Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 14-02-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM Venizelos: Europe needs to change or lose its significance

[02] European politicians warn that EU needs more growth, less bureaucracy

[03] PM Samaras: Adriatic and Ionian Seas 'a strategic field' for growth and security

[04] Greece and Italy join forces for a macro-regional EU Strategy

[05] Deputy Environment minister meets with Italian deputy FM

[06] Ministries agree emergency measures to support quake-stricken Cephalonia

[07] FM Venizelos meets Commissioner Hahn over Cephalonia

[08] Messages of support for Cephalonia from Venizelos, Hahn and Damanaki at EUSAIR event

[09] Fuchtel impressed with mobilisation of state apparatus on Cephalonia

[10] KKE general secretary on Cephalonia

[11] Aftershock of 4.4 jolts Ionian islands of Cephalonia, Zakynthos

[12] FinMin meets with German business leaders, bankers in Frankfurt

[13] Greece has made progress on issues relating to upcoming troika talks, gov't spokesman says

[14] IMF mission set to return to Athens "soon", Fund's spokesman says

[15] US Assistant secretary of State Nuland's contacts with Greek officials constuctive, State Department says

[16] Greek EU Operation Headquarters' budget approved

[17] FM Venizelos's schedule for Friday

[18] Dep. FM in Tunis on Friday

[19] Greek President visits Russia's Sochi, wishes 'good luck' to Greek athletes

[20] Greek industries need special treatment over CO2 emission costs, minister says

[21] Foreign Minister meets with his Albanian counterpart

[22] Deputy FM says Greece leading efforts to safely destruct Syria's chemical weapons

[23] Palestinian FM says Greece plays important role in Middle East issue

[24] Parliament President Meimarakis receives annual Court of Audit report

[25] ANEL deputy Haikalis admits to having not declared 45,000 euros to tax services

[26] State minister responds to ANEL deputy query on office staff numbers

[27] Parliament approves bill on ADMIE, amendment on Hellenic Defence Systems

[28] Primary healthcare system bill voted in principle

[29] Commerce confederation to propose annual 1.3 pct rise on minimum wages over the next 3 years

[30] DIMAR leader in hospital; to undergo minor surgery on Friday

[31] Administrative Reform minister reappoints 526 former school guards to hospital posts

[32] Appeals court releases STN Atlas representative Panagiotis Efstathiou

[33] Parliament concludes debate on articles of Primary National Healthcare Network draft bill

[34] Authority against money laundering president's term in office is extended

[35] Gov't announces tax breaks, waives book of accounts for farmers

[36] Agricultural unions ask for one-year extension to new tax system

[37] Farmers to receive ELGA compensation amounting to 8 million euros

[38] New EU regulation helps consumers and businesses recover cross-border debts

[39] Deadline for SME support programme extended to March 20; Cephalonia projects automatically included

[40] State revenues from special unemployment levy reach half a billion over 2012-2012, alternate FinMin says

[41] There is optimism for real economy prospects, Eurobank says

[42] Networking seminar in Brussels for Greek and Belgian high tech organizations

[43] Shipping Minister Varvitsiotis attends launch of Greek in South Korea

[44] Greek Shipowners Association head reacts to taxation increase on Greek-owned ships

[45] Environment Minister addresses event on Sustainable Development

[46] Thessaloniki industrial chamber chief calls for gov't support of SMEs

[47] Revenues of social security fund IKA rise in Jan. for the first time since '09

[48] Secretary General for Transparency and Human Rights says illegal fuel trade cost the country billions of euros

[49] Gov't losing 1 bln euros in tax revenues from fuel smuggling, sec'y general estimates

[50] New Attica Bank shares to start trading on Feb. 10

[51] Alpha Trust-Andromeda reports lower 2013 profits

[52] Greek stocks rally for sixth consecutive session

[53] Greek bond market closing report

[54] ADEX closing report

[55] Foreign Exchange rates - Friday

[56] Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addresses the Eurasian Economic Summit

[57] Lesvos' immigrant reception centre to be ready in two months, its director says

[58] Healthcare staff rally in Athens ended

[59] Nationwide strike in health sector on Thursday

[60] N. Greece farmers set midday deadline before escalating protests

[61] Metro line 3 to end at Ethniki Amyna in the weekend due to technical works

[62] 25 undocumented migrants found in a truck

[63] Light quake 115km NW of Athens

[64] Person was arrested for leaking false information on catastrophic earthquake

[65] Arrest for 2011 murder of DIAS police officers in Rendi

[66] Five tons of stolen recyclable materials found hidden in Thesssaloniki apartment

[67] Elderly man's death solved

[68] Four persons accused of gang-raping a young woman in Thessaloniki released

[69] Police arrests two Portuguese for heroin possession in Mytilene

[70] Rainy on Friday

[71] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies Politics

[01] FM Venizelos: Europe needs to change or lose its significance

Venizelos added that in light of the European Parliament elections, Europe must find new, more integrated and more original things to tell its citizens by May and European Parliament elections.

Criticising the way the EU operated, Venizelos said that "there is no rational discussion" and that "every time, there is an urgent issue on which discussion focuses, solely for ideological and political reasons". There is a problem of mutual understanding, he pointed out.

Further, he said that "now that we have gone through this experience, I do not see us setting up mechnisms that would prevent the repetition" of the crisis. "Either we will talk seriously about going beyond this framework or we will have to accept a development that will eventually lead to a shrunken and aged Europe with a secondary political role," he warned.

Venizelos went on to say that "the International Monetary Fund was summoned and established in the heart of the eurozone. This was an indication of distrust of the European Commission and of its abilities to predict and manage the crisis". He added that the European Central Bank was called on to assume a role that was not in its charter, something he said that signalled the definitive downgrading of the EU process and the absolute imposition of the intergovernmental method of taking decisions.

Lastly, Venizelos stressed that the model on which Europe is moving must change and all must see whether it can return to its founding values, pluralism, tolerance, competitiveness, innovation and inspiration.

The congress will continue with other speakers including ministers, economists, academics and writers. Its sponsors include the New York Times, Le Soir, Euronews, the Greek-French Chamber of Commerce and the French Institute of Greece.

[02] European politicians warn that EU needs more growth, less bureaucracy

Barnier added that if the EU keeps to the same rate as today, by 2050 none of its member states will be a member of the G8. The EU is not a single country, he said in response to questions, and he said that the European Central Bank, headed by Mario Draghi, responded quickly to the interbank system.

Priorities in Europe's growth should focus on industrial policy, energy, research and education, the commissioner said, adding that people must stop denigrating Europe, because its decisions on the crisis - which arrived from the United States - were right. He also strongly defended the actions under his jurisdiction on bank union, saying that banking activities will be made distinct, and the goal is to manage them with transparency and ethical rules. "We have learned our lesson," he added.

Former Italian President Massimo D'Alema spoke about unbelievable inequality and unemployment in Europe in recent years, and called for a deep change in European policy, the only way he saw to support European citizens. He also referred to Europe's lack of equality between members, which became more obvious following the crisis, as the Council acquired more power to the detriment of the Commission. The Commission's political weakness shows a weakness in democracy, he stressed.

Guy Verhofstadt, head of Alliance of Liberals and Democrats group in the European Parliament and candidate for the presidency of the European Commission, seconded the Italian president in that Europe is being ruled intergovernmentally by its 28 members. It is as if the United States were to be ruled by representatives, one each, from its 50 states, without US President Barack Obama. Continuing this will give the lead to Eurosceptics, he warned, and said that young people are not content with the idea of peace alone, we must exit the crisis.

He also stressed that the cost of development in the eurozone differs greatly from country to country and beyond the eurozone, as the EU is paying much higher interest rates than the US, not to speak of Japan, he said, where interest rates are even lower.

[03] PM Samaras: Adriatic and Ionian Seas 'a strategic field' for growth and security

Samaras emphasized that the cooperation for the Adriatic and the Ionian should evolve to an axis of economic cooperation in Europe, underlining that the Greek presidency has put all matters of maritime policies on the agenda, highlighting the geostrategic importance of the sea.

"The sea has made Europe what it is. Europe has dominated the sea and now it's time to treat it in a strategic way," he said, adding there were still many possibilities for economic growth.

Samaras presented the four principles on which the European strategy would be based: shipping and shipbuilding, the exploitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone, which he said can ensure greater energy independence, the enhancement and improvement of the natural environment and the environment-oriented economy and research as well as the development of tourism across the Adriatic and the Ionian Seas.

"The sea is an integral part of our European identity, it is a constant challenge and an inexhaustible source of wealth," Samaras said, noting that the strategy for the Adriatic and the Ionian has already given scope for cooperation, development and prosperity.

[04] Greece and Italy join forces for a macro-regional EU Strategy

This is what the two countries' deputy ministers told ANA-MPA after their meeting on the sidelines of the conference on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region taking place on Thursday and Friday in Athens. The conference is organized by the Greek Presidency and the European Commission.

"What we will achieve along with the Italian Presidency is the upgrade of this initiative to a macro-region, which gives very significant practical advantages for a better cooperation between countries of the Adriatic and Ionian seas on many issues such as energy, environment, tourism and development," Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas stressed, adding that the two major steps for the completion of the project would be achieved under the Presidency of the two countries.

This is a project that started in 2000 as an initiative for the Adriatic-Ionian Region following a proposal by Italy and with Greece's participation.

"It's very important and somewhat symbolic that the two Presidencies --Greece's and Italy's -- coincide in 2014," Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister Marta Dassu told ANA-MPA, noting that there were three points of particular importance.

"First of all it is an push towards enlargement, not only for the countries that have not yet joined but also for the Europeans because of the positive effects that can be obtained by a closer cooperation between EU and non-EU countries," she said.

[05] Deputy Environment minister meets with Italian deputy FM

Italian ambassador Claudio Glaentzer participated in the meeting.

Italy will be assuming the rotating EU presidency immediately after Greece's term ends, meaning on July 1 this year.

[06] Ministries agree emergency measures to support quake-stricken Cephalonia

- Measures deemed a first priority were:

- An 80 pct subsidy of the cost of building repairs, with the remaining 20 pct covered by interest-free loans

- A rent subsidy of up to 500 euros a month

- Subsidies for household goods of up to 6,000 euros

- An exemption from the property tax for 2014

- Repairing and restoring operation of Lixouri harbour within two months

- Repairing the island's main road network

- Erecting 45 prefab class rooms to allow the island's schools to continue operating

The meeting discussed the problems of the island's public and private infrastructure that need repair, drew up a road map of actions for achieving the targets within a specific deadline and named the officials that will make up working groups to implement the road map. It also agreed on actions to support a local team under the General Secretary for Public Works Stratos Simopoulos.

According to a government announcement, the prime minister has appointed Vartzopoulos to lead the ministry general secretaries involved in order to set up a top-down structure that will avoid delays due to bureaucracy. He is to travel to the island next week at the head of a team from the general secretariat to coordinate fast-track procedures for implementing the measures decided.

[07] FM Venizelos meets Commissioner Hahn over Cephalonia

Hahn told Venizelos that the European Commission departments were considering the Greek request for Cephalonia to be placed under a European Solidarity Fund program and that a response should be issued soon.

EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki was also present at the meeting, which took part at the sidelines of an event for the EU Strategy on the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea (EUSAIR). The event is being co-hosted by the Greek presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission.

[08] Messages of support for Cephalonia from Venizelos, Hahn and Damanaki at EUSAIR event

Venizelos went on to highlight the importance of maritime policy for Greece's EU presidency, describing it as a "horizontal priority" that will highlight the Mediterranean aspect of the European Union, through the initiatives of the successive Greek and Italian presidencies in 2014.

He also referred to the developmental aspects of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative, saying that this was directed toward both civil society and the market. Among others, he emphasised the importance of marine planning in this context, which he said would be a key incentive for private initiatives, and implementing the international Law of the Sea. "This means declaring and delineating maritime zones, such as the contintental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone," he added.

On protecting the natural environment in the Mediterranean, Venizelos referred to action taken so far and also to the need to destroy's Syria's chemical arsenal. On this issue he stressed that there were several legal and scientific guarantees that there was no danger to the Mediterranean marine environment as a result of this process.

The foreign minister ended with a reference to Thursday morning's foreign ministers' meeting on the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, where Greece and Italy reaffirmed their determination to highlight the Adriatic and Ionian as a macroregion.

European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn underlined the importance of this third European macroregional strategy, emphasising the need for political commitments. Hahn noted that it was important for the participating countries to focus their efforts on a macroregional approach.

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki described it as a "promising" initiative, while noting that proposals for this macroregional prospect must be sustainable. She emphasised the benefits of 'blue' growth for the Adriatic and Ionian and also the importance of marine spatial planning for the region's economic growth.

[09] Fuchtel impressed with mobilisation of state apparatus on Cephalonia

He made the statement after a meeting with Interior Minister Yiannis Mihelakis to discuss Greek-German cooperation issues at local administration level, with emphasis on the recent earthquakes.

Fuchtel said that there are experts in the German delegation on handling disasters, representatives of agencies for providing technical aid and disaster support, as well as representatives of the fire brigade.

He added that "whatever support we can provide in the framework of our duties in the municipalities in terms of know-how and any other form of support, we shall give it. I think that in the framework of the exchange of know-how, we can have such an exchange not only in the present situation, but more extensively as well."

On his part, Mihelakis stressed that Fuchtel promised to provide every possible help to the island.

[10] KKE general secretary on Cephalonia

"We must take relief measures for all people hit by the earthquake in Cephalonia - especially in the area of Paliki and Lixouri, which have suffered the greatest damage," Koutsoumbas noted, adding that people should be compensated for all damage from household appliances to homes.

Koutsoumbas proposed that the residents of Cephalonia hit by the earthquake are exempted from taxes and debts. "It would be a relief, it would be a solution, although temporary, that would enable each person, each family to stand on its feet and each professional to repair his shop. This is an urgent issue," he added.

He also stressed the need for the immediate restoration of schools, hospitals and the road network.

[11] Aftershock of 4.4 jolts Ionian islands of Cephalonia, Zakynthos

According to the Athens Geodynamic Institute, the tremor took place at 21:21, registered 4.4 on the Richter scale and had a depth of 5 kilometres. Lixouri is one of two main towns on Cephalonia.

Cephalonia in the last two weeks has seen two major earthquakes that caused significant damage and prompted the government to call a national emergency; it has been experiencing several aftershocks.

[12] FinMin meets with German business leaders, bankers in Frankfurt

As was revealed by the Finance ministry, Stournaras discussed with Deutsche Bank's managing director the positive developments in the Greek economy and international markets, while he also presented the positive developments of the Greek economy to Deutsche Bundesbank's president and the factors contributing to a primary surplus being created in the budget.

At noon, the Finance minister was a speaker at the Entrepreneurship Club "Frankfurter Gesellschaft fur Handel, Industrie und Wissenschaft", which was attended by more than 100 of Germany's leading businessmen. He referred to the Greek economy's state and to the country's new growth model that will be presented in Athens in a few weeks, while he also answered questions by the audience.

Stournaras stressed that the official target on the primary surplus will be exceeded by far, while he also said that recession in 2013 will be lower than the prediction of a GDP decrease of 4 percent.

[13] Greece has made progress on issues relating to upcoming troika talks, gov't spokesman says

"The implementation of our commitments has progressed to a significant degree and on certain issues we are [doing] even better than the initial forecasts," Kedikoglou said in statements to the local radio station "Vima FM". He predicted that Greece would be ready before the next Eurogroup meeting.

On the issue of debt sustainability, Kedikoglou said that Greece "wants to implement the Eurogroup agreement of November 2012, which refers to implementing commitments to reduce the debt without fiscal measures."

"There are many ways. We will sit down and see which one is best but the goal is a given. Because when the sustainability of debt is ensured, then essentially we are free of the [bailout] memoranda. And we consider that the climate may change, because we have taken all the necessary, albeit difficult, decisions without the tangible results of these sacrifices having yet become apparent to people in their daily lives," he said.

This was slowly starting to change, the spokesman added, with one indicator after the other showing improvement and the positive signs for the Greek economy starting to multiply.

The spokesman ruled out the prospect of early elections, noting that the prime minister had made it clear "in a clearcut and absolute way, that we want to finish our work and exhaust the four-year term."

[14] IMF mission set to return to Athens "soon", Fund's spokesman says

The head of the International Monetary Fund mission that holds the negotiations with the Greek authorities, Poul Thomsen, is set to return to Athens "soon", the Fund's spokesman Gerry Rice said on Thursday during a press conference.

"The delegation will return soon, once we have clarified a number of technical issues. We are constantly working with the Greek authorities and the EU to that matter," he said.

Regarding the achievement of a primary surplus and whether this "triggered developments" on the Greek debt, Rice reiterated that "Greece's European partners have agreed to go ahead with a debt relief if this is necessary, which would depend on how aligned Greece is to the implementation of the programme's pledges."

He added this would mean that the debt to GDP ratio would fall to 124 percent in 2020 and significantly below 110 percent of by 2022.

"If Greece implements the pledges of its programme, the Europeans have said they would help Greece," he pointed out.

Asked whether the fund believes a Greek debt relief would be "necessary", he pointed out the fund's position had not changed and that "we should review the numbers", adding that "as long as Greece implements the programme, Europe has pledged to support it."

On the "funding gap" and the "pledges the IMF is asking for" from Europe, the Fund's spokesman said this was an issue to be considered when the mission returned in Athens, adding that the Europeans should propose a specific solution to cover that gap.

Rice was also asked on the "objections" of the Financial Stability Fund and the "delays" in the announcement of the capital needs of Greek lenders as well as the reforms on the recapitalization. He said that he had nothing to add on the issue of the recapitalization and on how troika would deal with it.

[15] US Assistant secretary of State Nuland's contacts with Greek officials constuctive, State Department says

"During her meetings, she (Victoria Nuland) expressed her support to the Greek government's efforts for reforms, economic growth, bilateral trade and investments," Psaki noted adding that they also discussed a series of regional issues.

Nuland, who visited Greece on Monday, had separate meetings with Samaras and Venizelos.

[16] Greek EU Operation Headquarters' budget approved

The sum amounts to 2.9 million euros and 50 percent of it has already been disbursed from the EU funding mechanism Athena. The rest of the amount will be allocated after the first tranche has been spent. The amount approved for the operation overall amounts to 29 million euros.

No member of the Greek Armed Forces will participate in the operation, by request of Greece, but they will train French communications specialists. The planning of the operation in the Central African Republic will have been completed by February 18, and will involve 57 foreign military officials working out of Larissa.

[17] FM Venizelos's schedule for Friday

Following the meeting, which will take place at 11.30, the two officials make statements to the press.

At 17.00, Venizelos will meet with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran Benham Behrouz.

[18] Dep. FM in Tunis on Friday

During his visit to Tunisia, Gerontopoulos will meet with the Metropolitan of Carthage and North Africa and will hold talks with the board of the Greek Community in Tunis.

[19] Greek President visits Russia's Sochi, wishes 'good luck' to Greek athletes

"It is truly a day full of Greece being here with our team. These athletes compete and their competitors are tough. I hope and wish that we have successes, as the Greek spirit can always overcome the obstacles and to bring home successes," he said.

Papoulias met with the seven members of the Greek team, presented by the president of the Greek Olympic Committee Spyros Kapralos, while the athletes thanked him, as it was the first time that a head of state had honored the Winter Olympics team.

Papoulias was accompanied by the Deputy Culture and Sports Minister Yiannis Andrianou.

"Our country serves the paramount task of being the guardian of Olympic ideals and the Olympic spirit," he said, wishing good luck to the athletes.

Papoulias on Thursday evening will attend a dinner hosted International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach.

[20] Greek industries need special treatment over CO2 emission costs, minister says

Addressing a seminar on "Competitiveness and Climate Change Policies" organized by the Federation of Hellenic Enterprises (SEB), Maniatis said that "A country in deep recession neighboring to countries not being under emissions limitations, has to have a fair treatment, particularly for its energy-consuming industries".

The Greek minister noted that energy saving and improving energy performance were the basic targets of government policy for the extra reason that 70 pct of materials used for energy fortification of buildings was manufactured by domestic industries.

Efthimios Vidalis, president of SEB's Council for Sustainable Growth, addressing the seminar stressed that Greece was one of the countries most at risk from a carbon leakage phenomenon and noted there was significant risk of further downgrading Greek industry's competitiveness, losing production and job positions. Vidalis praised the ministry's initiative to recommend a community care for countries vulnerable to competition because of their geographical position leaves them out of CO2 emission rights mechanism.

The Institute for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) presented a survey over the impact of the carbon leakage phenomenon on the Greek economy, which said that based on current emission rights prices, the impact on the Greek GDP was around 380 million euros, or 0.2 pct of GDP with a loss of 5,500 job positions.

[21] Foreign Minister meets with his Albanian counterpart

Venizelos confirmed Athens' support towards the Western Balkans' prospects of EU membership and assured Bushati regarding Greece's intention to help Albania achieve EU accession candidate status during Greek EU presidency.

The Greek Foreign minister said that in the framework of friendship, good neighbor and cooperation agreement, bilateral committees will be set up on issues related to water resources and transportation and other issues.

[22] Deputy FM says Greece leading efforts to safely destruct Syria's chemical weapons

Kourkoulas was responding to a current question by New Democracy deputy Manoussos Voloudakis, regarding the concerns by Crete residents on the risks posed by the transfer of Syria's chemical weapons via the Mediterranean.

"Greece leads in the efforts to reduce any risks and find the safest way to destroy chemical weapons, while negotiations are continuing," Kourkoulas said. He categorically denied there was any scenario "discussed, within the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which provides for the disposal of those substances or effluents in the sea or the soil."

"There is an alertness and coordination between the ministry's central department and our diplomatic delegations. The National Authority on chemical weapons has been kept updated since the beginning. We have been in constant contact with our delegation to the Hague, where the Agency on the destruction of chemical weapons is based, and in constant contact with the Italian government through our embassy.

"On a bilateral level, Government Vice-president and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos has repeatedly discussed the issue with Italy's foreign minister and we have expressed our concern regarding the destruction of weapons to the US. Moreover, Venizelos recently sent a letter to the director of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and of course we continue monitoring the situation," he added.

As it has been decided and recently announced, those chemicals will be transferred to Italy, in Calabria. There, they will uploaded on an American ship, on board of which the hydrolysis - the neutralization of chemical substances - process will take place. Those effluents will be processed on land and away from the Mediterranean. According to Kourkoulas no final decision has been taken as to where and when this would take place.

[23] Palestinian FM says Greece plays important role in Middle East issue

Malki, who is on an official visit to Athens, will be meeting successively on Friday with Government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Earlier on Thursday, Malki gave a press conference at the headquarters of the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Athens.

"The political support of Athens in the Palestinian issue is very important", he said.

The Palestinian Foreign minister clarified that the very good relations between Greece and Israel in no way constitute an obstacle for the strengthening of the relations of Athens with the Palestinian Authority. He added that even Greece's military cooperation with Israel with the carrying out of joint exercises has been taking place for many years and he does not see the reason for it to stop, to the degree that it is not directed against the Palestinians.

Malki also referred to the need for the cooperation of all the countries of the eastern Mediterranean regarding the exploration and exploitation of the region's energy sources, the deposits of natural gas and oil in particular.

"The eastern Mediterranean hides a treasure and this can benefit all the countries in the region", he said.

The Palestinian Foreign minister appeared very optimistic over the new mediating initiative on the Middle East issue by US Secretary of State John Kerry. "We want John Kerry's mediating initiative to be crowned with success", he said.

[24] Parliament President Meimarakis receives annual Court of Audit report

Receiving the report, Meimarakis noted that this important work helps MPs and political parties to improve and to reach conclusions, adding that observations made by the Court of Audit are being seriously considered and forwarded to the government.

On his part, the Court of Audit president said that according to the Constitution, the annual report checks if the state budget approved by the Parliament was properly implemented pursuant to state legislation.

Aside from the observations made concerning secondary sectors of economic activity, the report also includes recommendations and proposals aimed at preventing any omissions spotted from being repeated in the future, the Court of Audit president underlined.

[25] ANEL deputy Haikalis admits to having not declared 45,000 euros to tax services

Speaking on private Ant1 television station, Haikalis, who is trained as a professional actor, said that the money came from an advertisement in 2007 promoting pharmaceutical products in which he was the protagonist.

According to him, the company making the TV advertisement had also failed to issue a receipt, because it was expecting of shooting an advertisement in Athens as well. However, he said, the shooting did not go ahead and the issue was not resolved and the money were not declared. Haikalis claimed that the act was simple negligence and stated that he is willing to pay the fine imposed.

[26] State minister responds to ANEL deputy query on office staff numbers

Responding on a verbal question by Independent Greeks Deputy Marina Chryssoveloni about excessive staff at his office, including politically-motivated transfers, Stamatis said, "As a minister, I had the right to set up a general secretariat, but did not do so. The secretariat had (the right to employ) two staff people - these were never hired. Of the remaining 17 staff (foreseen in the ministry), there are only 9. Where, then, are the political cronies we are assumed to be trying to hire? Unless you want every minister, like the state minister, to work by himself and pick up the phone and answer it himself."

The deputy cited data forwarded by ministers themselves answering her question about the number of transferred personnel that show there was no reduction in personnel, as announced by the prime minister in 2012.

[27] Parliament approves bill on ADMIE, amendment on Hellenic Defence Systems

More specifically, 150 deputies voted for all the articles and 120 voted against, with the exception of the first article, which was approved by 151 deputies and rejected by 119.

The Parliament also approved the amendment on Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS), with 159 deputies voting for and 110 voting against.

[28] Primary healthcare system bill voted in principle

151 deputies were in favour of the bill and 119 voted against it.

[29] Commerce confederation to propose annual 1.3 pct rise on minimum wages over the next 3 years

Greek commerce confederation ESEE sent a letter to Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis regarding its position on the signing of a new labour collective agreement and its proposals on the ongoing negotiations over the signing of a new sectoral agreement in commerce.

ESEE will present its proposal to other employee's organisations. Its provides for the gradual increase of minimum wages on an annual basis and for a three-year period 2014-2016 if the government implements its pledge to cut down on employees fees by 3.9 points by 2016.

[30] DIMAR leader in hospital; to undergo minor surgery on Friday

[31] Administrative Reform minister reappoints 526 former school guards to hospital posts

In this way, according to the Administrative Reform ministry, the mobility program is implemented in such a way so as cover any lack of personnel in the healthcare sector.

The ministry had initially announced the repositioning of 331 former school guards, out of a total of 2,300 placed under the mobility scheme.

[32] Appeals court releases STN Atlas representative Panagiotis Efstathiou

The court trialed the prosecutor's motion against the defendant's release and decided that the first-instance decision stands and Efstathiou will remain released on bail of 500,000 euros, as it was decided by the Council of Misdemeanor Court of Athens.

"Justice has taken into consideration Efstathiou's serious health problems, alongside the fact that he is providing actual assistance to examining magistrate Gavriil Mallis in his difficult work of investigating the complex military equipment case," said Efstathiou's attorney Michalis Dimitrakopoulos.

Efstathiou, 83, is allegedly connected to an armament scandal after he was implicated by former Hellenic Air Force official Antonis Kantas that he paid 3 million euros in bribes for the purchasing of submarines and the ASRAD anti-air missile system. He faces charges in connection with bribery and money laundering.

[33] Parliament concludes debate on articles of Primary National Healthcare Network draft bill

At the request of the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA), a number of articles were referred to roll-call votes to be held on Tuesday. These relate to the suspension and mobility scheme for civil servants and doctors affiliated with the National Organisation for the Provision of Healthcare (EOPYY) and an amendment relating to Hellenic Republic Assets Development Fund (TAIPED) contracts.

Ten amendments were also voted along with the bill, one of which was voted for unanimously as it related to relief measures for the earthquake victims on Cephalonia island.

[34] Authority against money laundering president's term in office is extended

Supreme Court Deputy Prosecutor Giorgos Pantelis was appointed alternate president.

Financial News

[35] Gov't announces tax breaks, waives book of accounts for farmers

He said the meeting had decided to waive an obligation that farmers keep detailed books of accounts regardless of income, except for those who were obliged to keep books for other activities they were involved in. Those with an income exceeding 15,000 euros a year, however, will still be required to submit regular summarised statements of their income and spending.

The meeting also decided to exempt farmers entering the new system from the freelance workers' levy for the first five years, as well as those that are three years before retirement.

All farmers will be obliged to submit an annual VAT statement at the end of the year, while the summarised statements of income and spending will also be submitted annually.

The measures will also exempt farmers from paying VAT as individuals if they sell their products through third parties, such as traders, cooperatives and groups.

The groups and cooperatives dealing in farm products will carry out a settlement of farmers' sales once a year.

Farmers entering the new system this year will also pay an advance on income tax of 27.5 pct instead of 55 pct for the statement submitted in 2015.

Agricultural Minister Athanassios Tsaftaris, Deputy Finance Minister George Mavraganis and the general secretary for public revenues Haris Theoharis also participated in the meeting.

[36] Agricultural unions ask for one-year extension to new tax system

The cooperatives confederation's main demand is that "everything legislated for the taxation of farmers will have effect as of January 1, 2015, meaning that 2014 is a year of adaptation, in order to allow both the competent services of the Finance ministry to examine exhaustively and correctly the problems and also enable tax accountants and indebted farmers to get informed and adapt to the new tax system."

PASEGES stressed the importance of the government allowing time to resolve particular issues "in order to avoid dramatic impasses in agricultural production and rural areas of the country."

[37] Farmers to receive ELGA compensation amounting to 8 million euros

The compensation will be paid for damages caused to crops and specifically to fruit trees, vineyards, cotton crops, vegetables, animal feed crops and also in case of livestock losses.

[38] New EU regulation helps consumers and businesses recover cross-border debts

The European Account Preservation Order is designed to ease the recovery of cross-border debts for both citizens and businesses and facilitate the implementation of relevant court decisions.

Roughly a million SMEs in the EU have problems with cross-border debts and up to 600 million euros a year in debt is unnecessarily written off because businesses find it too daunting to pursue expensive, confusing lawsuits in foreign countries.

The regulation is also designed to protect consumers who buy goods online in case they are not delivered and can also apply to divorced couples when one of the former spouses lives abroad and fails to pay the agreed alimony.

The new regulation will also allow creditors to have access to information on their debtor's bank accounts and be able to "freeze" the amount owed following a court decision.

Justice Minister Charalambos Athanassiou commented that the agreement was a priority for the Greek EU Presidency, adding that "in a difficult economic conjuncture for Europe it is very important for the member-states' economies to offer to citizens and business a tool that they can use to recover cross-border debts quickly and effectively".

[39] Deadline for SME support programme extended to March 20; Cephalonia projects automatically included

The 20-day extension of the deadline was given at the request of investors and chambers of commerce, even though the deadline is very tight, since final decisions about which projects will be included must be issued by June 30.

[40] State revenues from special unemployment levy reach half a billion over 2012-2012, alternate FinMin says

This special levy is estimated at 2 percent of salaries, bonuses and compensations of employees of public organisations, public entities, local authorities and banks and it is included in budget revenues aimed at combatting unemployment.

Revenues amounted to 282.2 million euros in 2012 and 272.8 million euros in 2013.

Staikouras further stated that the subsidy to Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) from the state budget amounted to 499.1 million euros in 2012, 472 million euros in 2013, and is assessed at 505 million euros in 2014.

The data were submitted after a question from Independent Greeks deputy Vassilis Kapernaros, requesting, inter alia, to brief him on the exact amount received from the Solidarity Fund and the use of that money.

[41] There is optimism for real economy prospects, Eurobank says

Optimism is based among others on the fact that the turnover index in retail trade excluding fuel rose 3.0 percent year-on-year in November 2013 for the first time since April 2010, mainly due to interim sales in November.

The PMI index exceeded the benchmark of 50 points in January 2014, which signifies expansion in the manufacturing sector for the first time since August 2009 due to increased production and orders in the manufacturing sector.

Deposits of the private sector rose 1.4 percent, on a monthly basis, in December 2013 for a second consecutive month, after five months of decline.

Eurobank analysts estimate that it is possible to reach an agreement on the 2014 fiscal gap with a partial payment of the tranche and the government committing itself to the implementation of structural reforms.

[42] Networking seminar in Brussels for Greek and Belgian high tech organizations

Representatives of eleven Greek research organizations and applied research sectors, specializing in biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials technology, electronic structure, laser and robotics, participated in a seminar for Greek and Belgian high technology sector organizations and enterprises organized by the Greek Embassy here.

The event, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brussels, was also attended by 30 representatives of scientific organizations and institutions, as well as high technology sectors in Belgium.

According to an Agence Europe report, Commissioner for Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes, who met last week in Brussels with representatives of eight newly established Greek companies, noted that the Greek start-ups are active in different fields but high entrepreneurship is their common characteristic, expressing satisfaction for Greece's support to young entrepreneurs.

[43] Shipping Minister Varvitsiotis attends launch of Greek in South Korea

The minister underlined that all Greeks are proud each time a new ship under a Greek flag is built and, "at the same time, as the political leadership, we feel responsible to create the proper conditions for a shipping-friendly environment to further increase the number of ships under the Greek flag".

He underlined the national importance of the move, noting that "Neptune Lines Shipping & Managing Enterprises S.A. and the shipowner Travlos family with their move have increased the number of their ships under Greek flag to four, tangibly expressing their patriotism and their contribution to the national effort".

He also praised the contribution and role of Neptune Lines Managing Director Melina Travlos and the ship's godmother Ioanna Papadopoulou saying characteristically that both are dynamic women who put their soul into their work and highlight the role of modern women in entrepreneurship.

"More and more women are being distinguished in the sector of shipping making the Greek shipping sector a pioneer," the minister underlined.

"Neptune Galene" is a car carrier ship with a capacity of up to 3,500 vehicles.

Varvitsiotis will meet on Friday with South Korean Trade, Industry & Energy Minister Yoon Sang-jick.

[44] Greek Shipowners Association head reacts to taxation increase on Greek-owned ships

Addressing the association's annual general assembly meeting, Veniamis said that this move creates a negative atmosphere for all business investments in Greece.

Veniamis said that to his opinion, the decision was made under the pressure of the troika of the country's lenders and spoke about constitutional diversion that annuls the contract signed with the prime minister to voluntarily double taxation for ships under foreign or Greek flag.

A total of 3,000 ships had pledged to the voluntary taxation, tangibly proving the sector's true intention to support the country in this difficult period, he noted, adding that the association did not rush to react to the legislative regulation wishing to give time to the state to reassess its actions and their outcome.

Referring to the informal preliminary investigation into the Greek tonnage tax regime launched in the summer of 2012, he said that it continued in 2013 with letter exchanges between the European Commission and the government which was called to give clarifications.

He said that the Greek tonnage tax is the pioneer that inspired all the rest and "now we are called to explain why it differs from its imitators".

Veniamis also said that 16.25 pct of the world fleet and 46.7 pct of the EU fleet is in Greek hands, as well as, 23.5 pct of the world oil tanker fleet and 18.5 pct of the world fleet of bulk carriers.

[45] Environment Minister addresses event on Sustainable Development

"Cost and energy saving, jobs creation, the environment's upgrading and biodiversity protection are the basic pillars of the country's new production model. A model of development," Maniatis said and stressed issues regarding energy infrastructure, energy security, southeastern Mediterranean and Greece's hydrocarbons deposits and the adoption of innovative funding schemes.

Maniatis underlined that Greek enterprises should enjoy equal treatment regarding energy costs, especially businesses that face harsh competition from third countries and stressed the need of new measures adoption to minimize these costs. He also said that Greece should secure its biodiversity with the implementation of a national strategy to prevent its depletion that cuts 3 pct of the GDP.

The minister said that by the end of the year there will be an internal energy market, operating in a European scale which will benefit the Greek islands and will reduce Europe's reliance on third countries' energy markets. Maniatis also expressed his wariness regarding shale gas extraction.

Among others addressing the event were SEV Council President Efthimios Vidalis and National Technical University of Athens Professor Ioannis Zioumas.

[46] Thessaloniki industrial chamber chief calls for gov't support of SMEs

During the chamber's New Year's cake-cutting event, Papadopoulos asked for "actions instead of words," stating that the most important measure for 2014 must be to actively support SMEs, since things are getting difficult even for the most resilient businesses.

"The expected return to growth cannot come as long as the burdening of the market and the households continues. Fewer taxes, restructuring of public administration, promotion of structural reforms, strengthening of liquidity and support of entrepreneurship are the basic requirements to place the economy to a new track," said Papadopoulos.

Macedonia-Thrace Minister Theodoros Karaoglou, Foreign Ministry Deputy Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation Magda Karakoli and the deputy regional manager of Thessaloniki George Tsamaslis gave welcoming speeches at the event.

[47] Revenues of social security fund IKA rise in Jan. for the first time since '09

January's revenues from arrears were up 43.3 percent compared to January 2013, at 94 million euros. Labour ministry officials attribute the rise to the high fines that authorities have been imposing in cases of undeclared employment.

[48] Secretary General for Transparency and Human Rights says illegal fuel trade cost the country billions of euros

In comments he made after addressing the parliamentary Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency, he referred to the electronic monitoring system which is designed to combat illegal fuel trade by tracing the fuel route from the refineries to the consumer.

He said that powerful corruption networks were active for decades costing the country more than 30 billion euros in the past twenty years. "This debt should not be paid by the citizens, who are going through an ordeal, but by those who are responsible. They should return the money and suffer the consequences of their actions and the financial crime they committed," Sourlas said.

[49] Gov't losing 1 bln euros in tax revenues from fuel smuggling, sec'y general estimates

Considering that this has been happening for 25 years, as former prime minister Lucas Papademos had mentioned, then the total tax evasion totals 25 billion euros, Sourlas added.

During a briefing of the Parliament's Committee of Institutions and Transparency, Sourlas called the fight against fuel smuggling "difficult and painful" and pitted against "a well-entrenched mafia."

"It took years to include refineries in the electronic control system, which happened through a regulation passed in 2013. I believe that fuel smuggling and its circuits is now coming to an end," said Sourlas, and added that he has been enjoying the full support of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

The secretary general also emphasized the decision by National Defense Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos to place the control of fuel used by the military under the Finance Ministry's Financial Crime unit (SDOE).

In terms of the secretariat of Transparency and Human Rights, Sourlas said it "has completed its work, has drafted the national plan that includes the mapping out of the road to fight corruption" and that he has presented it to the national coordinator, who will not be responsible for its implementation.

"The national action plan against corruption was prepared by the secretariat, approved by the troika (of Greece's lenders) and five ministers, is official and was presented to the national coordinator, who has the right to apply it or not. It is not our responsibility whether it proceeds or not," he stressed.

[50] New Attica Bank shares to start trading on Feb. 10

According to the announcement, the shares resulted from the Bank's share capital increase by 2,566,380.00 euros, due to the conversion of 8,554,600 notes of the Bank's existing convertible bond loan issued on 2/7/2013, of an initial amount of 199,406,822.10 euros into 8,554,600 new common shares (conversion rate: one bond to one new, common, registered, bearing voting right share of nominal value 0.30 euros-conversion price).

The new shares will be credited to the securities accounts of the beneficiary shareholders at the Dematerialized Securities System (DSS) on the date of the commencement of trading.

The commencement price for the trading of the Bank's shares on ATHEX on 10/02/2014 shall be determined in accordance with the ATHEX Rulebook and the ATHEX Board of Directors decision No. 26.

Due to the conversion of part of the convertible bond loan, the share capital of the Bank will increase by 2,566,380.00 euros and the number of the common, registered bearing voting right shares will increase by 8,554,600 amounting in total to 1,041,560,993 common, registered shares of 0.30 value each. The total voting rights of the common registered shares of the Bank will amount to 1,041,560.993.

[51] Alpha Trust-Andromeda reports lower 2013 profits

In a statement, the investment company said its gross revenue totaled 2.36 million euros last year, while its return was 11.79 pct, down from a 24.27 pct return of the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index in the same period. Assets totaled 11.22 million euros, while its portfolio was invested mainly in Greece (87.52 pct in equities, 7.25 pct in bonds and 5.23 pct in reserves). Alpha Trust-Andromeda said its internal share value was 26.85 million euros at the end of 2013 while its market price was 20.08 euros, a discount of 25.21 pct. Its internal share value was 27.88 euros in February 5, 2014, a discount of 24.31 pct.

[52] Greek stocks rally for sixth consecutive session

The composite index rose 0.80 pct to end at 1,250.07 points, after rising as much as 1.68 pct and falling by 0.72 pct during the session. The index is up 10.98 pct in the last six sessions, for a net gain of 7.52 pct so far this year. Turnover remained a strong 101.43 million euros. The Large Cap index rose 1.09 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 0.33 pct higher. National Bank (4.30 pct), Jumbo (3.52 pct), OPAP (3.32 pct) and Piraeus Bank (3.24 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Intralot (1.42 pct), GEK Terna (1.41 pct) and MIG (1.12 pct) suffered losses.

The Media (5.62 pct), Banks (3.29 pct), Travel (2.79 pct) and Personal Products (2.78 pct) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Telecoms (1.09 pct), Chemicals (1.08 pct) and Food (1.02 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, advancers and decliners were equally distributed with another 27 issues unchanged. Kreka (18.8 pct), Teletypos (15.09 pct) and CPI (10 pct) were top gainers, while Naftemporiki (28.98 pct), Kordellos Bros (16.67 pct) and Atti-kat (12.12 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: +0.73%

Industrial Products: +0.23%

Commercial: +0.34%

Media: +5.62%

Construction: +0.67%

Oil & Gas: -0.15%

Personal & Household: +2.78%

Raw Materials: +0.58%

Travel & Leisure: +2.79%

Technology: +0.96%

Telecoms: -1.09%

Banks: +3.29%

Food & Beverages: -1.02%

Health: +0.13%

Utilities: +1.32%

Financial Services: +0.34%

Chemicals: -1.08%

Real Estate: +2.35%

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

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

Alpha Bank: 0.70

Public Power Corp (PPC): 10.76

Coca Cola HBC: 19.37

Hellenic Petroleum: 7.40

National Bank of Greece: 3.64

Eurobank Properties : 7.49

OPAP: 10.28

OTE: 11.75

Piraeus Bank: 1.91

Titan: 21.02

[53] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates moved lower. The 12-month rate was 0.547 pct, the nine-month rate eased to 0.468 pct from 0.470 pct, the six-month rate fell to 0.385 pct from 0.386 pct, the three-month rate eased to 0.286 pct from 0.287 pct and the one-month rate fell to 0.221 pct from 0.223 pct.

[54] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 12,665 contracts worth 6.987 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Piraeus Bank's contracts (2,343), followed by Alpha Bank (1,639), National Bank (1,828), MIG (736), OTE (1,155), PPC (1,117), OPAP (1,260), Mytilineos (841), Hellenic Petroleum (419), Ellaktor (224), Intralot (137) and Hellenic Exchanges (158).

[55] Foreign Exchange rates - Friday

U.S. dollar 1.369

Pound sterling 0.841

Danish kroner 7.573

Swedish kroner 8.920

Japanese yen 138.98

Swiss franc 1.240

Norwegian kroner 8.526

Canadian dollar 1.514

Australian dollar 1.527

General News

[56] Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addresses the Eurasian Economic Summit

"History has showed that conflicts between Christians and Muslims are usually rooted in politics and not in religion," Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew underlined on Thursday speaking in the Eurasian Economic Summit held here.

"It is not right or valid to talk about an unavoidable and relentless 'conflict of civilizations', particularly when it is insinuated by such a theory that religion is the main battleground where the confrontation is doomed to take place," he said.

Bartholomew, who has condemned the abuse of religion since the crisis in former Yugoslavia, said that "politicians and demagogues use religions to increase fanaticism and animosity between nations".

"Occasionally, state leaders are the ones who want isolation and aggressiveness between Christians and Muslims," the Ecumenical Patriarch noted.

[57] Lesvos' immigrant reception centre to be ready in two months, its director says

The Northeast Aegean island's immigrant reception centre will have a capacity of 180 people.

"As there are complaints about the alleged operation of the reception centers, I would like to clarify that they have not yet started their normal operation as there is still construction work to be done. Our team on the island can only receive people and redirect them to the competent authorities," Nikas said in an interview to ANA-MPA.

He also said he is impressed by "the active civil society of Lesvos responding warmly and trying to cover all the needs of the immigrants," adding that as soon as reception centers start operating, suspicion will be removed and people will be convinced that the situation will improve through this organized, institutional way.

Nikas stressed the importance of the humanistic dimension of these immigrant reception centers.

"We hope to remove any doubts regarding the centers and we are always willing to explain the way we work. The humanitarian dimension of the centers is rather important, we believe in it and we think it is feasible," he noted.

[58] Healthcare staff rally in Athens ended

EOPYY is the healthcare branch of Greece's main state insurance funds, such as IKA and freelance workers' fund OAEE.

Protestors gathered outside the health ministry at 11:00 and then marched through central Athens toward Parliament, where the draft bill is being discussed. They stayed at Syntagma Square for a while before dispersing.

Due to a 24-hour strike by doctors, nurses and staff at all state hospitals, welfare units, health centres, EOPYY surgeries and the EKAB ambulance service, these are all working with a skeleton staff.

Protest rallies were also held by doctors in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki with the same demands.

[59] Nationwide strike in health sector on Thursday

Workers in the health sector claim that the draft law "dissolves the healthcare system and will bring indescribable hardship to the patients."

The federations have also called a rally at 11.00 outside the Health Ministry and a demonstration to the parliament.

Metro station at Syndagma Square will close at 16.00 for precautionary reasons following a police order.

[60] N. Greece farmers set midday deadline before escalating protests

"If there is no such development, we will block the road at the Kouloura junction indefinitely and we can not rule out the possibility of going to Athens for a protest," the vice president of Imathia farmers' movement Kostas Lioliopoulos told ANA-MPA. Kouloura is on the Egnatia Road.

Thessaly farmers have called a nationwide meeting of the sector's unionists, scheduled for Saturday, in a bid to coordinate labour action and road blockages.

Farmers oppose a measure requiring those with turnover below 40,000 euros to keep accounts on spending and income. They demand, among others, a tax-free family income of 20,000 euros, increased by 5,000 euros for each child; that farmers unable to pay debts to the state be not prosecuted; that there is no seizure of property (fields or houses) of property valued up to 300,000 euros; and a 30 percent haircut in loans up to 200,000 euros. They also hope to reduce production costs (by getting tax-free oil and low electricity rates) and boost livestock breeding.

[61] Metro line 3 to end at Ethniki Amyna in the weekend due to technical works

The urban railway routes to and from the airport will be carried out normally.

[62] 25 undocumented migrants found in a truck

According to police a Greek and Iraqi aged 54 and 26 respectively collected the migrants from Aharnes, Attica prefecture in order to take them to Italy. Both traffickers were arrested.

Police said that migrants would pay 4.000 to 5.500 euros on their arrival to Italy.

[63] Light quake 115km NW of Athens

According to the Geodynamics Institute, the quake's epicenter was located 115 km northwest of Athens. The tremor was also felt in Athens.

[64] Person was arrested for leaking false information on catastrophic earthquake

It all stared after complaint made by a resident of Argostoli who claimed he had received a call for an impending earthquake, with a specific date and time.

Regional Manager of Ionian Islands Spyros Spyrou, to whom the information on the call was given, immediately informed the police authorities. After police investigation, the owner of the particular phone number, who terrorized the people by giving unsubstantiated information, was arrested outside Cephalonia and is now being interrogated.

Spyrou stated that the case is being investigated, accusing some people for exploiting citizens' fears and sensitivities.

[65] Arrest for 2011 murder of DIAS police officers in Rendi

The suspect had been sought since March 20, 2013 when he failed to appear for the last two hearings on the case before an Athens Criminal Appeals Court, in violation of the terms of his release from custody in October 2, 2012. The court had sentenced him to twice life and 62 years in jail, finding him guilty of repeated counts of murder, attempted murder, participation in a criminal organisation and violating laws on weapons.

The arrest was carried out during spot checks by Acharnes police station officers and the arrested convict led before an Athens criminal appeals court prosecutor, who ordered his immediate incarceration in a correctional facility.

[66] Five tons of stolen recyclable materials found hidden in Thesssaloniki apartment

Authorities raided a basement apartment where foreign nationals (Roma from Bulgaria) were living under conditions that had turned the apartment into a health hazard and endangered the health of surrounding homes as well. Large quantities of recyclable materials and many other items like clothes and shoes were found.

A special cleaning crew from the municipality of Thessaloniki cleaned out the basement and removed all the materials, weighing a total of 5 tons, recycling some and destroying the rest.

[67] Elderly man's death solved

The man's car was found last November by a local resident at a remote area near the village of Rito, Corinth prefecture.

Police investigation found that on the day he went missing, the 82 year old called a 25 year old Bulgarian woman and went to meet her at her house in Hiliomodi village, where she was staying with her 27 year old Bulgarian friend.

The Bulgarian man told authorities that when he returned home he saw the elderly man attempting to sexually abuse the woman. The Bulgarian attacked the victim and beat him to death. The two Bulgarians then left the house taking with them the victim's money and mobile phone.

Later, assisted by a 35 year old Albanian, they moved the body to a house under construction in Chiliomodi and burned it.

They also threw the victim's car off a cliff, where it was found a few months later.

Police detained on Wednesday the Bulgarian and the Albanian, and according to information they confessed the crime. The Bulgarian woman alleged to be involved in the crime has left the country.

Argos police has sent the case file to the Corinth Prosecution Authorities, while arrest warrants are expected to be issue.

[68] Four persons accused of gang-raping a young woman in Thessaloniki released

The defendants, three men and one woman (and not four men, according to the initial information) denied the charges, stressing that there was consent from the young woman.

The youn woman testified to the police that one of the accused men, whom she knew, gave her the synthetic drug "Meow Meow", which made her lose consciousness.

However there has been no evidence of sexual contact but only molestation.

[69] Police arrests two Portuguese for heroin possession in Mytilene

The two persons testified that they flew to Istanbul, where they bought the drugs, and then drove to Ayvalik. They intended to transfer the drugs to Spain using Mytilene as an intermediate stop within Europe. The amount of the drug they were carrying was not specified.

Weather forecast

[70] Rainy on Friday

[71] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: Toll hikes in the interest of constructors.

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: What the special payscales' pensioners gain.

ESTIA: The 'engines' of the economy.

ETHNOS: The changes for the farmers.

IMERISSIA: Breather solution for the economy - Debt repayment in 50 years with reduced interest rate.

KATHIMERINI: Athens: Agreement now for the banks.

KERDOS: That's the plan for the debt.

LOGOS: The tax evasion party continues.

NAFTEMPORIKI: Enterprises that do not pay taxes have tripled.

RIZOSPASTIS: Real solidarity to the people of Cephalonia.

TA NEA: The huge looting with the 'black' cash registers.

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ANTONIS SKYLLAKOS

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