Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-04-22

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

Politics

CONTENTS

[01] FinMin says issue of VAT reduction in food services to be raised in next meeting with troika

[02] IMF official pleased with Greek programme's implementation

[03] PASOK wants leaders' meeting on unemployment ahead of tabling of draft law in parliament

[04] SYRIZA speaks of government policy's 'disastrous deadlock'

[05] FM in Luxembourg, Brussels, for EU, NATO ministerial meetings

[06] FM Avramopoulos hails Belgrade-Pristina dialogue agreement

[07] Deputy FM: Future of Med will depend on outcome of economic crisis

[08] SYRIZA leader in Portugal this week

[09] Government spokesman on military coup anniversary

[10] SYRIZA says struggle for democracy and freedom always timely

[11] KKE party on anniversary of military coup

[12] KKE must become 'all-weather' party

[13] Poll shows ND party narrowly ahead of SYRIZA

[14] Defendants in attack on foreign workers case to testify before magistrate on Monday

[15] Tsohatzopoulos trial begins Monday

[16] Mineral wealth a basic support pillar for Greece's new growth model

[17] ESEE chief: 'Battle of Sundays to be waged to the end'

[18] Fur industry can play decisive role for spurring growth in Greece, minister says

[19] First ever wine master class in Athens

[20] One killed, two injured in drive-by shooting in Patras, three wanted

[21] 98th anniversary of Armenian Genocide remembered

[22] Police discover firebombs at soccer fan union's offices

[23] Firebombs hurled at riot police in Exarchia

[24] Funeral service in New York for journalist Mirella Georgiadou

[25] Thessaloniki Alexander the Great Marathon: 'From Thessaloniki to Boston'

[26] Local showers forecast on Monday

[27] Olympiacos loses from Anadolu Efes 74-73 in Euroleague basketball game

[28] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance

[01] FinMin says issue of VAT reduction in food services to be raised in next meeting with troika

As regards banks, the Finance minister said he does not share concern over the danger of their Greek character being lost, while as regards the National Bank and Eurobank he said that the next moves will depend on whether they shall cover 10 percent of private participation in recapitalization. Stournaras also stressed the government's primary concern to crack down on tax evasion.

[02] IMF official pleased with Greek programme's implementation

The head of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) delegation in Greece, Poul Thomsen, appeared satisfied with the course of the Greek programme's implementation.

In a statement on the sidelines of the spring conference of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington, Thomsen said that the Greek government is observing the targets that have been agreed, stressing that "the glass is now more than half full". Thomsen further said that the troika "had never approved" the merger between the National Bank and Eurobank and presented it as "no right of involvement" in the affairs of two private entities.

He also appeared satisfied with the recapitalization of the banking sector, but said that he is not pleased with the taxation administration and that the rich and the self-employed professionals must pay more and that there must be greater autonomy for the tax auditing apparatus.

Referring to the public sector issue, Thomsen expressed the view that unproductive staff must go, while stressing at the same time that more measures will not be taken.

Lastly, he said that the IMF's board will convene for the Greek programme in the second half of May.

[03] PASOK wants leaders' meeting on unemployment ahead of tabling of draft law in parliament

PASOK sources told ANA-MPA that the party further asks that a meeting of the three party leaders supporting the government be convened before the bill is tabled, while PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos has already discussed the issue with Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras in the past 48 hours.

The sources said that PASOK sees the relevant bill as a springboard for an overall parliamentary debate on the county's course, the completion of the negotiations with the troika, the situation in Cyprus and other issues that should be discussed before Easter, if possible.

PASOK believes that a series of crucial points regarding the arrangements for repayment of debts to the Tax Bureau and social security funds and the over-indebted households can and should be dealt with, in cooperation with the troika, so that the relevant provisions of the bill will be functional and will be accepted as positive by the market and society.

PASOK believes it would be a mistake for the public discussion to focus on the prime minister's decision to establish new posts of alternate ministers, not so much because this decision was taken in absentia of PASOK, but because such a discussion would downgrade the need for updating the three parties' programme agreement.

[04] SYRIZA speaks of government policy's 'disastrous deadlock'

SYRIZA added that "the social security funds' 4 billion deficit, the official unemployment rate of 27.2 percent, the reduction by 3.1 billion of the citizens' available income, during the 4th quarter of 2012 and the continuation of the recession in 2014 as well bring down to earth even the most naive and leave no margin of doubt for the absolute and disastrous deadlock they are leading us to".

[05] FM in Luxembourg, Brussels, for EU, NATO ministerial meetings

ON Sunday night he will attend an informal working dinner hosted by Luxembourg foreign minister Jean Asselbom, during which the ministers will discuss the situation in Syria. He will also attend the Foreign Ministers' Council on External Affairs, which will discuss the Eastern Partnership and the Southern Neighborhood, with the focus on Syria, Lebanon, Erupt and the situations in Mali and Myanmar.

On Tuesday, Avramopoulos heads to Brussels for the opening of the Spring Session of the NATO foreign ministers, which will include briefing on the latest developments in Syria, the Middle East and North Africa and the prospects for further developing partnerships with the countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue.

While in Brussels he will further take part in the NATO-Russia Council metering and attend a working lunch for the NATO foreign ministers.

[06] FM Avramopoulos hails Belgrade-Pristina dialogue agreement

Avramopoulos added that "the consistent implementation of the agreement will constitute a considerable step for the consolidation of peace and stability in our region and in all of Europe" and reiterates that "a position of principle for Greece is that the open issues in Southeastern Europe can and must only be handled through diplomacy and dialogue, with respect for International Law and with the aim of achieving viable, mutually acceptable solutions. These issues must not be perpetuated, nor can they be brought unsolved into the European Union".

The Foreign minister believes that the agreement "opens new prospects and possibilities, paving the way for a common European future" and "for this reason it has Greece's full support".

[07] Deputy FM: Future of Med will depend on outcome of economic crisis

Kourkoulas said in a phone interview with ANA-MPA that he and Michel Wozel, the socialist regional director for southeastern France both stressed that Europe must put emphasis on growth.

Kourkoulas stressed that the Greek crisis brought the Greek- French friendship to the forefront both at the level of the political elite and at the level of societies.

The coming months, he said, will be critical for the development of the Arab Spring, and we will see whether it will lead to the consolidation of democratic regimes with respect for human rights or encouragement of extremist forces, which in turn will lead to Europe's isolation from the Arab world.

He underlined the importance of the Mediterranean to the sector of energy, both due to the possible reserves and to the fact that it is a hub of energy resources to Europe.

He further warned that a huge humanitarian disaster was in progress in Syria that appeared to have no end, with millions of refugees in neighboring countries, and anticipated that Egypt's course in the next two years will also be critical. Noting that Greece has historic bonds with Egypt and interests, he pledged that the Greek presidency of the EU in the first half of 2014 will contribute to strengthening the European policies for supporting new democracies that have emerged from the Arab Spring, in the direction of democracy and respect of human rights.

[08] SYRIZA leader in Portugal this week

According to a SYRIZA announcement, the visit is taking place on the occasion of the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, Tsipras will take part in a march on the anniversary, and will address a public gathering, while he will also have a series of meetings with officials of political parties and institutional bodies of Portugal.

President: 'Democracy has enemies'

Democracy has enemies, and it is undermined and weakened when phenomena of anti-parliamentarianism, intolerance and racism emerge, President of the Republic Karolos Papulias warned on Sunday. all the more so when those who are nostalgic for and reminisce of the days and doings of the junta, he added, in a message marking the 46th black anniversary of the April 21 declaration of the military dictatorship in Greece. "46 years ago today, democracy was dissolved and black period began of non-freedom, oppression and cultural back-tracking which resulted in the tragedy in Cyprus," Papoulis said.

"It is important that we honor those who fought against the dictatorship. It is meaningful for us to remember what preceded, to realise that democracy is not self-evident," the President said.

[09] Government spokesman on military coup anniversary

[10] SYRIZA says struggle for democracy and freedom always timely

The announcement added that "46 years after the imposition of the military dictatorship in our country, we are being faced with a frontal attack against the rights of the working people and of youth, as well as democracy itself".

It goes on to say that "today's message of resistance is against the government's memorandum policy, authoritarianism, the suppression of struggles and the restriction of popular rule".

The announcement also said that SYRIZA honours the members and cadres of the Left who played a leading role in the seven-year antidictatorship struggle, as well as all the fighters of democracy who defended human dignity, democracy and freedom.

[11] KKE party on anniversary of military coup

The announcement added that despite the initial "numbness" of the people, the movement against the dictatorship developed with the great contribution of the communists and other fighters.

It further said that "the international solidarity of the socialist countries, the international labour movement constituted considerable help for the people".

KKE further stressed that "international historical experience proves that the military dictatorships always constitute solutions for the plutocracy, when it is unable to promote its antipopular plans with Parliamentary means".

[12] KKE must become 'all-weather' party

He explained that the phrase meant that the KKE is capable of fighting under whatever circumstances aiming to gather forces, prepare for the moment when the class struggle will put the issue of the conquest of power by the working class with the support or tolerance of other alliances of popular strata enters the daily agenda for their permanent disengagement from exploitation and suppression.

It also meant a KKE capable of responding to attacks by the opponent and contribute to the labor movement.

He noted that the KKE's position is that "socialism is the only realistic path for abolition of exploitation, for the reactionary class that is currently in power and exercises a modern-day dictatorship of the monopolies to become a thing of the past, and he listed a number of fundamental popular needs that will be solved with socialism, including the disengagement from the imperialistic alliances of the EU, NATO and the IMF that "tighten the noose around the neck of the working class and the other poor and oppressed".

[13] Poll shows ND party narrowly ahead of SYRIZA

The poll shows ND garnering 18.7 percent of preferences and following are SYRIZA 18.1, Golden Dawn 7.4, Independent Greeks 6.6, PASOK 5.5, Democratic Left 3.9 and Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 3.8, while 21.1 said that they have not yet decided or will abstain.

On the question of who they think will win the next elections ND leads SYRIZA by 48 percent to 39.

As regards suitability for the premiership, 30 percent said Prime Minister and ND leader Antonis Samaras and 14 percent SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras. However, 38 percent of respondents believe that no party leader is suitable for the position.

Furthermore, 68 percent believe that things in the country are worse than they were a year ago and 74 percent that the country is moving in the wrong direction.

[14] Defendants in attack on foreign workers case to testify before magistrate on Monday

A prosecutor in the city of Amaliada has charged the three, aged 39, 21 and 27, among other offences, for the illegal possession and use of weapons and causing grave bodily injury. As regards the side of the defendants, the 39-year-old's lawyer said that his client denies his involvement in the incident and added that it was the foreigners who had acted in a threatening way.

Meanwhile, the businessman exploiting the strawberry cultivations, and who is continuing to be treated in a hospital in the city of Pirgos, is expected to testify before an investigating magistrate on Monday.

Manolada inspections

The Financial Police have launched a series of inspections on farm produce packaging and distribution companies, agricultural cooperatives in the region of Nea Manolada, Ileia prefecture, it was announced on Sunday.

The inspections were launched on the heels of an incident in which 28 fieldworkers were injured when three armed foremen opened fire on foreign fieldhands working the local strawberry cultivations demonstrated to seek payment of six months in back-pay.

The Greek Police (ELAS) said Sunday that 17 inspections have already been conducted, specifically on 8 packaging and distribution companies, two cooperatives, and in seven instances of distribution of farm goods by private trucks. Police said that during the inspections a book-keeping violation regarding the recording of workers turned up at a farming cooperative and a 3,500 euro fine was imposed, while two similar violations were found in packaging and distribution companies, the responsible executives of which were arrested.

[15] Tsohatzopoulos trial begins Monday

The former minister, who is in custody pending trial, on Friday sent letters to 10 former members of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) of that period, asking them to appear in court and testify in his trial just hours before it begins. All were in office when the purchase of the German submarines and the Russian-designed anti-aircraft missile system TOR M1 was approved.

PASOK defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and 18 other defendants accused of receiving kickbacks and of 'political money laundering' from Greek state armament procurement.

A Council of Court of Appeals Judges has indicted Tsohatzopoulos, his wife Vicky Stamati, his daughter Areti Tsohatzopoulou, his former wife Gudrun, his close aide and former armaments secretary general Yannis Sbokos and 13 other individuals, on whom incriminating evidence of active participation in the scandal has arisen during the course of a lengthy judicial investigation, to stand trial.

Tsohatzopoulos, who is the main defendant in the case, is accused of money laundering via offshore companies that he owned, which he used for real estate transactions or other investment activities to legalize the money he received as kickbacks from military procurement deals signed when he was defence minister. In his actions he was assisted by businessmen, lawyers, his former and present wife and his daughter.

The trial will start a year after Tsohatzopoulos was arrested.

Financial News

[16] Mineral wealth a basic support pillar for Greece's new growth model

Maniatis further expressed satisfaction with the progress in explorations, saying that "they are at a very good stage", adding that based on the initial results "we can expect positive results in the Ionian and south of Crete".

In the autumn, he added, "we will have a full picture of the reserves in these two regions".

On last week's parliamentary discussion of a PASOK draft law for the creation of a "Solidarity of the Generations Fund", to which 150 billion euro would be channeled over the next 30 years from the public revenues generated from the exploitation of hydrocarbons, he said he considers it "exceptionally positive that all the parties of the so-called Constitutional arch appear to accept our proposal", and added that the creation of such a Fund "will enable us to build a piggy bank for the future of the social security system and a dignified life for the Greek retirees".

[17] ESEE chief: 'Battle of Sundays to be waged to the end'

The bill gives the option of opening for business on all 52 Sundays of the year, and applies to small shops below 250 square meters in area and will be voluntary. For the larger, department stores, this will apply for seven Sundays a year. Korkidis noted that the proposal put forward by ESEE is for the operation of commercial stores to Sundays in December -- ahead of Christmas and New Year -- one Sunday before Easter and another Sunday by decision of the local merchants' associations.

He added that some merchant associations have suggested three Sundays during the Christmas-New Year holiday period and another three by decision of the local merchant associations. In any case, Korkidis said, he believes that Article 6 of the draft law on the Market Code should be withdrawn so as to leave room for further discussion.

He said it was hypocritical, to say the least, to maintain that the shops' opening on Sundays would create new jobs, especially when 36,000 shops went out of business in 2012 and more than 2,000 large enterprises have already filed under Article 99 of the Bankruptcy Law.

He further noted that ESEE has proposed a series of actions that would take advantage of the available resources from various European programmes, which would enable commercial enterprises to evolve from micro-importing into microexporting companies. He noted that in the area of food and traditional products an action could develop such as that in France and we could name it "Greece in your home".

[18] Fur industry can play decisive role for spurring growth in Greece, minister says

Noting that Greece has not yet overcome the crisis, Karaoglou noted that nevertheless "slowly, day by day, we see light t the end of the tunnel", which the government had needed to restore credibility in Greece and unhesitatingly make structural changes that should have been made decades ago and advance policies that generate recovery and hope in order to achieve. He posed the question why isn't Greece a protagonist in fields other than shipping and tourism, especially at a time when the Greek fur industry is competitive?

Citing 2011 figures, he noted that last year the fur industry was in third place in import of foreign exchange into the country after tourism and shipping, Greek fur held first place in Greek exports to Russia and fourth place in exports to China. Further, he said, two years ago the fur industry accounted for 8 percent of total employment in western Macedonia, providing work to some 8,000 residents out of a total 94.000 working people.

[19] First ever wine master class in Athens

The Institute will hold its first ever master class in Athens on 5 December, to introduce Greek wine professionals to its international study programme.

The event will be hosted by Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, the only Greek Master of Wine, and Sarah Jane Evans MW, the Institute's Deputy Vice Chairman.

The topics to be covered in the master class will include an introduction to the Institute's study programme and the structure of the Masters of Wine Examination, covering both theory and practical issues, and a blind tasting of wines to highlight the Master of Wine approach to tasting and assessing wines.

Master of Wine is the most highly regarded title in the international wine community is currently held by 299 individual Masters of Wine, based in 23 different countries. More than 280 students from 29 different countries are currently enrolled in the Institute's international study programme, which prepares candidates for the annual Masters of Wine Examination.

The master class runs from 4pm to 8pm on 5 December 2011 at WSPC, 2nd Floor, 70 Amfitheas Avenue, Palaio Faliro 175 64, Athens, Greece.

The itinerary for the first-ever visit to Greece includes tours and taste-testings in wine-producing regions and wineries in Attica, the Peloponnese, northern Greece and Santorini, and more specifically visits to Nemea, Naoussa, Epanomi, Amyntaio, Attica and Santorini. Extensive presentations will take place of the wines of each region of Greece the IMW will visit.

General News

[20] One killed, two injured in drive-by shooting in Patras, three wanted

According to information, an uinidentified individual riding in a car with a second man and a woman opened fire against two men riding in a second car, killing one of the two and injuring two other passengers, one of them seriously,

The two injured men were rushed to nearby Aghios Andreas hospital whetted the more seriously injured victim underwent surgery.

Patras police launched a manhunt for the shooter, and have collected several bullet casings from the scene of the shooting. Fom eye-witness accounts, police know the details of the car in which the shooter, together with a second man and a woman, fled the scene, and have descriptions of all three, who are wanted.

[21] 98th anniversary of Armenian Genocide remembered

The memorial event, marking the April 24, 1915 arrest and execution of Armenian intellectuals by the Ottoman state, which was the start of the annihilation o f more than 1.5 million Armenians, was addressed by Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, who said that a study of history will help us see the future rationally, "especially today in a period in which the economic problems have crated cracks in cohesion, which must be bridged".

Parliamentary vice-president Ioannis Tragakis, addressing the same event, spoke of one of the biggest human tragedies with global reverberations, that even today does not let the consciences of people and states rest.

"It is our duty to fight all forms of hatred and fanaticism. It is our duty to democracy and solidarity, freedom and equality, to justice and peace," alternate Attica regional director Anna Papadimitriou-Tsatsou said.

The Armenian Ambassador to Greece and the director of the Panteios University's Center for Eastern Studies also addressed the event.

[22] Police discover firebombs at soccer fan union's offices

The police found 26 firebombs ready for use on the terrace of the building housing the union, as well as a large number of smoke bombs. The police arrested the person in charge of the union's operation and are carrying out a preliminary investigation.

[23] Firebombs hurled at riot police in Exarchia

[24] Funeral service in New York for journalist Mirella Georgiadou

Journalist Maria-Mirella Georgiadou, who died in a hospital in Manhattan on Tuesday aged 87, had her funeral service held at the church of Saint Nicholas in Flashing on Friday in the presence of friends and associates. Georgiadou was the ANA's correspondent in New York from 1977 until 2002. She was a person with character who served journalism with humility, seriousness and reliability.

Sports

[25] Thessaloniki Alexander the Great Marathon: 'From Thessaloniki to Boston'

Ethiopia's Metaferia Teklu Geto won the marathon for the second consecutive year, with another Ethiopian, Tefera Dedas Abate placing second and Greece's Antonis Papadimitriou placing third.

The 42,195 kilometer course set off from Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great and finishesenear the White Tower in Thessaloniki, the last capital of Ancient Macedonia. The Marathon was first held in 2006.

The Alexander the Great Marathon received IAAF Bronze Label Road Race status in 2010, and is an AIMS (Association of International Marathon and Distance Races) certified race. In addition to the Marathon, the day's events included 5km and 10km 'fun run' road races, as well as a 1,000 meter (1km) charity run for primary school pupils.

Weather forecast

[26] Local showers forecast on Monday

Athens will be overcast, with temperatures ranging from 10C to 23 C. The same in Thessaloniki, with chance of local rainfall and temperatures o 8-22C.

Basketball

[27] Olympiacos loses from Anadolu Efes 74-73 in Euroleague basketball game

The 10-minute intervals had the following results: 12-20, 38- 44, 56-58, 74-73.

[28] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance

DIMOKRATIA: "Merlin's debt to Greece is 510 billion euos".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Siemens' golden invoices".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Layoffs of tenured employees coming".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Endless madhouse".

EPOCHI: "Society with 19th century conditions".

ETHNOS: "1,800 hirings and 1,800 layoffs in May".

KATHIMERINI: "Towards reversal of hierarchy list and reduction of fuel tax".

LOGOS:"How the new arrangement of mortgage loans will be made".

NIKI: "Loans; What to do if you can't repay them".

REALNEWS: "The entire plan for express layoffs".

RIZOSPASTIS: "With a fighting spirit, hope and optimism at the forefront o the class struggle".

TO ARTHRO: "Samaras commissioners at the ministries".

TO PARON: "They're sequestering deposits".

TO VIMA: "Installments for all - Way out for 2.7 million debtors".

VRADYNI: «Retire earlier with successive social security".

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