[ana-dist] Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 12-11-29

[HR-Net News Distribution Manager]

Thursday,  29  November  2012          Issue No: 4234

CONTENTS
[01] PM tells Cabinet: Growth, investments, new jobs the fundamental goal
[02] PM Samaras posts video-message on Facebook
[03] Coalition gov't party leaders conclude meeting: Eurogroup decisions
      keep Greece in euro
[04] KKE on party leaders' meeting
[05] No time for celebrations, Greek FinMin says
[06] Gov't spokesman: End to 'Grexit' stories
[07] SYRIZA sees further deterioration in Greece following Eurogroup
      outcome
[08] SYRIZA: Gov't running out of time
[09] Independent Greeks party says PM's Eurogroup message 'artificial
      optimism operation'
[10] President Papoulias to receive PM Samaras on Thursday
[11] DIMAR not to back proposed probe into signature of bailout memorandum
[12] German State Secretary Haber meets with PASOK, DIM.AR delegation
[13] Foreign minister cancels trip to Albania
[14] Berisha's spokeswoman clarifies:'no territorial claim against
      neighbours'
[15] Public Order Minister Dendias announces police force reorganization
[16] Public order minister announces future staff cuts in fire brigade
[17] Education minister on creation of higher education 'task force'
[18] Lebanese president on formal visit to Greece
[19] Gov't prepares plan to pay state debt to private sector
[20] Shipping minister calls on London shipping community to support
      Greek Registry
[21] Greek banks raised dependence on ELA in Oct.
[22] Bank credit to private sector shrank further in Oct.
[23] Seven candidates short-listed in OPAP sale
[24] Tourism ministry presents "Amazing Athens" SmartPhone App
[25] OECD report on local economic growth in disadvantageous regions
      on Crete
[26] Qatar to launch new Athens-NY daily flight
[27] DE.PA to launch e-auction for natgas supplies
[28] OGA pensions at 67 for those born after 1948
[29] Saving deposits in Greek banks up in Oct.
[30] Hellenic Sugar says profits up 135.28% in July-Sept
[31] Business Briefs
[32] Greek stocks end significantly lower
[33] Greek bond market closing report
[34] ADEX closing report
[35] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday
[36] 40,000 people have perished in road accidents since 1990
[37] Police launch operation in Zephyri and Ano Liossia in clampdown
      on crime
[38] Noted real estate tycoon arrested for debts to state
[39] Arrests for child porn trafficking over the Internet
[40] Florina bank robbers make getaway with 110,000 euros
[41] Piano marathon in Thessaloniki
[42] Tanker adrift due to engine failure near Skyros
[43] Bag of dynamite found in Ano Voula
[44] Rainy on Thursday
[45] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance
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Politics

[01] PM tells Cabinet: Growth, investments, new jobs the fundamental goal

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras expressed satisfaction with the recent
Eurogroup decisions on Greece and the climate, vis-a-vis Greece, that
has emerged abroad, and stressed that the priority now was on changing
the climate at home and for relief of the social groups that are hardest
hit by the crisis, addressing a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

"In the latest period we had the major issue of the European battle. This
battle ended at the recent Eurogroup meeting," Samaras said, noting that
the Greek market was no credible abroad.

"No one will be allowed to injure Greece's credibility," he warned, adding
that he did not want to hear of gloating. "We must manage the problems
correctly. We cannot speak of success when things are so difficult,
that all has ended. We've been culling conclusions since yesterday
(Tuesday). We will correct whatever mistakes in our operation," he added.

Samaras stressed that solidarity among the government ministers is
necessary, as is coordination among the Cabinet members, and gave strict
orders for completion of the prior actions by end-December, noting that
they are "society-friendly actions and do good to competitiveness".

The premier presented three directions in which the government will act
in the coming period: strict supervision of every ministry on its budget
(there will be an automatic supervisory mechanism), implementation
of the measures without relaxation, and everyone's assistance in the
denationalisations.

The goal, he said, is for every ministry to present a primary surplus,
and this is the purpose of the automatic supervisory mechanism.

"With the surplus, we can channel 70 percent to correcting injustices,"
Samaras said, while he set out growth, investments and the creation of
new jobs as the fundamental goal.

The prime minister announced that a memorandum would be signed by
alternate finance minister Christos Staikouras with the ministers of
every ministry that has outstanding debts, as this was necessary for
the credibility of the state,

He further told his ministers that he will be at their side and urged
then to draw up time-tables and adhere to them.

"I will from here on be at the Maximos Mansion (government headquarters)
infrequently and frequently at the ministries. I will be a different prime
minister," Samaras said, and thanked Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras
for the "titanic work he accomplished in such a short time", as well as
the other ministers who "gave their all, to the point of self-sacrifice".

[02] PM Samaras posts video-message on Facebook

In a message posted by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on his personal
Facebook account, the Greek premier says that ?"we, Greeks, know very well
that we can achieve anything, but only through unity and decisiveness."

The video-message, titled "Greece is just starting up," shows Samaras
addressing the nation and saying that the country has many times been
through tough times in its long history, but always found the strength
and courage to stand up and walk ahead. He also underlines that it is
necessary for Greece to enter again a path of growth with stability,
security and consensus.

[03] Coalition gov't party leaders conclude meeting: Eurogroup decisions
keep Greece in euro

Prime Minister and New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras
and the leaders of the two parties participating in his three-party
coalition government -- PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic
Left (DIMAR) leader Fotis Kouvelis -- met on Wednesday to review the
decisions on Greece taken at a Eurogroup meeting of eurozone finance
ministers on Monday.

According to the coalition government's two junior partners, Venizelos
and Kouvelis, no issue of a government reshuffle was put forward at
their meeting, during which they were briefed on the Eurogroup meeting
and decisions by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras.

"We have a new framework, a new starting point that we must take advantage
of in the best possible way to the benefit of the real economy, to the
benefit of the citizens, because now only a halting of the recession and
positive growth rates can convince the Greeks that a prospect exists,"
PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos told reporters after the leaders'
meeting.

Venizelos stressed that "the climate (vis-a-vis Greece) has changed"
and that "we also must believe in this cause", adding the importance of
"the Greeks feeling more confident".

"We know the difficulties, we know what every household is going through,
we know what it means to be unemployed, to have your business be at
risk and to have lost income. But the country must remain standing,
and now it can regain the lost ground and once again become autonomous
and equal in Europe," he added.

Venizelos said that the immediate target now was "completion of all that
we have undertaken in relation to the buy-back of the Greek bonds (Greek
debt buy-back), the recapitalisation of the banks - not the bankers (an
indirect reply to opposition criticism), for money to enter the market,
for the state to pay what it owes to the market and, of course, for the
liquidity to be channeled to the market".

He explained that this was why the recapitalisation of the banks is
accompanied by three accords on liquidity, on reconstruction and on
reacquiring the value of the banks, respectively, in order for the state
to get back what it puts into the banking system.

Asked if a change in the operation of the government was put forward,
Venizelos said that "this was not the subject of today's discussion",
adding that "now we must take advantage of the moment, which is very
important, the country must turn towards exiting the crisis".

DIMAR leader Fotis Kouvelis put the priority on growth and restoring
and reinforcing the social cohesion, speaking in turn to reporters after
the leaders' meeting.

Kouvelis said that a comprehensive plan for the country's recovery and
a protection net for the hard-hit social strata is necessary.

"We will do everything needed for the country to move forward, for a
developmental process and the creation of jobs," he said.

Kouvelis added that his party's decision to support the coalition
government for Greece's continued stay in the euro and to avert political
instability has been vindicated, and welcomed the Eurogroup decisions
as an "exceptionally positive". development.

On the prospect of a government reshuffle, he said that no discussion
on such a prospect took place with Samaras and Venizelos, adding that
"the issue was not brought up in any manner".

Asked if an updating of the three parties' programme agreement (for
participation in the coalition government) is needed, Kouvelis stressed
that the priority should be on policies for growth and social cohesion.

Leaving the meeting earlier, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said
he briefed the leaders of the coalition government's three parties on
Monday's Eurogroup meeting and outcome.

Stournaras said that in the coming days the Hellenic Republic Asset
Development Fund S.A. (HRADF) will issue an announcement explaining how
the Greek debt buy-back programme will be carried out.

Asked by journalists how easy or hard the buy-back process will be,
Stournaras said that he is optimistic, adding that "nothing is easy,
but we're trying".

The buy-back of the Greek debt is a precondition set out by the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release its portion of the
43.7-billion-euros tranche of the EU/IMF IMF bailout loan to Greece
that was approved by a Eurogroup meeting of eurozone finance ministers
at Monday's meeting in Brussels.

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde, who attended the Eurogroup
meeting, welcomed the Eurogroup's decisions on Greece and added that
once progress has been made on specifying and delivering the commitments
made at the meeting, and "in particular the implementation of the debt
buybacks", she would be "in a position to recommend to the IMF Executive
Board the completion of the first review of Greece's program".

[04] KKE on party leaders' meeting

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE), commenting the meeting of the party
leaders that participate in the coalition government on Wednesday, stated
that "the co-governance, with ungrounded gloating and fake promises,
attempts to hide the fact that together with their European partners
they are escalating the massacre of the people and that the conflicts
are intensifying within the EU on how they will manage their own crisis".

"The talk about a better and stronger negotiation in EU is constantly
proving to be dangerous for the people" noted the KKE in an announcement.

"Now the working classes' struggle for disengagement from the EU, the
socialisation of the monopolies and the unilateral write-off of the debt
comes first on the agenda," the KKE added.

[05] No time for celebrations, Greek FinMin says

"This is not the time for celebrations, the difficult part for the country
is now beginning, and we must think how to take advantage of this great
opportunity," Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, during a news conference to present the outcome
of a Eurogroup meeting, the Greek minister said decisions taken during
the Eurogroup meeting were very significant, creating the preconditions
for Greece to remain in the Eurozone and to exit a vicious cycle of
excessive debt and recession. Stournaras stressed it was imperative
to move forward with reforms and privatizations. He said that the next
tranche of an aid loan will be released by December 13.

Commenting on a Greek debt buy back programe, which he said would aim
to reduce the nominal value of Greece's debt by roughly 30 billion euro,
he said it would be voluntary and that it was the patriotic duty of all
involved to participate and ensure it was successful.

The finance minister emphasised that Greece must now implement the
structural changes passed by Parliament, press ahead with a privatisation
programme and carry out reforms to make the social state more efficient,
with social policies directed at those who really needed them, thus
ensuring equal opportunities to health, education and other benefits
for all.

Stournaras noted that the disposal of 10 billion euro for the bond buyback
programme was a condition set by the Eurogroup in order to disburse the
loan tranche of 43.7 billion euro (34.4 billion euro before December
13 and the rest in three installments within the first quarter of 2013)
so that Greece's debt in 2020 is reduced from 144 percent of GDP to 122
percent of GDP.

The finance minister and the new head of Greece's Public Debt Management
Agency Stelios Papadopoulos said that the bond buy back offer will be
announced early next week, with two major international banks negotiating
on behalf of the Greek state, and will remain 'open' for about seven
days. The Greek state will put up roughly 10 billion euro borrowed from
the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) to buy back bonds with
a nominal value of nearly 30 billion euro. The loan from the EFSF will
be in addition to the 43.7 billion euro financial aid tranche due to
be disbursed by March 2013 and can be paid back from the proceeds of
privatisations, they said.

Stournaras clarified that participation by banks in the bond
buyback programme will not mean that they will receive additional
capital. Regarding social insurance and pension funds, the minister said
he would like them to "decide on their own" but indicated that there
was also a 'plan B' if the bond buyback scheme didn't work.

The minister underlined, however, that "a face-value reduction of the
debt is currently off the table".

Stournaras also used the opportunity to announce that he had asked his
French counterpart Pierre Muscovici to send Greece a new copy of the
controversial 'Lagarde list' - containing the names of nearly 2,000
Greeks with significant sums deposited in the Geneva branch of HSBC -
indicating that it was just a matter of time before this arrived. The
list and its fate since it was handed to the Greek government roughly two
years earlier is currently the object of an ongoing judicial investigation
that has just been sent to the Greek Parliament.

[06] Gov't spokesman: End to 'Grexit' stories

Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou on Wednesday, referring to the
Eurogroup's decisions on Greece, said: "We have closed a very important
chapter, a very difficult one with painful decisions, but we succeeded
in safeguarding Greece's position in Europe's core, in securing the
conditions that will allow us to exercise policies in order to quickly
bring a new day to the country".

Speaking on private Vima FM radio station, Kedikoglou avoided
comment on the bonds' buy-back issue but anticipated that it will go
"smoothly". Moreover, he underlined that the Eurogroup's decision contains
a clause that foresees that if Greece is in a recession, a deviation from
the targets will be allowed", adding that "even the worst case scenario,
there will be no further cuts in pension and salaries".  Moreover, he
noted that a return of bank deposits to Greece is expected following
the Eurogroup's decision. "The bank deposits will return to Greece,
roughly 80 billion euros in deposits are expected, because a huge profit
has been secured by the Eurogroup's decision," he said.

"Full stop to Grexit stories," Kedikoglou concluded.

[07] SYRIZA sees further deterioration in Greece following Eurogroup
outcome

Main opposition 'Coalition of the Radical Left' (SYRIZA) on Wednesday
predicted that living standards and the overall economic state will
deteriorate further in the wake of the Eurogroup's recent decisions for
Greece's debt.

Analysing the impact of implementing these decisions, sources in the
main opposition party pointed out that a condition for them would be
continuing the austerity policies that had already proven disastrous
both in Greece and the rest of the Eurozone.

In light of this, sources within the party accused the government of
"looking on in guilty silence while the IMF and the German government
negotiated ways to handle the failure of the second memorandum. A
negotiation whose aim, was to continue precisely the same policy of
austerity and recession, in spite of its failure".

The party referred to a number of elements in the agreement that
it believes will cause rapid deterioration of the state of society
and ultimately cause Greece's debt to continue to rise as a result of
deepening recession, while dismissing remedies proposed under the deal as
"mere aspirins".

It also noted that the commitment of more public funds toward paying
off public debt when these might have been made available to finance
developmental efforts would perpetuate the recessionary pressure and the
destruction of the economy, further weakening the country's ability to
service its debts.

SYRIZA said that Greece's position in the eurozone was now made even more
precarious, since the policy that had placed it at risk was continuing
and the same was happening throughout the Eurozone.

Sources in the main opposition also slammed the government's claim that a
more aggressive implementation of the policy that had caused the problems
would provide a solution, while they were particularly scathing about the
stance adopted by the left-wing coalition member Democratic Left (DIMAR).

"The coalition government and the parties that make it up will quickly go
the same way as the previous memorandum governments: they will collapse
and become discredited," SYRIZA concluded, adding that the sooner this
happened, the better it will be for Greek society and the economy.

[08] SYRIZA: Gov't running out of time

"The government is running out of time," main opposition SYRIZA said on
Wednesday, commenting on the meeting of the party leaders participating
in the coalition government held earlier in the day.

A SYRIZA announcement added that "the artificial dose of optimism" will
not take the society out of the crisis and will not save the government,
just as it did not save the previous memorandum governments".

SYRIZA underlined that the governmental partners' attempt to present the
Eurogroup's results as "a national success" lack seriousness and can't
change the cruel reality that the majority of the society is suffering
from the extreme and disastrous policy of the memorandum".

[09] Independent Greeks party says PM's Eurogroup message 'artificial
optimism operation'

Opposition Independent Greeks party spokesman Christos Zois termed
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's message through his website in a social
network site regarding decisions taken at the Eurogroup "an operation
of organised artificial optimism".

Zois added that the country is continuing "the same path of a deadlocked
programme of guaranteed failure ".  "Despite the organised artificial
optimism operation that is being emitted also by the advertising message
by the prime minister himself, in order to give the impression of a new
start, the truth is  that Greece is simply continuing on the same tested
path, of a deadlocked programme of guaranteed failure for which the
Greeks are being led with certainty to impoverishment while in parallel
they are being burdened with new debts", he also noted.

[10] President Papoulias to receive PM Samaras on Thursday

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will be received by President of the
Republic Karolos Papoulias at the Presidential Mansion at 11:00 on
Thursday, whom he will brief on all developments, also in the wake of
the decisions taken by the Eurogroup on Tuesday morning.

[11] DIMAR not to back proposed probe into signature of bailout memorandum

The Democratic Left (DIM.AR) party, one of the junior members of Greece's
coalition government, on Wednesday decided not to support a proposal for
a Parliamentary investigating committee to determine whether there was
political responsibility for events that led Greece to sign the first
memorandum for bailout loans. The proposal was tabled by main opposition
'Coalition of the Radical Left' (SYRIZA) and is due to be discussed
on Thursday.

The decision was taken during a meeting of DIM.AR's Parliamentary
group called by party leader Fotis Kouvelis in order to brief the
party's MPs on what occurred during Monday's Eurogroup meeting and the
issues discussed in his meeting with the other two coalition leaders,
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and PASOK President Evangelos Venizelos,
earlier the same day.

According to sources, the three coalition leaders agreed that priority
must now be given to boosting growth and social cohesion and that further
clarifications were needed concerning a bond buyback scheme, especially
its impact on banks and pension funds.

Kouvelis told his MPs that there had been no discussion on a government
reshuffle but that he raised the issue of the new taxation bill, stressing
that this should be based on social criteria. The coalition leaders also
agreed to meet next week to discuss foreign policy issues.

[12] German State Secretary Haber meets with PASOK, DIM.AR delegation

Visiting German Federal Foreign Office State Secretary Emily Haber met
here on Wednesday with PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos whose party backs
the coalition government. The meeting took place at the party's central
offices in Athens and was attended by former finance minister Filippos
Sahinidis. No statements were made afterwards.

Earlier, the German official had met with a delegation of the Democratic
Left (DIM.AR) party, a junior party in the coalition government.

According to a party announcement, she expressed "appreciation on the
seriousness and responsible manner in which DIM.AR faces the country's
problems, as well as support of the German government in effort for
reforms and growth."

"Tuesday's eurogroup decision regarding Greece was also examined during
the meeting, while the DIM.AR delegation briefed, in detail, the German
side on the work underway, underlining at the same time the need of
support for the weaker social strata during this transitional period
that the country is going through," the announcement read.

[13] Foreign minister cancels trip to Albania

In a last-minute announcement on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Dimitris
Avramopoulos said that he was cancelling a planned visit to Tirana in
reaction to the statements made by the Albanian premier on Tuesday to
mark the centenary since Albania became independent.

Expressing Greece's displeasure, Avramopoulos stressed that statements
of this sort did not contribute to cultivating a climate of friendship,
trust and good neighbour relations between the two countries, nor to
efforts to adopt joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest, such as
in politics, economics and energy.

[14] Berisha's spokeswoman clarifies:'no territorial claim against
neighbours'

TIRANA (AMNA)

A spokeswoman for Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Wednesday
offered explanations over the Albanian premier's eyebrow-raising
statements a day earlier, on the occasion of the country's 100th
anniversary of independence, in which he referred to the "...national
independence of all Albanian territories from Preveza to Presevo and
from Skopje to Podgorica".

Spokeswoman Erla Mehilli said Berisha's statement touched on "the
historical context (that existed) 100 years ago, and does not entail
any territorial claim against our neighbours to the south, north or east."

The Albanian spokeswoman's clarification was issued following the
announcement in Athens on Wednesday announcing the cancellation of
Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos' planned visit to Tirana,
in reaction to the quip made by Berisha.

[15] Public Order Minister Dendias announces police force reorganization

Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday
announced that the Greek Police (EL.AS) force will undergo major
restructuring through staff cutbacks and more efficient utilization
of personnel.

Addressing the 22nd Conference of the Federation of EL.AS Officers at
the Greek Police headquarters in Athens, he said that the 61,000 police
officers currently on active duty are too many for a country the size
of Greece, considering the advancements made by technology.

He noted that a relevant report by the Centre for Security Studies
will be completed by next week and underlined that a dialogue will
be launched with the sector's trade unionists before any definitive
decisions are made.

Dendias also stressed that efforts are being made on behalf of the
ministry to improve the salaries of police officers through the
introduction of a "special conditions allowance".

Referring to the planned reorganization of EL.AS, main opposition
Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) MP Dimitris Tsoukalas said that the issue
will have to be discussed in Parliament, suggesting that a cross-party
committee will have to be set up for this purpose.

The conference was formally opened by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens
and All Greece, who noted that "human values are being crushed today,"
while pointing out that "values cannot be lent or granted by any IMF. They
grow inside the people through struggles and sacrifices."

[16] Public order minister announces future staff cuts in fire brigade

Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday
made it clear that Greece's fire brigade would not escape staff cuts as
part of a restructuring, along the same lines as cuts announced for the
police force.

In a ceremony for the handover to the new chief of the fire brigade
at the firemen's academy in Kifissia, Dendias indicated that the fire
brigade had more than enough personnel.

"We are in a phase of changes and these changes cannot leave out the fire
brigade," he said, suggesting that it was a "misconception" that that
the fire brigade was understaffed and that it actually had a significant
surfeit of personnel.

Dendias said a restructuring of the force will seek to make better use
of the human resources available, based on a plan proposed by the new
chief, adding that the system was more important than the numbers.

Sources in the fire brigade indicated that there would not be a reduction
in the permanent positions on the force at present but, due to the roughly
4,000 firemen employed on the basis of five-year contracts, the number
of firemen exceeded the envisaged permanent posts by about 70, meaning
that there would be no replacement for those that went into retirement.

Dendias thanked the outgoing fire brigade chief Panagiotis Bonatsos and
welcomed the new chief Sotiris Georgakopoulos.

[17] Education minister on creation of higher education 'task force'

BRUSSELS (AMNA / M. Papoutsaki)

Education sector initiatives, interventions and reforms implemented
in Greece were outlined by Education Minister Costas Arvanitopoulos,
who addressed the European Parliament plenum on Wednesday, within the
framework of the meeting of EU education ministers here.

Arvanitopoulos said the creation of a five-member technical assistance
"task force" is being considered, comprised of experts and specialists
that will assist universities and tertiary technological institutions
in financial management and better utilising resources.

According to Arvanitopoulos, definitive decisions on the mergers of
roughly 150 higher education institutions in Greece will be reached by
February. He underlined that the large number of tertiary institutions
in the country is the result of decisions that served only parochial
needs but not strictly academic criteria, clarifying that the problem
can be solved through mergers.

He also referred to reforms considered in general and technological
education in the country.

[18] Lebanese president on formal visit to Greece

Lebanese President General Michel Sleiman, accompanied by his wife, will
make a formal visit to Greece from Dec. 6-8, 2012, at the invitation of
President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias.

Financial News

[19] Gov't prepares plan to pay state debt to private sector

A decision by the Greek government to pay part of the state's overdue debt
to the private sector, which totaled 9.3 billion euros in September 30
(including VAT returns), is expected to offer a first liquidity injection
to the domestic market by mid-December.

Alternate Finance Minister Christos Staikouras is expected to present an
integrated plan to fully pay the state's overdue debt, along with signing
a series of memorandums with other government ministries, leaving each
minister responsible for the settlement of their ministries' debts.

According to the plan, the state must pay all 9.3 billion euros of
outstanding debt by the end of 2013, without however reaching a decision
on the sum to be paid this year. The finance ministry will also set
three criteria to speed up payment in certain professional sectors,
while it was considering adopting an offsetting agreement, or even ask
for a "haircut" of the state's debt.

The government will use part of a 10.6 billion euros included in a
tranche of 34.4 billion euros - expected to be released by December 13.

[20] Shipping minister calls on London shipping community to support
Greek Registry

Shipping and Aegean Minister Kostis Mousouroulis on Wednesday briefed
the members of the London based Greek shipping community on prospects
appearing in the Greek economy, also following the successful conclusion
of Monday's Eurogroup.

The minister, who has been on an official visit to the British capital
since Monday, presented to the members of the Greek Shipping Cooperation
Committee the main lines of the plan he has prepared to make the Greek
Registry more attractive for ships, while calling on the Greek shipping
community to support this effort.

The ministry's aim is to achieve more effective organising for speeding
up and shortening the approval act for registering ships under the Greek
flag and the further recognition of the Greek Registry internationally.

The Shipping ministry is already proceeding with flexible oraganising
aiming at eliminating bureaucracy and the computerisation of all services
related to shipping activity, while it is creating an Electronic Registry
for the simplification of the process for the inclusion of a ship in it.

Greece has the sixth biggest Registry in the international market with
1,989 ships, of which 862 are ocean-going.

[21] Greek banks raised dependence on ELA in Oct.

Greek commercial banks raised their dependence on the Emergency Liquidity
Assistance fund operated by the Bank of Greece in October. The central
bank, in a monthly report, said that Greek banks borrowed 122.8 billion
euro from ELA in October, up from 100.3 billion in September, while at
the same time, Greek banks cut their borrowing from the European Central
Bank to 6.5 billion euros in October from 30.3 bln in September. This
development reflects an ECB decision not to accept Greek securities as
collateral until completion of a troika's report on the Greek economy.

[22] Bank credit to private sector shrank further in Oct.

The annual growth rate of total credit extended to the domestic private
sector shrank further in October, to -4.8 percent, from -4.5 percent in
September 2012, the Bank of Greece said on Wednesday.

The central bank, in a monthly report, attributed this development
solely to the financing of insurance corporations and said it was
related to intra-group transactions of credit institutions with their
subsidiaries. The net flow of total credit to the domestic private
sector was negative, amounting to 1.037 billion euro (October 2011:
negative net flow of 510 million euro).

The net flow of credit to enterprises in October 2012 was negative,
amounting to 605 million euro (October 2011: positive net flow of 225
million euro), and the annual growth rate of credit was more negative at
-5.6 percent, from -4.9 percent in the previous month. In particular,
the annual growth rate of credit to non-financial corporations was
less negative at -4.4 percent from -4.6 percent in the previous month,
while the annual growth rate of credit to insurance corporations and
other financial intermediaries was significantly more negative at -23.5
percent in October 2012, from -10.2 percent in September 2012.

In October 2012, the net flow of credit to individuals and private
non-profit institutions was negative, amounting to 328 million euro
(October 2011: negative net flow of 554 million euro), and the annual
growth rate of credit to individuals and private non-profit institutions
stood at -4.1 percent from -4.2 percent in September 2012.

[23] Seven candidates short-listed in OPAP sale

Seven, out of eight candidates who have expressed interest in buying 33
pct of OPAP, will be included in a second phase of an international tender
held by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund after completion
of evaluating the initial eight binds in tender.

The next stage of the tender process will include:

-BC Partners,

-Emma Delta Ltd, an investment fund managed by Emma Delta Management Ltd
with Jiri Smejc (66.7 pct) and George Melissanidis (33.3 pct) as owners,

-a consortium of Gauselmann AG (55 pct), Playtech Ltd (41 pct) and
Helvason Ltd (4.0 pct),

- Primrose Treasure Limited, a subsidiary of Fosun international,

- Third Point LLC and

- TPG Capital.

[24] Tourism ministry presents "Amazing Athens" SmartPhone App

The SmartPhone App "Amazing Athens" is the most recent "technological
tool" at the disposal of the tourism ministry within the framework of an
international tourism promotion campaign focusing on the City of Athens,
it was announced on Wednesday.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefaloyanni noted that the English-speaking
SmartPhone App, a tourist guide created for mobile phones and tablets,
will be available in February and constitutes an attempt to overturn the
dominant view that "Athens is nothing more than a stopover for tourists
heading for the Greek islands".

The application is the result of collaboration between the ministry of
culture and the "Stavros Niarchos" Foundation.

[25] OECD report on local economic growth in disadvantageous regions
on Crete

The Regional Government of Crete participates in a two-day seminar on
"Developing tourism outside of established localities" that opened
on Wednesday in Trento, Italy hosted by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD).

A special report focusing on the exploration, analysis, processing and
presentation of a new developmental model for the Lassithi Plateau region
on the island of Crete will be drawn up by the international organization
following an agreement with the Regional Government of Crete.

According to local authorities, the report will focus on the fact that
the sustainability of disadvantageous mountainous rural regions will
have to be reinforced, underlining that such regions cannot depend
exclusively on farming activities. They noted that supplementary or
alternative activities will have to be developed to provide prospects
for employment and additional income for the local population.

[26] Qatar to launch new Athens-NY daily flight

Qatar Airways will launch a daily, year-round Athens to New York flight
in mid-June, the airline's CEO Akbar Al Baker announced in Athens on
Wednesday at a press conference the 8th anniversary of Qatar Airway's
service to Greece.

Al Baker said that Qatar Airways supports its presence in Greece not
only in good times but also in the period of crisis, adding that Greece
is an important market for the company.

"We will continue to support our presence in Greece, also creating new
jobs," he said.

Qatar Airways added Athens to its rapidly-growing international network in
mid-June 2005 with the launch of non-stop scheduled flights from Doha to
the Greek capital. The inaugural flight from Doha touched down at Athens'
'Eleftherios Venizelos' International Airport (AIA) on June 16, 2005.

Asked whether other companies in Qatar plan to invest in Greece, Al
Baker noted that the companies in his country proceed with investments
without any 'grand announcements' preceding them, adding that Qatar has
expressed its "strong commitment" for investments in Greece.

Athens is a hub for 31 European destinations that are contained in Qatar
Airways'' network of itineraries, which commenced in 2005 with six weekly
flights to Athens and increased to two daily flights three years ago.

The Athens-Doha flight has become the top destination, in absolute number
of passengers, at the AIA, surpassing the airport's New York destination
for the first time in the AIA's history.

Al Baker also reiterated his company's commitment to continue developing
the Athens route.

[27] DE.PA to launch e-auction for natgas supplies

DE.PA, Greece's public gas provider, on Wednesday announced a first
e-auction for the supply of natural gas, to be held in the first two
weeks of December.

All licensed gas suppliers, major consumers and gas distributors are
eligible to participate in the electronic auction. The first auction
will cover a natural gas quantity of 365,000 MWh.

[28] OGA pensions at 67 for those born after 1948

The farmers pension and social insurance fund OGA on Wednesday announced
that the retirement age for all those born in 1948 or later will increase
to 67 years, based on a new law passed earlier this year. The change
affects all those that would have gone into retirement from January 1,
2013, who will now have to wait until 2015.

Those affected will have to continue paying social insurance contributions
until the end of their 66th year, while the new retirement age of 67
will also apply to all old-age pensioners that are uninsured.

OGA's management stressed that all those insured by OGA must pay their
social insurance contributions by December 28, 2012 because their health
books will not be renewed unless they are fully paid up.

[29] Saving deposits in Greek banks up in Oct.

Saving deposits in Greek banks rose by 900 million euros in October to
155.2 billion euros, from 154.3 billion euros in September, the Bank of
Greece announced on Wednesday.

The central bank, in a monthly report, said the October figures offered
evidence that depositors were gradually regaining their confidence in the
Greek banking sector, as saving deposits by enterprises and households
rose by around 1.4 billion euros in the period August-October.

[30] Hellenic Sugar says profits up 135.28% in July-Sept

Hellenic Sugar Industry SA on Wednesday reported a spectacular 135.28
pct increase in its net after tax earnings to 7.465 million euro in the
three-month period from July 1 to September 30, 2012, while turnover
rose 7.48 pct to 50.707 million euro. Consolidated turnover (including
subsidiaries in Serbia) totaled 76.113 million euro, up 24.94 pct from
the same period last year.

Gross profit margin, however, fell to 14.74 pct in the three-month period,
from 17.16 pct last year, while consolidated figure was 22.65 pct from
25.16 pct, respectively.

EBITDA was 5.262 million euro, up 12.13 pct from 2011, while consolidated
EBITDA jumped 47.99 pct to 14.233 million euro.

Parent pre-tax profits jumped 132.51 pct to 713,540 euro, while
consolidated pre-tax profits rose 101.73 pct to 8.613 million euro. Net
parent profits was 236,570 euro.

[31] Business Briefs

-- Kri-Kri SA, a Greek-listed dairy industry, on Wednesday said
its net after tax profits (parent) totaled 6.7 million euro in the
January-September period, up from 4.3 million euro in the corresponding
period last year.

[32] Greek stocks end significantly lower

Greek stocks ended significantly lower in the Athens Stock Exchange on
Wednesday, as bank shares remained under pressure on worries over the
success of a Greek bond buy back programme - a prior condition set by
the IMF for the release of the next tranche of a loan to Greece. The
composite index dropped 2.87 pct to end at 822.72 points. Turnover was
a moderate 62.319 million euro. The Big Cap index plunged 3.96 pct and
the Mid Cap index ended 0.62 pct lower.

The Health (1.42 pct) and Construction (0.89 pct) sectors scored gains,
while Banks (8.15 pct), Technology (5.37 pct) and Utilities (4.95 pct)
suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

Titan (1.54 pct) was the only blue chip stock to end higher, while
Eurobank (11.04 pct), Cyprus Popular Bank (9.43 pct) and Alpha Bank
(8.93 pct) were top losers. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 90 to 61
with another 16 issues unchanged. HOL (19.43 pct), Mihaniki (19.02 pct)
and Bioter (16.19 pct) were top gainers, while Olympic Catering (19.88
pct), NEL (19.79 pct) and Sato (18.52 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials: -2.52%

Commercial: -1.95%

Construction: +0.89%

Oil & Gas: -2.19%

Personal & Household: -4.71%

Raw Materials: -3.55%

Travel & Leisure: -3.45%

Technology: -5.37%

Telecoms: -1.74%

Banks: -8.15%

Food & Beverages: -1.58%

Health: +1.42%

Utilities: -4.95%

Financial Services: -3.15%

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

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

Alpha Bank: 1.53

Public Power Corp (PPC): 4.60

HBC Coca Cola: 17.71

Hellenic Petroleum: 6.58

National Bank of Greece: 1.43

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.70

OPAP: 4.98

OTE: 3.95

Bank of Piraeus: 0.37

Titan: 13.20

[33] Greek bond market closing report

The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds
remained almost unchanged in the domestic electronic secondary bond
market on Wednesday, with turnover totaling a thin 3.0 million euros,
all buy orders.

In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-month
rate was 0.58 pct, the six-month rate was 0.35 pct, the three-month rate
was 0.19 pct and the one-month rate was 0.10 pct.

[34] ADEX closing report

The December contract on the FTSE 20 index was trading at a premium of
1.66 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Wednesday, with turnover
shrinking to 16.298 million euros. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled
4,397 contracts worth 6.458 million euros, with 30,561 open positions
in the market.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 64.010 contracts worth
9.840 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National
Bank's contracts (25,792), followed by Alpha Bank (18,800), Cyprus Bank
(1,800), Piraeus Bank (7,806), OTE (1,947), PPC (1,115), OPAP (1,377),
Cyprus Popular Bank (1,215), Eurobank (1,093), Intralot (1,195), Ellaktor
(394) and GEK (492).

[35] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:

U.S. dollar 1.308

Pound sterling  0.818

Danish kroner  7.571

Swedish kroner  8.746

Japanese yen  107.02

Swiss franc  1.221

Norwegian kroner  7.451

Canadian dollar  1.301

Australian dollar  1.252

General News

[36] 40,000 people have perished in road accidents since 1990

More than 40,000 people, mostly youths, have died in road accidents since
1990 to the present, and the number could be substantially larger as the
figure does not include victims who died days after the traffic accident,
according to statistics submitted to a parliamentary special committee
on the issue.

Representatives of the Panhellenic Association "SOS Traffic Crimes"
and the Crete Association for Assistance and Solidarity to Families of
Traffic Accident Victims, who were called to brief to the Committee,
said that these are "traffic crimes, not accidents".

The phenomenon has been aggravated in the economic crisis, and according
to "SOS Traffic Crimes" member George Kouvidis, the attitude of drivers
today is worse than ever. "Cars are neglected and uninsured. For someone
to go outside is like playing his life in a video game, with the 'traps'
that are everywhere," he said, citing the case of the father of a youth
that had been killed "because a driver ran over a red light as he was
speeding at 100 kilometers an hour on (downtown Athens) Stadiou street,
lived not only the pain and mourning but also the treatment of the
judicial authority, which in most instances causes rage to the families
of the victims".

"The driver was convicted to 18 months imprisonment with a 3-year
suspension, was kept in custody at the police station for five hours,
had his driver's license returned to him the next day, and the court
acknowledged his post-pubic age as a mitigating circumstance," Kouvidis
continued.

He charged that "the UN is currently 'running' a road safety programme
for 2011-2020, a global programme to reduce road accidents, but Greece,
as always, is systematically absent from all the international fora".

A person circulating on the road of Greece faces twice the risk of losing
his life than in the other EU countries, and five times the risk than
in Sweden, Kouvidis said.

Kouvidis charged that former minister Haris Kastanidis, in a regulation
he had advanced, reduced driving under the influence of alcohol and
substances from a misdemeanor to a petty offence, while other ministers,
past and present, have legislated "horrific" regulations on the allowable
age of school buses (from 22 years to 28 years) and on victims hit by
uninsured cars or cars insured with insurance companies that have closed.

"SOS Traffic Crimes" member Faedon Karydakis, an Athens Polytechnic
Professor whose 15-year-old son was killed in a hit-and-run incident
while crossing the busy Kifissias Avenue on his way to school by a
tampered car speeding at 170 kilometers an hour that overran a red light
and abandoned the seriously injured teen, predicted that by the time the
judicial process ended, the statute of limitations on the felony charge
of fatal negligence will have expired.

The chairman of the Crete Association for Assistance and Solidarity
to Families of Traffic Accident Victims urged that the road deaths be
dealt with as "traffic crimes" and not "traffic accidents", and called
for the establishment of a drivers' register  that will be drawn up
upon a candidate driver's application for a license, that would contain
all the traffic violations by the driver, so that judges presiding at
road accident trials would have knowledge of the said driver's previous
violations.

[37] Police launch operation in Zephyri and Ano Liossia in clampdown
on crime

Greek Police launched a major operation early Wednesday in Zephyri and
Ano Liossia in western Athens, in the context of a clampdown on crime,
with the participation of hundreds of police officers from all police
divisions.

The police checks are focusing mainly on Roma camps, around which many
side streets have been closed to traffic.

This is the second such police operation in the area recently.

[38] Noted real estate tycoon arrested for debts to state

Noted real estate magnate Babis Vovos has been arrested for more than one
million euro in debts to the state, and will appear before an examining
magistrate on Thursday on felony charges.

Vovos is accused of non-payment to the state of 1.01 million euros, which
includes approximately 220,000 euros in non-payment of taxes of salaried
services to the Social Security Foundation (IKA), which is a felony.

An Athens court was due to hear an application by Vovos' company for
classification under protective clause of Article 99 of the Bankruptcy
Code, but the hearing was postponed. The court, however, rejected an
application by Vovos for extension of a provisional order suspending
the execution of demands by the company's creditors.

[39] Arrests for child porn trafficking over the Internet

A military officer, a court officer, a businessman and a 71-year-old
retiree are among 10 people accused of possession and trafficking of child
porn materials through the Internet, authorities announced on Wednesday.

Eight of the 10 defendants are in police custody and two of them are in
prison pending trial, within the framework of a police electronic crimes
squad operation, code-named "Gridlock", which unfolded over the last 15
days around the country.

The child porn network was discovered through the electronic crimes
squad's TLO Child Protection System, which monitors file-sharing sites and
other online sources for computers that host child pornography. According
to police, the defendants allegedly downloaded or traded in child
pornography on peer-to-peer networks.

Police searched the suspects' homes and confiscated four laptops, 10
computer hard drives, child porn photos and digital archives, as well
as two shotguns.

Authorities announced the identities of three of the defendants, in
accordance with relevant legislation and approval by a prosecutor.

[40] Florina bank robbers make getaway with 110,000 euros

An armed robbery occurred at a branch of the Agricultural Bank in Filota
in the Florina region, northern Greece, with the robbers making their
getaway with 110,000 euros.

According to police, four persons entered the branch office and,
threatening employees and customers at gunpoint, seized the money from
the cash desk. Bank employees said that a woman was among the four armed
robbers who fled the scene in a stolen car.

[41] Piano marathon in Thessaloniki

A piano marathon began at the Macedonian Museum of Modern Art in
Thessaloniki on Wednesday morning.

The piano marathon will last for 14 hours and is due to be wound up
at midnight.

Forty-two pianists, professionals and non-professionals from Athens and
Thessaloniki, are competing in the 'marathon'.

The first-ever piano marathon marks the end of the Piano Festival,
which opened in the Museum on October 24 and in the context of which
piano recitals by noted artists took place every Wednesday.

The museum's visitors will be able to enjoy the exhibits to a background
of piano music by pianists performing Erik Satie's avant-garde work
"Vexations".

"Thessaloniki is considered the 'piano city' because it has produced
the biggest names in the field in recent years," one of the organizers,
Nikos Kyriosoglou, told AMNA.

The organizers plan to turn the piano marathon into an annual event.

[42] Tanker adrift due to engine failure near Skyros

The Malta-flagged tanker "Ioutro" on Wednesday sent out a distress signal,
reporting that it was adrift due to engine failure about 12 nautical miles
from the northwest coast of the island of Skyros in the Aegean. The ship
was manned by a crew of 14, five Greeks and nine Filipinos.

Southerly winds of up to five Beaufort are currently blowing in the
region and the tanker is reportedly between the islets Skyropoula and
Skantzoura. It is unknown whether it is carrying cargo.

A coast guard vessel and a tug are currently heading to the ship's
reported location to offer assistance.

[43] Bag of dynamite found in Ano Voula

A bag containing 131 old sticks of dynamite was found on Wednesday morning
on a sidewalk in the coastal town of Ano Voula, southeast of Athens.

The bag of dynamite was removed by police, who have launched an
investigation.

Weather forecast

[44] Rainy on Thursday

Rainy weather and southerly winds are forecast in most parts of the
country on Thursday. Winds 3-9 beaufort. Temperatures between 6C and
21C. Rainy in Athens with southerly 6-9 beaufort winds and temperatures
between 16C and 21C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures between 14C
and 18C.

[45] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

The day after the Eurogroup's decision on Greece and the government's
priorities, mostly dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens'
newspapers.

AVGHI: "Ten nails on Greece's crucifix".

DIMOKRATIA: "We are saved".

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: "Disastrous triumph".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "The four secrets of the agreement".

ESTIA: "Wrong recipe for taxation".

ETHNOS: "Growth, work and investments the wager".

IMERISSIA: "The keys of the agreement".

KATHIMERINI: "Buy-back of bonds the key".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Obscurities in the bonds buy-back programme".

RIZOSPASTIS: "People must attempt the way of counterattack and rift"

TA NEA: "The wager of the three - The new package has gifts and traps".

6 DAYS: "The five black holes of the decision".

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