Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-02-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO to assist on refugee crisis, orders warships to Aegean

[02] EU Commission welcomes NATO decision to send naval force to Aegean

[03] Defence Minister Kammenos on NATO's involvement in refugee crisis

[04] Hotspots to be ready by end of month, Shipping Min Dritsas tells ANA-MPA

[05] Mouzalas notes risk that borders will close, slams EU for delaying agreed funds for refugee crisis

[06] The bodies of two helicopter crew members located on Kineros

[07] PM expresses 'deepest anguish' over fallen Navy helicopter crew

[08] Defence Min Kammenos on the Navy helicopter accident

[09] PM Tsipras and Piraeus mayor discuss plans for migrant reception facilities near the port

[10] Greek-Turkish officials discuss cooperation in managing refugee flows, readmission

[11] SYRIZA MEP Papadimoulis to Zaman: Implementation of EU-Turkish deal on refugees is mutually beneficial

[12] ND spokesman: Refugees issue a European and international matter

[13] People potentially eligible for asylum turned back at FYROM border for having 'wrong' nationality, Human Rights Watch charges

[14] Greek FinMin has meetings with Moscovici, head of IMF European Dept Poul Thomsen

[15] Djisselbloem 'optimistc' about outcome of talks on Greek programme

[16] We try to understand and help, says Czech FM Zaor?lek

[17] Bill on TV licences submitted to Parliament

[18] Tsipras: TV licensing law debate shows who wants to clear up Greece's media landscape

[19] Gov't sources rebuff criticism of expert report on television licences

[20] SYRIZA MPs submit request on roll call vote on TV licensing bill

[21] TV licences tender is part of the memorandum, says European Commission spokesman

[22] ND spokesman sternly attacks government on TV licences

[23] Journalists, employees of TV channels announce 7-hour work stoppage

[24] Gov't VP discusses refugee crisis with Swiss ambassador

[25] PM Tsipras to meet Italy's Parliament Speaker Boldrini on Friday

[26] Macedonia farmers remain at their blocks

[27] Farmers to open Tempi Valley on Thursday evening

[28] Energy Minister Skourletis meets with Ambassador of Kuweit to Greece

[29] OAED launches 60-mln-euro programme for 15,000 unemployed people

[30] Greek unemployment rate eased to 24.6 pct in Nov

[31] Athens' real estate prospects seen tumbling in 2016, PwC survey says

[32] E-payments to add 0.5 pct to Greek GDP in 2016-2022, report

[33] Premium insurance production down 3.58 pct in 2015

[34] Trastor says revenue stable, losses up in 2015

[35] EasyJet to add Zakynthos-Stansted flight to its destinations this summer

[36] Greek stocks extend decline for eighth successive session

[37] Greek bond market closing report

[38] ADEX closing report

[39] Archdiocese of Athens's humanitarian organization to 'adopt' Samos hotspot

[40] Clouds, rain on Friday

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

[01] NATO to assist on refugee crisis, orders warships to Aegean

NATO Defence Ministers on Thursday ratified the agency's involvement in the interception of refugee flows and human trafficking in the Aegean, acting on a request submitted by Germany, Greece and Turkey.

"We agreed that NATO will provide support on the refugee and migrant crisis. The agreement is based on a joint request from Germany, Greece and Turkey," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

""The aim is to participate in international efforts to stop trafficking and undocumented migration in the Aegean", he added. Based on the agreement, he said, the Greek and Turkish armed forces will not operate within each other's airspace and territorial waters.

Stoltenberg said that the patrols will be undertaken by the NATO naval force SNMG2 (Standing NATO Maritime Group 2) that is already patrolling the area under German command. He announced that SNMG2 will carry out reconnaissance, surveillance and monitoring of illegal movements in the Aegean in collaboration with the national coast guards, while it will have a direct link with the European border management agency Frontex.

He said that the SNMG2 will head for the Aegean without delay and called on NATO members to reinforce it. He made it clear that the NATO operation in the Aegean was not about sending back boatloads of refugees but about cracking down on human trafficking and the criminal syndicates that were profiting from it.

[02] EU Commission welcomes NATO decision to send naval force to Aegean

The European Commission welcomes NATO's decision to send a naval force to the Aegean to help crack down on illegal migrant trafficking, Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas announced on Thursday.

The Commission hopes that NATO's involvement will assist in the rescue of people and boost border control, Schinas said.

"The 10 kilometres that now separate the Turkish coast from the Greek islands cannot be a paradise for traffickers," he said, adding that NATO would decide the technical details of the naval operation in the Aegean.

The European border agency Frontex will have a specific mission of cooperation with the NATO naval force in the Aegean, Schinas explained, and the details of this mission will be decided by those that are in charge of the operation and not by the Commission.

He ended by saying that this was a "very early" form of the European border and coast guard, which will have a broader and more flexible mandate than Frontex has at present.

[03] Defence Minister Kammenos on NATO's involvement in refugee crisis

The agreement with NATO "totally changes the conditions on the migration-refugees issue," stated Defence Minister Panos Kammenos after the end of NATO's ministerial meeting in Brussels.

Kammenos noted that Greece in cooperation with Germany as well as other members of the NATO managed to reach an agreement that "will finally solve that migration issue."

"Greece has paid an extremely heavy price for the migration and in the midst of an economic crisis disproportianetly with the other state members of EU and NATO," stated Kammenos.

He also said that today's decision safeguards that NATO forces operating in the Aegean will ensure that the migrants to be arrested will directly return to Turkey.

The second very important fact is according to the Greek Defence Minister that "it is totally clear that in the forces that will participate in the NATO group, Turkey will only operate inside its territorial waters and airspace and Greece accordingly."

[04] Hotspots to be ready by end of month, Shipping Min Dritsas tells ANA-MPA

The minister urged local communities to follow the islanders, that with few exceptions handled efficiently the refugee issue, and did not rule out the risk of refugees getting stuck in our country, if some neighboring countries decide to close the borders.

"The government is making all the necessary moves so that this is averted," he underlined adding that the creation of hotspots is a "national isue."

He also stressed that the government will take initiatives in case of negative developments so that migration flows do not affect one or two areas, but the impact is spread throughout the country and is manageable in human terms.

Regarding the NATO involvement, he said that if Europe believes that the solution to its inability to take bold and coherent cooperation decisions is an even greater 'militarization' of the management of the problem, then it is "making a big mistake."

[05] Mouzalas notes risk that borders will close, slams EU for delaying agreed funds for refugee crisis

"We share a border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which is not in Schengen. There is an issue there and for this we are preparing in two ways. First we must be meet our obligations and secondly, based on the studies we have carried out, we must be able to handle the problem in the case that tens of thousands of refugees and migrants are unable to leave," he said.

The minister estimated that the cost of the refugee crisis for Greece exceeded one billion euros, higher than the Bank of Greece estimate of 600 million euros, while he strongly criticised the EU and its bureaucracy for the failure, until now, to disburse Community funds earmarked for tackling the refugee crisis.

He also assured MPs that the Greek government was ready to battle proposals that were unacceptable.

"We have submitted new applications. The bureaucracy, unfortunately, is not only very great in Greece but also in the EU. We are pressing hard in the direction of quick disbursement," he said.

"Inside I have a fear that the difficulties in getting money will be fewer, the more they try to wear us down, in order that we create a situation with a camp of 400,000 refugees and migrants, as proposed by my Belgian colleague. This is unacceptable. They will have no problem giving money there," he said, expressing confidence that both the government and the political parties will fight such an outcome.

Mouzalas assured Parliament that work on the hotspots was progressing rapidly, noting that this was also reflected in the latest European report. He admitted that the government was partly to blame for delays but also pointed to the great difficulty of building a hotspot while the migrants and refugees were in it.

"In Lesvos, the centre was ready twice but 17,000 migrants and refugees arrived and it collapsed," he said.

[06] The bodies of two helicopter crew members located on Kineros

Their bodies were found on a mountainside at a remote area of Kineros Island in the eastern Aegean Sea during an ongoing search and rescue operation, near to where the first remains of the helicopter were found.

According to the HNDGS, the bodies belong to Lieutenant Konstantinos Pananas and Warrant officer Eleftherios Evangelou. Lieutenant Anastasios Toulitsis is still missing.

The AB-212 helicopter, which was taking part in a military exercise, was reported missing at 2.45 a.m. The helicopter was flying at an altitude of 390 feet when it disappeared from the radars.

The reasons of the crash have not yet been known.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, who was visiting Brussels, is expected to return to Athens.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been in constant contact with the Hellenic Army since early in the morning in order to be briefed on the developments. On his part, main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his deep sorrow for the accident.

[07] PM expresses 'deepest anguish' over fallen Navy helicopter crew

"It is tragic for human lives to be lost, especially in the line of duty assigned to them by the homeland. I have asked the national defence ministry to fully investigate the causes of the accident. To the families of the fallen officers I convey my deepest condolences, both personally and on the part of the Greek government," he said.

[08] Defence Min Kammenos on the Navy helicopter accident

"Today is a day of mourning for the Greek people, for the nation, for the armed forces of the country. Greek officers in peacetime entered the pantheon of heroes performing their service, performing their duty, performing the oath given when enlisted in the armed forces. They died fighting for everyone's safety. We are all devastated," Defence Minister Panos Kammenos on Thursday said in a statement on the tragic accident with the helicopter of the Navy.

[09] PM Tsipras and Piraeus mayor discuss plans for migrant reception facilities near the port

Tsipras praised the stance adopted by the municipality on the refugee and migrant issue, noting that it was an issue "that goes beyond us and cannot be solved if everyone adopts a 'not in my backyard' approach." Moralis agreed and said that the burden had to be shared.

"We should not forget that most of us hail from refugees, we have such roots and experiences as Greeks," he noted.

In statements after the meeting, Moralis said that Piraeus and the surrounding municipalities in the Piraeus region were "supporters in the refugee problem, which is a global, European and Greek problem and where all must contribute according to their measure."

For this reason, he added, they had supported the siting of a centre at Schisto and the use of the port, which was in any case happening all this time, for the arrival of the migrant influx.

At the same time, Moralis added, he told the prime minister that if things turned out badly and Greece's northern borders were closed, other ports in the country will also have to be used, in addition to Piraeus, to receive refugees and migrants so that Piraeus and Attica were not swamped.

[10] Greek-Turkish officials discuss cooperation in managing refugee flows, readmission

The talks between the two sides were prepared by a working meeting which took place earlier, which was attended by Greek and Turkish officials and policy-makers, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the Dutch Presidency of the European Union.

According to the ministry, during the working meeting, the two sides presented extensively the situation with the migration and refugee flows for 2015-2016 and analyzed the legal issues concerning the readmission procedure. Concerning the Greek-Turkish protocol, the two sides focused on its evaluation and presented proposals for its improvement and speeding up of its procedures.

[11] SYRIZA MEP Papadimoulis to Zaman: Implementation of EU-Turkish deal on refugees is mutually beneficial

While he admitted that Turkey has taken in a huge number of refugees, Papadimoulis also criticized the country for not tackling the problem of traffickers and noted that efforts to control the flows should not be confused with its EU membership potential.

"The rapprochement between the EU and Turkey should not be regarded as a process of negotiation or that it is necessarily related to the introduction of new members to the EU, but rather as an effort to promote and normalize key aspects of democracy in the country," Papadimoulis was quoted as saying.

The full article follows below:

"It has been a long discussion on whether Turkey complies with its obligations over controlling refugee flows towards Greece and the EU, or whether the European Commission should assume a more energetic role to press Ankara. Fact is that both sides should come closer and implement what has been agreed.

The Turkish government has not done much since the joint agreement with the EU was signed in late November 2015. It is certain that Turkey has assumed an ever growing number of refugees since the war in Syria has sparked, and this is something the EU is taking into account. But on the other side, one of the biggest problems included in the agreement remains untouched: that of dismantling the expansive networks of smugglers -a "business" worth hundreds of millions of euros- that take advantage of desperate people that want to flee from war-torn countries.

The second vital point of the agreement entails the provision of EU's refugee facility towards Turkey in order to efficiently accommodate incomers. This is effectuated through EU's financial assistance allocated for the creation of reception centers and the host of refugee communities. This assistance is not unconditional and has to be coupled with Turkey's transparency in funding allocation. So far things are not clear whereas EU and the member-states are not properly informed on how this amount will be used and what effect it will have on what has been agreed. In this respect, Ankara should embark on a better model of governance and give priority to upgrading camps, providing schooling and vocational trainings as well as decent medical services and housing.

The third point has to do with the false perception of Turkey's EU membership and its correlation with the implementation of the joint agreement on the refugee front. The rapprochement between EU and Turkey should not be seen as a bargaining process nor inextricably related to membership admission, but rather as an effort to advance and normalize some fundamental aspects of democracy in the country. The situation in the Southeastern borders with the consecutive curfews, the growing social turmoil and the warlike conditions is alarming. Similar cases have been witnessed with respect to media freedom and the proper implementation of the rule of law, all aspects of policy- and decision-making for which, as an EU, we are deeply concerned.

A fourth point, irrelevant to the joint agreement but important to bring this issue one step further, has to do with EU and Turkey proposing the launch of a joint humanitarian operation with the direct involvement of the United Nations on the ground. It is essential to intensify global efforts and exert a more systematic and persistent pressure towards reaching a compromise in Syria talks. EU should be more active on that, whereas Turkey should stop any kind of warfare in its Southeastern borders, clear out any allegations on links with ISIS, and focus on diplomatic initiatives.

A minimalistic approach of the refugee crisis and the prevalence of states' self-interests cannot provide a lasting solution. And this is why each part involved in the roots of the problem as well as each part involved in the handling of the repercussions of the refugee crisis should be held accountable for finding a peaceful solution."

[12] ND spokesman: Refugees issue a European and international matter

He also noted that a NATO intervention aiming at the effective interception of the migrants inflow would be an act towards the right direction if Greece's sovereign rights are not affected.

Referring to the possibility of closed borders with Fyrom, Koumoutsakos said that ND is monitoring with concern this discussion. "We listen with surpise to members of the government referring to this issue as if it means nothing at all."

"The government has accepted serious committments for the country. Its weakness to fulfil them raise speculations over the country's exit from the Schengen zone," he underlined and announced that ND has reached some conclusions which will be presented to EU envoys on Monday at the European People's party meeting.

"We will do whatever possible to support the country," he stressed.

Moreover, Koumoutsakos criticised Turkey and Europe's stance saying that it has not fulfilled its commitments.

[13] People potentially eligible for asylum turned back at FYROM border for having 'wrong' nationality, Human Rights Watch charges

"Desperate people that are the 'wrong' nationality are deprived of the right to proceed, are beaten by border guards and fall prey to traffickers," said Peter Bouckaert, Human Rights Watch's emergencies director and an expert in humanitarian crises, said in an announcement on Thursday.

HRW monitors conducting a three-day visit to the Idomeni border crossing in January reported dozens of incidents where people were returned from FYROM to Greece because they were not from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan.

They included individuals from Iran, Libya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Morocco, Algeria, Bangladesh, Palestine (from Lebanon and Gaza), Somalia and Eritrea that had come to Greece via Turkey, the announcement said.

While some were economic migrants with few chances of being granted asylum, others hailed from countries whose citizens have high rates of being granted protection in the EU, such as Iranians (65 pct of whom were granted protection in the first quarter of 2015), Somalians (59 pct in the same period), and Libyans (57 pct).

The organisation pointed out that denying someone the right to apply for asylum on the grounds of nationality is contrary to the right of asylum as set out in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU.

Among those turned back at the Greece-FYROM border were an Iranian political activist fleeing imprisonment, as well as an Afghan-Iranian couple and facing death threats over their marriage, where the man was allowed to go through but told his wife would have to stay behind.

HRW noted that those forbidden to proceed legally often resorted to crossing the border illegally and met with violence from the FYROM border guards, while others fell prey to exploitation by traffickers.

It also denounced the Greek asylum system as inadequate, saying that it was short-staffed and lacked enough interpreters, so that asylum seekers often had to keep trying for weeks just to get an interview, while receiving no help from the Greek government.

[14] Greek FinMin has meetings with Moscovici, head of IMF European Dept Poul Thomsen

Greece's Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Thursday had meetings with European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici and the head of the IMF's European Department Poul Thomsen, on the sidelines of the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels.

According to government sources, the meetings went well and there was agreement on the need to conclude the first review of the Greek programme as soon as possible.

[15] Djisselbloem 'optimistc' about outcome of talks on Greek programme

Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem on Thursday said he was "optimistic" concerning ongoing talks on the Greek programme, in a doorstep statement as he arrived for a Eurozone finance ministers' meeting.

"There were some rumours in the press that the process had derailed. I am absolutely convinced that that's wrong. The process is continuing, quite a lot of ground has been covered, so that I'm optimistic that we'll find a good outcome," he said, noting that the meeting on Thursday would just "take stock of the process that is still going on in Athens."

"The Greek government is talking to our institutions about the design of the pension reform, some fiscal issues and they need to reach an agreement. I think a lot of work has already been done, more homework is being prepared by both sides and on that basis work will continue," he said.

[16] We try to understand and help, says Czech FM Zaor?lek

"The protection of the Schengen's borders is of great national importance and constitutes one of the greatest challenges for Europe aiming at reducing the inflow of undocumented migrants," he underlined.

For this reason, he said, he started his tour from Izmir, then he went to Skopje and Athens and it will be completed in Mytilini, in order to better understand the situation and assist in the protection of EU's external borders. For this reason, they also discussed Czech police's potential contribution with fingerprint machines.

"The Czech Republic feels obliged to help countries in difficult situation and try to find a way to work together on this," he stated.

He denied that his country had a tough stance on the refugee issue and added: "It is absolutely right that the problem is a European one and we must solve it together. We are trying to share this burden and give our help," concluded the Czech Foreign Minister.

[17] Bill on TV licences submitted to Parliament

According to the provisions of the draft law, four licences will be granted and the starting price will be determined by a joint decision of the Finance Minister and the State Minister.

Licences will be for four years.

The draft law will be discussed in the parliament plenary on Thursday afternoon. According to government sources, the government's main aim is the economic viability of the broadcasting companies so that market distortions are averted as well as excessive lending.

According to a study carried out by the European University Institute in Florence, Greece can issue up to four television licences for private television channels broadcasting nationwide.

[18] Tsipras: TV licensing law debate shows who wants to clear up Greece's media landscape

This will give Greek people the opportunity to draw their own conclusions," he said, adding that "we've been listening for years to the phrase 'vested interests', but now it's time to explain the term and how to deal with it."

The government has announced it will launch and oversee a tender for four nationwide TV licenses, drawing criticism from the opposition which objects to the number saying they are too few and several other aspects of the procedure.

Tsipras slammed the opposition parties, saying they covered up the impunity of the unlicensed media for 27 years, and which are trying to do so now too. He also said that voters gave the government a clear mandate to clash with the vested interests, the status quo and corruption.

"Now, for all those who were living like parasites and sucking all the power of Greek society, it's time to give their explanations and go through the cash register to pay their taxes; along with those who have send their untaxed money abroad," he said, noting that in three parliamentary sessions, New Democracy said it doesn't want a tender for broadcasting licenses. "It is a kind of institutional aberration, because not consenting short circuits institutions."

Tsipras then brought as an example the media market of other European countries. "Are they stupid in the rest of Europe where they have a limited number of [TV] licenses? EU countries with a population similar in size to Greece's have two not four licenses," he noted adding that countries with much larger populations like France and Germany have five and six respectively.

"Therefore the four licenses we're proposing are too many, not too few," he said and turning his attention to the opposition, he said: "For the past five years we've had a [financial] supervision, there's only one measure you haven't implemented; to move ahead with a tender for television licenses." The prime minister also clarified that the opposition's effort not to set up the country's TV and radio regulator (ESR) will not stop the government from its plan to end corruption "either you like it or not".

"Greece will not become a European banana republic," he told MPs, noting that the government will request a roll call vote so that every lawmaker will have to take on his responsibilities for this legislation.

In the start of his speech, the premier paid tribute to the two dead and one missing navy pilots whose helicopter crashed on Thursday morning in the eastern Aegean during a military exercise.

[19] Gov't sources rebuff criticism of expert report on television licences

In an extensive and detailed announcement, the government sources said a study carried out by the European University Institute in Florence disputed EITHSEE's assertion that the current digital network provider Digea has the capacity to broadcast up to 16 HD channels and 48 regular channels at present, as well as 54 HD and 150 regular in the future.

"The addition and removal of frequencies carried out during the planning of the frequency map will create interference problems with neighbouring countries in the near future. The Digital Frequencies Map needs to be redesigned, taking into account international trends for freeing the 700 MHZ zone and the frequencies given to it by ITU - and only them. Taking into account these parameters, as well as the systemic parameters as set out in the frequency map and with reference to the compression technique, the maximum number of nationally broadcasting HD programmes that the network provider can broadcast is four," the sources said.

Any addition to this number would rule out either regional or public programmes, or else the new frequency map will recreate the problems of its predecessor, the announcement added.

The sources rejected criticism that the study on the capacity for HD channels contained simple numerical errors and mistaken assumptions, leading it to underestimate the maximum number of HD channels the system could carry. They noted that the current Digea system, at 16.59 Mbits/s, was currently significantly below the nominal maximum capacity of 24.88 Mbit/s.

"According to the EBU technical report 'Defining Spectrum Requirements of Broadcasting in the UHF Band, 2015' the total bit rate for an HD programme ranges from 8.35-12.35 Mbps. Consequently, even if the maximum nominal capacity of 24.88 Mbps is taken into account, the number of HD programmes per multiplex cannot be greater than two."

The government sources countered EITHSEE's claim that the tenders are for use of bandwidth, which have already been paid for, noting that there is no such reference in the report and on the fourth point, they accuse EITHSEE's of confusing the licence for the signal provider with that for content providers.

"The shareholders of Digea are the television stations broadcasting nationally - the members of EITHSEE. The fact that, at this time, there is in reality complete identity between the network provider and the content provider is yet another ailment of the anarchic television scene, which is actually contrary to EU law," the government sources pointed out.

Finally, they noted that the EUI report clearly states that it had insufficient evidence on which to base an assessment of financial viablity for each television channel, because the channels had failed to publish reliable and complete financial reports. It had noted only that the advertising pie in Greece had shrunk and that a reduction of their numbers would assist they viability.

A meeting between EITHSEE and Minister of State Nikos Pappas on Thursday ended in complete deadlock, with EITHSEE issuing an announcement saying the government had made its decisions in advance and urging it to withdraw an amendment for a television licences tender.

The government's decision to allow only four nationally broadcasting channels violated the constitution, the principles of pluralism and put hundreds of jobs at risk, television channel owners said.

[20] SYRIZA MPs submit request on roll call vote on TV licensing bill

The request was announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in his speech during the same debate and will be followed through if the main opposition doesn't submit the request.

[21] TV licences tender is part of the memorandum, says European Commission spokesman

It is Greece's commitment included in the memorandum to collect revenues through the tender of TV licences, stated European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas on Thursday.

Asked on the Greek government's decision to proceed with an international tender for the tender of four TV licences, Schinas replied that the memorandum engages the Greek government to launch an international tender for the selling of TV licences noting that the revenues will be used for the fulfilment of the fiscal targets. "The tender must be conducted with respect to the European law and taking into account that no proposal has been tabled yet, the issue has not been discussed with the instititutions," he added.

However, Schinas underlined that "the member staes decide on the TV licencing procedure provided that the legislation has not been yet harmonised at European level.'

[22] ND spokesman sternly attacks government on TV licences

"Without explanation he arbitrarily decides to give four licences. He moves beyond the Constitution and under the table," stated Koumoutsakos and referred to an attempt of political polarisation and division.

[23] Journalists, employees of TV channels announce 7-hour work stoppage

According to the press release issued by ESHEA, employees in the media want transparent rules on media ownership, securing jobs for workers, immediate signing of Collective Labour Agreement in public broadcaster ERT, as well as for all employees, securing funds for their union pension funds and withdrawal of the government's social security reform proposals.

[24] Gov't VP discusses refugee crisis with Swiss ambassador

Dragasakis told Hodel Greece is working hard to manage refugee flows "in a way that it agrees with Europe's humanitarian acquis", adding that all member-states need to be consistent with their obligations.

On his side, Hodel noted Switzerland's will to contribute actively in Greece's efforts to manage the refugee crisis, by assisting in the refugee relocation process.

[25] PM Tsipras to meet Italy's Parliament Speaker Boldrini on Friday

[26] Macedonia farmers remain at their blocks

"A large number of farmers go to Athens on Friday but we have taken care so that our blocks not to weaken," farmers said to ANA-MPA.

"If clashes break out, we will further strengthen our blocks," said Dimitris Papadakis, a member of the coordination committee at Thermi.

The customs at Promachonas (Greek-Bulgarian borders) will be open from 11:00-15:00 every day according to the blockade's committee. Exochi customs (Greek-Bulgarian borders) will be closed from 10:00-15:00 then it will open for two hours and will close again at 22:00. "Our aim is not to give to the citizens a hard time but to make clear that the government's measures will finish us for good and in case of a congestion we will facilitate citizens," said the member of the coordination committee Thodoris Ifogos.

The two blocks at Evzoni and Doirani customs on the Greek-Fyrom borders will be closed from 13:00-15:00 and 20:00-22:00 and 18:00-22:00 respectively.

Farmers continue to keep the motorway blocked at Kedryllia, Malgara and Niselio.

In Western Macedonia, farmers continue their mobilisations with nine blocks across the region. The Greek-Albania border post in Krystallopigi and the Greek-Fyrom border post at Niki will be closed from 11:00-23:00.

[27] Farmers to open Tempi Valley on Thursday evening

The farmers said that they will withdraw their tractors from the road in order to facilitate their colleagues from northern Greece to participate in the two-day protest rally that will be held at Syndagma square in Athens despite the fact that they will not take part in the rally.

However, the farmers are planning to block again the Tempi Valley at the hours the protest will peak. In any case, Tempi Valley will be open for many hours from Thursday night to Monday.

The farmers of the block at Tempi have sent their proposals to the prime minister as well as to all the party leaders and are waiting for their response in order for a dialogue to open. They have also clarified that the start of the dialogue based on their proposals can start after Monday when their colleagues' protest in Athens is completed.

[28] Energy Minister Skourletis meets with Ambassador of Kuweit to Greece

The good relations between the two countries were confirmed and both officials referred to their futher strengthening.

Financial News

[29] OAED launches 60-mln-euro programme for 15,000 unemployed people

The programme will offer full-time employment through 15,000 new subsidized job positions designed to help people aged more than 50 years old to return to the labor market and fulfill preconditions for pension rights. The programme is addressed to private companies, cooperatives and generally employers eligible to participate (they have not made any personnel cuts in the previous 12 months).

The programme envisages subsidizing 50 pct of monthly payroll and non-payroll cost up to 500 euros and will have a duration of nine months with the option of extending for another nine months. The programme is expected to begin by the end of February, or early March.

[30] Greek unemployment rate eased to 24.6 pct in Nov

The statistics service, in a report, said that the number of employed people totaled 3,620,750 in November, while the number of unemployed amounted to 1,180,516. The number of employed people grew by 81,751 in November from November 2014 (an increase of 2.3 pct) and by 1,003 compared with October 2015. The number of unemployed fell by 55,857 in November from November 2014 (a decline of 4.5 pct) and by 3,718 compared with October 2015 (a decline of 0.3 pct).

[31] Athens' real estate prospects seen tumbling in 2016, PwC survey says

These ground-level disruptions are permeating through the entire real estate value chain. Investors are focused on cities and assets rather than countries.

They also favour alternative, more operational assets for accessing outperformance, with 41 percent of respondents against 28 percent last year considering taking the plunge into alternatives. Healthcare, hotels, student accommodation and data centres are all expected to shine as sectors benefiting from urbanisation and longterm demographic trends.

Development is seen as another way to achieve outperformance in 2016, with 78 percent agreeing it is an attractive way to acquire prime assets. Low interest rates and the sheer weight of capital bearing down on European real estate mean that most remain bullish about the industry's business prospects in 2016. However, concerns over geopolitical issues like immigration and terrorism, Britain's potential exit from the European Union, economic decline in China and uncertainty over Europe's economic recovery, have led to a strong undercurrent of caution, most obviously highlighted by lower levels of confidence in the outlook post 2016.

According to Emerging Trends Europe, the five leading cities for investment prospects in 2016 are Berlin at Number 1, followed by Hamburg, Dublin, Madrid and Copenhagen.

However, the optimism that saw Athens surge to Number 5 in 2015 has evaporated entirely after a year of political and economic chaos in which an exit from the euro was only prevented by frantic last-minute negotiations.

An international investor says: "In this survey last year we were surprised by the number of people saying that Greece is the hot place to go and look. We didn't think that then and we don't think that now." The Greek capital's new ranking at Number 27 and its "very poor" rating for development prospects reflect the gravity of the country's economic predicament.

Many interviewees fear that the crisis is far from over: "Greece would still be hitting the headlines if it wasn't for immigration and Syria and everything else," says one. There is also more pain ahead for the Greek economy. The austerity programme that Greece agreed with its creditors will shrink the economy at the same time as taxes are increasing in an attempt to balance the books. Consumer spending will suffer. Business confidence is at rock bottom. Foreign property investors might find bargains, and "there is still a handful of investors looking at Greece although not with the same intensity as 12 months ago". "By the end of 2016, Greece could become interesting," says one fund manager.

However, only forced sellers are likely to dispose of assets in a market in which values have fallen by 60-85 percent depending on asset type since 2007, according to one local. Meanwhile, the imposition of capital controls means that investors will find it difficult to get their money out of the country. "What is happening here is extreme," says a Greek interviewee. "The collapse is so big and has lasted so long that it has totally disorganised the property sector."

[32] E-payments to add 0.5 pct to Greek GDP in 2016-2022, report

The bank's analysts noted that lowering dependence in cash was estimated to have added directly 1.4 pct of GDP in the second half of 2015 as a boom in e-transactions seemed to have played a pivotal role in limiting informal economy. The report said that e-transactions added 1.4 pct of GDP in the second half of 2015, or 0.8 pct to the annual GDP and noted that excluding this contribution the Greek economy would have contracted by around 2.5 pct in 2015.

National Bank's analysts estimate that an annual increase in e-payments of around 10 pct would add around 0.2 pct on average to the annual growth rate of the country's GDP and noted that raising e-payments closer to the European South average (around 12 pct of GDP in Italy, Spain and Portugal), from 6.8 pct of GDP in 2015 could add 0.5 pct to the annual average growth rate in Greece in the period 2016-2020 (4.5 billion euros to the GDP) and more than 1.5 billion euros in tax revenue over the same period.

National Bank's analysts expected the Greek economy to contract by 0.2 pct on average this year, but to record an 1.7 pct growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2016, while e-payments are projected to rise by 2.5 pct of GDP this year, adding 0.7 pct of the country's GDP.

[33] Premium insurance production down 3.58 pct in 2015

The report, based on information offered by 57 insurance companies accounting for 95.8 pct of total premium insurance production in the country, said that life insurance totaled 1.76 billion euros last year, down 3.9 pct from 2014, reflecting an 18 pct decline in unit linked products. Damage insurance totaled 1.82 billion euros in 2015, down 7.6 pct from the previous year, reflecting a 13.7 pct decline in car insurance.

Alexandros Sarrigeorgiou, president of the Union, commenting on the results said that the implementation of capital controls in the country hit premium insurance production last year.

[34] Trastor says revenue stable, losses up in 2015

Trastor said it will skip dividend payment to shareholders.

[35] EasyJet to add Zakynthos-Stansted flight to its destinations this summer

With the addition of the new flight, Zakynthos will now have a direct link to two London airports, Stansted and Gatwick. The easyJet flights will begin on May 28, with a weekly flight on Saturday.

Also for the summer season, easyJet intends to link Zakynthos with the UK cities of Bristol, Liverpool and the Italian city of Malpensa. It will add six new flights to its network to Greece, including a flight from Santorini to Venice, Mykonos-Venice, Amsterdam-Rhodes, Mykonos-Lyon and Mykonos-Nice to reach a total of 71 flights.

According to easyJet's Route Manager Dimitris Schinas, the company aims to carry up to 2.3 million passengers to Greece this year.

[36] Greek stocks extend decline for eighth successive session

The composite index ended 1.89 pct lower at 440.88 points, after falling as low as 420.82 points (-6.35 pct) early in the session. The index extended its decline for the eighth successive session, during which it has lost 20.87 pct of its value, standing 30.17 pct down so far this year. The Bank index fell 4.85 pct, after falling as much as 20.91 pct during the day. The index has lost 48.74 pct in the last eight sessions.

The Large Cap index fell 2.51 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 1.92 pct lower. Turnover was a low 73.046 million euros in volume of 273,277,413.

Viohalco (4.78 pct), Athens Water (4.23 pct) and Hellenic Exchanges (2.70 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains of the day among blue chip stocks, while Eurobank (12.24 pct), Piraeus Bank (10 pct) and Titan (6.88 pct) suffered heavy losses.

National Bank and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day. Among market sectors, Financial Services (2.02 pct), Utilities (1.89 pct) and Raw Materials (0.75 pct) scored big gains, while Construction (5.31 pct), Banks (4.85 pct) and Health (4.65 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 81 to 31 with another 20 issues unchanged. Nafpaktos Spin Mills (29.52 pct), Athina (20 pct) and Vioter (18 pct) were top gainers, while Akritas (20 pct), Sfakianakis (19.95 pct) and Hellenic Sugar (17.72 pct) were top losers.

[37] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates continued moving lower. The 12-month rate fell to -0.006 pct from -0.001 pct, the nine-month rate eased to -0.061 pct from -0.059 pct, the six-month rate fell to -0.112 pct from -0.111 pct, the three-month rate eased to -0.179 pct from -0.175 pct and the one-month rate fell to -0.239 pct.

[38] ADEX closing report

General News

[39] Archdiocese of Athens's humanitarian organization to 'adopt' Samos hotspot

The offer includes providing food, clothes, medicines, bedding to all refugees and migrants arriving at the center, as well as thousands of beds which will be distributed to the other five hotspots which are being built on several Aegean islands.

"His Beatitude shared recently this thought with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in a meeting in Maximos Mansion, but today we announce it officially," Kostis Dimtsas, the general director of "Apostoli" told Quick.

The "adoption" of Samos' hotspot will start as soon as Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas gives the green light.

Weather forecast

[40] Clouds, rain on Friday

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

DIMOKRATIA: The refugee issue on the gallows

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Big war over TV licences

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: A secret circular for pensions in the public sector

ESTIA: Is Deutsche Bank the European Lehman Brothers?

ETHNOS: A package of five measures for farmers

IMERISSIA: (Prime Minister Alexis) Tsipras' four messages

KATHIMERINI: Distress signal from (Bank of Greece governor Yanis) Stournaras

KONTRA NEWS: TV licences to the public

NAFTEMPORIKI: Distress signal for revenues

RIZOSPASTIS: The government is faithful to the program - guillotine for the social security system

TA NEA: Stournaras rings the alarm

TO PONTIKI: A German-Turkish mine in the Aegean

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