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

[HR-Net News Distribution Manager]

Tuesday,  11  December  2012          Issue No: 4244

CONTENTS
[01] Greek debt buy-back process extended for 24 hours
[02] PM returns from Oslo after Nobel Peace Prize award to EU
[03] Samaras meets Bavarian PM
[04] FM Avramopoulos at EU External Affairs Council
[05] DM in Qatar; meets with successor to the throne
[06] PASOK's Venizelos sees a 'new starting point' for Greece
[07] SYRIZA: Tax bill tailor-made to Troika's measures
[08] Independent Greeks party MPs to reconvene on Thursday
[09] Gov't to announce first 500 positions to be filled by 'reserve pool'
      of axed civil servants
[10] Education minister, university rectors discuss closures and mergers
      of university departments, schools
[11] Lambrinidis expects implementation of EU guidelines on freedom
      of religion
[12] Greek budget deficit down 39.9 pct in Jan-Nov
[13] Central government cash deficit down significantly in Jan-Nov
[14] Labour minister at EBEA, announces programme for youth employment
[15] Development ministry announces free Sunday opening for small
      retailers
[16] Structural reforms will boost employment, Mitarakis says
[17] SEV's Daskalopoulos blasts govt's energy pricing policy
[18] Inflation up 1pct in November
[19] Imports rise 10.1pct in October, post 8.4pct decline for 12-month
      period
[20] Greek industrial production index up 2.0 pct in Oct.
[21] Dromeas wins 500-mln-euro contract with German army
[22] Business Briefs
[23] Stocks end 1.42% higher
[24] Greek bond market closing report
[25] ADEX closing report
[26] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday
[27] China, Greece sign memorandum on culture, tourism
[28] Christmas Town in Technopolis, Athens
[29] 'Eleftherios Venizelos' exhibition at Athens International Airport
[30] Trial for DIAS motorbike police twin homicide starts on Monday
[31] Two charged for killing jewellery shop owner last May
[32] Two arrests for drug smuggling at Kipoi border crossing in Evros
[33] Event hosted by Amnesty International to mark Human Rights Day
[34] Tobacco trader shot in Ilissia armed robbery
[35] Administrative court judges end industrial action
[36] Super League results
[37] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance
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Politics

[01] Greek debt buy-back process extended for 24 hours

Greece on Monday said it was extending a deadline for completion of a
bond buy-back process until Tuesday 12.00 h (London time), in a move
aimed at offering private bondholders more time to participate in the
book-building process.

A statement by the Public Debt Management Organization's head Stelios
Papadopoulos said: "Bondholders that have not yet offered their
securities can take advantage of liquidity opportunities offered by the
invitation. Investors also reckon in that even if Greece accepted all
offered bonds it will continue cooperating with its official creditors
towards examining further steps to put the country's debt into a
sustainable course. Future measures could not include the opportunity
to liquidate these bonds at levels offered in the current buy-back
programme".

The Greek government aims to achieve a participation in the buy-back
programme worth 30 billion euros. The issue was discussed on Sunday during
a Euro Working Group meeting. According to sources, foreign investors'
-- mostly hedge funds -- participation totaled around 16 billion euros,
while Greek banks' participation was around 10 billion euros. Greece
expects that the remaining 3-4 billion euros will be covered during the
24-hour extension of the process.

[02] PM returns from Oslo after Nobel Peace Prize award to EU

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was returning from Norway's capital Oslo
on Monday, after attending a ceremony awarding the 2012 Nobel Peace
Prize to the European Union.

Addressing other European leaders at the Nobel Peace Prize Banquet
held after the award ceremony, Samaras outlined the situation in Greece
and particularly stressed the sacrifices being made by Greek citizens,
placing great emphasis on social cohesion in relation to the award given
to the EU.

"We must ensure social peace. In Greece we have 58 percent unemployment
among young people and this threatens social cohesion, it is something
that can cause phenomena of political extremism and if this continues
it can affect the rest of Europe," Samaras said.

Other speakers at the banquet included German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti,
European Parliament President Martin Schulz and Irish Taoiseach Enda
Kenny.

[03] Samaras meets Bavarian PM

MUNICH (AMNA/F. Karaviti)

Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was warmly welcomed in Munich
on Sunday evening by Bavarian Minister President (local prime minister)
and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) party Horst Seehofer at
Prince Charles Palace.

After the meeting, Samaras said "We are now closing the first chapter,
we have passed through a series of difficult reforms in order to change
page and to proceed to growth".

Referring to the loan and the EU and IMF's approval, Samaras noted that
now the recapitalisation of the banks, the national contribution to the
European restructure funds and the payment of outstanding debts to the
private sector will be possible.

"Fifty percent of the economy is a matter of psychology," said Samaras
adding that "When this changes and the people understand that we have
left the 'drachma-phobia' behind us and realise that Greece is proceeding
decisively to becoming a regular member of the eurozone, then Greece can
move on to the next step, which is the attraction of major investments
from abroad and from the interior and the major privatisations. All these
will help Greece turn the corner and proceed to growth. This is the huge
wager for Greece and for Europe. And Greece's success story will prove
that Europe rose to the difficulties with prudence and solidarity".

On his part Seehofer, replying to a question whether he is convinced
by what the current Greek government says and does, he said: "What the
prime minister said on how Greece will exit from the crisis and the
creation of better and more competitive conditions for investors were
very convincing".

Referring to the changes in the Greek taxation system and the extension
of the working years, he said that Greece was proceed with this more
directly than Germany, which will have gradually completed it by 2030.

"It is not a matter of diplomacy or courtesy, as you might believe,
but my conviction," he underlined, and reiterated that the Greek people
and the government deserve respect because they are on the right track
to overcome the causes of the crisis. "However, as is the case in the
free economy too, only austerity and streamlining are not enough. A
policy of competitiveness and progress is needed. And we say that the
first steps have begun. And this is why we, the Bavarian government,
support the Greeks on this path".

During the more than two-hour meeting, the two leaders' talks focused
on specific sectors in which bilateral cooperation can be developed.

Seehofer indicatively noted the education sector and career orientation,
and said his target is that when he visits Greece there will be tangible
results.

[04] FM Avramopoulos at EU External Affairs Council

Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos participated on
Monday in a European Union External Affairs Council meeting in Brussels,
that focused on developments in the Middle East, especially on  the
peace process regarding the Palestinian issue, and the situation in
Syria as well as EU-Russia relations in view of the EU-Russia Council,
to be held on December 21.

Speaking on the Middle East peace process, Avramopoulos underlined,
according to a ministry announcement issued in Athens, that the two
sides, Israelis and Palestinians, should return to the negotiating table,
safeguarding at the same time the prospect of  a two-state solution,
which constitutes the only viable prospect. The recent Greek vote at the
United Nations General Assembly in favour of the upgrading of the status
of Palestine in the UN, served, according to the minister, exactly this
purpose. Avramopoulos also underlined that it was of crucial importance
for the two sides to avoid actions that would undermine the dialogue.

On the situation in Syria, the Greek foreign minister reiterated his
country's steadfast positions in favour of a political solution and the
start of a dialogue that would allow the Syrian people to decide on its
future. Avramopoulos underlined the need of an immediate ceasefire and
the importance of protecting the rights and security of all communities
in Syria, pointing particularly to the country's Christian population
and the Greek Orthodox community of the Middle East country.

On the upcoming EU-Russia Summit Council, Avramopoulos underlined the
strategic character of the cooperation between the EU and the Russian
Federation, highlighting the mutual benefit for the two sides from the
deepening of the ongoing dialogue between them, both on a political level,
in order to tackle common world challenges, and an economic level by
giving emphasis on energy, trade and tourism.The Greek minister also
backed the lifting of visa restrictions for Russian citizens, a move
that would, according to Avramopoulos, open the gates of Europe to the
Russian society of citizens.

On Tuesday, Avramopoulos will take part in the General Affairs Council
which will examine a number of issues, including the preparation of the
conclusions on the EU Council of Dec. 13 and 14. Later, the president
of the Council, Herman van Rompuy will host a working lunch, while the
EU enlargement policy conclusions will be on the afternoon meeting agenda.

[05] DM in Qatar; meets with successor to the throne

Defence Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos, who is on an official visit to
Qatar, met on with the successor to the throne Sheik Tamim bin Hamad
al-Thani in Doha and discussed issues regarding defence and military
cooperation between Greece and Qatar, the developments in the Middle
East and the wider region of the Southeastern Mediterranean as well as
investments in the Greek defense industry.

Panayiotopoulos said that Qatar is interested in the Greek government
preparations for a series of privatisations in the Greek defence
industry. Qatar is open to investing immediately in other sectors in
Greece, he added.

"They are waiting for Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' official visit
to Qatar in early 2013 and believe that by then the conditions will
have matured in order to proceed with specific proposals, with specific
investment plans, in Greece. I believe that a wider field is opening up
and is substantive for specific actions that will bring new investments
to Greece and will also bring the two peoples closer".

In his statements, Panayiotopoulos reiterated the two countries' volition
to proceed more quickly in defence and military cooperation, both in
the Navy and the Airforce as well as with joint exercises of the Armies'
Special Forces".

Panayiotopoulos also met with the Chief of the Armed Forces, Major
General Hamad bin Ali al Attiyah.

The Greek Defence Minister's visit to Qatar will wind up with a tour of
Qatari military bases and meetings on defence cooperation issues in all
sectors. The Greek delegation will return to Athens on Tuesday.

[06] PASOK's Venizelos sees a 'new starting point' for Greece

"A new starting point for Greece is now taking shape," and when the state
bond buy-back programme is completed, the country's public debt will be
reduced by 10 percentage points, PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos told
a party meeting on Monday evening.

He added that "it is a common secret internationally" that a new 'haircut'
of Greece's debt will eventually take place, provided that the country
sticks by its obligations.

Referring to the latest tax bill, Venizelos said the bill may not allow
to persuade Greek citizens that it is a just, comprehensive, socially
sensitive and developmental taxation system, but simply a package of
austerity measures, including public spending cuts.

However, he described the tax bill as "necessary" and said that his
party struggled to make arrangements as fair as possible, avoiding
"irrational solutions."

Venizelos appeared satisfied for his party having managed to achieve
a better tax deal for families with children, new self-employed
professionals, the unemployed and rural population.

In an indirect criticism to Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and the New
Democracy party, Venizelos said it was because of their "obsession"
with calling early elections that led to serious delays in negotiations
with the country's international creditors.

[07] SYRIZA: Tax bill tailor-made to Troika's measures

"The new tax bill is tailor-made to the Troika's (EC, ECB, IMF) measures
and is accompanied by the usual blackmail over the disbursement of the
tranche," main opposition SYRIZA charged in an announcement on Monday.

The SYRIZA announcement predicted that very soon new barbarous Memorandum
measures will follow in order to "correct' the failure of the preceding
measures.

Even before the ink has dried on the ratification of the Mid-Term
programme and the 2013 state budget, and after the standard reassurances
that these will be the last austerity measures, the new tax bill shows
the government's strategic persistence with the policy of austerity,
recession and unemployment.

The announcement also added that the government is fully aware of the
paralytic repercussions of the new tax-looting measures on the economy
and the dramatic consequences that this will bring to the salary earners,
the professionals and the small and medium size enterprises, and opts
for austerity instead of growth, excessive taxation of the weaker and
the medium strata instead of the taxation of wealth and clamping down
on tax evasion.

According to SYRIZA, society and the economy are collapsing under the
weight of the troika and the government, adding that this policy cannot
continue. On the contrary, only a strategic plan that will overcome
austerity, support development and promote social justice can guarantee
the country's recovery and a socially just exit from the crisis.

[08] Independent Greeks party MPs to reconvene on Thursday

The Independent Greeks party Parliamentary group on Monday announced
its decision to reconvene this coming Thursday in order to prepare for
the party's conference. The decision was taken late on Monday, during
an emergency meeting of the party's MPs chaired by party leader Panos
Kammenos.

In an announcement, the party said that the Parliamentary group had
reaffirmed a decision taken on Monday morning to "rethink" party organs
in light of the conference. The same announcement said that the party
had decided to replace Parliamentary group secretary Costas Markopoulos
until the meeting on Thursday, at the very least, due to his refusal to
call the Parliamentary group meeting, saying that Panagiotis Melas will
take over his duties.

The announcement also referred to an earlier news story about Independent
Greeks released by AMNA citing an anonymous source within the party,
questioning the extent to which the individual quoted actually represented
the party's 'top officials' and also the truth of the statements made,
which they stressed were made public without consulting the rest of the
Parliamentary group.

"We declare that in the 'Independent Greeks' there are no 'top
officials'. There are only independent Greeks in all parts of the country
that are served by their MPs as simple soldiers. There are people who
believed in us and we made a commitment not to betray them. And this is
what we are doing," the announcement said.

The party's announcement was signed by party leader Panos Kammenos and
the MPs Panagiotis Melas, Elena Kountoura, Yiannis Dimaras, Notis Marias,
Mika Iatridi, Gavriil Avramidis, Rachel Makri, Marinos Ouzounidis, Pavlos
Haikalis, Vassilis Kapernaros, Stavroula Xoulidou, Marina Chrysoveloni,
Giorgos Davris, Costas Giovanopoulos and Chrysoula-Maria Giatagana.

The meeting was not attended by the MPs Costas Markopoulos, Terens Kouik,
Maria Kollia and Ioannis Kourakos. The late afternoon meeting at the
party's Synggrou headquarters was decided on after AMNA reported angry
reactions from party members following a decision by Kammenos to walk
out of a joint session of the Parliamentary group and the governing
committee of the party earlier the same morning.

Citing what it called a "top party member" that asked to remain anonymous,
AMNA reported that strong criticism was levelled at Kammenos over his
decision to leave the meeting, including that of showing "cowardice and
irresponsibility unacceptable in a party leader."

[09] Gov't to announce first 500 positions to be filled by 'reserve pool'
of axed civil servants

The Administrative Reform ministry is soon to announce the first 500
jobs that are to be filled by axed civil servants placed in the 'reserve
labour pool' on reduced pay, possibly in the coming week. The jobs in
question are mostly administrative positions in social insurance and
pension funds, hospitals and the public order ministry.

The ministry plan is being processed in collaboration with the Supreme
Council for Public-Sector Staff Selection (ASEP) and will be implemented
through a ministerial decree, following an evaluation of the staff to
be transferred by a three-member committee made up of representatives
of the administrative reform ministry, the finance ministry and ASEP.

Ministry sources said that another 800 positions will be proclaimed
at the beginning of the next year, since the 2000 staff placed in the
reserve pool include 700 that have been suspended because they have in
various ways transgressed the civil service code of conduct.

[10] Education minister, university rectors discuss closures and mergers
of university departments, schools

Education Minister Constantine Arvanitopoulos and Greek university
rectors on Monday held talks on proposed mergers, closures and renaming
of several university schools and departments in the country. The talks,
lasting until well into the afternoon, were held to discuss implementation
of the "Athena" plan due to be completed in February.

The rectors afterward said that the minister had agreed to include the
criteria suggested by the universities for the mergers and closures
of schools and departments. They also ask that for an individualised
approach to the higher education institutes, taking into account the
particularities of each one.

Concerning the number of admissions to universities, rectors said that the
number must be reduced given that the number of schools and departments
would be reduced but their view was not shared by the minister. In the
past, Arvanitopoulos has said that the ministry intends to preserve the
number of students admitted each year, despite the smaller number of
schools and departments.

[11] Lambrinidis expects implementation of EU guidelines on freedom
of religion

VIENNA (AMNA/D. Dimitrakoudis)

European Union special representative on Human Rights Stavros Lambrinidis
on Monday said here that he expected that the EU would soon go ahead
with the implementation of the Guidelines on Freedom of Religion, on
the basis of a recent Austria-Italy initiative.

Speaking in a panel discussion on the occasion of the International Human
Rights Day, Lambrinidis, a former Greek foreign minister, especially
thanked Austria for the initiative and stressed he was looking forward
to an agreement that would clarify the controls to be applied in the
framework of the supervision of respect for Religious Freedom, as well
as what tools the EU would use in dealing with violations.

Financial News

[12] Greek budget deficit down 39.9 pct in Jan-Nov

Greece's state budget deficit fell to 12.919 billion euros in the
January-November period this year, down from a budget target for a
deficit of 15.047 billion euros, official figures showed on Monday.

The state budget also recorded a primary deficit of 1.486 billion euros
in the 11-month period, down from a budget target for a shortfall of
3.596 billion euros. The budget deficit was down 39.9 pct compared with
the January-November period last eyar.

Net budget revenues totaled 45.793 billion euros in the 11-month period,
down 1.5 pct from 2011, and lower by 27 million euros compared with a
revised budget target. Regular budget net revenues totaled 42.837 billion
euros, up 456 million euros from a budget target of 42.382 billion euros,
reflecting higher income tax receipts, higher property tax proceeds and
higher non-tax revenues.

Budget spending totaled 58.713 billion euros in the January-November
period, down from a budget target of 60.867 billion euros. More
analytically, regular budget spending fell short of provisions by 932
million euros reflecting lower primary spending, lower defense spending
and lower spending on subsidies to state hospitals. Spending on interest
totaled 11.433 billion euros in the 11-month period, down from a budget
target of 11.451 billion euros.

State budget spending fell by 13.7 pct compared with the same period
last year.

[13] Central government cash deficit down significantly in Jan-Nov

Greece' s central government cash deficit fell significantly to 7.7
billion euro in the January-November period, from 20.2 billion euro in
the corresponding period last year, the Bank of Greece said on Monday.

The central bank, in a report, attributed this positive development to
a slight decline in budget revenues by 1.6 pct to 42.9 billion euro,
from 43.6 billion euro last year, and a 23 pct reduction in spending to
48.9 billion euro from 63.3 billion over the same periods, respectively.

The Public Investment Programme shrank to 655 million euro in the 11-month
period, from 1.6 billion euro in 2011, while spending on interest fell
to 6.8 billion euro from 15.4 billion euro. The state budget recorded
a primary surplus of 21 million euro in the January-November period,
after a primary deficit of 3.6 billion euro last year.

[14] Labour minister at EBEA, announces programme for youth employment

Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis on Monday announced the launch of a
programme to introduce at least 55,000 young people to the labour market
from January, at the event "People in Crisis" organised by the Athens
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

The minister said the 'package' of actions will include an articulated
programme for vocational training, practical education and subsidised
employment for young people up to 29 years old and programmes to promote
young entrepreneurs in innovative branches of economic activity and
agricultural production.

Vroutsis also referred to the pressing need to take coordinated action
to tackle unemployment, which had skyrocketed from 7.5 percent in 2008
to 26 percent at present, resulting in the loss of 700,000 jobs in the
last three years and raising the number of jobless to 1.3 million.

Concerning the compression of labour costs as a result of the crisis,
Vroutsis said that the government did not consider this a viable,
long-term strategy for increasing competitiveness but was aiming for
a new growth model based on a dynamic, outward-looking economy that
generated value, quality and jobs.

"Limiting unit labour costs was a temporary, inevitable solution in
order to quickly cover the competitiveness gap of the decade prior to
the crisis," he said, promising that a 15 percent reduction will be
fully achieved by the end of 2014 without further measures affecting
private-sector salaries.

He also announced plans to clamp down on contribution evasion that now
affected 30 percent of the labour market, stressing that this was a
"financial and social crime".

[15] Development ministry announces free Sunday opening for small
retailers

Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks
Minister Kostis Hatzidakis and deputy Development Minister Thanassis
Skordas on Monday announced an end to restrictions on Sunday opening for
all small retail outlets up to 250 square metres, allowing them to open
on all Sundays in the year. Larger stores, irrespective of their size,
will be able to open for seven Sundays a year.

The ministry also announced changes to market regulations, updating the
previous set of regulations in force since 1946 and introducing stiffer
penalties for adulteration of foods and fuel, 'skimming' of deliveries
by pumps, fairer fines but also 50 percent discounts for those that pay
fines without going to court.

Current rules allow free Sunday opening for shops in tourist areas and
for all shops of the last Sunday of the year.

The ministry said the changes will apply in the current year, since the
issue of the ministerial decree will allow shops to open on the last two
Sundays of the year, on December 23 and December 30. A more permanent
measure will later be tabled in Parliament and additionally provide for:

- free opening of shops up to 250 square metres on all Sundays on
a voluntary basis, provided that they are not in any way part of a
chain or "shop-in-a-shop" arrangement. The ban on Sunday opening will
also extend to shopping malls and retail centres while a decision on
franchise chains is still pending. The ministry will propose opening
hours between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, while the minister
has also left open the possibility of making shops that open on Sunday
stay closed on Monday morning.

- free opening for seven Sundays a year for all retail outlets, regardless
of size, with the ministry proposing two Sundays before Christmas, one
before Easter and one each during the two regular sales period and the
two new sales periods to be established in May and November.

Hatzidakis said that the new system will bring Greece in line with what
exists in nearly all other EU countries and give Greek consumers and
tourists a chance to shop on more days and more hours, while keeping a
balance between smaller and larger shops. He stressed that the labour
conditions for workers were not affected in any way by the measures.

Under the new system, the new sales periods will extend from the second
Monday of January until the end of February (winter sales), from the
second Monday of July until the end of August (summer sales), in the first
10 days of May and the first 10 days of November (interim sales periods).

Measures concerning 'tampered' fuel pumps will include prison sentences of
up to six months, confiscating the equipment used to tamper with readings,
fines of 30,000 euro for each pump and rescinding the operating licence
of the offender, as well as banning the issue of a new licence for a
similar enterprise to the offender, his spouse and relatives up to the
second degree.

The size of the fine will be decided by ministerial decision, restricting
the margins for graft between inspectors and offenders. Also, appeals
against the fines can only be carried out on condition that 20 percent
is paid in advance while the fine is halved if the offender does not
contest it in court.

[16] Structural reforms will boost employment, Mitarakis says

In today's globalised and highly competitive environment, the future
belongs to those who prepare for it, Deputy Development Minister Notis
Mitarakis said on Monday in an address to the "People in Crisis" event,
organized in Athens by the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Athens
(EBEA) and a private firm.

The event looked into sky-rocketing jobless rates in Greece, as well as
into the new employment and job market conditions.

Mitarakis stressed that structural reforms can lead to an increase in
employment opportunities and that the government should create a solid
framework to this direction, based on fiscal stability, liquidity,
structural reforms, new investments and utilization of state assets.

Speaking during the same event, EBEA president Konstantinos Michalos,
said that unemployment in Greece may even reach up to 30% at the end of
the year. He said the notion of professional career is now taking on a
new context which has to do with flexibility, initiative and challenge.

[17] SEV's Daskalopoulos blasts govt's energy pricing policy

Dimitirs Daskalopoulos, president of the Hellenic Federation of
Enterprises (SEV), on Monday evening criticised the government's policy
on energy, especially on issues regarding pricing and the cost of energy.

Speaking during the Federation's General Council Meeting, attended also
by undersecretary for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Asimakis
Papageorgiou, Daskalopooulos said "what we ask form the government is
not to systematically saw off the branch that can flourish."

He added that it was impossible for the country's industrial sector to
boost competitiveness mainly because of new taxes imposed by the state
on production, making it highly costly.

The SEV president specifically referred to a rushed decision by the
Public Power Corporation (DEH) to go ahead with an increase in electricity
rates for medium and high voltage industrial consumption.

[18] Inflation up 1pct in November

Greek inflation rose by one percent in November, year-on-year, the
independent Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Monday.

ELSTAT, in a report, said that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in November
2012 compared with November 2011, increased by 1.0%. In November 2011,
the annual rate of change of the CPI was 2.9%.

The CPI in November 2012 compared with October 2012 decreased by 0.5%. In
November 2011, the monthly rate of change of the CPI was 0.2%.

In the twelve-month period from December 2011 to November 2012 compared
with the period from December 2010 to November 2011 the annual average
rate of change of the CPI was 1.6%. The corresponding annual average
rate of change of the CPI in the previous year (December 2010 to November
2011), was 3.6%.

Also, the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) in November 2012
compared with November 2011, increased by 0.4%. In November 2011, the
annual rate of change of the HICP was 2.8%.

The HICP in November 2012 compared with October 2012, decreased by
0.3%. In November 2011, the monthly rate of change of the HICP was 0.2%.

In the twelve-month period from December 2011 to November 2012 compared
with the period from December 2010 to November 2011, the annual
average rate of change of the HICP was 1.2%. The previous year, in the
corresponding twelve - month period, the annual average rate of change
of the HICP was 3.4%.

[19] Imports rise 10.1pct in October, post 8.4pct decline for 12-month
period

Greek imports rose by 10.1 percent in October, after several months
of decline, according to flash estimates on the country's commercial
transactions released on Monday by the independent Hellenic Statistical
Authority (ELSTAT).

ELSTAT, in a report, said that the total value of imports-arrivals,
excluding oil products, in October 2012 amounted to 2734.2 million euros
against 2483.3 million euros in October 2011, recording an increase
of 10.1%.

The total value of exports-dispatches, excluding oil products, for the
12-month time period of November 2011 - October 2012 increased by 6.8%
compared to the corresponding 12-month time period of November 2010 -
October 2011.

The total value of imports-arrivals, excluding oil products, for the
12-month time period of November 2011 - October 2012 decreased by 8.4%
compared to the corresponding 12-month time period of November 2010 -
October 2011.

The total value of exports-dispatches, excluding oil products, in October
2012 amounted to 1528.5 million euros against 1343.5 million euros in
October 2011, recording an increase of 13.8%.

[20] Greek industrial production index up 2.0 pct in Oct.

Greece's industrial production composite index rose 2.0 pct in October,
compared with the same month last year, after a 13 pct drop recorded in
October 2011, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Monday.

The statistics service, in a report, attributed this development to a
15.8 pct increase in the mining production index and a 1.1 pct rise in
manufacturing production in October, reflecting a 48.6 pct jump in oil
and coal production and a 6.4 pct rise in pharmaceutical products. On the
other hand, food production fell by 3.0 pct, beverages were down 9.5 pct,
tobacco fell by 0.3 pct, textiles dropped 13.2 pct, footwear/leather
production dropped 28.7 pct and clothing fell 8.4 pct. Electricity
production edged 0.8 pct higher in October, while water production rose
2.0 pct in the month.

The average industrial production index in the January-October period
fell 3.8 pct, after a 7.5 pct decline recorded in the corresponding
period last year.

[21] Dromeas wins 500-mln-euro contract with German army

Dromeas - a Greek-listed office equipment company - on Monday announced
it has won an international tender to supply the German army with office
furniture, worth 500 million euro. The company said the products will
be manufactured in its facilities in Serres.

[22] Business Briefs

-- The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund on Monday asked a
consortium of comprised of OPAP Investment Ltd, Lottomatica Giochi e
Partecipazione Srl, Intralot Lotteries Ltd and Scientific Games Global
Gaming Sarl to present a higher bid in a tender to sell Greece's state
lotteries.

-- Foreign investors raised their participation in the capitalization
of the Athens Stock Exchange in November, to 51.4 pct from 50.6 pct in
October, up from 49.1 pct in November 2011.

-- Varagis -a Greek-listed furniture group- on Monday said an
extraordinary general shareholders' meeting approved a board plan for a
share capital increase worth 4.65 million euros through a capitalization
of reserves and an increase of nominal share price to 1.34 euros from
0.62 euros per share.

[23] Stocks end 1.42% higher

Stocks ended significantly higher at the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday,
pushing the composite index to its highest closing since Oct. 26 despite
nervousness in the market following a government's decision to extend
a bond buy back programe by 24 hours and a negative climate prevailing
in other European markets due to political developments in Italy. The
composite index of the market rose 1.42 pct to end at 852.63 points,
after falling by 0.99 pct early in the session.

Turnover was a thin 51.062 million euros. The Big Cap index jumped
1.36 pct and the Mid Cap index soared 3.92 pct. The Financial Services
(7.79 pct), Health (6.95 pct) and Personal Products (5.73 pct) sectors
scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Food (-2.18 pct)
was the only sector to end lower. MIG (13.21 pct), Intralot (5.70 pct),
PPC (4.66 pct) and Folli Follie (4.53 pct) were top gainers among blue
chip stocks, while Coca Cola Hellenic (2.24 pct), National Bank (2.14 pct)
and Motor Oil (0.74 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 120 to 41 with another 17 issues
unchanged. Cyclon (23.82 pct), Kreka (23.6 pct) and Unibios (21.88 pct)
were top gainers while NEL (20 pct), Alsinco (19.79 pct) and Yalco
(19.57 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials: +1.10%

Commercial: +4.61%

Construction: +0.27%

Oil & Gas: +1.24%

Personal & Household: +5.73%

Raw Materials: +4.43%

Travel & Leisure: +4.39%

Technology: +5.57%

Telecoms: +2.56%

Banks: +0.02%

Food & Beverages: -2.18%

Health: +6.95%

Utilities: +4.24%

Financial Services: +7.79%

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

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

Alpha Bank: 1.59

Public Power Corp (PPC): 5.17

HBC Coca Cola: 16.60

Hellenic Petroleum: 6.89

National Bank of Greece: 1.37

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.68

OPAP: 5.46

OTE: 4.41

Bank of Piraeus: 0.38

Titan: 13.80

[24] Greek bond market closing report

The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds
remained at 13.77 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond market
on Monday, unchanged from Friday, with the Greek bond yielding 15.07
pct and the German Bund 1.30 pct. There was no turnover in the market.

In interbank markets, interest rates continued moving lower. The
12-month rate eased to 0.55 pct, the six-month rate fell to 0.33 pct,
the three-month rate was 0.18 pct and the one-month rate was 0.11 pct.

[25] ADEX closing report

The December contract on the FTSE 20 index was trading at a premium of
0.63 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Monday, with turnover
remaining a low 14.283 million euros. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled
3,745 contracts worth 5.566 million euros, with 32,568 open positions
in the market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 40,950
contracts worth 8.717 million euros, with investment interest focusing
on National Bank's contracts (12,630), followed by Alpha Bank (6,278),
Piraeus Bank (3,635), Cyprus Bank (1,115), MIG (2,213), OTE (4,733), PPC
(1,345), OPAP (3,155), Cyprus Popular Bank (946), Mytiilneos (885), GEK
(1,412), Intralot (1,081) and Eurobank (346).

[26] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

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

U.S. dollar 1.312

Pound sterling  0.816

Danish kroner  7.571

Swedish kroner  8.763

Japanese yen  107.82

Swiss franc  1.224

Norwegian kroner  7.434

Canadian dollar  1.295

Australian dollar  1.250

General News

[27] China, Greece sign memorandum on culture, tourism

The China Cultural Heritage Protection Centre and Geo Routes Greece have
signed a cooperation memorandum in Beijing aiming to further enhance
the cultural and tourism bonds between the two countries.

The China Cultural Heritage Protection Center, which operates under the
jurisdiction of China's Ministry of Culture, is the only national body
for the protection and promotion of China's cultural heritage.

In his statements, the president of the Center Qiao Shenqian underlined
that the two countries, with their important cultural contribution
to humanity, are today closer than ever. "We are pleased about our
cooperation with an organisation that highlights and promotes Greece's
cultural heritage and contributes to society's development".

On his part, the head of Greece's Geo Routes Yannis Balakakis said that
every effort will be made for the facilitation, by the Greek authorities,
for the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens who are interested in
visiting Greece, which will decisively contribute to increasing the
tourist flow to Greece.

Geo and Aegean Routes are thematic routes of a cultural nature, under
the auspices of the EU and UNESCO, aiming to showcase the unexplored
Greece, promote the country's cultural heritage and contribute on the
development of the local societies via Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) programmes.

[28] Christmas Town in Technopolis, Athens

The municipality of Athens will set up a Christmas town for young and
old at the Technopolis in downtown Athens from Thursday, December 20,
through Monday, January 7.

The "Christmas Tale in Technopolis" will include three carousels,
an indoor ice skating rink, a fairytale town, a Santa's corner and a
toy workshop.

The indoor and outdoor grounds of the Technopolis will be transformed
into a Christmas park with games and activities for all and especially
for the children.

A Christmas market will be set up in the courtyard where the visitors
will be able to buy Christmas decorations at affordable prices, hot
mulled wine, doughnuts and other Christmas sweets and confectionaries.

The Christmas Tale will be open to visitors from 12.00 noon until 22:00
daily, and from 10.00 a.m. to midnight on weekends.

[29] 'Eleftherios Venizelos' exhibition at Athens International Airport

Passengers and visitors at Athens' "Eleftherios Venizelos" International
Airport (AIA) will have the opportunity to learn about the role of the
late statesman Eleftherios Venizelos in the formation of Greece's historic
route, through the updated exhibition hosted in the airport's premises.

The exhibition was inaugurated on Friday and is organised in cooperation
between the AIA and the National Research Institute "Eleftherios
K. Venizelos", with the support of the Periphery of Crete.

The life and times of the Crete-born Venizelos is projected on a system
of six screens in the exhibition halls, while newspaper articles of the
time and archive material are also on display.

[30] Trial for DIAS motorbike police twin homicide starts on Monday

The trial of four men accused of gunning down two DIAS motorbike police
officers that were ambushed in the working-class district of Rendi in
March 2011 began before a Three-Justice Criminal Appeals Court in Athens
on Monday. The hearing, which began in a tense atmosphere, will continue
on Thursday.

Monday's hearing concerned four of the 15 suspects implicated in the
case for forming a criminal organisation, including a 20-year-old whose
recent accidental release caused a stir and who was present in the
courtroom. The four on the stand face charges of homicide for killing
the two young policemen.

The victims of the shooting were Ioannis Evaggelinelis, 23, and Giorgos
Skylogiannis, 22, who were shot dead by the occupants of a car that they
were pursuing on March 1, 2011, after a robbery at a kiosk in Menidi. The
culprits set up an ambush, stopping the car in a dark spot in the Rendi
vegetable market and lying in wait until the pursuing motorbike police
came near. Once the DIAS team came into view, they go out of their
vehicle and started to shoot with kalashnikov rifles and a gun.

[31] Two charged for killing jewellery shop owner last May

The Attica Police Crimes Against Life department on Monday announced
that it had two suspects for the killing of a 35-year-old jewellery shop
owner that was shot dead during an armed robbery at his shop on Plastira
Street in the Athens suburb of Lykovrisi last May.

The two suspects were identified as Albanian nationals, aged 23 and 26
years old, respectively.

The 23-year-old was arrested at Athens international airport last Friday
following a coordinated police operation between the Crimes Against Life
department and the Athens Airport police.

Based on the findings of a police investigation, the two suspects entered
the victim's shop wearing motorcycle helmets and carrying guns and had
shot and fatally wounded the owner, after removing money and jewellery
that they found. They then drove off on a motorbike that they later
abandoned at Synggrou park in Maroussi, along with the helmets and guns,
a Kalashnikov rifle and a Makarov pistol.

The two robbers then lay low for a few days, hiding in the house of a
friend in Nea Makri, and finally escaped to Albania. The 23-year-old
was arrested at the airport when he attempted to return.

Police also arrested another two Albanians aged 23 and 24 years old,
respectively, for assisting the two robbers in their escape after
the murder.

The 23-year-old murder suspect in custody will be led before an examining
magistrate on Monday, while the search continues to find and arrest the
second culprit in the shooting.

[32] Two arrests for drug smuggling at Kipoi border crossing in Evros

Customs officers at the Kipoi border crossing in Evros on Monday announced
a major drug bust, in which large quantities of heroin coming to Greece
from Turkey were intercepted at the border crossing.

With the help of the sniffer dog Diego, customs officers located 38
parcels of heroin concealed within a car door, containing about 20 kilos
of the drug in total.

The 31-year-old Turkish national driving the vehicle claimed to have
no knowledge of the drugs and said that he was travelling from Ankara
to Germany, where he lives and works. The drugs and the vehicle were
impounded and the suspect led before an Alexandroupolis public prosecutor.

The bust was followed by a second shortly afterward, when customs officers
arrested a 30-year-old passenger on a Turkish coach after finding 280
grammes of cannabis in his possession. A repeat offender, the same man
had a previous arrest for possession of half a kilo of heroin and had
done time abroad.

The drugs were confiscated and the 30-year-old brought before an
Alexandroupolis prosecutor.

[33] Event hosted by Amnesty International to mark Human Rights Day

Amnesty International hosted a special event on Monday to mark the
International Human Rights Day, jointly organized with the House of Arts
and Letters.

The event was titled "Light a candle for people in danger," and the
international organisation called on citizens to write a letter of support
to people in danger and light a candle to symbolically light up the hard
times people are going through around the world.

[34] Tobacco trader shot in Ilissia armed robbery

A 47-year-old tobacco trader was shot in the legs by two unidentified
armed robbers with a sawn-off shotgun on Monday afternoon as he was
heading toward a bank branch on Mihalakopoulou 31 in the Athens district
of Ilissia.

The two men were riding on a motorbike and shot at the tobacco trader,
injuring him in the leg, before grabbing a bag containing approximately
30,000 euro that he intended to deposit in the bank. The injured man was
rushed to the Red Cross hospital, where doctors say he is out of danger,
while a search has been launched for the two robbers.

In a similar incident outside a petrol station in Tavros in Athens on
Monday, two armed men shot in the air with a gun and grabbed an unknown
quantity of cash from the till before speeding away on a motorbike.

[35] Administrative court judges end industrial action

Administrative court judges on Monday decided to call off their strike
action and return to their duties, following an extraordinary general
meeting of their association.

The association also decided to cooperate with other unions of court
judges, in preparing law suits to be filed with the Salary Court in an
effort "to restore pay and tax injustices against court justices."

A fresh general meeting will be held on Jan. 21, 2013, to examine
developments and determine further action.

Soccer

[36] Super League results

Olympiacos Piraeus drew 2-2 with Panathinaikos in a match played away
over the weekend and Monday, retaining its lead in the Greek Super League
soccer championship.

In other action:

PAOK Thessaloniki - Levadiakos 1-0

Kerkyra - PAS Yiannina 0-2

Atromitos Athens - OFI Crete 3-2

Platanias Crete - Veria  0-0

Xanthi - Panionios Athens 4-0

Asteras Tripoli - Aris Thessaloniki 1-1

Panthrakikos  - AEK Athens  1-0

Standings after fourteen weeks of play:

1. Olympiacos  36

2. PAOK  28

3. Asteras  25

4. Atromitos  24

5. Panionios  21

6. PAS Yiannina  21

7. Panathinaikos  20

8. Levadiakos  18

9. Panthrakikos  17

10. Platanias  16

11. OFI  14

12. Xanthi  14

13. Kerkyra  12

14. Veria  12

15.  Aris  12

16. AEK  11

NOTE: Panathinaikos has had two points deducted.

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

The preparation of the new tax bill and the bank loans arrangements,
dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Greece will soon see light at the end of the tunnel".

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: "They are spreading fear on the new taxes".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Favourable regulations for OEK (Labour Housing
Organisation) loan holders, too".

ESTIA: "Middle classes pushed to the extremes".

ETHNOS: "The new taxes for salary earners and professionals".

IMERISSIA: "Regulations for red 'loans' - Open line between banks and
enterprises".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Who will pay the taxes' bill".

TA NEA: "Stars' (entertainers) tricks with main social security fund
(IKA)".

VRADYNI: "Changes in Spatial and Town Planning, and decentralisation
of authorities".

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