader wondered and explained that "it will stop fluidity to the country's banks."ana-mpa He went on to say that "selective default has never taken place in an EU country" and that "prudence necessitates that we see the next step and not to adopt the lesser evil, that may lead to the bigger evil. In addition, we must reject whatever jeopardises the supply with fluidity of the Greek economy." Samaras proposed the eurobond as the alternative solution, or the repurchasing of bonds, while he said that the participation of private individuals in lending Greece will be disastrous.ana-mpa "The issuing of eurobonds is the only healthy solution on the part of the EU, but Europe must overcome certain obsessions," Samaras said and predicted that Europe will be led there, but "the question is for Greece to emerge benefitted." More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [02] Deutsche Telekom raises equity stake in OTE to 40pctANA-MPA/Deutsche Telekom AG has raised its equity stake in the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) to 40 percent, following the completion of the purchase of a further 10 percent stake on July 11.Deutsche Telekom now holds an equity stake of 40.00000008 percent, which translates to 196,060,156 shares, and the corresponding voting rights.ana-mpa According to an announcement by the Athens Stock Exchange before the transaction, Deutsche Telekom held an equity stake of 30.0000002 percent, corresponding to 147,045,118 shares and the respective voting rights. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [03] Antiquity smuggler arrestedANA-MPA/A 48-year-old man from Florina, northwestern Greece was arrested on Thursday charged with antiquity smuggling.The suspect, while driving his car near Vassiliada village in Kastoria prefecture, met up with a police roadblock. A search of his car and later of his house in Florina revealed a large number of Roman and Byzantine era coins, other antiquities and photos believed to indicate locations where antiquities are buried.ana-mpa Specifically, police found and confiscated 81 ancient coins, two marble statues from the Hellenistic period, the head from a female statuette, two copper rings, a lecythus, a medal, six clay seals, four copper brooches, two metal detectors, one perfume container, two USB flash drives and eight photographs of probable sites of antiquities. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [04] 'Byzantium & the Arabs' exhibitionANA-MPA noteworthy exhibition entitled "Byzantium and the Arabs" will commence in late September at Thessaloniki's Museum of Byzantine Civilisation, following approval on Wednesday by the Central Archaeological Council (KAS).The approval paves the way for the temporary loaning out of artifacts and objects by ephorates and museums around the country. The goal of the exhibition -- Sept. 30, 2011 to Jan. 31, 2012 -- is to highlight the mostly peaceful aspects of the two civilisations and the interaction between Byzantium and the Arabs, from the 7th A.D. until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The exhibition inaugurates the "Thessaloniki - Crossroads of Civilisations" programme, and ranks as a unique, by Greek standards, museum event. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [05] Environment minister on PPCANA-MPA/Environment and Climatic Change Minister George Papaconstantinou reiterated the government's decision to proceed with the further privatisation of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) by 17 percent, ruling out at the same time it taking place through the stock exchange since, as he said, it does not respond neither to the real nor the potential value of the corporation."The swaps by themselves cannot solve the problem, for this reason the ministry is orientated towards a combined solution with the seeking of a strategic investor and the sale of subsidiaries," the minister said during the discussion of the bill on the deregulation of the energy market at the relevant Parliamentary Committee.ana-mpa In parallel, the Environment minister clarified that this discussion is not immediate, since a series of things have to be secured first, regarding both the implementation of the country's commitments based on the medium-term programme and continuing to have a strong business in a new environment with clear terms.ana-mpa He added that the discussion on the lignites with the European Commission is under way and the negotiation is expected to be completed next week. In favour of the principle of the bill were the ruling PASOK party and the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party, while the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) declared themselves totally opposed to the new arrangements, while the Popular Orthodox Rally party (LAOS) reserved its position for the Plenum. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [06] Gov't: Open front against terrorismANA-MPA/The Greek State has an open front against terrorism, citizen protection minister Christos Papoutsis told parliament on Thursday, and reassured that "no brake" has been put on the investigation into the killing of Socrates Giolias, who was gunned down on July 19, 2010 outside his home in the Ilioupolis suburb of Athens and whose assassination was later claimed by the Revolutionaries' Sect terror group."The State has an open front against terrorism," Papoutsis said, adding that "no brake" has been put on the case of Giolias' killing, as charged by Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis in a current question tabled in parliament.ana-mpa Papoutsis said that the police and judicial authorities, the police counter-terrorism squad and the EYP (national information service) were working together, and all information was being assessed, double-checked and conveyed to justice. "The goal is to solve this terrorist act and the arrest of the perpetrators," the minister added. Karatzaferis charged stalling in the investigation and called for acceleration of the procedures and light to be shed on the case. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [07] Greek inflation unchangedANA-MPA/Greek inflation remained unchanged at 3.1 percent in June compared to May, according to figures released on Thursday in Brussels by Eurostat.During the same period, the Euro area annual inflation also remained unchaged, at 2.7 percent, in June compared to May, and the annual inflation for the entire EU was 3.1 percent in June, down from 3.2 percent in May, recording a monthly inflation rate of -0.1 percent. More specifically, Greek annual inflation was unchanged at 3.1 percent in June against May, with the monthly inflation rate for June at 0.0 percent.ana-mpa Euro area annual inflation was 2.7% in June 20112, unchanged compared to May. A year earlier the rate was 1.5%. Monthly inflation was 0.0% in June 2011. EU annual inflation was 3.1% in June 2011, down from 3.2% in May. A year earlier the rate was 1.9%. Monthly inflation was -0.1% in June 2011. Inflation in the EU Member States: In June 2011, the lowest annual rates were observed in Sweden (1.5%), Slovenia (1.6%) and the Czech Republic (1.9%), and the highest in Romania (8.0%), Estonia (4.9%) and Lithuania (4.8%). Compared with May 2011, annual inflation fell in fourteen Member States, remained stable in six and rose in six. The lowest 12-month averages4 up to June 2011 were registered in Sweden (1.5%), the Czech Republic and the Netherlands (both 1.8%), and the highest in Romania (7.8%), Estonia (4.7%) and Greece (4.6%). More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [08] ASE opening: DeclineEquity prices were declining at the opening of trade on Thursday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index down 0.65 percent, standing at 1,182.51 points at 11:15 am. and turnover 12,813 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving downwards with the biggest gains in Commerce up 0.46 percent; Food and Beverages, up 0.67 percent and Travel and Recreation, up 0.35 percent. The biggest losses were in Health, down 4.01 percent; Financial Services, down 3.18 percent and Raw Materials, down 2.32 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.97 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 1.15 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 1.26 percent. Of the stocks traded, 13 were up, 47 were down, and 12 were unchanged. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [09] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe debt crisis and the possibility of a selective bankruptcy, the new support package, deliberations in Athens and Europe for an immediate solution to the crisis and the seizure measure for outstanding debts to social security funds, dominated the headlines on Thursday in Athens' newspapers. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "15 days and 1,001 euros to set up a company". AVGHI: "Fireworks - Prime Minister George Papandreou playing with fire". AVRIANI: "Imbeciles and incompetents govern Europe and have led it to the edge of the cliff". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Surgery of the debt, with the government as a simple observer". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "First 'shampooing', then 'haircut'." ESTIA: "Disastrous decision for Greece". ETHNOS: "Frenzy over the debt crisis". IMERISSIA: "Selective bankruptcy solutions being weighed". KATHIMERINI: "IMF predicts debt will skyrocket". NAFTEMPORIKI: "IMF will finance the new support package, too". TA NEA: "Property seizure for debt to social security funds begins". RIZOSPASTIS: "Axe on auxiliary pensions, 'heavy and hazardous' benefits and the lump sum retirement superannuity". VRADYNI: "Bankruptcy of the Memorandum". More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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