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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 10-04-27

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 Issue No: 3478

CONTENTS

  • [01] PM briefed on FinMin's contacts in Washington
  • [02] IMF proposals in line with EU recommendations, FinMin says
  • [03] Economy minister meets IMF team
  • [04] ND leader holds talks with EU-IMF-ECB auditors
  • [05] Gov't on ND criticism; SYRIZA referendum demand
  • [06] LA.OS' Karatzaferis: IMF option an 'emergency solution'
  • [07] Health minister holds meeting with IMF representatives
  • [08] Rehn spokesman on Greek support mechanism
  • [09] Austria ready to help Greece without delay, officials says
  • [10] Italian FM urges Germany to 'overcome reservations' on Greek aid
  • [11] PES President comments on Greek debt crisis
  • [12] PM briefed on merger, abolition of dozens of state agencies, entities
  • [13] Greek DM at EDA, EU joint DM-FM meetings
  • [14] KKE's Papariga announces nationwide mobilization
  • [15] Gov't presents new development policy
  • [16] Gov't will fight for 13th, 14th salaries, Petalotis says
  • [17] Greek tourism outlook flat this year, report
  • [18] Energy issues discussed by Greek and Cypriot officials
  • [19] Intracom signs 4.7-mln-US dollar projects in Middle East
  • [20] Union heads warns of more strikes
  • [21] Strike at Piraeus port as seamen protest planned cabotage lifting
  • [22] Cruise ship ZENITH remains in port of Piraeus due to strike
  • [23] Public transport work stoppage on Tuesday
  • [24] Culture ministry employees' union calls off strike
  • [25] Greek-Turkish business forum in Edirne in June
  • [26] Greek trade deficit down 26.9 pct in Jan-Feb
  • [27] Stocks hit new 2010 lows
  • [28] Greek bond market closing report
  • [29] ADEX closing report
  • [30] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday
  • [31] Car sought in terrorism investigation found burned
  • [32] Antiquities arrests in Sparta
  • [33] Drug arrests in Drama
  • [34] Illegal migrant smugglers arrested in Thessaloniki
  • [35] Greece's Maras takes the gold in 2010 European Gymnastics Championship in Birmingham, becoming first athlete to hold 5 gold
  • [36] Cloudy on Tuesday
  • [37] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

  • [01] PM briefed on FinMin's contacts in Washington

    Prime Minister George Papandreou on Monday received Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou, fresh back from a trip to Washington and talks with European and International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials on the details of a rescue package for Greece.

    The finance minister briefed Papandreou on his contacts on the sidelines of the IMF Spring Meeting, as well as the progress of negotiations in Athens with a mixed team of experts sent by the European Central Bank (ECB), European Commission and the IMF.

    "The negotiations are going well. We hope that they will be completed soon and we will thus have a three-year framework for economic policy and the funding terms, Papaconstantinou said, adding that he was absolutely certain that Greece would be able to continue borrowing without obstructions.

    Asked whether the measures would affect salaries in the private sector, the minister said that there was "a discussion underway".

    "We have said that the competitiveness issue in the country has to do with structural issues and price issues and not the size of salaries in the private sector, which as we all know are quite low."

    [02] IMF proposals in line with EU recommendations, FinMin says

    A current round of talks between Greece and the IMF is moving towards a simple and common approach that the country "needs to drastically reduce its fiscal deficit, control public debt and promote all the structural reforms to have a more competitive economy," Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said on Monday.

    Speaking to reporters, the Greek minister emphasised: "It's wrong to think that the IMF is coming here to impose harsher or different conditions than the ones we are negotiating with our European partners".

    Papaconstantinou said he would not judge the IMF's course in general, but its recommendations for Greece, which are not much different from the stance of the European Commission and the European Central Bank.

    He also stressed that the government will announce a package of specific measures and policies soon after completion of talks with IMF officials.

    [03] Economy minister meets IMF team

    A meeting between Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Minister Louka Katseli and a team of International Monetary Fund (IMF) experts in Athens was conducted in a good climate on Monday. The IMF team visited the ministry to be briefed on the investment and developmental programmes that are currently underway.

    Katseli gave them a presentation of ministry activities lasting roughly an hour and a half, presenting actions for the overhaul of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) actions, the overhaul of the developmental law, as well as legislation designed to reduce red tape and to combat cartels and oligopolies in the Greek market. She also outlined measures seeking to provide relief to homes and businesses in excessive debt.

    The IMF team were positive about the ministry programme, while there will be a second joint meeting on Tuesday with all ministries and a mixed team for coordinated actions and speeding up reforms.

    [04] ND leader holds talks with EU-IMF-ECB auditors

    Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras held talks on Monday with the tripartite delegation of auditors of the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank.

    It was revealed afterwards that the party's positions on handling the crisis were presented and analysed. Special emphasis was placed by ND on the need to avoid a further recession in the economy that would lead to a vicious circle due to the decrease in GDP.

    ND also insisted on proposals for measures to boost economic activity with emphasis on employment and the defending of jobs, as well as on the need for safeguarding social cohesion in a European country such as Greece, not only for reasons of balance and justice but for reasons of strengthening active demand as well.

    [05] Gov't on ND criticism; SYRIZA referendum demand

    Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras "should be more careful with his comments," government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis said Monday, adding that when the ND leader apologises to the Greek people he should mean it.

    "ND cannot set red lines that it has already crossed," Petalotis said, pointing out that "the ND government brought the Greek people before a tragic situation."

    Referring to recent statements by Samaras, Petalotis said the "unballasted" policy followed by ND when it was in office and the corruption practices it imposed have made it unfit to give lessons on politics and sound ideology to the government.

    "Offering an apology for the ND governance under PM Karamanlis does not mean that ND is done with its share of responsibility," he said.

    Commenting on the support mechanism referendum proposal presented by Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Parliamentary group president Alexis Tsipras, Petalotis stressed that the "government is legitimately managing the public issues under emergency conditions."

    [06] LA.OS' Karatzaferis: IMF option an 'emergency solution'

    Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) President George Karatzaferis on Monday again lashed out at the decision to activate a eurozone-IMF support mechanism for the country, referring to an "emergency solution".

    "The IMF is not the best possible solution but an emergency solution" while he expressed concern over what he called a "lack of national understanding on how to deal with the consequences of the IMF."

    Earlier, Karatzaferis met with former foreign minister of Cyprus Giorgos Lillikas.

    [07] Health minister holds meeting with IMF representatives

    Health Minister Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou held talks on Monday with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Union. The minister was seen by the committee's three heads, out of the six-member delegation, and briefed them on the state in which she received the health sector last October.

    Xenoyiannakopoulou informed them of her priorities and of her targets on transparency.

    Health ministry sources mentioned after the meeting, when no official statement was made, that the minister explained to them that there shall be no discount in the social state, since Greece has particularities such as the islands and tens of inaccessible regions in which the health system must be strengthened.

    The same sources noted that the minister made a briefing on the appointment of two chartered accountants, who check the conditions under which the procurements of the state sector in the health sector are now taking place.

    [08] Rehn spokesman on Greek support mechanism

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA)

    Eurozone member-states have agreed to offer financial support to Greece, if necessary, to ensure financial stability throughout the euro-area, Amadeu Altafaj, a spokesman for EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, reiterated on Monday.

    Speaking to reporters here, the EU spokesman said there were no deadlines over when the European Commission and the European Central Bank would present their recommendations over Athens' request to activate a support mechanism, while he noted that there was a common front - with no rift s- in the eurozone over to deal with the Greek crisis.

    [09] Austria ready to help Greece without delay, officials says

    VIENNA (ANA-MPA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

    Austria is ready to give Greece financial assistance without delay, Austrian government officials said here on Monday. Austrian Finance Minister Josef Proell said that Austria already possessed a legal basis for providing the support to Greece and his country was thus ready to act immediately.

    According to Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, Austria supported a rapid activation of Eurozone countries' aid to Greece, while stressing that all Eurozone countries should have an interest in keeping the euro stable.

    Spindelegger said he expected a deal to be made and that "it won't be necessary for one country to undertake to help another through loans". The minister also stressed that the assistance, "which is obviously urgently needed, must also bring effective results and this will be possible if it is activated as soon as possible".

    Proell, in comments on a letter he received from his Greek counterpart George Papaconstantinou requesting activation of the EU support mechanism, said that he had been expecting Greece's request for financial assistance.

    "The important thing now is that the figures of the Greek budget are not cast into doubt," he stressed, adding that the experts of the European Central Bank, European Commission and the International Monetary Fund that were currently examining the specific form of the support to Greece must ensure that the terms for the financial assistance were observed.

    "On condition that Greece observes all the terms for the execution of its budget, we are prepared to contribute to the stabilisation of the Eurozone," he said, while assuring Austrian tax-payers that the assistance would cost them nothing since it would be given in the form of a loan that would be paid back with interest.

    [10] Italian FM urges Germany to 'overcome reservations' on Greek aid

    Rome (ANA-MPA/Th. Andreadis-Syggelakis)

    Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini on Monday urged Germany to overcome its reservations on financial aid to Greece.

    Speaking in Brussels after a meeting of the European People's Party (EPP) foreign ministers, Frattini voiced concern that the Greek problem will spread to other member countries, with a specific reference to Portugal, "which means that we must save our common European structure".

    He expressed concern over Berlin's stance, adding that Athens, too, must act with credibility.

    Paralelling the Greek and Italian economies, Frattini said that Italy had been able to approve a three-year budget that shielded and froze public expenditures, adding "why shouldn't Greece be able to do so as well?", and stressing that the principle of solidarity must prevail.

    "From the moment that we all live in the common European structure, it is clear that we must have solidarity. Even if someone has reservations, solidarity must prevail. It is our interest, moral obligation, and need," he added.

    [11] PES President comments on Greek debt crisis

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA - V. Demiris)

    The president of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Poul Nyrup Rasmussen has asked Germany and France "to stop a piecemeal approach to EU economic governance" because this was damaging Greece's chances of recovery and harming European jobs, according to an announcement issued by the PES.

    Rasmussen apparently made the statement while addressing a high-level European Commission conference on the economic crisis, where he noted that it was time for European governments to understand the responsibilities and that the lead must be taken by France and Germany.

    Referring to the Greek debt crisis, he said the European Union had the possibility through the existing EU Treaty to create a mechanism for "fair borrowing rates", without German taxpayers "having to pay a single Euro".

    According the PES president, the current obsession with cutting back public spending was 'too restrictive' and could result in the loss of 4.5 million jobs by 2014.

    [12] PM briefed on merger, abolition of dozens of state agencies, entities

    Prime Minister George Papandreou was briefed on Monday by government vice-president Theodoros Pangalos and Deputy Finance Minister Filippos Sahinidis on the course of proceedings of a committee, chaired by Pangalos, examining the abolition or merger of dozens of public sector agencies, organisations and entities.

    A relevant draft law is ready, according to reports, which initially provides for the abolition or merger of 70 -75 entities, most of which have operational expenses directly or indirectly burdening the state's deficit-plagued budget.

    As regards employees of the organisations in question, they will most likely be transferred to other posts, while those with contract worker status will be treated in accordance with existing legislation, government sources said.

    [13] Greek DM at EDA, EU joint DM-FM meetings

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/V. Demiris)

    The progress in the European Defence Agency (EDA) programs with NATO was discussed Monday in Brussels at a meeting of the EDA Steering Committee, with national defence minister Evangelos Venizelos representing Greece.

    Venizelos and alternate foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas are also attending a joint meeting of the EU foreign and defence ministers.

    Addressing the Steering Committee, Venizelos referred to the FRONTEX activities and the importance of respect of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as the need for establishing an integrated EU maritime policy that would take into consideration the Common Security and Defence policy as well as the EU's other marine policies.

    Discussions at the joint ministerial meeting, which was also attended by NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen, focused on Afghanistan, while Venizelos also discussed matters of mutual interest with several of his counterparts on the sidelines of the meeting.

    During a working dinner of the defence ministers on Sunday night, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EDA Steering Committee chairwoman Lady Ashton, discussions centered on the Lisbon Treaty and the EU's major military missions, such as the ATALANTA operation in Somalia and the ALTHEA mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in which Greece will continue to participate in accordance with relevant decisions by the Government Council on Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA).

    [14] KKE's Papariga announces nationwide mobilization

    Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga in a press conference on Monday announced a nationwide mobilization to spread the party's policy proposal, which mirrors the general opposition to the current policy and the political system.

    Papariga said that the mobilization will culminate on May 15 with a major protest demonstration and underlined that the time has come for "the appearance of a distinct socio-popular front."

    The KKE general secretary announced that she rejected a proposal by the ECB, the IMF and the EU for a meeting "because we have nothing to talk about."

    Referring to the scenarios on the formation of a national unity or national salvation government, Papariga said that they are targeting the popular consent and rejected the calls for a referendum saying that it is too late considering that the economic support mechanism is progress.

    Papariga expressed opposition to early general elections and said that the people's resentment can be expressed in the local authority elections.

    Financial News

    [15] Gov't presents new development policy

    Greek Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Minister Luca Katseli on Monday unveiled the government's new development policy which will focus on subsidizing of capital, tax exemptions, subsidizing of interest payment and subsidizing leasing of machinery equipment for contracts with a duration of up to seven years.

    Presenting the new policy, during a businessmen meeting, the minister stressed that small- and medium-sized enterprises will enjoy all subsidy programs, while larger enterprises, or large investment plans (worth more than 50 million euros) will enjoy tax breaks.

    The strategic goal of the government's new development legislation was the creating a new business and productive model, to boost the country's competitiveness, to raise employment and to lead to a dynamic and sustainable economy based on green development.

    Katseli said priority will be given to investments contributing to the strengthening of the country's competitiveness, through the transformation of the economy's productive, know-how and technological forces, creating domestic added value, improving the balance of payments and promoting green business activity and employment.

    A new development law will offer financial support of 15 pct, 20 pct, 30 pct and 40 pct, according to a new support zone map, while these support levels could be raised by up to 10 pct for medium-sized enterprises and 20 pct for smaller enterprises.

    The law will also promote transparency and a new evaluation procedure.

    Katseli said that a total of 13,486 applications have been submitted so far, with 7,100 investment plans included in the development law, with budgets of 14 billion euros and 5.8 billion euros, respectively. The investment plans envisage creation of 32,707 new job positions. However, only 1,451 investment plans have been completed -20.4 pct of total- with a budget of 2.1 billion euros. She said handouts for new investment plans totaled 440 million euros in the January-April period.

    [16] Gov't will fight for 13th, 14th salaries, Petalotis says

    The government will strongly resist demands to scrap the 13th and 14th salaries in the private sector and has strong arguments to make its case, government spokesman George Petalotis stressed on Monday. The spokesman admitted that scrapping these two salaries - paid out to coincide with major holidays - had been raised as a question by the team of IMF experts now in Athens.

    Petalotis seemed confident, however, that Greece's arguments would convince its partners on this score.

    "We have very strong arguments that are related both to protecting the income of ordinary Greek citizens but also the revenues of the state and social insurance funds, since cutting these two salaries would mean harsh living standards for citizens and a very great loss of about two billion euros for social insurance funds," he pointed out.

    The spokesman also stressed that, to the extent that this was possible, the government will not abandon its social policy and that its main concern will be to protect weaker social groups.

    "At the point we are now, the only choice we have is to save the country and all the actions of the prime minister and the government tend to convergence on this," he added.

    Commenting on proposals made by former minister Alekos Papadopoulos for tougher decisions, Petalotis said the government had a plan that it would carry out in order to bring the country out of the crisis, even though it was now being forced to act in conditions of a state of emergency.

    Petalotis stressed that the government wanted to ensure that all sides were fully briefed on the decision to resort to the rescue package and was not afraid to hear different viewpoints, including Parliament and ruling PASOK's Parliamentary group, which will be convened by the prime minister on Tuesday for this purpose.

    "We are going to have a tough time, we are having a tough time in any case, but we will finally get the state that Greeks deserve," the spokesman stressed in relation to the crisis.

    [17] Greek tourism outlook flat this year, report

    Greece's Tourism Research and Forecasts Institute (ITEP) on Monday said tourism prospects for 2010 were not favourable as a volative and uncertain economic environment was leaving no room for quantitive but for quality approach in the industry. ITEP, in a report, said 2010 would be the same -and even more difficult- compared with the previous year, with early reservations figures negative so far. Reservations from Greece's traditional tourism markets, Germany and the UK were down 10 pct and 7.0 pct so far this year, reflecting negative comments by foreign media over the country's situation. However, the country was getting positive messages from the markets of France, Italy and Eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine, etc). The Institute said it expected last minute reservations to rise this year, but stressed these could be unable to counterbalance the sector's huge revenue losses. Generally, ITEP expected incoming tourism to be around last year's levels, or to rise slightly.

    Domestic tourism was also expected to fall this year, since the cost of living has risen significantly and wages were cut as part of a government austerity program. Greek consumers were expected to cut their holiday costs and to resort to last minute reservations hoping to achieve better prices. ITEP said the government should offer significant support to the tourism sector to help in minimizing its losses.

    [18] Energy issues discussed by Greek and Cypriot officials

    Deputy Environment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Yiannis Maniatis met with Cypriot Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Antonis Paschalides on Monday in the presence of Greek Ambassador to Nicosia Vassilios Papaioannou.

    Their talks focused on issues of mutual interest in the sector of energy.

    [19] Intracom signs 4.7-mln-US dollar projects in Middle East

    Intracom IT Services Group on Monday said its subsidiary Intracom IT Services Middle East & Africa recently signed four new supply projects in the Middle East, worth 4.7 million US dollars.

    The four projects were an EMC Information Life-Cycle Management project in Zain Group, Jordan, worth 2.0 million US dollars, an EMC2 SAN Upgrade & Archiving for Orange Jordan, worth 1.0 million US dollars, an EMC2 Disaster Recovery & Storate project for Jawwal, worth 900,000 dollars and a human resources management system for Asia Cell, worth 800,000 dollars.

    [20] Union heads warns of more strikes

    Umbrella trade union GSEE president Yiannis Panagopoulos on Monday warned of more strikes in the immediate future.

    The trade union's executive committee will convene on Tuesday, Panagopoulos said, adding that he will recommend the staging of industrial actions in the immediate future.

    Social security and labour rights' issues are non negotiable, he said, particularly those referring to collective bargaining agreements and the role of the mediation and arbitration organisation, which was established to settle employee-employer disputes.

    [21] Strike at Piraeus port as seamen protest planned cabotage lifting

    All Greek-flag ships remained at port in Piraeus on Monday due to a 24-hour strike by the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) in protest of the government's plan to lift cabotage restrictions.

    A repeat strike will be staged on Friday, April 30.

    Greek seamen are protesting the imminent lifting of cabotage (regulations restricting coastal shipping to domestic vessels) announced by prime minister George Papandreou, which will allow foreign cruiseships to use the Greek sea routes and ports.

    Monday's strike means that 20 ships will not carry out scheduled routes to the islands of the Aegean, Crete and the Dodecanese Islands complex, while strikers will gather at the port of Piraeus for the arrival of the Malta-flag cruiseship 'Zenith'.

    [22] Cruise ship ZENITH remains in port of Piraeus due to strike

    The Malta-flag cruise ship ZENITH remained in the port of Piraeus on Monday night as a result of the 24-hour strike called by the Panhellenic Nautical Federation on the non-lifting of cabotage.

    The sailing of the cruise ship was prevented by about 400 strikers who had gathered and the 970 passengers, Spanish citizens, who were to board the ship which was to sail on a 7-day cruise were taken to a hotel through the intervention of the shipowning company and will board the cruise ship at 6 on Tuesday morning when the strike ends.

    The ZENITH has been cruising in the Mediterranean for about a month, with the port of Piraeus as the starting point.

    [23] Public transport work stoppage on Tuesday

    Public transport will be at a stand-still from 11 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon on Tuesday due to a 6-hour work-stoppage called by transport workers' unions to attend a demonstration against the government's economic measures at Athens' downtown Kotzia Square.

    The only public transportation to be running normally will be the Proastiakos suburban railway.

    Commuters should be aware that the public transport means will start withdrawing from service at least one hour before the stoppage kicks in on Tuesday morning, while full restoration of service should be expected one hour after the end of the stoppage.

    [24] Culture ministry employees' union calls off strike

    A union representing culture ministry employees on Monday announced the cancellation of a 24-hour strike, called for Tuesday, and following what the groups referred to as the "rapid developments after the government's decision to request to activate the (eurozone-IMF) economic support mechanism."

    The statement underlined that "the circumstances formed are highly unfavorable for workers and call for concrete and united action."

    [25] Greek-Turkish business forum in Edirne in June

    The Thessaloniki commercial and industrial chamber of commerce (EVE.Th) is co-organising a two-day forum in mid June in the European Turkey metropolis of Edirne.

    The forum was the subject of talks in Thessaloniki on Monday by Thessaloniki chamber president Dimitris Bakatselos and members of a visiting Turkish delegation, led by Selim Egeli, a member of Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) board of directors.

    The forum begins on June 17.

    [26] Greek trade deficit down 26.9 pct in Jan-Feb

    Greece's trade deficit shrank by 28.6 pct in February to 1.775 billion euros, from 2.486 billion euros in the corresponding period last year, the Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Monday.

    The statistics agency, in a report, said the value of import-arrivals fell 23.8 pct to 2.824 billion euros in February, from 3.705 billion in February 2009, while the value of export-deliveries fell 14 pct to 1.049 billion euros from 1.219 billion euros over the same period, respectively.

    The trade deficit in the January-February period totaled 3.682 billion euros, down 26.9 pct from the same period last year, with imports falling 21.1 pct to 5.691 billion euros and exports falling 7.5 pct to 2.009 billion euros.

    [27] Stocks hit new 2010 lows

    Stocks ended at new 2010 lows at the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday, hit by a jump in Greek bond spread to new record highs. The composite index of the market ended at 1,804.91 points, down 2.86 pct, with turnover at 185.985 million euros.

    The FTSE 20 index dropped 2.65 pct, the FTSE 40 index ended 3.67 pct down and the FTSE 80 index fell 2.47 pct. The Insurance sector was the only one to end higher (0.76 pct), while Health (7.25 pct) and Oil (5.79 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

    Attica Publications (9.57 pct), Nutriart (7.41 pct) and Minerva (5.30 pct) were top gainers, while Ilyda (19.61 pct), Sidenor (12.11 pct) and Altec (11.76 pct) were top losers. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 158 to 31 with another 33 issues unchanged.

    Sector indices ended as follows:

    Insurance: +0.76%

    Industrials: -2.41%

    Commercial: -2.04%

    Construction: -3.01%

    Media: -2.68%

    Oil & Gas: -5.79%

    Personal & Household: -1.92%

    Raw Materials: -7.03%

    Travel & Leisure: -2.39%

    Technology: -4.25%

    Telecoms: -1.22%

    Banks: -2.65%

    Food & Beverages: -0.94%

    Health: -7.25%

    Utilities: -3.81%

    Chemicals: -3.96%

    Financial Services: -4.16%

    The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Alpha Bank, OPAP and Piraeus Bank.

    Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

    Alpha Bank: 6.02

    ATEbank: 1.31

    Public Power Corp (PPC): 12.22

    HBC Coca Cola: 19.92

    Hellenic Petroleum: 7.25

    National Bank of Greece: 11.11

    EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 5.42

    Intralot: 3.30

    OPAP: 15.60

    OTE: 8.11

    Bank of Piraeus: 5.44

    Titan: 19.50

    [28] Greek bond market closing report

    The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds widened to a new record high of 642 basis points in the Greek electronic secondary bond market on Monday, with the Greek bond yielding 9.46 pct and the German Bund 3.04 pct. Turnover in the market was a low 175 million euros, of which 20 million euros were buy orders and the remaining 155 million euros were sell orders. The 10-year benchmark bond (June 19, 2020) was the most heavily traded security with a turnover of 50 million euros.

    In interbank markets, interest rates moved lower. The 12-month Euribor rate was 1.22 pct, the six-month rate 0.95 pct, the three-month rate 0.64 pct and the one-month rate 0.40 pct.

    [29] ADEX closing report

    The June contract on the FTSE 20 index was trading at -2.56 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Monday, with turnover at 72.563 million euros. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 13,548 contracts, worth 59.230 million euros, with 26,165 open positions in the market.

    Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 18,175 contracts, worth 13.333 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (6,950), followed by Eurobank (1,738), MIG (817), Piraeus Bank (1,640), Alpha Bank (2,313), Marfin Popular Bank (651), Mytilineos (313) and Hellenic Postbank (680).

    [30] Foreign Exchange rates - Tuesday

    Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:

    U.S. dollar 1.342

    Pound sterling 0.869

    Danish kroner 7.501

    Swedish kroner 9.644

    Japanese yen 126.46

    Swiss franc 1.445

    Norwegian kroner 7.913

    Canadian dollar 1.341

    Australian dollar 1.445

    General News

    [31] Car sought in terrorism investigation found burned

    A stolen car sought by police before an organised swoop on suspected terrorist safehouses two weeks ago was found burned at dawn Sunday in the Patissia district of Athens, it was made known on Monday.

    The blue 'Renault' car, according to police sources, had been used by suspected Revolutionary Struggle' terrorist group member Nikos Maziotis, who was arrested in the April 11 dawn operation by counter-terrorism police along with five other suspects.

    All six have been jailed pending trial.

    Police believe the car was abandoned 1-2 days before the swoop operation.

    The car was spotted at 5:20 a.m. Sunday when unidentified individuals attempted to burn in, possibly to get rid of evidence, police said, adding that the fire was put out by passersby and the Fire Department, which was alerted, but the blaze had already caused extensive damage to the vehicle's interior.

    The car had been stolen on August 31, 2007 in Thessaloniki, and bore stolen licence plates with the number IZY-4236.

    The burned car was taken by the Counter-Terrorism squad to the police crime lab.

    Police found and confiscated from the interior of the car a sledgehammer, a plastic bottle containing a yellow flammable liquid, the remains of six rolls of insulating tape of different colors, a pair of scissors, 9mm Luger CBC cartridge, a plastic can also containing a yellow flammable liquid, and a motorcycle licence plate with the number IPH-819 which (licence plate) had bee reported stolen from Galatsi on July 15, 2009.

    [32] Antiquities arrests in Sparta

    Two men were arrested in Sparta on Monday for possession of objects of great archaeological value, according to police.

    Police found and confiscated an ancient bronze statuette of a kouros, four ancient coins, a precious stone weighing 500 grams, and 3,900 euros in cash found in the possession of the two men, while a search of their houses turned up to revolvers, 235 cartridges of various diameters, a portion of an unidentified precious stone, two precision scales and a photocopy of four ancient coins.

    The detainees will be taken before the local prosecutor, while the artefacts will be examined and dated by the state archaeological authorities.

    [33] Drug arrests in Drama

    Three individuals, a 43-year-old man and two women aged 30 and 29, were arrested on Monday in the northeastern city of Drama charged with drug dealing. Police initially arrested the man when officers found 40 grams of heroin in his possession.

    During the process of the investigation, police revealed 74 more grams of heroin and a small quantity of hashish in the possession of the three detainees.

    [34] Illegal migrant smugglers arrested in Thessaloniki

    Two men, aged 35 and 47, were arrested in the district of Xirokrini, in western Thessaloniki, accused of illegal migrant smuggling.

    The two were arrested while attempting to transport 15 Asian illegal migrants, among them 9 children, to central European countries.

    The illegal migrants were picked up by the suspects in the region of Evros, northeast Greece, and an investigation is underway for the location of their accomplices.

    Sports

    [35] Greece's Maras takes the gold in 2010 European Gymnastics Championship in Birmingham, becoming first athlete to hold 5 gold medals in European Championship

    Greece's horizontal bar champion Vlasis Maras on Sunday became the first athlete in the world to win five gold medals in any apparatus in the European Gymnastics Championships, as he took the gold again at the 2010 Championships in Birmingham.

    Maras took the gold in the Senior Mens High (or Horizontal) Bar final, with Epke Zonderland from the Netherlands taking the silver, and the bronze shared by Philipp Boy and Fabian Manguechen, both from Germany.

    Greece's Vassilios Tsolakidis also brought home the silver medal in the Senior Mens Parallel Bars, while Eleftherios Kosmidis also took the silver in the Floor final.

    Maras now holds five gold medals in the European Championships on the horizontal bar: Patras 2002, Ljubljana 2004, Volos 2006, Milan 2009, and Birmingham 2010, while he also holds a silver medal in the 2008 World Championships in Lausanne.

    Maras further holds two World Championship gold medals on the horizontal bar, in 2001 in Ghent and 2002 in Debrecen, while he also holds a bronze in the World Championships in Aarhus in 2006.

    Weather Forecast

    [36] Cloudy on Tuesday

    Cloudy weather and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the country on Tuesday, with wind velocity reaching 3-8 beaufort. Temperatures will range between 8C and 23C. Cloudy with possible showers in Athens, with northerly 5-7 beaufort winds and temperatures ranging from 13C to 19C. Cloudy in Thessaloniki, with temperatures ranging from 10C to 20C.

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

    The EU-IMF imminent loan to Greece and opposition reactions, the social security reforms, and main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras' announcements on developments and reversals in his party dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers.

    ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Antonis Samaras exercises strong opposition: Prime Minister George Papandreou is an irresponsible, illiberal...socialist'."

    APOGEVMATINI: "YES to all - Greece accepted IMF's conditions without any 'red lines'."

    AVRIANI: "Former Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos proposes 'shock and awe' recipe for the Greek economy which has in reality gone bankrupt".

    ELEFTHEROS: "Former Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos proposes extreme measures to exit from the crisis".

    ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Samaras draws the red line between the old and the new 'New Democracy': You will witness unbelievable reversals in the party".

    ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "The 'supervisors' give 17 orders - Social security and labour rights targeted - General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) to call nationwide strike".

    ESTIA: "First target: deflation".

    ETHNOS: "First shock in pensions and salaries - IMF and Germany demand harsh measures immediately".

    IMERISSIA: "Greece will receive the first part of the loan in 15 days - IMF, EU, G20 send message to markets".

    NAFTEMPORIKI: " Bridge loan until the functioning of the support mechanism"

    TA NEA: "Employment Minister Andreas Loverdos reveals: Even the 13th salary is under question!".

    VRADYNI: "New austerity measures on the horizon - Major slap for workers".

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