Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 14-10-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Samaras 'fully comfortable' seeking early exit for Greece-Bloomberg

[02] PM Samaras informs parliament president of Kaklamanis' return to New Democracy

[03] Independent MP Kaklamanis returns to New Democracy

[04] Second day of debate over confidence vote wraps up in Parliament

[05] Gov't VP says 'radical solution' for bad loans is coming, during speech in Parliament

[06] FinMin in Parliament: 'Greece will be meeting its targets without fail'

[07] Tourism minister addresses Parliament during confidence vote debate

[08] Alt. Development Minister Konstantinopoulos says parliament should 'cast a vote of honesty'

[09] Greece needs political stability to exit the crisis, says Infrastructure minister

[10] SYRIZA's Lafazanis in vote of confidence debate: 'only one way out for Greece's debt'

[11] Gov't doesn't have a plan for when Greece completes its bailout programme, says DIMAR

[12] Independent MP Kassapidis says he won't give a vote of confidence to government

[13] ND parliamentary group rep. on positive confidence vote: 'This will allow us to go forward'

[14] SYRIZA spokesman: Polarisation not artificial but real

[15] IMF's Lagarde comments on Greece exiting the crisis

[16] Foreign ministry deplores Turkey's decision 'to provoke new tension' with Cyprus

[17] Christofilopoulou presents National Action Plan for administrative reform to EU Commissioner Andor

[18] Independent deputy Lykoudis proposes setting up a special purpose government

[19] Independent MP Davris says he will be quasi present in vote of confidence

[20] Independent Greeks will be the guarantor of a great government alliance after the elections, party parliamentary spokesman says

[21] PASOK MP Kassis says he will not vote for the budget if ENFIA law does not change

[22] KKE deputy Moraitis on the vote of confidence

[23] GSEE calls for 24-hour strike on the day of the state budget vote in parliament

[24] Environment ministry proposes implementation of energy saving projects in the public sector as PPP

[25] Greece is prepared to face Ebola virus case, Health Minister says

[26] Meeting on handling Ebola risk at health ministry on Friday

[27] Central Macedonia Region Governor Tzitzikostas receives the US Consul General to Thessaloniki

[28] 'I have not opted for returning to PASOK' independent MP Aidonis says

[29] Amal Alamuddin Clooney to meet with PM Samaras, Culture Minister Tasoulas next week

[30] Greek unemployment rate eased to 26.4 pct in July

[31] General government overdue debts of 800 million euros to private sector to be repaid

[32] Piraeus Bank launches public tender offer for Trastor

[33] Athens Chamber president Mihalos calls for immediate implementation of government's pledges on arrears

[34] EAS defense company signs two deals with Lockheed Martin, Rheinmetall for guns and ammunition

[35] Electronic system introduced on a trial basis to record damages in the sector of agriculture

[36] Greek inflation rate at -0.8 pct in Sept

[37] International tourist arrivals at main Greek airports rise in September

[38] Visegrad countries' diplomatic missions meet with local entrepreneurs on Crete

[39] Car registrations up 44.2 pct in Sept

[40] Life insurance premium production up in July

[41] Greek stocks end 1.70 pct higher

[42] Greek bond market closing report

[43] ADEX closing report

[44] Foreign exchange rates - Thursday

[45] Culture minister receives archaeologists in Antikythera shipwreck team

[46] Erechtheum, home of the caryatids on the Acropolis, to get new floor and open to visitors

[47] Alt. Health Minister, Canadian ambassador discuss cooperation in child oncology

[48] Driver held for Egnatia highway pile-up remanded in custody

[49] ADEDY, POE-OTA call for work stoppage in the greater Athens region on Friday

[50] Patriarch Irenaeus of Serbia to visit Thessaloniki and Mt Athos

[51] Veteran basketball player Misounof arrested for drugs and gun possession

[52] Electronic crime police warn that ransomware 'CryptoWall' has appeared in Greece

[53] German delegation from Hesse visits Tripoli

[54] Ghana man, 29, arrested in Kalamata airport for using forged documents

[55] Fair weather on Friday

[56] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

[01] PM Samaras 'fully comfortable' seeking early exit for Greece-Bloomberg

Samaras said he aimed to sever the international lifeline that has kept Greece afloat since 2010 by forgoing disbursements of emergency loans scheduled over the next two years.

"We feel fully comfortable" that Greece can cover its financing needs from the bond markets in the coming years, the prime minister inderlined.

An improvement in public finances and low interest rates have emboldened Samaras, who said the Greek parliament will discuss the end of aid from the euro area and International Monetary Fund, which have granted the country 240 billion euros in bailout loans, in a confidence-vote debate scheduled to run through on Friday, according to Bloomberg.

Ending aid payouts wouldn't mean "a divorce" with Greece's public creditors, Samaras stated. "We want to do it properly," he said and added that Greece is prepared to negotiate an appropriate oversight role of its economy for the euro area and IMF.

Asked how confident he is that Greece can survive without support, Samaras said: "absolutely."

However, Bloomberg noted, that euro-area and IMF officials insist Greece should retain access to bailout funds next year.

Greek bonds are the best-performing securities in the Bloomberg indexes this year, having earned 20 percent through yesterday. The yield on 10-year debt fell as low 5.52 percent on Sept. 8, the lowest since early 2010. The yield declined on Thursday eight basis points to 6.61 percent.

[02] PM Samaras informs parliament president of Kaklamanis' return to New Democracy

"As of today, deputy Nikitas Kaklamanis returns to New Democracy parliamentary group," Samaras said in the letter.

[03] Independent MP Kaklamanis returns to New Democracy

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Kaklamanis said that after considering the response of all historical cadres of New Democracy to the party leader Antonis Samaras' call for unity, he realized he was not entitled to be absent.

"I want to thank the party leader, because we met today on his own initiative. We had a long discussion, all the misunderstandings were overcome and needless to say, I accepted with pleasure the call to return to New Democracy's parliamentary group and party," Kaklamanis said adding that his long friendship with Antonis Samaras and his presence in the party for so many years played an important role in this decision.

[04] Second day of debate over confidence vote wraps up in Parliament

Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister Michalis Chryssochoidis stressed stability and unity: "The country cannot move forward neither with a clash between 'good and bad Greeks' nor with 'us or you', as I've heard many times from different sides in the Parliament."

Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis asserted Greece will be meeting its targets without fail and warned against returning "to the recipe that brought us to the crisis," he said.

Enumerating the achievements of the government, he said among other things that an agreement to relieve the tax burden is possible but only after Greece keeps its reformation targets.

The government will present a radical solution for bad loans as part of the agreed plan to exit the economic crisis, Government Vice-President Evangelos Venizelos said, and spoke of "a peculiar category of businessmen who have assets in Europe or in unspecified countries; they keep their money abroad and their losses in Greece. They are the ones who feed the big political games - with reports in the newspapers. You should try to determine who's the former and who's the latter."

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said the efforts expended in tourism and other sectors should not go to waste.?"The target of 20 million visitors could become a reality by the end of the year," she added.

SYRIZA's parliamentary spokesman Panagiotis Lafazanis said there is only one solution and one way out for Greece's debt; to write off the greater part of it. "This is not only a leftist demand. It should be a demand for national and social survival," Lafazanis stressed.

He criticised the government for failing to press for repayment of a forced occupation loan extracted from Greece by Nazi Germany during World War II, underlining that Greece was not the only one with debts.

He also referred to the agreement signed with Siemens, under which it agreed to invest 100 million euros in its subsidiary and 60 million euros in the company 'Pitsos'. Noting that not even one euro of these investments was yet in evidence, he asked the government why it failed to enforce the law.

Other ministers speaking included - among others - Democratic Left (DIMAR) parliamentary group representative Nikos Tsoukalis, Energy Minister Yiannis Maniatis, Deputy Development Minister Gerassimos Giakoumatos, Interior Minister Argyris Dinopoulos, Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Shipping & Aegean Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Alternate Development & Competitiveness Minister Odysseas Konstantinopoulos, PASOK MP Nikos Sifounakis and Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputy Nikos Moraitis (his party will vote against the government).

Independent MP George Davris sternly attacked the government and SYRIZA, urging them to tell people the truth and stating that he will be "quasi present" at the vote of confidence procedure.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MP Nikos Moraitis, on his part, warned that people should not be duped by the phony confrontation between the government and SYRIZA.

Independent deputy Spyros Lykoudis, who said he will not support the government, proposed the setting up of a special purpose government by the current?Parliament, so that by the end of its four-year term it can negotiate on the debt, agree on the election of the President of the Republic as well as change the Constitution and the electoral law.

Other developments of the day included Prime Minister and New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras informing on Thursday by letter the president of Parliament?Evangelos Meimarakis that independent deputy Nikitas Kaklamanis returned to the party's parliamentary group.

Earlier in the day, Health Minister Makis Voridis, who opened the debate in lieu of Samaras (who was attending an EU leaders' meeting on unemployment) responded to criticism of the premier's absence.

"There is no issue on this, there is no issue of substituting the prime minister; the constitution does not say that the prime minister opens the debate. The prime minister submits the proposal and concludes the debate," Voridis told Ant1 TV.

Samaras will address Parliament before the vote on Friday.

Meanwhile, private sector umbrella trade union General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) has called for a 24-hour strike and a demonstration on Friday, while public sector umbrella trade union ADEDY will hold a work stoppage on Friday in all public services in the greater Athens region from the beginning of the shift until 12:00 noon. A similar mobilization was also announced by the municipal employees' union POE-OTA.

ADEDY and POE-OTA will hold a protest rally at 09:30 outside the Council of State building in downtown Athens while their petition against the administrative reform ministry decisions that served as a basis for the institutional framework of the public sector employee evaluation measure, will be tried.

A protest rally against the government policy will be held by ADEDY at 19:00 in downtown Syntagma Square on the occasion of the vote of confidence in?Parliament.

Debate will continue on Friday evening, with a midnight vote.

[05] Gov't VP says 'radical solution' for bad loans is coming, during speech in Parliament

"A radical solution for red loans - radical in practice, not in words," will be presented, Venizelos said.

Commenting on allegations concerning the involvement of businessmen in politics, the government vice-president said there are entrepreneurs who want what's good for Greece and maintain their business interests within the country but there is also "a peculiar category of businessmen who have assets in Europe or in unspecified countries; they keep their money abroad and their losses in Greece. They are the ones who feed the big political games - with reports in the newspapers. You should try to determine who's the former and who's the latter," Venizelos said.

[06] FinMin in Parliament: 'Greece will be meeting its targets without fail'

"We cannot and must not return to the recipe that brought us to the crisis," he said. "This means that the country will be meeting its targets without fail."

"In the agreements with our partners, Greece must be united and issue a single voice. We do not have the luxury of sending the wrong messages to our partners," he added.

Among other things, he said that an agreement to relieve the tax burden is possible but only after Greece keeps its reformation targets.

The minister emphasised the fight against tax evasion, saying it was "the first time that the tax service operates on the basis of a strategic plan, which sets targets and indicators for audits and tax collection, which are evaluated quarterly; the number of tax auditors has increased by 400 pct and they will be further augmented by 30 pct within 2015, through ASEP," the state testing and hiring agency for the public sector.

Enumerating the progress in tax collection, he said that two audit centres had conducted over 1,400 checks within 2014 on large companies, high-income individuals, bank transfers and off shore companies. In the first seven months of the year, taxes amounting to 1.6 billion euros had been identified, and 2,500 checks conducted through 65 tax revenue departments in Greece that confirmed 300 million euros were owed.

Hardouvelis also said that about 415,000 companies and self-employed (OAEE) with gross earnings of up to 10,000 euros would be relieved of VAT in 2015.

Among other things he mentioned were the improvement of liquidity in 2015 and bank lending, and the first database for real estate, which would include the nearly 105,000 properties belonging to the state and its agencies.

[07] Tourism minister addresses Parliament during confidence vote debate

"Greek tourism was the first [sector] to revive. It was and remains the first sign of light and optimism, and 2014 was a record year," she said of tourist arrivals. "The target of 20 million visitors could become a reality by the end of the year," she added.

She said stability was important for the country and the success in tourism was due to "collective and targeted efforts," and she called on politicians to see tourism as a national issue.

[08] Alt. Development Minister Konstantinopoulos says parliament should 'cast a vote of honesty'

He accused main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) of dangerous irresponsibility and vagueness and of issuing foggy and opportunistic announcements that create a serious instability that is dangerous for the country and the Greek people.

"In essence, the MPs will be called tomorrow to give their vote of confidence to the country's course out of the memorandum and the crisis," he underlined, calling on those who criticised the government for "opportunistic and tactical reasons" to admit that they were lying.

"It is irresponsible to call for elections every two or three weeks and to poison the country's efforts in a crucial period for its future," he said.

Referring to the sector of competitiveness, he said that "the efforts made for years now give fruit as the country's finances have been tidied up and a surplus has been created, recognized by all that could serve as a 'cushion' next year".

He said that the absorption of NSRF funds proceeds quickly, adding that in the period of January-early October 2014, roughly 600 million euros or 10.3 pct more than last year have been channeled to the market.

He expressed satisfaction about the programme currently implemented, which is aimed at boosting SMEs, noting that payments are being made three months in advance to relieve the backbone of the Greek entrepreneurship as much as possible.

[09] Greece needs political stability to exit the crisis, says Infrastructure minister

"To achieve the country's great target to exit the crisis, improve employment and attract investments, we need political stability," Chryssochoidis said.

"The country cannot move forward neither with a clash between 'good and bad Greeks' nor with 'us or you', as I've heard many times from different sides in the Parliament."

Commenting on an earlier speech by opposition party SYRIZA's parliamentary spokesman Panagiotis Lafazanis who said the only solution for Greece is to write off the greater part of its debt, Chryssochoids said: "Thankfully, Mr Lafazanis used the word 'claim' referring to debt, because I assume your representatives in European bodies don't talk and cannot possibly talk in the same way. Here you have a domestic audience and you like to say things which are pleasant to hear, but have nothing to do with reality."

[10] SYRIZA's Lafazanis in vote of confidence debate: 'only one way out for Greece's debt'

The SYRIZA MP was speaking in Parliament during the ongoing debate on a vote of confidence requested by the government, which is to culminate in a vote at midnight on Friday.

"This is not only a leftist demand. It should be a demand for national and social survival," Lafazanis stressed.

He criticised the government for failing to press for repayment of a forced occupation loan extracted from Greece by Nazi Germany during World War II, underlining that Greece was not the only one with debts.

"Is this not a German debt and a legal demand of the country, internationally recognised?" Lafazanis said, stressing that this year's budget would be the last one that did not record this German debt.

He also supported the claims made by SYRIZA rapporteur Yiannis Dragassakis on Wednesday regarding legislative "favours" to businesses, which he claimed were tacked on to each draft bill as amendments, "most of them past the deadline, and not known to anyone, not even seen by the General Accounting Office."

Among such he cited an amendment submitted on March 7, which he claimed was "written in gobbledegook" and through which "the government carried out a post-dated write off of fines amounting to hundreds of millions of euros from triangular transactions - in other words, hundreds of millions in tax evasion."

He also referred to the agreement signed with Siemens, under which it agreed to invest 100 million euros in its subsidiary and 60 million euros in the company 'Pitsos'. Noting that not even one euro of these investments was yet in evidence, he asked the government why it failed to enforce the law.

[11] Gov't doesn't have a plan for when Greece completes its bailout programme, says DIMAR

Tsoukalis said most of the things we hear from the ruling majority is essentially a "psychological massage": "They are trying with massaging to improve the psychology of the people, as if people are not experiencing a specific situation and society doesn't comprehend developments."

"Although Mr Hardouvelis and Mr Voridis essentially proclaim the end of bailouts, that by the end of the year, from January 1st 2015, we have to implement our own exit plan...such a plan doesn't exist," Tsoukalis said.

[12] Independent MP Kassapidis says he won't give a vote of confidence to government

Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the vote of confidence, Kassapidis, who is elected in the northwestern prefecture of Kozani, strongly criticized the statements made by Deputy Development Minister Gerasimos Giakoumatos on the milk issue and spoke about a failed policy that should be withdrawn, noting that "just wishing for it will not make the prices drop".

"The people are not under the impression that the government is interested in combating corruption. I share their impression too and, therefore, I cannot give a vote of confidence to the government," he concluded.

[13] ND parliamentary group rep. on positive confidence vote: 'This will allow us to go forward'

"This will allow us to go forward, so we can at last focus on clean, authentic, unadulterated policy."

[14] SYRIZA spokesman: Polarisation not artificial but real

"No one can consider that what we are living through as a society and the clash of different political plans is something artificial that does not reflect reality. We have changes that have dismantled the lives of the majority, an extreme neoliberalism, an extreme austerity policy and an alternative proposal submitted by SYRIZA," he said.

Skourletis said the government was not in a position to "tear down" the proposals that SYRIZA had presented at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) in September, and that these had become "its nightmare".

"It is basically trying to follow this political agenda but cannot because it is hostage to a very specific strategy, the unswerving implementation of the memorandum programme. This is why it is presenting this state of aphasia, confusion and irritation. And of course, above all, it feels even more strongly what we now call the popular outcry," he said.

Regarding the issues denounced by SYRIZA rapporteur Yiannis Dragassakis on Wednesday night, Skourletis noted that "we all live in this country and know the meaning of corruption, intertwined interests, black political money, favours and the two-party system." SYRIZA will not adopt such practices as a government, he added, "because we have faith in our intentions," expressing confidence that the party will act as a cleansing force.

[15] IMF's Lagarde comments on Greece exiting the crisis

Greece has improved financially, but would be in a better position if it had precautionary support as it exits the crisis, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde said on Thursday.

During a press conference ahead of the annual IMF-World Bank Group meeting on October 10-12 in Washington, DC, the chief of IMF - one of Greece's three creditors, along with the European Commission and European Central Bank - was asked whether Greece could exit the crisis without further bailouts from the IMF and the EU.

"We are very pleased to see that Greece has significantly improved its position from a fiscal point of view, on the financial markets," she said. "But we also believe that going forward, and in order to deliver a continuous satisfactory outcome, the country would be in our view in a better position if it had precautionary support," she added, without clarifying.

She noted the relationship between Greece and the IMF "can still be extremely helpful" in the country's efforts to move on and be ultimately on its own. "So we are ready to help and we believe that it could be effective," she said.

[16] Foreign ministry deplores Turkey's decision 'to provoke new tension' with Cyprus

"It is sad and paradoxical that Turkey has decided to provoke new tension that undermines the negotiation process for the resolution of the Cyprus issue at a time when, first, the international community's attention is focused on the struggle against the Islamic state and confronting the many crisis hotspots in the Middle East and North Africa, and, second, the negotiations are under way in Cyprus, within the framework of the Joint Communiqu? of 11 February 2014, and the Secretary General's new Special Envoy has just taken up his duties.

"Unfortunately, at the center of these choices is Turkey's refusal to see that the Republic of Cyprus is an independent and sovereign state, a member of the UN and the European Union, that exercises sovereignty and sovereign rights, in accordance with international law. The exercising of these rights includes the maritime zones provided for by the Law of the Sea; more specifically, the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf.

"It has repeatedly been made crystal clear by the Republic of Cyprus and President Nicos Anastasiades himself that the benefits accruing from the exploitation of the Republic of Cyprus' offshore mineral wealth belong to all Cypriot citizens. Moreover, within the framework of the agreed solution that is being pursued on the Cyprus issue, competency for issues concerning the exploitation of natural resources and mineral wealth, as well as matters pertaining to the exercising of sovereign rights, will belong to the central government.

"It is thus totally contradictory for the Republic of Cyprus to come under accusation for basic moves activating its sovereign rights and exploitation of mineral wealth to the benefit of all the Cypriot people, when it is Turkey that, through its illegal NAVTEX, threatens to compromise these sovereign rights.

"It is also paradoxical for Turkey to turn, with regard to the Cyprus issue, in the direction of Greece. Greece does not not stand accused internationally of military invasion and illegal occupation and settlement, and respects the institutions and processes of the Republic of Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot Community, which is expressed democratically through its leadership. Greece is contributing constructively to the progress of the negotiations, including through the reciprocal meetings being held in Athens and Ankara with the negotiators for the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Communities.

"But Turkey should not judge others based on its own conduct, seeing Greece's stance on the Cyprus issue or Greece's relationship with the Republic of Cyprus as being the same as its own position, its own responsibility, and its own potential for exerting influence on the Turkish Cypriot Community, in the name of which it issues announcements.

"If Turkey wants to, it can contribute effectively to the new talks between the two leaders, to the progress of the negotiations, and to the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean, through moves that respect international law and in acceptance of the fact that the Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the UN and the European Union, with national sovereignty and national sovereign rights."

[17] Christofilopoulou presents National Action Plan for administrative reform to EU Commissioner Andor

Christofilopoulou emphasised the simplification of procedures and the reduction of administrative burdens to combat red tape, as well as, the reorganisation of the public sector structures. Among these she pointed to an effective use of human resources in the public sector, the association of administrative reforms with specific action plans on e-governance and the large-scale digital reform.

Referring to the funding difficulties of the above-mentioned reforms through NSRF in the previous programming period of 2007-2013, Christofilopoulou underlined that the administrative reform ministry is at a turning point that coincides with the adoption of the new 2014-2020 NSRF and the launch of the "Public Sector Reform 2014-2020" operational programme. She also noted that the ministryis called to play an executive role in ensuring the effective implementation and continuation of reforms in the Greek public sector.

The deputy minister requested the front-loaded financing of reforms, considering that the ministry has set its goals and priorities in good time, to ensure effective planning of the new "Public Sector Reform 2014-2020" operational programme.

The front-loaded funding request was accepted by the European Commission and both sides agreed that the timely implementation of the priority actions necessary for the unhindered continuation of administrative reform in Greece should be supported in view of the forthcoming approval and launch of the above-mentioned operational programme.

[18] Independent deputy Lykoudis proposes setting up a special purpose government

Lykoudis also made clear he would not give a vote of confidence to the government and warned of ongoing crucial issues that require increased majority.

"According to all indications, the government has lost the true cohesion of the parliamentary groups supporting it and of society; mainly because it cannot hold the burden of major structural changes that the country needs. Does this mean that early elections are the solution? Of course, not. Early elections are not the solution at this point. Elections, according to opinion polls, will not give a solution; they will aggravate the problem," he said.

"I think we should be bold enough to turn to a different direction. In this transitional phase we need political stability through an agreement by the main political forces of the coalition government and the main opposition on a new special purpose government that will be set up by the current Parliament; an agreement which will exhaust the remaining time until the spring of 2016 and will include the critical issues on the agenda that we will have to deal with in the next period of time."

"I will vote 'No' in the confidence vote procedure, because I do not want to be counted in the majority supporting the government," he added.

[19] Independent MP Davris says he will be quasi present in vote of confidence

"Until the truth is told by the government and SYRIZA on what will happen with the major issues, I do not want to participate in public relations games. I will be quasi present," Davris said during the debate in the parliament plenum on the vote of confidence to the government.

[20] Independent Greeks will be the guarantor of a great government alliance after the elections, party parliamentary spokesman says

"Up until now all deputies have delivered pre-election speeches. Giving an account (of the past) and making announcements (for the future). Why do we have to wait for early elections in the first months of 2015, as Evangelos Venizelos said on Wednesday...With so many pre-elections speeches, why don't we hold elections now and put an end to the difficult times for the people and the market, which cannot withstand a prolonged pre-election period. The ministers' statements show you are ready for elections," he said.

"I can assure you that we, the Independent Greeks, are even more prepared. Because, apart from tomorrow's 'No' vote in the confidence proposal, you will not be able to count us in the 180 deputies for the election of the Greek President. After the elections, we will be the guarantors of a great government coalition by all forces that will emerge from the ballot, from all parties including those of the current coalition government, but not with their present leaders," he added.

[21] PASOK MP Kassis says he will not vote for the budget if ENFIA law does not change

Kassis was speaking to private ANT1 TV.

[22] KKE deputy Moraitis on the vote of confidence

"In every way and by every mean, the coalition government, the main opposition and other parties are trying to disorientate and entrap the people in a phony confrontation away from the real problems that labour, popular families face every day. The coalition government's move for a vote of confidence as well as the ongoing bargaining on the 180 or 120 deputies for the election of the President of the Republic are to this direction," he said.

[23] GSEE calls for 24-hour strike on the day of the state budget vote in parliament

GSEE underlined that the new draft state budget tabled by the government will heighten the already serious problems of the workers, pensioners and the unemployed.

[24] Environment ministry proposes implementation of energy saving projects in the public sector as PPP

The issue will be discussed on Monday, October 20, following a letter by Maniatis to the heads of the banks.

Maniatis proposed that those projects be funded by EU and private funds as well as bank loans. The repayment of private participation will be linked to the achievement of measurable targets for energy saving. In this way, the ministry noted, there will be no financial burden, while the savings will be shared between the public and the private entities. The certification of energy savings will be made by the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES).

The need for investments, which will be amortized over time due to the lower consumption, is estimated at 3 to 5 billion euros. In the first phase, investments of 400 to 500 million can be set in motion, starting from pilot competitions per sector.

In his letter to the banks, Maniatis noted that the issue of energy efficiency and energy saving is a key objective of the national energy policy and also a key pillar in a new model for the development of the country.

?The long-term ensuring of adequate funding from third parties is an especially important parameter for the successful implementation of such projects," he added.

[25] Greece is prepared to face Ebola virus case, Health Minister says

"We have complied with the World Health Organisation's directives," Voridis said. On the precautionary reasons taken, he said they were "travel directives existing in all exit and entrance points of the country and special directives exist for people coming from countries of high risk."

On the way the government will react to an Ebola case he noted: "We have chosen a reference hospital if a suspicious incident occurs...A specific building with special staff, equipment and laboratory has been chosen that will be able to make the analysis needed in order to identify whether it is Ebola virus."

Voridis, however, did not reveal the specific hospital adding that an announcement will be made in the following period.

[26] Meeting on handling Ebola risk at health ministry on Friday

In statements earlier on Thursday on private ANT1 TV, Voridis said that Greece's health services are ready to confront a possible Ebola virus case.

"We have complied with the World Health Organisation's directives," Voridis said, noting that there were travel directives existing at all exit and entrance points of the country and special directives for people coming from high-risk countries.

In plans drawn up over the summer, Greek health authorities nominated Sismanoglio Hospital in the northeast suburbs of Athens to handle any suspected Ebola cases, preparing a separate building with special staff, equipment and its own laboratory to carry out the analysis needed in order to confirm whether the Ebola virus is involved or not.

The health ministry will also carry out a drill to test its readiness to handle a possible case within the next 10 days, with the participation of all the agencies involved. Experts stressed the need to properly inform travellers and doctors on the risks in order to avoid a repetition of what occurred in Spain, where a patient spent days going from hospital to hospital before she was diagnosed.

[27] Central Macedonia Region Governor Tzitzikostas receives the US Consul General to Thessaloniki

Tzitzikostas underlined the need to boost cooperation in sectors such as unemployment, environment, infrastructure, transport, communications, exports and new technologies.

The US consul general, who paid a courtesy call on Tzitzikostas, referred to the important role of the Region of Central Macedonia in bilateral relations and underlined that the US diplomatic missions in Greece look for ways to boost entrepreneurship and improve the skills of employees to curb unemployment.

[28] 'I have not opted for returning to PASOK' independent MP Aidonis says

"There is a huge economic problem in the country which is turning into a political one too and each one of us has the duty to speak up and express his thoughts regarding the course of the country," Aidonis told Vima FM.

"I do not belong to any block of power. That means, I am still an independent deputy and I have not opted for returning to PASOK," he added.

[29] Amal Alamuddin Clooney to meet with PM Samaras, Culture Minister Tasoulas next week

According to an announcement by their employers, Doughty Street Chambers, "Mr Robertson and Mrs Clooney were first asked to provide legal advice to the Greek government on this matter in 2011. They will be holding a series of meetings with government officials during their stay, including the Prime Minister, Mr Antonis Samaras, and the Minister of Culture, Mr Konstantinos Tasoulas."

Financial News

[30] Greek unemployment rate eased to 26.4 pct in July

This improved figure, however, did not cover the country's structural problems in the labor market, as a more than expected increase in tourism was not accompanied by a similar reduction in unemployment, one in two young people -aged up to 24 years old- and more than three in 10 aged 25-34 remained unemployed, while a decline in the unemployment rate did not cover the entire country with two regions recording rising unemployment.

The statistics service said that the number of unemployed people fell by 69,413 in July compared with July 2013 (a decline of 5.1 pct) and by 12,212 compared with June 2014 (a decline of 0.9 pct). The number of employed people totaled 3,581,832, up 2.1 pct from July last year and up 1.0 pct from June 2014.

The financially non-active part of the population totaled 3,268,994, down 1.6 pct from July 2013 and down 0.8 pct from June 2014.

The unemployment rate among women was 30.5 pct in July from 31.6 pct in July last year, while among men it fell to 23.1 pct from 24.9 pct, respectively.

Unemployment in the 15-24 age group was 50.7 pct in July from 58.2 pct last year, in the 25-34 age group it fell to 35.4 pct from 36.1 pct, in the 35-44 age group it fell to 22.3 pct from 24.3 pct, in the 45-54 age group it eased to 20.4 pct from 20.9 pct, in the 55-64 age group it rose to 17.2 pct from 15 pct and in the 65-74 age group it was unchanged at 9.5 pct.

Among the country's regions, Macedonia-Thrace (27 pct), Epirus-Western Macedonia (27 pct) and Attica (26.6 pct) recorded the highest unemployment rates, followed by Thessaly-Central Greece (26.5 pct), Peloponese-Western Greece-Ionian Islands (26.4 pct), Crete (23.7 pct) and the Aegean (19.4 pct).

[31] General government overdue debts of 800 million euros to private sector to be repaid

The decision concerns overdue debts to the private sector dating after January 1, 2012.

[32] Piraeus Bank launches public tender offer for Trastor

Piraeus Bank owns 18,551,880 common nominal voting shares in Trastor, or 33.80 pct of the company's equity capital and another 0.09 pct of Trastor's voting rights, for a total of 33.89 pct of voting rights.

Piraeus Bank also purchased 20,353,776 voting rights, or 37.08 pct of voting rights of Trastor from Pasal raising its equity participation in Trastor to 70.97 pct of voting rights.

The public tender offer will begin soon after market authorities approve Piraeus Bank's move.

[33] Athens Chamber president Mihalos calls for immediate implementation of government's pledges on arrears

Mihalos called for the repayment of the arrears to the pension funds to be settled in 100 installments and surcharges to be reduced by 90 percent. What is also important, he said, is the interest rate, which now stands at unrealistically high levels of around 4.25 percent.

[34] EAS defense company signs two deals with Lockheed Martin, Rheinmetall for guns and ammunition

"The deal concerns the joint production of twelve different categories of guns and ammunition, some of which are intended for the Greek army and others for exports," the Greek company's President and CEO, Sotiris Christoyannis, said after the deal between EAS and Rheinmetall was signed at the Ministry of Defense.

He also said the agreement with one of Europe's biggest defence groups "constitutes a vote of confidence towards EAS."

The deal with the German Group aims at upgrading MLRS systems (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems) for the Greek army, to incorporate new technologies. "It's one of the Greek army's biggest ongoing programmes," Christoyannis said.

"The deal opens up new possibilities for contracts and commissions which will offer the company work for the next years, they ensure its future and its jobs and opens up new growth prospects," he added.

The deal between EAS and Rheinmetall is the result of many months of negotiations, during which the German company verified the reliability of EAS' production line.

The German Group was represented by Werner Kraemer, Director of the Weapon & Munitions business unit.

On his part, Joe Garland, Vice-President of International Business Development, of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said EAS' deal with the company is "very important" and "of strategic and economic value and mutually beneficial" and is bound to create jobs.

"We'll cooperate hand-in-hand with the Greek defence industry and with the Greek government which is one of the most important and reliable partners," Garland added.

He also mentioned the strategic relationship between the United States and praised the long and successful collaboration between Lockheed and the Greek defense industry in the production of Patriot missiles.

"Greece is one of the most important allies of the United States, an agent of stability and peace in the region," Garland said.

On his side, the president and representative of the employees in EAS, Panagiotis Doukas, told ANA-MPA the deals for the "joint production, partnership and development of armaments and ammunition will help the growth of the company and prove EAS can cooperate with big European and American Groups."

"It has the know-how that can play a crucial role in the armed forces and employment. The company will have projects and revenues, it will create new jobs and we will face the future in a positive light," he added.

The three companies also praised the positive attitude and efforts shown by both the Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos and Alternate Minister Fofi Gennimata which helped reach the deals.

[35] Electronic system introduced on a trial basis to record damages in the sector of agriculture

ELGA's branches in Alexandroupolis, Iraklio, Thessaloniki, Larissa and Patras will participate in the programme designed to contribute to the modernization and speeding up of the procedures applied to assess damages in the sector of agriculture.

[36] Greek inflation rate at -0.8 pct in Sept

The statistics service, in a report, said that despite the negative inflation rate, price increases were recorded in several basic food products, such as fresh vegetables (5.9 pct), fresh lamb (3.5 pct), fresh poultry (1.8 pct) and fresh fruit (1.5 pct). Price increases were also recorded in urban transport prices (5.9 pct), dental services (1.2 pct) and hotel prices (3.0 pct).

On the other hand, price declines were recorded, among others, in petrol (0.9 pct) and dairy/eggs (0.4 pct).

On an annual basis, prices increases were recorded in pharmaceuticals (26.7 pct) urban transport (5.9 pct), electricity rates (4.9 pct) hotels (6.6 pct), olive oil (4.5 pct), alcohol (2.1 pct), dairy/eggs (1.8 pct) and tobacco (1.8 pct).

On the other hand, prices fell in fresh potatoes (29.7 pct), sugar (10.9 pct), fresh fruit (11.5 pct), fresh fish (5.8 pct) and fresh vegetables (1.1 pct). Petrol prices also fell by 1.7 pct.

Prices in the food/beverage index fell by 1.5 pct in September, along with prices in the clothing/footwear (-2.6 pct), housing (-1.3 pct), durable goods (-1.3 pct), transport (0.4 pct), entertainment (-2.0 pct), education (-3.3 pct) and other goods and services (-2.4 pct).

Prices in the alcohol/tobacco index (2.1 pct), health (3.8 pct), hotel/coffee/restaurants (0.1 pct).

The consumer price index rose 2.1 pct in September from August 2014, after a 2.6 pct increase recorded in the corresponding period last year.

Greece's harmonized inflation rate was -1.1 pct in September, from -1.0 pct in September 2013 and -0.2 pct in August 2014.

[37] International tourist arrivals at main Greek airports rise in September

Arrivals increased at a 9 percent rate compared to September 2013. For the nine months of the year, the increase reached 14.3 percent compared to year-ago period while it is almost certain that the record-target of 19.5 million of airport arrivals by the end of the year (21.5 million including cruise ships) will be exceeded, SETE said.

Despite the Greek tourism's satisfactory performance in the last two years, potential investors have been taking a wait-and-see stance as a result of the ongoing talk for elections, lower growth rates in the eurozone and geopolitical instability in the wider region, SETE noted.

Pre-bookings (apart from Russia) as well as 2015 flight schedules are moving to a positive direction, SETE said, noting however that if the aforementioned factors intensify, there will be a negative impact on investments and 2015 bookings.

[38] Visegrad countries' diplomatic missions meet with local entrepreneurs on Crete

A meeting held at the Hania Chamber focused on exports of local products.

Slovakian Ambassador to Athens Peter Michalko, whose country currently chairs the Visegrad Group, referred to the prospects for the development of trade, tourism and cultural relations. He noted that the four countries' population combined reaches 68 million and underlined that they form a dynamic market within the EU with a high growth rate and a great interest in forging close cooperation with local businesses on Crete.

Hungarian Ambassador to Athens Eszter Sandorfi referred to the promotion of cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises.

[39] Car registrations up 44.2 pct in Sept

The statistics service, in a report, said that car sales were up 13 pct in September 2013.

In the nine-month period from January to September, car registrations totaled 76,618 cars, up from 59,366 in the same period last year, an increase of 29.1 pct.

Motorcycle registrations totaled 3,430 in September, from 2,829 in the same month last year, for an increase of 21.2 pct, while in the January-September period, motorcycle registrations totaled 28,251, fro 25,994 in 2013, for an increase of 8.7 pct.

[40] Life insurance premium production up in July

A report by the Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies said that premium production in life insurance contracts rose by 1.8 pct in July, compared with the same period last year, although premium production in the insurance sector in general fell by 4.7 pct in the month.

In the seven-month period from January to July, premium production was down 1.7 pct compared with the corresponding period in 2013.

[41] Greek stocks end 1.70 pct higher

The Large Cap index ended 1.76 pct higher and the Mid Cap index rose 1.97 pct. National Bank (6.28 pct), Piraeus Bank (4.24 pct), Viohalco (4.24 pct) and Piraeus Port (3.07 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while MIG (2.18 pct), PPC (0.74 pct), OTE (0.28 pct) and Coca Cola HBC (0.06 pct) suffered losses.

Among market sectors, Banks (3.10 pct), Personal Products (2.81 pct) and Travel (2.55 pct) scored gains, while Financial Services (0.61 pct), Telecoms (0.29 pct) and Food (0.04 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 83 to 46 with another 20 issues unchanged. G.E.Demetriou (30 pct), Medicon (19.86 pct) and Trastor (16.22 pct) were top gainers, while NEL (19.23 pct), Sidma (18.29 pc) and Selonda (15.79 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Banks: +3.10%

Insurance: +1.45%

Financial Services: -0.61%

Industrials: +1.88%

Retail: +2.42%

Real Estate: +0.63%

Personal & Household: +2.81%

Food & Beverages: -0.04%

Raw Materials: +2.27%

Construction: +0.25%

Oil: +1.00%

Chemicals: +0.55%

Mass Media: Unchanged

Travel & Leisure: +2.55%

Technology: +1.81%

Telecoms: -0.29%

Utilities: +0.13%

Health: +1.20%

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

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank: 0.621

Public Power Corp (PPC): 8.08

Coca Cola HBC: 16.85

Hellenic Petroleum: 4.84

National Bank of Greece: 2.20

OPAP: 10.27

OTE: 10.50

Piraeus Bank: 1.23

Titan: 19.80

Eurobank Properties: 8.90

[42] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates were almost unchanged. The 12-month rate was 0.332 pct, the nine-month rate was unchanged at 0.251 pct, the six-month rate rose to 0.179 pct from 0.178 pct, the three-month rate was 0.079 pct and the one-month rate was 0.006 pct.

[43] ADEX closing report

Volume on the Big Cap index totalled 8,116 contracts with 48,127 open positions in the market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totalled 25,693 contracts with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (7,786), followed by Piraeus Bank (7,169), Alpha Bank (4,302), PPC (1,552), Eurobank (1,037), MIG (779), OTE (602), OPAP (798), Mytilineos (336), Hellenic Exchanges (238), GEK (186), Hellenic Petroleum (175), Ellaktor (126), Jumbo (117), METKA (105), and Intralot (70).

[44] Foreign exchange rates - Thursday

U.S. dollar 1.2763

Pound sterling 0.7875

Danish kroner 7.4435

Swedish kroner 9.1262

Japanese yen 137.37

Swiss franc 1.2107

Norwegian kroner 8.191

Canadian dollar 1.418

Australian dollar 1.4408

General News

[45] Culture minister receives archaeologists in Antikythera shipwreck team

A ministry announcement said that Tassoulas highlighted the scientific significance of their work and praised the excellent public-private cooperation that had helped finance the programme, calling it exemplary.

The latest round of exploration conducted by Greece's Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities with the support of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from September 15 until October 7 was completed successfully, in spite of difficulties caused by strong northerly winds blowing in the area of the shipwreck.

During this time, researchers were able to precisely map the location of the shipwreck and create 3-D models of the seabed and the wreck using stereocameras and sonar. These were plugged into a Geographic Information System (GIS) that also included all facts known from the salvage of the 1900s and the exploration carried out in 1976 by undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau, Greek volunteers and the Calypso crew, under the supervision of Greek archaeologist Dr. Lazaros Kolonas.

During the exploration carried out this year, the team used metal detectors to determine the layout of the wreck and distribution of debris, as well any artifacts near the surface. This led to the location and salvage of a bronze spear with a sauroter (spear butt spike) that is believed to come from a bronze or marble statue, a bronze ring on a bronze nail, possibly with wood from the shipwrecked vessel attached, a small piece of lead sheeting that may have lined the bottom of the ancient vessel and a part of the anchor, as well as other finds, among them an almost intact pitcher.

The mission has helped clarify the precise spatial distribution of the shipwreck and its proximity to a second location, where piles of amphorae and evidence of ship structures and equipment were found, generating questions about whether this is an extension of the first shipwreck or the remains of a second.

Planned dives using a robotic Exosuit could not be completed and were confined to test dives on a single day due to bad weather conditions. However, a clearer picture of the shipwreck site has emerged and new diving techniques and technical equipment mean it is possible to plan the next step by researchers for a systematic excavation of the site.

Attending Thursday's meeting were the head of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities Dr. Aggeliki Simossi and archaeologists Dr. Theotokis Theodoulou and Dr. Dimitris Kourkoumelis, as well as Dr. Brendan Foley from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutions, Alexandros Tourtas, a graduate of naval archaeology from the University of Southampton and Dr. Yanis Bitsakis, a member of the Antikythera Mechanism research team.

The Roman-era ship that foundered off the island of Antikythera was first discovered by sponge divers in the early 20th century and has since yielded some of the most unique archaeological artifacts ever discovered, among them the 2000-year-old Antikythera Mechanism, which has been dubbed the world's first 'analog' computer.

[46] Erechtheum, home of the caryatids on the Acropolis, to get new floor and open to visitors

The elegant building was constructed between 421 and 406 BC on the site of the Acropolis to replace an earlier temple dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of ancient Athens, further south. The Ionic-style temple, known as an outstanding example of ancient Greek architecture, has been used in antiquity to honour several divinities.

The Erechtheum was burnt in the 1st century AD by raiders of the city and made into a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary during early Christian years. During the Frankish occupation it was used as a palace (1204-1456) and it housed a harem during the Ottoman occupation. In the 19th century, a caryatid and a column were removed by Lord Elgin, and a Turkish bomb damaged it severely in 1827, during the Greek War of Independence.

Its restoration between 1979 and 1987 as part of the overall restoration project on the Acropolis won Greece a related prize by Europa Nostra.

According to the plans approved, the foundations of the church will be covered for protection, while any earth works will be clearly marked to show the building's phases. The area to be covered by a floor was known in antiquity as the "Prostomiaion" ("before the mouth"), under which lay the salty water spring that legend said was created by sea ruler Poseidon during a contest with Athena to see who could claim the city as protector. The floor plaques will be made of marble 14 cm thick, placed over a removable metal construction that will be placed with provisions as to its weight.

The western part of the northern wall, where a door led to a basement rocky foundation, which tradition said preserves traces of the two gods' competition, will be visible, as will be the church narthex that was used during Ottoman times as a reservoir.

Of the six caryatids, one is in the British Museum and the others in the new Acropolis Museum undergoing restoration. They have been replaced on the actual site by plaster copies.

[47] Alt. Health Minister, Canadian ambassador discuss cooperation in child oncology

Also at the meeting were the director of Business Development at SickKids International Raymond D. King and the director of Agia Sophia Hospital Emmanuel Pappasavvas.

Grigorakis pointed out that Agia Sophia was of major importance for Greece and possibly one of the largest children's hospitals in Europe, noting that the aim was to enhance the hospital's expertise and capacity in order to transform it into a real regional "Centre for Excellence" that might one day also cover the needs of children suffering from cancer and blood complaints throughout the Balkans.

[48] Driver held for Egnatia highway pile-up remanded in custody

According to sources, he repeated an earlier claim that his brakes had failed, saying he became aware of a problem about five kilometres from the crash site, while the failed completely in the last 500 metres before the impact with the line of cars.

Regarding the warning signs put up about the roadworks ahead, the truck driver said that he had failed to understand their content and that he had only seen the workmen with the flags directing traffic about 300 metres before the site of the accident, when it was too late.

He also declared that he was devastated by the results of the accident, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims.

According to legal sources, the suspect can be held on remand for six months, with the possibility to extend this by a further three months, since he is facing misdemeanour charges of manslaughter and inflicting injuries through negligence. Once the nine months are up, he must be released if the investigation is not complete and he has not been indicted to stand trial.

[49] ADEDY, POE-OTA call for work stoppage in the greater Athens region on Friday

ADEDY and POE-OTA will hold a protest rally at 09:30 outside the Council of State building in downtown Athens while their petition against the administrative reform ministry decisions that served as a basis for the institutional framework of the public sector employee evaluation measure, will be tried.

A protest rally against the government policy will be held by ADEDY at 19:00 in downtown Syntagma Square on the occasion of the vote of confidence in parliament.

[50] Patriarch Irenaeus of Serbia to visit Thessaloniki and Mt Athos

Patriarch Irenaeus will also visit the monastic community of Mount Athos.

[51] Veteran basketball player Misounof arrested for drugs and gun possession

The 50 year-old veteran player of Aris Thessaloniki left a bag containing two jars with cannabis weighing 1,655 grams before a police control and left.

A search in his house revealed a part of a rifle, three mobile phones and 13 packets of contraband cigarettes.

Misounof has been arrested a number of times. In 2004 he was convicted for forgery of credit cards and in 2009 he was found possessing anti-tank rockets and weapons.

[52] Electronic crime police warn that ransomware 'CryptoWall' has appeared in Greece

After it becomes installed in the operating system, it locks all digital files and data stored in a computer, including .doc, .docx, .ppt, .psd, .pdf, .eps, .ai, .cdr, .jpg files and others. In order to unlock the files, users are then asked for a "ransom", otherwise they are made inaccessible to their users. The payment is made via an anonymous web browser using bitcoin (BTC).

The police urge users not to pay the ransom in order to discourage such practices.

[53] German delegation from Hesse visits Tripoli

[54] Ghana man, 29, arrested in Kalamata airport for using forged documents

During the check at the airport, he gave authorities what proved to be a forged French identity document. He will be led before the prosecutor of Kalamata.

Weather forecast

[55] Fair weather on Friday

[56] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Government in the main opposition's role.

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: Austerity until 2019.

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Up to 50 percent lower installment for debts to Tax Bureau and social security funds.

ESTIA: We have paid an extremely high price for the early elections.

ETHNOS: 6,000 hirings of University degree holders in public sector.

IMERISSIA: Debt and divorce from IMF on the table.

KATHIMERINI: Double front for Turkey.

LOGOS: "The mother of all battles" in parliament.

NAFTEMPORIKI: Incentives to banks for haircut to businesses debts.

RIZOSPASTIS: Government and SYRIZA set up a fight for disorientation.

TA NEA: Government seeks a way to get rid of the troika.

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