Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 14-07-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] EFSF approves 1 bln euros disbursement to Greece

[02] Eurogroup president satisfied with Greek government's performance

[03] 'Still work to do' in Greek programme, Dijsselbloem says on arrival for Eurogroup

[04] PM Samaras meets with ministers, Stavros Niarchos Foundation

[05] No positive impact from cutting minimum wage in Greece, 'Der Spiegel' reports

[06] FM Venizelos to host a luncheon in honor of sponsors of the Greek EU Presidency on Tuesday

[07] 'When democracy works, everything is solved,' gov't spokesperson Voultepsi says

[08] 'Small PPC' bill passes second reading, heading to Summer plenum on Tuesday

[09] Development Minister Dendias on PPC, unionists and SYRIZA

[10] SYRIZA attacks government over PPC issue

[11] GSEE to participate in PPC employees' rally on Wed.

[12] Cyprus President Anastasiades to visit Athens end-July

[13] No 'PASOK or ELIA dilemma', Venizelos tells PASOK Political Council

[14] PASOK leader Venizelos at party's political council

[15] Defence bill in Parliament includes voluntary exit for EAS staff and conscientious objectors

[16] Parliament Presidium considers the adding up of referendum proposals possible

[17] Sports minister to KKE leader: Federations to get most of their funding within July

[18] Reply to government's 'authoritarianism' is to intensify worker struggle, KKE says

[19] Private short-stay surgery medical units to relieve public hospitals of small operations

[20] Photojournalists give evidence regarding Friday attack by Golden Dawn party supporters

[21] Israel's naval commander visits Greece July 6-7

[22] School guards to meet with PASOK leader on Tuesday

[23] BoG governor Stournaras calls on the banks to offer loans only to truly viable businesses

[24] OTE successfully sells 700-mln-euro bond issue

[25] Greece to launch oil exploration tenders this fall

[26] Greek budget records 1.2-bln-euro primary surplus in Jan-May

[27] The market needs liquidity boost, GSEE spokesperson says

[28] Greek state's debt to private sector eased to 4.59 bln euros in May

[29] Intralot announces seven-year extension of agreement with Malaysian lottery

[30] ESEE favours social insurance funds unification plan

[31] Athens Chamber of Commerce head on capitalisation

[32] Athens, Thessaloniki city centres among seven areas where shops will open on Sunday

[33] Summer sales start on July 14; shops to be open on Sunday 20 July

[34] Foreign investors remain net buyers in ASE

[35] Greek stocks end slightly lower

[36] Greek bond market closing report

[37] ADEX closing report

[38] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

[39] Specialist herpetologist arriving on Crete to capture escaped crocodile, Rethymno mayor tells ANA-MPA

[40] Athens event marks return of Neolithic artefacts originally from Thessaly

[41] Testimonies over Hellas Gold mine incidents of 2013 continuing this week

[42] Prosecutor presses charges over fire in Antiskari, Crete

[43] Dep. Labour Minister kicks off EU-OSHA seminar on managing stress in workplaces

[44] Fire at US Embassy basement office causes minor damage

[45] Zakynthos to get twinned with Chinese Shandong

[46] Electronic voting to be introduced on Monday in parliament

[47] Remodelling work on three Thessaloniki squares to begin July 15

[48] Sunny on Tuesday

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

[01] EFSF approves 1 bln euros disbursement to Greece

"The Board of Directors of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) approved on Monday the disbursement of 1 billion euros to Greece, taking into consideration the full implementation of a set of milestones agreed in April 2014.

This is the second tranche of the total 8.3 billion euros instalment approved by the Eurogroup following the conclusion of the fourth review mission of Greece's macroeconomic adjustment programme. After the present disbursement, total EFSF financial assistance for Greece will reach 140.9 billion euros. One more tranche of 1 billion euros may be disbursed by the EFSF as part of this 8.3 billion euros instalment, conditional upon the implementation of a further set of milestones. After this is completed, 1.8 billion euros will remain available from the EFSF.

Klaus Regling, CEO of the EFSF said: 'With the imple-mentation of the milestones Greece continues to implement reforms necessary for the rebalancing of the economy.'"

[02] Eurogroup president satisfied with Greek government's performance

According to Dijsselbloem, Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis reassured the Eurogroup that the Greek government will satisfy by the beginning of August all the remaining six prior actions required for a further 1-billion-euro loan tranche disbursement.

He also mentioned that the technical mission of Greece's troika of bailout lenders will be back in Athens this week, in order to assess the course of the Greek programme. Dijsselbloem made clear that the fifth, and final, review of the Greek economy will officially begin after all the prior actions set forth by the fourth review have been completed.

The Eurogroup president did not deny the countries undergoing a reform programme the capability to reduce taxes imposed on labour, as long as the lost tax revenue is supplemented by taxes in other activities and/or an appropriate reduction in public spending. In reference to bad debts in Greece, he expressed the opinion that there are households and businesses which are actually able to repay their loans, "although there is no universal recipe".

According to government sources, the government is set to push for the completion of the fifth review of the Greek economy by end-October, so as to pave the way for European decisions concerning the sustainability of the Greek debt.

[03] 'Still work to do' in Greek programme, Dijsselbloem says on arrival for Eurogroup

Arriving for a meeting of Eurozone finance ministers here on Monday, Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem said that "there is still work to do" with respect to Greece's fiscal adjustment programme, which is due to be completed at the end of the year.

Pointing out that the Eurogroup Working Group had cleared the May tranche of bailout loans to Greece, amounting to 1.0 billion euros, Dijsselbloem said that this was "not the last tranche in the programme".

Asked to comment on the issue of flexibility in fiscal stability rules, he replied that there was already sufficient flexibility, both in terms of prevention and of correction. He also noted that countries that moved within the criteria of the pact had greater margins for flexibility, while several member-states had been given additional time in recent years to correct any imbalances.

Member-states could buy more time only when they carried out economic reforms that had a positive impact on the state budget, he added.

"We want to see the reforms implemented, not just promised," Dijsselbloem said, adding that the European Commission was responsible for assessing the implementation of reforms.

[04] PM Samaras meets with ministers, Stavros Niarchos Foundation

Samaras met with ministers and held a wide-ranging meeting over the Stavros Niarchos Foundation's project in Faliro to house the new National Library and new National Opera. The meeting was attended by the Foundation's president Andras Dracopoulos and several ministers, including secretaries general.

[05] No positive impact from cutting minimum wage in Greece, 'Der Spiegel' reports

Reducing the minimum wage did not bring any practical benefits in Greece, according to an article appearing in the German magazine "Der Spiegel" on Monday.

In an article prompted by the introduction of a minimum wage of 8.50 euros an hour in Germany from the start of 2015, the magazine noted that cutting the minimum wage had no positive impact on employment levels in Greece, where unemployment increased from 25 pct to 28 pct after the minimum wage was cut in 2012, though it was now predicted to ease off to 25 or 26 pct by the end of the year.

On the contrary, the cut in wages from 751.39 euros a month to 586.08 euros a month caused a further slump in consumption that forced many retailers and medium-sized businesses to close. The even lower minimum wage for young people under 25 - at 510.94 euros a month - similarly had little impact on a youth unemployment rate running at 58 pct in Greece, the report said.

The Der Spiegel report also highlighted other problems, such as the fact that unemployment benefit was only paid for one year in Greece or the lack of effective regulation of compliance with the minimum wage law. As a result, many Greeks ended up working for only part of the legal minimum wage while others were listed as part-time employees but forced to work full-time for part-time salaries, it said.

'Greek-Turkish cooperation is a stabilizing factor for the whole region' Venizelos tells Turkish Hurriyet Daily News

Turkey and Greece could "create fresh momentum for overcoming the chronic points of bilateral friction," Greek Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos told Turkish Hurriyet Daily News, voicing confidence both for the future of bilateral relations and for the stabilizing role they could play for the whole region.

"At a time of uncertainty and regional instability in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greek-Turkish cooperation is a major attainment that must be safeguarded, because it is a stabilizing factor for the whole region," Venizelos said.

He also noted that Turkey and Greece, having held the second and latest gathering in March 2013, could hold the third meeting of their joint High Level Cooperation Council before the end of this year.

"I think it is positive that we have reached the point where, even if we disagree, we can discuss things in a civilized manner on all levels, while also looking at ways to upgrade our bilateral cooperation in all sectors - particularly in energy, trade, tourism, and investments. This turns a new page in relations between our two countries," he said.

"We hope that the third meeting of the Greek-Turkish High Level Cooperation Council can take place before the end of this year...I think the third meeting of this platform will be productive as long as we pursue new paths of practical cooperation and speed up the implementation of the agreements that have already been reached," he said.

As talks continue for a diplomatic solution on Cyprus, Venizelos stressed that the Greek Cypriots were waiting for a "positive response" from the Turkish Cypriots to recent proposals.

"In the present phase, we are awaiting an exchange of proposals from both sides on all the issues in the talks, as has been agreed on. We also think it would be positive if there was a favorable response from the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish sides to the very constructive proposals made by Cypiot President (Nicos) Anastasiades for the adoption of confidence-building measures, with the focus on the opening of Famagusta," he said.

He also emphasized the importance of Cyprus in Turkey's EU accession process. "Of course, the implementation the long-awaited Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement, and the normalization of Turkey's relations with the Republic of Cyprus, would impart significant momentum to Turkey's European perspective. Greece continues to support systematically and sincerely this perspective, so long as Turkey meets its accession obligations," Venizelos said.

"Respect for international law - and particularly for the Law of the Sea - and the achievement of a just and viable solution on the Cyprus issue, in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolutions, could really change the regional state of affairs, making the Eastern Mediterranean a pole of regional stability that could contribute to European energy security. It would also bolster growth, create new jobs, and contribute to the promotion of regional cooperation," Venizelos added.

[06] FM Venizelos to host a luncheon in honor of sponsors of the Greek EU Presidency on Tuesday

Deputy FM Gerontopoulos to participate in the High-Level coordination meeting in preparation for the Donors Conference for Ukraine

Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos will be in Brussels on Tuesday, July 8, to participate in the High-Level coordination meeting in preparation for the Donors Conference for Ukraine, according to a Foreign ministry announcement.

[07] 'When democracy works, everything is solved,' gov't spokesperson Voultepsi says

"When democracy works, everything is solved," Voultepsi told Ant1 TV.

She also reiterated that the privatisation of "small PPC" was a demand of the European Union and she underlined that it was a loss making public company which needed funds in order to develop.

"When a company does not have the funds to get modernized, to develop its infrastructure and find money, then it has no other option," she said, adding that otherwise the company would be doomed.

The government spokesperson also said that there would be no impact on consumers as tariffs would remain the same.

Four months after the privatisation, consumers will be able to choose the electricity company they prefer depending on the incentives offered, Voultepsi said adding that the sharing of consumers between "small PPC" and "large PPC" will be based on a random sample, while the price per kWh rests with the independent Energy Regulatory Authority.

[08] 'Small PPC' bill passes second reading, heading to Summer plenum on Tuesday

The controversial bill to spin off a section of the PPC for privatisation met with strong opposition at the second reading as well, with the government defending its action and the opposition charging it with no political right to sell off 30% of PPC.

The bill will be presented at the Parliament's First Summer Session plenum on Tuesday, when it will be opened to debate. It will be put to the vote on Wednesday.

[09] Development Minister Dendias on PPC, unionists and SYRIZA

Speaking on SKAI TV, Dendias accused SYRIZA of "sabotaging the future of the Greek economy." He added that current funds cannot guarantee growth. "The country needs a serious opposition," Dendias stressed saying that SYRIZA's proposals are similar to those used in Latin America during the '60s.

"With no investors for the 30 percent of the company, there is no money for the rest 70 percent ... The choice is between doing better and doing much worse and going back to the past," Dendias said referring to the privatisation of "small PPC".

[10] SYRIZA attacks government over PPC issue

However, the government opted to use that very same method once again in the case of Public Power Corporation (PPC) employees, SYRIZA noted in a statement.

In contrast, SYRIZA, defends democracy and proposes a referendum on the issue, it added.

Sources within the party, meanwhile, said that SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras was confident that he would be able to collect the 120 MP signatures needed to initiate the process of holding a referendum on the 'small PPC' bill, after a round of talks with the independent MPs and the Independent Greeks party, while they consider the more-or-less positive stance expressed by Democratic Left (DIMAR) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) encouraging, despite the divergent positions expressed by KKE.

Though nothing could be taken for granted, they added, SYRIZA appeared confident that it had succeeded in mobilising broader forces and "bring society on its side," and that this had surprised the government.

[11] GSEE to participate in PPC employees' rally on Wed.

GSEE also decided "to reinforce on a trade union, legal and economic level the fair struggle of GENOP", calling "all Labour Centres of Greece to organize rallies on the same day" as GENOP's rally in Athens.

The umbrella trade union's executive committee requests that the government "takes back the undemocratic measure of political mobilization of PPC employees and of all other sectors where the measure has been applied and that it ceases from maltreating the democratic principles, turning the Constitution to shreds".

ADEDY, the umbrella trade union of the core public sector, has already called for a 24-hour strike on Wednesday in the public sector, having scheduled a rally at 11:00 at Klafthmonos square downtown Athens, all in reaction to the new public servants' evaluation methods, their availability schemes, wage and pension cuts and the partial privatization of PPC through its spinoff, the small PPC.

[12] Cyprus President Anastasiades to visit Athens end-July

The exact date of the visit has not been determined, but it is estimated that it would take place between July 25 and 30.

Anastasiades on Monday cleared out there was no divergence of opinion between the Cypriot and Greek governments, adding that the relations of the two countries are excellent and the cooperation with the prime minister and the Foreign minister is on a daily and a good basis.

The Cyprus President also added that nobody should doubt the excellent relation and cooperation between the two countries as well as the full support of the Greek government to Cyprus.

[13] No 'PASOK or ELIA dilemma', Venizelos tells PASOK Political Council

Venizelos stressed PASOK's role as a progressive element within the government, noting that PASOK has made very specific proposals on issues like a lighter tax burden for businesses and individuals, settlements for social insurance contributions and protection for those fired from the public sector, which should be government priorities.

Regarding prior actions demanded of Greece, PASOK's leader noted that this "forcible" compliance would soon come to an end but also that PASOK took a positive, progressive and developmental view of these, wanting to meet its obligations to Greece's partners but also to do the right thing for society, growth and employment. In this context, he added, any division within PASOK between "modernisers" and "populists" would be harmful.

Venizelos attacked main opposition SYRIZA's initiatives concerning the 'small PPC' privatisation bill, noting that the bill had been transformed after PASOK's interventions. He also stressed the need for this issue to be clearly separated from that of electing a new president of the Republic, while admitting PASOK's own checkered past in this area and the fact that the party had used the presidential election to force early elections in 2009, noting that this strategy had badly backfired since it had then "inherited" the crisis.

Regarding PASOK's links to ELIA, Venizelos stressed that there was no dilemma between the two. "PASOK is the main body of Elia," he pointed out, adding that "we do not want a PASOK that gets narrower". He proposed a national conference on September 2-3 to examine the political situation and allow organisations, society, local government and movements a voice.

[14] PASOK leader Venizelos at party's political council

The 8.0 percent PASOK gathered at the elections is not satisfactory, Venizelos noted, but the crisis has brought radical changes.

Venizelos stressed that PASOK's new goal election-wise is to be the third party in the next polls, pointing out that it would be unacceptable for the Golden Dawn to receive a mandate to form a government.

He also stressed that there is no dilemma between PASOK or "Elia". This, he said, is an "alleged contradiction which does not exist," and added that "Elia" is a PASOK acquis.

[15] Defence bill in Parliament includes voluntary exit for EAS staff and conscientious objectors

The EAS staff severance programme has been budgeted at 6.6 million euros.

Among the issues included, the bill also provides rules on whether someone may get a postponement of serving in the military - an obligation of Greek males - in order to study at university, and how to deal with those who do not show up when ordered to register for duty.

It also gives more officers and staff of the armed forces the opportunity to transfer to other departments or locations, and redefines which athletes who have competed in the Olympic Games may be awarded an officer's rank (a custom that has allowed such athletes to train without financial burden on them or their families).

One of the provisions included sets out a new legal framework for the founding, construction and operation of lighthouses, and allows the use of existing ones for cultural purposes by local governments, while another allows privately hired nurses who are not affiliated with armed forces hospitals to offer services to patients there.

[16] Parliament Presidium considers the adding up of referendum proposals possible

If one or more similar proposals for a referendum over the "small PPC", signed by 120 deputies, are submitted as main opposition SYRIZA has proposed, then the Parliament's Plenum could hold an extraordinary meeting the coming weekend.

A referendum proposal can be submitted once it has been signed by 120 deputies; nevertheless, the proposal then has to get 180 votes in the Plenary in order for the referendum to finally take place.

The Parliament President on Monday indicated he was determined to handle the issue in accordance with the House Regulation and the Constitution. The Parliament's Scientific Council will be asked to give an opinion when the proposals for a referendum have been submitted, the President's aides said.

[17] Sports minister to KKE leader: Federations to get most of their funding within July

Koutsoumbas had initially raised the issue during a meeting they had on April 7, at the General Secretariat for Sports.

According to a KKE announcement, Andrianos told him that 75% of the regular and extraordinary funding will be released within July, while the rest of it will be released in September.

[18] Reply to government's 'authoritarianism' is to intensify worker struggle, KKE says

"This is the goal of KKE's action, as well as of its proposal for a referendum on the privatisation of the PPC and deregulation of energy," the announcement added.

[19] Private short-stay surgery medical units to relieve public hospitals of small operations

These units - which will operate from day to night - will conduct small operations which only require the treatment of patients for a few hours. Their inspection will be the responsibility of the competent regional authorities, which nevertheless Grigorakos admitted that they face operational issues that "will be dealt with", as he said.

According to a ministerial decision published last week which sets the terms of establishment and operation of private short-stay surgery medical units, these will have to be interconnected scientifically to a public hospital, so as to be able to deal with potential complications in the patients' treatment.

Grigorakos estimated that these units make economic sense for the state, as according to a study, the total cost from the transfer of small operations will be reduced. He also said that "we are not entering an uncontrollable situation" as regards where or how many of these units will be established, adding that in case such units are developed without any planning, they eventually will be led to close, as they will not be economically viable.

[20] Photojournalists give evidence regarding Friday attack by Golden Dawn party supporters

The two magistrates had summoned them to testify about the circumstances of an attack the previous Friday, when they were covering the arrival of party leader Nikos Mihaloliakos and two GD MPs at the magistrate's office to answer to additional charges against them. An argument and verbal exchange with GD supporters outside the courthouse had escalated into kicks and punches, in which Pantzartzi and Kemmos were slightly injured.

Sources said the three reporters also testified about previous incidents of violence against them by members and supporters of the party, while noting that police on the scene had each time failed to intervene.

Among them an incident outside the Appeals court the previous January, after the release from custody of the MPs Georgios Germenis and Panagiotis Iliopoulos, when GD members had thrown bottles at a DT public television journalist while she was on the air, and acts of verbal and physical violence targeting members of the press by the MP Ilias Kasidiaris outside the Evelpidon court complex last October, after he was released with conditions.

The photojournalists also reported that members of the party took videos of them when they covered events involving Golden Dawn, something that no other Greek party has ever done.

[21] Israel's naval commander visits Greece July 6-7

They discussed issues of mutual interest, and later Rutberg paid a visit to the naval command and went on board Hellenic Navy ships.

Within the framework of the visit, the Israeli Navy ships "Ins Sufa" and "Ins Kidon" will be stationed at Salamis island, in the Saronic Gulf, on July 7 and 8 to allow the crew to train on damage control on a simulator at the training centre there. On July 9, the navies of both countries will hold a training at sea in the Myrtoan Sea, off the northeast Peloponnese.

[22] School guards to meet with PASOK leader on Tuesday

Teachers and school guards had gathered outside PASOK party headquarters to protest against the mobility scheme and the lay-offs in the public sector.

Financial News

[23] BoG governor Stournaras calls on the banks to offer loans only to truly viable businesses

Stournaras did not miss the opportunity to refer to his achievements while being Greece's Finance minister - up until June - asserting that positive developments nevertheless leave no room for complacency. He went as far as calling the forthcoming parliamentary election of the President of the Republic next spring "a basic risk of political uncertainty", as in case this proves unsuccessful - requiring at least 180 votes out of 300 MPs the two-party coalition government does not amass - Greece will immediately head to new national elections with an uncertain outcome.

In relation to his current role as Greece's central banker, he stressed that dealing with the issue of bad loans falls under the following two requirements: Requirement number one is for the economy to recover and for unemployment to fall and requirement number two is to set in place a new "bad loans active management" practice on an individual bank framework, offering priority to the borrowers who are facing temporary financial problems. In Stournaras' view, this approach will help "unlock" funds for the financing of the Greek economy.

Nevertheless, he called on the banks to offer loans only to truly viable businesses and to encourage the development of business partnerships.

[24] OTE successfully sells 700-mln-euro bond issue

In an announcement to the Athens Stock Exchange, OTE said the coupon of the bond issue was set at 3.50 pct annually. The issue was significantly oversubscribed, with bids totalling more than 2.5 billion euros. OTE said that bond holders accounted for around 500 million euros of the new bond, exchanging their February 2015 and May 2016 bonds in order to participate in the new issue.

The bond issue is part of a multi-level strategic plan by the company to refinance its debt. The new issue will further cut its borrowing cost while it will help to expand the maturity of its existing debt.

Michael Tsamaz, chairman and chief executive of the group, commenting on the bond issue said, "It is a vote of confidence by international markets for Greece and OTE."

The bond will be issued by OTE plc carrying the OTE SA guarantee. The bonds will be traded in the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and settlement date was set for July 10. Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley acted as joint bookrunners, while Alpha Bank, National Bank, Eurobank Ergasias and Piraeus Bank acted as co-managers.

[25] Greece to launch oil exploration tenders this fall

The timetable of oil exploration projects was unveiled on Monday, while Environment, Energy and Climate Change ministry officials, who noted the strong interest by oil companies for the projects during a roadshow last week in London. The official attributed this interest on strong evidence of significant energy reserves, following seismic research made in the regions and the consistency showed by the Greek state in promoting these projects.

Under the timetable presented, the ministry will launch an international tender for the projects this fall.

Ministry officials said that there was no reaction whatsoever by any neighboring countries during the process of seismic research and the publication of sea regions. The state's revenues, beyond taxation (20 pct) and regional tax (5.0 pct) will also include rights according to the size of the field. The tender, according to sources, will exclude off shore companies and the participation of one company in more than one regions. A ministry analysis of seismic research made so far estimates state revenues from Patras Gulf, Katakolo and Ioannina to around 6.0 billion euros (reserves of 100 million barrels at an average price of 90 dollars/per barrel).

[26] Greek budget records 1.2-bln-euro primary surplus in Jan-May

In a report on budget execution, the Finance ministry said that the primary surplus totaled 1.2 billion euros in the January-May period this year, from a primary deficit of 1.6 billion euros in the corresponding period in 2013, while excluding the overdue debt repayment program, the primary surplus totaled 1.6 billion euros.

Finance Alternate Minister Christos Staikouras, commenting on the budget results said the country, for the second successive year, recorded high and sustainable primary surpluses, a confirmation that its public finances were stabilizing, safeguarding the basic and necessary condition for economic recovery through the painful sacrifices made by the Greek households and enterprises.

"Confidence on Greek economic outlook was gradually restored, while signs signalling a forthcoming exit from the recession this year were increasingly strengthening. We now face a new big challenge. To transform, the soonest possible, stabilization into a dynamic and sustainable growth, with social cohesion. For this reason it is of national interest to safeguard all achievements so far. And this needs a national plan and hard work, away from populism, party politics and personal games. We must show unreserved participation in sacrifices and social solidarity to push the economy forward and the society towards a cycle of prosperity for all citizens," Staikouras said.

[27] The market needs liquidity boost, GSEE spokesperson says

Regarding the fact that only 10 percent of unemployed receive a benefit while only 1.5 percent of them are granted a long-term unemployment benefit, he noted that in times of prolonged recession and high unemployment it made sense for OAED to have tightened its criteria so as to deal with the large number of applicants.

Regarding GSEE's stance on the issue, he said that the union's focus is on unemployment and the unemployed and this has been on the top of its agenda in all of its labour actions in the past. He also spoke of the highest unemployment rate in the Eurozone. "That is why we are saying this austerity policy cannot be maintained; it brings no results," he pointed out.

"Even the private sector salary cuts, which had no fiscal benefit, were implemented under the pretext they would create new jobs. Since the cut of private sector wages and the violent intervention in the collective labour agreement, unemployment has rocketed," he concluded.

The full interview is available for subscribers at the ANA-MPA website.

[28] Greek state's debt to private sector eased to 4.59 bln euros in May

In a report on budget execution, the Finance ministry said that social insurance organizations' overdue debt totaled 2.946 billion euros in May, from 2.965 billion in April, state hospitals' debt eased to 810 million from 831 million euros, local authorities' debt fell to 395 million euros from 431 million and government ministries' debt eased to 253 million euros form 264 million over the same period, respectively.

The report showed that pending tax returns rose to 549 million euros in May from 531 million in April.

[29] Intralot announces seven-year extension of agreement with Malaysian lottery

The agreement envisages the supply, installation and technical support of an advanced lottery system (LOTOS O/S), a new generation of online gaming platform and Photon terminals. Commercial operation of the project is expected to begin by mid-2015.

[30] ESEE favours social insurance funds unification plan

Korkidis on Monday met with the head of the Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) Nikolaos Filippas, as part of a round of meetings on the Labour Ministry's plan to unify insurance funds.

ESEE has been positive to the creation of a single main social insurance funds for three distinct professional sectors, one for employees on payroll, one for self-employed and one for farmers.

[31] Athens Chamber of Commerce head on capitalisation

"Chambers long ago pointed out to the Finance and Labour ministries that the regulation put forward to deal with overdebted companies would bring no results. What is more, we have proposed, for insurance funds in particular, the capitalization of overdue debts and the payment in small installments over a seven year period," Mihalos pointed out.

"In this context, we fully agree with the new regulation that the government seems to be putting forward, as this has been in fact our own proposal. For once more, we propose that the new regulation that will be put forward provide for the capitalization of the debts overdue until now and the payment on a monthly basis equal to 1 percent of the total debt. It could also provide for a minimum 50 euro installment. The precondition for the use and the completion of the regulation is that citizens pay their current obligations towards the insurance funds and tax bureau.

We hope that this time the government will consider our proposals and proceed with this amendment. Otherwise, the taxpayers who are already in dire straits will not be able to cope with it and the state will keep on losing revenues."

[32] Athens, Thessaloniki city centres among seven areas where shops will open on Sunday

The measure, which is due to be published in the government gazette, is among the prior actions demanded of Greece under the memorandum agreements for the bailout loans, which stipulate that the ministerial decision must be issued by July 7, 2014 and state the areas where shops have the option to stay open every day of the week, regardless of size and without the approval of the regional authority in the area.

Its implementation will be among the actions to be monitored by the next troika review and, judging by the results of the pilot implementation of the measure in the above areas, the issue of Sunday opening for all shops in the spring of 2015 will be re-examined, without ruling out full deregulation of shop opening hours throughout the country.

Apart from Sunday opening, deregulation will have an impact in terms of sales periods and special offers, with the development ministry due to issue a ministerial decision by October 7 establishing a code of conduct for protecting consumers with respect to special offers, sales and other promotional activity. The existing regime will be re-examined at the end of the current year so that legislation lifting all remaining restrictions will be passed by early 2015.

[33] Summer sales start on July 14; shops to be open on Sunday 20 July

[34] Foreign investors remain net buyers in ASE

However, if the participation of Hellenic Financial Stability Fund was taken into account, then foreign investors' participation in the Greek market was 43.5 pct, up 2.1 pct form May. Foreign investors were net buyers with capital inflows totaled 253.96 million euros in June, while Greek investors were net sellers with capital outflows of 246.25 million.

Foreign investors accounted for 66.8 pct of all transactions in the market in June (down from 72.5 pct in May but up from 45.3 pct in June 2013). Turnvoer totaled 3.580 billion euros, down 26.8 pct from May, but up a spectacular 190.8 pct compared with June 2013. Average daily turnover was 179 million euros, down from 232.87 million euros in May, but up from 64.79 million in June last year.

The number of active investor codes eased to 32,143 in June, from 35,108 in May. The market's capitalisation was 69.6 billion euros at the end of June, down 1.5 pct from May, but up 18.7 pct from June 2013.

[35] Greek stocks end slightly lower

The Travel (2.26 pct), Real Estate (1.89 pct) and Insurance (1.49 pct) sectors scored big gains, while Media (9.75 pct), Financial Services (1.78 pct) and Constructions (1.17 pct) suffered losses. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 62 to 51, with another 28 issues unchanged. Elgeka (29.03 pct), Selonda (20 pct) and Medicon (20 pct) were top gainers, while Naftemporiki (27.64 pct), NEL (16.67 pct) and Hatzikranioti (14.58 pct) suffered losses.

[36] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-monthr rate was 0.486 pct, the nine-month rate was 0.392 pct, the six-month rate was 0.303 pct, the three-month rate eased to 0.203 pct from 0.204 pct and the one-month rate was 0.097 pct.

[37] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totalled 5,135 contracts with investment interest focusing on Eurobank's contracts (1,222), followed by Alpha Bank (1,181), Piraeus Bank (600), National Bank (634), MIG (197), OTE (293), PPC (225), OPAP (160), Hellenic Exchanges (149), Ellaktor (88), Motor Oil (63), Hellenic Petroleum (50), Mytilineos (66) and Viohalco (23).

[38] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

U.S. dollar 1.359

Pound sterling 0.793

Danish kroner 7.456

Swedish kroner 9.309

Japanese yen 138.53

Swiss franc 1.215

Norwegian kroner 8.402

Canadian dollar 1.446

Australian dollar 1.452

General News

[39] Specialist herpetologist arriving on Crete to capture escaped crocodile, Rethymno mayor tells ANA-MPA

"Crocodiles cannot survive and reproduce on Crete. A tropical-looking view is one thing and tropical conditions are quite another," he said concerning the animal, which has been sighted in a body of water created by the building of a hydroelectric dam that is destined to supply the entire area with electricity. The mayor said the crocodile had most likely been abandoned there by a so-called "animal-lover" once he or she became tired of it and he dismissed the concerns of those fearing the rise of a "crocodile colony" in Cretan rivers.

In the meantime, he added, the area has been fenced off and various traps will be set on Thursday so that the crocodile might be captured alive and not killed.

The mayor stressed that the animal's location was absolutely pinpointed in an ecosystem that has grown around the artificial lake created by the dam, roughly 12 kilometres in circumference, which has become surrounded by lush vegetation, closer to tropical rainforest areas than that normal to Crete.

He absolutely ruled out all possibility of allowing the crocodile to remain the lake as a tourist attraction, saying that Rethymno had absolutely "no ambition to have crocodile reproduction in its ecosystem".

[40] Athens event marks return of Neolithic artefacts originally from Thessaly

The objects include pot shards, stone tools, obsidian and flint blades and bone material that were dug up illegally between June and December 1941 by Nazi occupation troops, in an effort to claim that northern peoples, ancestors of Greeks, had an established presence in Europe from prehistoric times.

The event at the Culture ministry's Directorate of Registration and Protection of Cultural Material was attended by the German ambassador, the director of the Pfahlbaumuseum - which was instrumental in the return - and Greek and German archaeologists. Culture and Sports Minister Konstantinos Tassoulas also attended and spoke of the efforts of archaeologist Angelica Douzougli to locate the missing artefacts.

Douzougli, an honorary ephor of antiquities whose doctoral dissertation led to the discovery of the material, spoke of how her search began in the 70s, from a prehistoric archaeology seminar at the University of Nuremberg, Germany, where she was studying and where her interest focused on agricultural and animal breeding communities of Thessaly.

The materials repatriated on Monday come from several sites in Thessaly, an area in central Greece that has yielded a richness of Neolithic material. Most of it can be traced to the Visviki Magoula, or tumulus, dated to between 5,000 and 8,000 years ago. The Visviki material was packed in 28 boxes, 5 of which were returned to Greece in the 50s.

The material will be housed for now at the National Archaeological Museum, which also has the material from the 50s. The study of the material will be augmented by photographs from the 40s showing modern lake communities of Thessaly in and around Lake Karla (no longer extant) which resemble those of Lake Constantia, in Germany, recreated by Germany's Pfahlbau Museum Unteruhldingen - focusing on Stone and Bronze Ages - which assisted in the repatriation of the material. "Unfortunately, the most important material, 8 boxes that remained in Volos in 1941, is now lost," museum director Gunter Schoebel said.

Ministry officials reviewed the directorate's efforts to repatriate material stolen during the WWII occupation, including 26 cases handled by the bureu involving 1,158 objects, 41 boxes with Hebrew manuscripts and other paleolithic findings. Director Suzanna Houlia-Kapeloni said that of all the cases, objects were returned to Greece by Germany (12 instances), Austria (3), Switzerland (3), Italy (2), United States (2), Britain (2), Australia (1) and Bulgaria (1).

The ministry's director of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, Maria Vlazaki, said the repatriation of the material was "a double cause of joy...as German, Greek and Austrian archaeologists worked closely together to make this happen."

Minister Tassoulas referred to the symbolism of the gesture, noting that such moves contribute decisively to the strengthening of bilateral ties.

A more formal ceremony for the return of the antiquities was held at the Pfahlbaumuseum in Unteruhldingen last Wednesday, according to the Culture ministry.

[41] Testimonies over Hellas Gold mine incidents of 2013 continuing this week

The testimonies began on Monday and will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday on charges that include criminal charges for events taking place between May and August 2013 in the Lakkos Karatza and Megali Panagia sites as well as the greater Ierissos area, all on Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece.

Four of those released on Monday were handed restraining orders forbidding them from getting closer than 4 km to the Hellas Gold worksite and facilities in Skouries, and from approaching closer than 10 metres any of the staff or miners of the company who live in Ierissos. The four, along with the head of the movement against gold mining Tolis Papageorgiou, are forbidden from leaving the country and must present themselves at a police department on a regular basis. The sixth person was released without conditions.

The case file - over 2,500 pages of evidence - includes traced conversations taken after their telephone privacy was lifted. Charges include injuring a policeman, clashes with riot police, and Hellas Gold staff filings charging arson of their cars, the use of

In June, in a related case, 22 residents of the southeastern Halkidiki had been found guilty over incidents in February 2013 at the Skouries site of Hellas Gold and released on conditions. The Polygyros misdemeanours court will decide whether they will stand trial on charges of setting up a criminal organisation. All of them are members of a movement against gold mining.

[42] Prosecutor presses charges over fire in Antiskari, Crete

The breeder denied the charges claiming that he was in the area when the fire started on Saturday afternoon because he rushed to rescue his animals after a short circuit at a drilling.

The wildfire, which broke out at 11 o'clock Saturday morning and continued burning until Sunday, was finally contained by the Fire Department's persistent efforts despite the strong winds that were blowing in the area.

The suspect received an extension to testify on Wednesday.

[43] Dep. Labour Minister kicks off EU-OSHA seminar on managing stress in workplaces

Kegeroglou noted that stress was the second most frequent problem linked to health and safety in the workplace in Europe and was responsible for half of lost working days, while significantly affecting the health of people at work, the performance of businesses and national economies but also the European economy as a whole.

[44] Fire at US Embassy basement office causes minor damage

Seven fire engines with 21 member crew rushed to the spot and put out the fire before it spread to other areas of the building.

Minor damages were reported. The Fire Brigade is conducting an investigation.

[45] Zakynthos to get twinned with Chinese Shandong

The Chinese delegation will offer the Zakynthos municipality a statue of Confucius, which expresses its intention to proceed with the building of cultural exchanges and the promotion of tourism.

[46] Electronic voting to be introduced on Monday in parliament

The technical preparations of the electronic voting system have been completed and the MPs that participate in the first summer session of the parliament will vote with their personal card 'yes', 'no' or 'present' in the roll call vote.

[47] Remodelling work on three Thessaloniki squares to begin July 15

The three squares, whose remodelling is budgeted at close to 6 million euros, include those of Agia Sofia one (where a pedestrian walkway will be constructed), Chrimatistirio (Stock Exchange) and Dodeka Apostolon (12 Apostles).

Weather forecast

[48] Sunny on Tuesday

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

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: The seven secrets for pension in 2014.

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Pension from the age of 57 in public and private sector.

ESTIA: How the development will arrive.

ETHNOS: 'Package' solution for debts to public sector and payment of back wages to uniformed.

NAFTEMPORIKI: Tax relief on troika's agenda.

TA NEA: The 'small Greece' of the unemployed - Not even one of ten jobless receives the unemployment benefit.

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