[ana-dist] Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-04-04

[HR-Net News Distribution Manager]

Thursday,  4  April  2013          Issue No: 4326

CONTENTS
[01] Coalition government leaders adopt uniform positions in negotiations
      with troika
[02] Coalition parties will find formula for real estate tax, gov't
      spokesman predicts
[03] DIMAR leader to APA: New debt write-off possible
[04] SYRIZA-EKM leader: We will not capitulate to the Memorandums
[05] PASOK, DIM.AR on Tsipras' press conference
[06] KKE: Differences within coalition gov't a ploy to avoid political
      cost
[07] FM Avramopoulos to visit Romania on Thursday
[08] FM convenes National Council of Foreign Policy for April 25
[09] PM Samaras, EU Commissioner Han to address conference on development
[10] SYRIZA leader presents plan on armed forces
[11] Justice Minister announces tighter security measures for prisons;
      hand grenades found at Trikala Prison
[12] Citizen Protection Minister Dendias meets with local government
      authorities ahead of the fire alert season
[13] Independent Greeks party delegation in Cyprus
[14] Greek Union of Businessmen present plan to boost competitiveness
[15] SEB chief: Grexit inconceivable, but not impossible
[16] Greece raises 41.1 mln euros from sale of four property assets abroad
[17] E.I.Papadopoulos enters packaged bread market with 6.0 million
      euros investment
[18] Shipping agencies on Shipping ministry's omnibus bill
[19] Seamen's strike on Wednesday
[20] Flights as normal at airports on Thursday, employees' strike ruled
      illegal and abusive
[21] FTSE Group keeps ASE in developed market category
[22] Business briefs
[23] Greek stocks remain under strong selling pressure
[24] Greek bond market closing report
[25] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday
[26] AMNA launches new web page on Thursday
[27] Young patient to be airlifted to Hanover in government aircraft
[28] Court hands out hefty sentences in 'Revolutionary Struggle' case,
      acquits three
[29] Internet access to thousands of PhD papers written by Greeks
[30] Greek parliament donates used electronic equipment
[31] Unexploded hand-grenades found outside Trikala prison perimeter
[32] Drug trafficker arrested with 5.7 kg of cocaine
[33] Two new metro stations open on Saturday
[34] Ferry rams into pier, no injuries
[35] Train crashes with car
[36] Cloudy on Thursday
[37] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Politics

[01] Coalition government leaders adopt uniform positions in negotiations
with troika

The three political leaders forming the coalition government on Tuesday
evening concluded a meeting under Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, during
which they adopted a uniform position that will be kept in negotiations
with the country's troika of international lenders (EC-ECB-IMF), starting
this week.

Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, who also attended the meeting, told
reporters that "the special levy on properties (EETHDE), will continue
to be collected through electricity bills (DEH) in 2013", and efforts
will be made to reduce the amount of the tax for those citizens already
paying it off.

The government's intension is to apply as of 2013 a reduction in the
property tax of up to 10 pct, later rising to 15 pct.

However, the exact amount of reduction in the levy will be finalised
after negotiations with the troika, the heads of which are to arrive in
Athens on Thursday.

"We extensively discussed all pending issues on the negotiations agenda
(with the troika), as the talks must be concluded in order for the
(rescue loan) tranche to be disbursed," PASOK party leader Evangelos
Venizelos said in a statement after the end of the meeting.

On his part, Democratic Left (DIMAR) party leader Fotis Kouvelis told
reporters that the government's uniform position in negotiations with
the troika will be that "the special levy on properties be replaced by
the Single Property Tax, which will be of a bracketed nature."

The levy, according to Kouvelis, will continue to be collected through
electricity bills, but for citizens not willing to pay it this way,
it will be collected by taxation offices.

[02] Coalition parties will find formula for real estate tax, gov't
spokesman predicts

The three party leaders in the coalition government will finally manage
to reach agreement on a formula for a tax on real estate, government
spokesman Simos Kedikoglou predicted in statements to the private radio
station SKAI on Wednesday.

According to Kedikoglou, the proposed tax was already different from the
controversial emergency surtax imposed via electricity bills in the last
two years (which the junior coalition partner Democratic Left (DIM.AR)
has refused to continue to support) since the sum involved will be much
lower and only the collection method will remain unchanged.

"Is it not better to ensure its collection, preserving the method of
collection only, while changing the sum, given the emergency conditions
of the Greek economy? Unless there is another alternative," Kedikoglou
said, warning of the risk that a gap in revenues close to one billion
euro might otherwise arise.

The spokesman also promised that a mechanism for the uniform property
tax will soon be ready and expressed confidence that this time, as in the
past, "the prime minister and the two party leaders show the highest sense
of responsibility and will arrive at the right, realistic agreement".

On the issue of a government reshuffle and the proposals made by PASOK
leader Evangelos Venizelos, Kedikoglou noted that the government's
operation could be improved in a number of ways and every proposal and
observation in this discussion was welcome.

According to PASOK MP Filippos Sahinidis, also in statements to SKAI,
agreement between the three parties on the method of collecting the
single property tax was actually being blocked by the EU-IMF troika,
which disputed the efficacy of any other collection method other than
using electricity bills.

[03] DIMAR leader to APA: New debt write-off possible

VIENNA (AMNA/D. Dimitrakoudis)

Democratic Left (DIMAR) leader Fotis Kouvelis opined that a new
write-off of Greece's debt is possible, keeping in mind the upcoming
German elections, in an interview on Wednesday with the Austrian Press
Agency (APA), and at the same time rejected further cuts to salaries
and pensions.

Kouvelis, a junior partner in the three-party coalition government in
Greece, said that the Greek state needs the support of the European
Union for implementation of developmental programmes and investment
initiatives, adding that the foreign investments that are moving forward
are an important prerequisite for economic recovery and the generation
of jobs in Greece, which is facing a crisis.

He lauded the recently-announced agreement among Hewlett-Packard (HP),
Cosco and TrainOSE to use Cosco's cargo terminal at the port of Piraeus
as a hub and Trainose's adjacent rail infrastructure to distribute the
American electronics giant's products in central Europe, the Middle East,
North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean and eastern Europe.

Kouvelis said it was not easy to anticipate when the situation will have
smoothed out in Greece, adding his personal belief that the first signs
of recovery of the Greek economy will appear toward the end of the year.

Kouvelis severely criticised the Eurogroup's bailout package for Cyprus
(haircut of bank accounts), warning that the forced reform of the Cypriot
banking system, "which they (EU/IMF) now want to apply every so often",
cannot be accepted, and adding that the risk of harm to the European
banking system as a result is "real and big".

He did, however, welcome the fact that, in the case of Cyprus, deposits
under 100,000 euros would not be touched, and added that a solution to
the problem "within the eurozone" had been necessary.

[04] SYRIZA-EKM leader: We will not capitulate to the Memorandums

Main opposition SYRIZA-EKM leader Alexis Tsipras stressed that "we
will not capitulate to the Memorandums", during a press conference
on Wednesday.

"We will not say 'yes' to the blackmail and threats, we will not
capitulate to the Memorandums," Tsipras said.

Tsipras severely criticized the Greek government for its handling of
the latest developments in Cyprus, adding that in Cyprus there had been
only the people's determination not to accept the development (haircut
of bank deposits), but there had been no determined government or the
appropriate allies.

He blasted the partners in Greece's three-party coalition government for
not knowing, or not wanting the people to remember, the role played by
some important 'no's in history. "It is now clear that the much-advertised
programme for stabilisation and growth was just a 'bubble', and the
only thing that exists is the lenders' raid on this devastated country
to loot as much as they can," he said.

Tsipras further said that his party is working on scenarios that will
form the basis of its negotiations tactic, and "considers it a given
fact that there will be coercion, that the partners will not accept the
overwhelming defeat of their strategy", adding that SYRIZA has a plan
for collaboration with the countries of the European south.

SYRIZA-EKM's leader expressed his party's willingness to collaborate with
forces outside its ranks in order to form a leftist 'social salvation'
government that will reverse the present situation.

In a scathing attack on the government and Germany's policy in Europe,
Tsipras accused Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of preparing for the
upcoming visit of the EU-IMF troika "holding a bouquet of yes's". Nor did
he spare the premier's coalition partners: according to Tsipras, PASOK
leader Evangelos Venizelos "one burning concern" while the country was
going up in flames, was to become a minister again and Democratic Left
(DIM.AR) party leader Fotis Kouvelis, while not voting for the measures
in Parliament, passionately supported the government that yielded to
all the troika's demands.

Regarding his party's potential political alliances, SYRIZA-EKM's leader
said that SYRIZA would not hesitate to stray beyond "politically correct"
choices and frameworks, given the urgency of the crisis, but that the
government finally formed would necessarily be leftist and radical in
its actions. At the same time, he underlined that his party would not
become a "supermarket" for politicians who had changed their minds with
changing conditions.

He repeated that in order for such a government to achieve its goals,
there were three necessary conditions, listing these as:

A government determined and able to convince others that it can obtain
its goals in negotiations

The people's support for the effort

The existence of necessary alliances so that the balance of power in
not absolutely negative

On the issue of a National Bank of Greece-Eurobank merger, Tsipras
pointed out that Greek banks were not under state control and that their
managements had not been changed, as they had in other countries, in spite
of receiving bailouts paid by tax-payers. He said that banks financed
by the Fiscal Stability Fund must immediately come under state control.

Regarding the euro, finally, Tsipras said his statements in the United
States had been misinterpreted and that the euro was not the central focus
of SYRIZA-EKM's policies. He stressed that the party's main concern was
to put an end to austerity policies, not the currency under which these
were being implemented.

"Our goals is to save Greece in the eurozone and the euro, not to save
the euro in Greece and especially not to save the euro in Greece at
all costs," he underlined, challenging the government to explain what
"at all costs" might mean.

Government spokesman on Tsipras' interview

A tough and, at the same time, ironic government statement issued after
a press conference given by main opposition SYRIZA-EKM leader Alexis
Tsipras on Wednesday hinted at contradictions in the latter's position
as regards the euro.

"Tsipras was clear; on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday in the eurozone;
on Monday,Wednesday, Friday we have the drachma and on Sunday it's
referendum day. He was also perfectly clear that his 'big plan' is to
blackmail partners, lenders and Europe," government spokesman Simos
Kedikoglou underlined.

Kedikoglou added that Tsipras did not understand anything from his
stance as regards Cyprus, "we predict that Tsipras will continue to waver
between (the positions expressed by party cadre) Lafazanis and (former
party leader) Alavanos. He couldn't care less if such an attitude hurts
the country."

[05] PASOK, DIM.AR on Tsipras' press conference

The PASOK and Democratic Left (DIM.AR) parties, both junior partners in
the three-party coalition government, strongly criticized main opposition
Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA-EKM) leader Alexis Tsipras in response
to his press conference on Wednesday.

A PASOK press office statement noted that Tsipras "gave another press
conference laden with platitudes, empty boasting and contradictions to
hide his embarrassment for his two recent strategic blunders."

PASOK characterized as "strategic blunders" the "nationally irresponsible
and dangerous positions he expressed as regards Cyprus" and his "desperate
collaboration with (Independent Greeks (AN.EL) leader Panos) Kammenos".

"He cannot explain his stance to his cadres and much more to the Greek
people who can see and understand," PASOK noted.

"He did not learn anything from the very sad events on Cyprus," DIM.AR
commented on Tsipras' press conference, adding that "he heralds the
country's bankruptcy and invests in ruins and destruction".

The people and society have become aware of his party's contradictions,
u-turns and political dead end, DIM.AR noted, underlining that "it is
not a coincidence that his only ally is Mr. Kammenos' party".

"The so-called realistic turn is now history," the DIM.AR statement
concluded.

[06] KKE: Differences within coalition gov't a ploy to avoid political
cost

Any apparent differences between the three parties in the coalition
government regarding the implementation of the measures were simply an
attempt to pass the political cost to each other, the Communist Party
of Greece (KKE) said in an announcement on Wednesday.

"The parties of the coalition government have made a commitment to
Greek plutocracy and the troika to promote the measures that lay low
the people. Any differences between them concern the way in which the
measures are enforced and shifting the political cost onto each other,"
the announcement said, ahead of Wednesday evening's meeting between the
three party leaders in the coalition government.

The main problem of working class families "sinking into despair,
unemployment and destitution" was not how to pay the electricity bill
levy, taxes and debts but how to be rid of this burden, KKE added.

[07] FM Avramopoulos to visit Romania on Thursday

Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos will travel to Bucharest on
Thursday for a one-day working visit.

Avramopoulos will be holding talks with Prime Minister Victor Ponta and
his Romanian counterpart Titus Corlatean.

The two ministers will examine ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation
between Greece and Romania and will also discuss latest developments in
Cyprus and efforts to handle the crisis at European level, as well as
for the EU Multiannual Fianancial Framework (long-term budget) 2014-2020.

The agenda also includes regional developments in the region of
Southeastern Europe and the Middle East, as well as cooperation between
the two countries in the framework of regional organisations.

Statements by the two ministers to the press will follow, while
Corlatean will host a working luncheon in honour of the Greek Foreign
minister. Avramopoulos will then leave for Zagreb, Croatia, for a
working visit.

[08] FM convenes National Council of Foreign Policy for April 25

Greece's National Council of Foreign Policy (ESEP) will convene on
Thursday, April 25, and will be chaired by Foreign Minister Dimitris
Avramopoulos, it was announced on Wednesday.

A foreign ministry announcement added that Avramopoulos has already sent
letters to the representatives of the Parliamentary parties.

The meeting will focus on the country's relations with its European
partners, latest developments in the Middle East, Greek-Turkish relations,
developments concerning the protracted Cyprus issue and the European
prospects of Western Balkan countries, as well as Greece's relations
with these countries, the announcement said.

[09] PM Samaras, EU Commissioner Han to address conference on development

The mapping out of the country's comprehensive growth strategy for
2014-2020 is currently made a top priority, an announcement by the
Development ministry says in view of Thursday's First National Development
Conference.

Main speakers at the conference, to be held at the Athens Concert Hall,
will include Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and visiting European
Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn. A speech will also be
delivered by Development minister Costis Hatzidakis.

The event will be covered live, at the address: www.espa.gr

[10] SYRIZA leader presents plan on armed forces

Main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) president Alexis Tsipras,
in an interview with the www.OnAlert.gr. website on Wednesday, presented
his party's plan on the creation of armed forces of a "new type", with
reforms in the structures and the institutions governing their operation.

Tsipras, heading a SYRIZA delegation, will visit the Regular Air Force
Headquarters, as well as the 110 Combat Squadron and the Operations
Centre in Larissa on Thursday, while the tour will be concluded with a
visit to a combat squadron.

Replying to questions, he said that in democracy the basic preconditions
concerning the military are two: the military does not intervene in
politics, always functioning in the framework of the constitution, but
politics as well does not intervene in the military's daily function. The
first was satisfied definitely and irrevocably in 1974, while the second
was circumvented systematically and is still being unprecedentedly
circumvented until today.

The SYRIZA president further said that the results of that are more or
less known: corruption, vested interests, partisanship and the lack of
meritocracy, clientele relations on an unprecedented scale - since even
the transfers emanating from a minister's "environment" - and of course
procurements policies that rocketed the expenditures of Defence to great
heights, without substantive care for the fate of the defence material
in a depth of time.

The nucleus of the Defence policy processed by SYRIZA and presented by
Tsipras is:

Firstly: To schedule all those structural changes that have been mature
over decades and promote solutions to longstanding Defence problems,
for which "wireless silence" had been imposed both inside and outside.

Secondly: To promote the necessary changes at institutional level,
which has been happening in other countries for years, to enable an
institutional framework that will at last strengthen responsibility
and oblige democratic accountability and social control on all agencies
involved in the planning and functioning of Defence. That means, in short,
a final end to the status of "tight" departments.

[11] Justice Minister announces tighter security measures for prisons;
hand grenades found at Trikala Prison

Justice Minister Antonis Roupakiotis on Wednesday announced increased
security measures in prison facilities nationwide, including updated
weaponry for prison guards and the bullet-proofing of the windows in
prison guard towers. On the same day, bomb disposal experts had set up
an operation to neutralise two hand-grenades found outside a correctional
facility in Trikala, from which 11 convicts had escaped on March 22.

Roupakiotis said that one of the facilities in either Trikala, Domokos
or Malandrinou will become a maximum security prison. He also announced
the hiring of 500 new employees for the prison system, while 220 civil
servants will be transferred to the ministry of justice.

Prison staff members who are suspected of breaking the law will be
investigated by the financial crimes squad (SDOE), while the working hours
of prison staff will be increased from 34.5 hours a week to 37.5 hours.

Roupakiotis announced that a legislation soon to be approved will
allow individuals serving life sentences for embezzlement to have
their sentences reduced if they agree to return the entire sum they
have embezzled.

Also, the justice ministry is considering transforming an abandoned army
camp into a detention facility for individuals serving minor sentences
of less than two years for petty financial crimes.

The minister also announced the cessation of prosecution against
individuals accused of offenses punishable with up to one year in prison,
except in cases concerning a refusal to pay alimony and in labour
dispute cases.

[12] Citizen Protection Minister Dendias meets with local government
authorities ahead of the fire alert season

The restructuring of the Fire Brigade under the General Secretariat for
Civil Protection, the financing of municipalities, the aged water-bombing
aircraft fleet, shortages, volunteerism, as well as, fire prevention and
firefighting in the upcoming fire alert season, dominated Wednesday's
meeting between Citizen Protection & Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias
and local authorities in the greater Athens region.

The meeting, that focused on preparations for fire prevention and
improved cooperation with local authorities, was also attended by the
general secretaries of civil protection and public order and the Fire
Brigade leadership.

Dendias noted that a relevant draft law under preparation seeks to improve
conditions in the firefighting sector and coordination when handling
natural disasters. He said that the Fire Brigade and the water-bombing
aircraft are responsible for firefighting underlining, however, that
prevention plays a decisive role and is the responsibility of municipal
authorities and volunteers.

General Secretary for Civil Protection Patroklos Georgiadis noted that
despite the tough fiscal circumstances the sum allocated to the local
administration authorities is 18.4 million euros, the same with last
year's.

[13] Independent Greeks party delegation in Cyprus

NICOSIA (AMNA/A. Viketos)

Independent Greeks party president Panos Kammenos stated here on
Wednesday, in relation to a relevant question by AMNA, that "there is no
question of us being found in a (Greek) government with forces supporting
the memorandum".

He said that with the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA)
"we are trying to converge on certain issues, such as the issue of the
attack Cyprus is sustaining by the troika", but reiterated that "there
are contrasts on national issues which constitute red lines for us".

Kammenos, who was addressing a press conference on the conclusion of
the visit by a delegation of his party to Cyprus, termed the question
on to what extent he could find himself in a government with SYRIZA
hypothetical, adding that he does not believe in opinion polls and
recommended patience "for us to see what the Greek people will decide".

He further said that "we shall seek to get the majority from the Greek
people and the popular mandate to rule with our national proposal. We
Independent Greeks are a movement that shaped a governance proposal"
and added that the final proposal will be ratified at the congress on
April 25-26.

"Whatever postelection consultations will have to do with the convergence
on our scheduled positions," he said.

Financial News

[14] Greek Union of Businessmen present plan to boost competitiveness

Greece needs a flat tax rate and an external devaluation of the euro,
among others, to regain its international competitiveness, the Greek
Union of Businessmen said on Wednesday.

Dr. V. Apostolopoulos, president of the Union, speaking to reporters
during a press conference said that "growth needed tax incentives
not subsidies. It also needed specific actions of public policy and
cooperation between the public and private sector. New investments
needed a simpler tax regime and regulatory framework while a flat tax
rate could resolve the problem of a complex tax system in the country".

He added that Union members believed in "patriotic entrepreneurship",
meaning the creation of wealth and employment in Greece without
relocating businesses abroad. This slogan calls for the signing of a
"social contract" to avoid turning one social group against another.

The Union recommended the introduction of a 10 pct transition tax for
the years before 2009 for all enterprises and individuals, the immediate
repayment of all overdue debt by the state, restoring a ceiling on social
insurance contributions for wages more than 2,435 euros, cutting VAT for
tourism, promoting education and medical tourism, closer cooperation
between public and private sector enterprises in the services sector
and better preparation in privatizations.

[15] SEB chief: Grexit inconceivable, but not impossible

Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) president Dimitris Daskalopoulos
voiced conviction on Wednesday that there is no possibility, today, of a
Greek exit from the euro (Grexit), or a break-up of the European Union,
but added that he could not rule out the possibility of an "accident".

Asked what the possibilities were for a Greek exit from the eurozone,
Daskalopoulos replied "I don't know", adding that "this is something
that we don't want and should not think of".

He also said that the future of the EU is "uncertain", but opined that
"it will survive", given that "the investment that has been made in the
Union is very great".

As for the prospect of layoffs in the public sector, Daskalopoulos said
that the Troika does not want "heads", but "serious indications that we
are willing to make the required changes".

He further said that the relocation of Greek enterprises to other Balkan
countries was a "big blow".

[16] Greece raises 41.1 mln euros from sale of four property assets abroad

The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund on Wednesday said that a
sale of four state real estate property assets abroad raised 41.1 million
euros. In a statement, HRADF said the tender was successful and noted
that the sum raised was 27.1 pct higher than an independent evaluation
and 13.6 pct higher than the start price.

The sale needs approval by the State Auditor, while a legal dispute needs
to be resolved for the property in Nicosia, Cyprus. The Fund said a new
tender will be launched in the next 15 days for the property assets in
Tashkent and Lublijana.

For the property asset in London (Holland Park W11) the highest bidder
was Richard Deitz & Marina Nacheva (27,462,880 euros). For the Nicosia
asset (Aghios Prokopios, Egomi) the highest bidder was Tofarco Limited
(8.3 million euros). For the property in Brussels (Montoyer 25, Leopold)
the highest bidder was Home Invest Belgium (3.24 million euros) and
for the Belgrade asset (Kralja Milutina 6) the highest bidder was KM6
Consortium (2.075 million euros).

[17] E.I.Papadopoulos enters packaged bread market with 6.0 million
euros investment

E.I.Papadopoulos, a Greek biscuit and bakery product industry,
on Wednesday unveiled plans to expand its activities in the packaged
bread market aiming to obtain a 30 pct market share in the next two to
three years.

Ioanna Papadopoulou, chairman and chief executive, speaking to reporters,
said the company has completed an investment worth 6.0 million euros
in its main production unit in Inofyta for a new production line and
will begin distributing its new product in the market by mid-April,
at a competitive price.

Papadopoulou said the packaged bread in slices market was growing at
annual rate of 3.0 pct in Greece, with an estimated value of more than
100 million euros. The company aims to gain market share from the private
label category, currently at 50 pct, and stressed that its products will
be distributed only in the domestic market. She said that the company
hired 55 new workers for its new production line, raising its workforce
to 1,150. "We did not cut wages, nor we have dismissed any worker. On
the contrary, we raised our workforce by 30 pct to cover the needs of
our new production line," Papadopoulou said.

Papadopoulou said its 2012 turnover rose 2.0 pct to 121 million euros last
year, while pre-tax earnings were stable at 12.5 million euros. Its market
shares in biscuits were 62.5 pct in value and 62 pct in volume. She noted
that the company cut its product prices by 5-10 pct last year. Exports
accounted for 10 pct of its turnover.

[18] Shipping agencies on Shipping ministry's omnibus bill

Panhellenic Merchant Marine Seamens Union president Antonis Dalakogiorgos,
speaking at a joint press conference organised by the Federation of Greek
Ports Employees and the the Dockers Union of the Piraeus Port Authority
(OLP) with other shipping agencies said that "we shall do everything
so that the Shipping ministry's omnibus bill 'restructuring and other
clauses' will not pass through in Parliament, since the inividual changes
that will be taking place do not cover us."

Dalakogiorgos said that Wednesday's 24-hour strike mobilisation by
seamen was successful in all the country's ports despite, as he said,
efforts of terrorisation and intimidation with the government's civil
mobilisation in the last labour action, while calling once again for
the omnibus bill's withdrawal.

Federation of Greek Ports Employees president George Georgakopoulos
spoke of a "broom" bill that is coming to level issues having to do with
shipping and to sell out the ports.

He said he is categorically opposed to whatever scenario either for the
sale of shares or the concession of services of the ports and expressed
support for the preservation of their public character.

[19] Seamen's strike on Wednesday

Ships will remain docked at ports throughout the country on Wednesday
as seamen are staging a 24-hour strike in protest of an Omnibus bill
by the Merchant Marine Ministry on "restructure and other provisions"
currently in its second reading in parliament.

Protests over the omnibus bill are escalating, and Merchant Marine
ministry civilian personnel are also taking part in the strike, while
dockworkers will hold a five-hour work stoppage from noon to 5:00
p.m. on Wednesday.

Seamen's', dockworkers' and ministry and port authority staff unions
have called for withdrawal of the Omnibus bill, which has already been
passed in its first reading ('in principle'), even at the last minute.

[20] Flights as normal at airports on Thursday, employees' strike ruled
illegal and abusive

An Athens court ruled that the 24-hour strike called for Thursday by
Civil Aviation Service employees was illegal and abusive.

The decision was taken following a recourse by the Civil Aviation
Service's board and, consequently, flights will be carried out as normal
at all of the country's airports.

[21] FTSE Group keeps ASE in developed market category

FTSE Group maintained the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) in the developed
market category following completion of its regular evaluation of the
Greek capital market.

In a statement, FTSE Group said it maintained Greece in a watch list
for a possible downgrade to emerging market during its next regular
evaluation of the market in September.

FTSE Group said that Greek authorities continued slowly implementing the
development of a new regulatory regime and noted that although many of
these changes reflected progress towards aligning with the rest developed
markets, international investors have noticed that these reforms do not
fully respond to market practices.

[22] Business briefs

-- GEK-Terna Group, a Greek-listed construction company, on Wednesday
announced the signing of a contract worth 36.8 million US dollars to
build a new hospital in Iraq.

[23] Greek stocks remain under strong selling pressure

Greek stocks came under strong selling pressure in the Athens Stock
Exchange on Wednesday hit by worries over developments in a bank
recapitalization plan and uncertainty over a merger plan between National
Bank and Eurobank. The composite index of the market dropped 2.16 pct
to end at 837.82 points, its lowest closing since December 6, 2012,
while turnover shrank to 38.886 million euros.

The Big Cap index fell 2.04 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 1.25 pct
lower. The Personal Products (3.88 pct) and Travel (0.07 pct) sectors
were the only ones to record gains, while Commerce (5.46 pct), Technology
(5.03 pct), Oil (4.44 pct) and Banks (3.93 pct) suffered losses.

Jumbo (5.37 pct), Viohalco (5.10 pct) and Frigoglass (3.33 pct) were
top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Eurobank (11.90 pct), Hellenic
Petroleum (7.23 pct) and PPC (5.58 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 92 to 46 with another 19 issues
unchanged. Nutriart (20 pct), Teletypos (16.67 pct) and G.E.Demetriou
(12.96 pct) were top gainers, while Crete Constructions (20.63 pct),
Attica Holdings (19.92 pct) and NEL (16.67 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials: +1.75%

Commercial: -5.46%

Construction: -0.26%

Oil & Gas: -4.44%

Personal & Household: +3.88%

Raw Materials: -3.82%

Travel & Leisure: +0.07%

Technology: -5.03%

Telecoms: -1.99%

Banks: -3.93%

Food & Beverages: -2.85%

Health: -3.44%

Utilities: -3.98%

Financial Services: -1.24%

The stocks with the highest turnover were OTE, Coca Cola 3E, PPC and OPAP.

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

Alpha Bank: 0.62

Public Power Corp (PPC): 4.91

HBC Coca Cola: 20.50

Hellenic Petroleum: 6.93

National Bank of Greece: 0.59

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.19

OPAP: 6.29

OTE: 4.43

Bank of Piraeus: 0.18

Titan: 13.00

[24] Greek bond market closing report

The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds
shrank to 10.8 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond market on
Wednesday, from 11.1 pct on Tuesday, with the Greek bond yielding 12.08
pct and the German Bund 1.28 pct. Turnover was a thin 1.0 million euros,
one buy order.

In interbank markets, interest rates remained largely unchanged. The
12-month rate was 0.54 pct, the nine-month rate was 0.44 pct, the
six-month rate was 0.33 pct, the three-month rate was 0.21 pct and the
one-month rate was 0.12 pct.

[25] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

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

U.S. dollar 1.302

Pound sterling  0.861

Danish kroner  7.565

Swedish kroner  8.450

Japanese yen  121.76

Swiss franc  1.235

Norwegian kroner  7.558

Canadian dollar  1.320

Australian dollar  1.242

General News

[26] AMNA launches new web page on Thursday

The Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) on Thursday morning (11
a.m.) will launch its new web page, offering its content in a modern
design, improved browsing and speedier access to news items.

The new electronic page will offer at a glance all the latest news
covering from politics and the economy to sports and world developments,
in addition to photographs of all major domestic and worldwide events.

The Greek national news agency's "NEWSroom" on the Internet is
available in Greek, English, French, Russian, Albanian and Chinese at:
http://www.amna.gr

[27] Young patient to be airlifted to Hanover in government aircraft

A 15-year-old boy suffering from a rare illness, which cannot be treated
in a Greek hospital, will be airlifted to a specialized medical unit
in Hanover, Germany using the government aircraft to undergo surgery,
the health ministry announced on Wednesday.

Manolis Vogiatzis will be taken to International Neuroscience Institute in
Hanover, where he will be operated on to have a cavernous angioma removed
from his brain. According to his attendant doctors at Patras University
Hospital, the specific operation cannot be performed in a Greek hospital.

The young patient will fly to Hanover on board the prime minister's
aircraft to guarantee special cabin pressurization conditions during
flight. Permission to use the aircraft was given following communication
between the health minister and the prime minister.

[28] Court hands out hefty sentences in 'Revolutionary Struggle' case,
acquits three

An Athens Appeals Court on Wednesday handed out maximum prison sentences
to three of eight defendants on trial for the actions of the terrorist
group "Revolutionary Struggle", while another three were acquitted. Among
those receiving the maximum prison sentences were the fugitives Nikos
Maziotis and Panagiota Roupa.

After a trial lasting several months, the three justices on the bench
handed down prison sentences of 50 years to Nikos Maziotis and 50
years, six months each to Panagiota Roupa and Costas Gournas - the
three defendants considered to be the leaders of the terror group, who
had claimed political responsibility for its actions. Under Greek law,
each of them will serve a maximum of 25 years in prison. The three were
found guilty of forming and participating in a terrorist organisation,
attempted homicide, collusion in setting off explosions, aggravated
damages and other offences.

Another two defendants, Christoforos Kortesis and Evangelos Stathopoulos,
were found guilty of forming a terror organisation and given sentences
of seven years and seven years, six months respectively, effective
immediately.

The court decided to acquit the defendants Sarantos Nikitopoulos
and Kostas Katsenos due to reasonable doubts, in spite of the public
prosecutor's recommendation that they be found guilty. It also acquitted
Maria Beraha, the wife of Kostas Gournas, finding that there was
insufficient evidence to support the charges against her.

Both Roupa and Maziotis were absent from the court and their whereabouts
are still unknown several months after they violated the terms of their
release and disappeared. The two were both released from prison after
the 18-month period for which prisoners can be held on remand had expired.

The couple attempted to "testify" via two letters delivered to the
court by their defence lawyers, in which they defended their actions
and choices in "Revolutionary Struggle".

[29] Internet access to thousands of PhD papers written by Greeks

Thousands of PhD theses written by Greek researchers and scientists that
constitute a significant source of knowledge can be found in the renewed
website of the National Archive of PhD Theses (EADD)  (www.didaktorika.gr)
that offers easy access to its digitized content, a service provided by
the National Documentation Centre (NDC).

The National Archive of PhD Theses collects and provides access to PhD
papers submitted to higher education institutions in Greece, as well
as, PhD theses submitted to foreign universities by Greek scholars
and certified by the Hellenic NARIC, the agency that recognizes
qualifications.

The EADD website currently contains more than 29,000 PhD theses, in
printed form, in electronic format, as well as, bibliography records
with metadata.

The National Documentation Centre (NDC), responsible of keeping the
National Archive of PhD Theses since 1985, is an active member in the
DART-Europe partnership of research libraries and library consortia
working together to improve global access to European research theses.

[30] Greek parliament donates used electronic equipment

The Greek parliament is donating its used electronic equipment to schools
in remote areas of the country, orphanages and professional lyceums,
with the aim of to assist educational institutions and public benefit
entities that can't afford to buy electronic equipment.

The parliament has donated and continues to do so, electronic, mechanical,
educational and other related items such as computers, faxes, scanners,
printers and television sets, as well as books, to schools mostly in
remote areas, orphanages, educational foundations of Greeks Abroad and
special schools.

[31] Unexploded hand-grenades found outside Trikala prison perimeter

Army bomb disposal experts on Wednesday destroyed two hand grenades found
outside the Trikala Prison from where 11 convicts had escaped on March
22. The hand grenades were found during a continuing investigation by
the bomb disposal team outside the prison perimeter.

Meanwhile, in an abandoned van used by the escaped convicts and their
accomplices in the jailbreak, police found and seized bullets and parts
of hand grenades.

[32] Drug trafficker arrested with 5.7 kg of cocaine

Police arrested a big-time drug trafficker in the Athens district of
Ilioupoli on Wednesday afternoon, following many months of investigations

The man was found possessing five kilos and 773.5 grams of cocaine. He
lived in luxury homes, possessed expensive cars and had a laboratory
for adulterating and packaging cocaine.

He is a 40-year-old Greek, born in Germany, father of three, who sold
large quantities of cocaine and presented himself to his family as a
car dealer, lived in a luxury maisonette in Glyfada and rented three
private garages in the districts of Ilioupoli, Paleo Faliro and Glyfada.

Apart from the cocaine, four pistols, 660 cartridges, seven luxury cars,
96 licence plates, 97 credit cards in various names, the amount of 39,350
euros and many forged seals and documents were found in his possession
and confiscated.

[33] Two new metro stations open on Saturday

Two new Athens metro stations, one in front of the Peristeri Town Hall
and the second in Anthoupolis, will be inaugurated on Saturday morning.
According to the Athens Metro, 50,000 passengers are expected to use
the new stations daily.

Moreover, a third new metro station in Haidari will open in September,
while the extension to Helliniko that includes four more stations is
expected to open in July.

[34] Ferry rams into pier, no injuries

A car/passenger ferry rammed into a pier in the port of Heraklion,
Crete, early Wednesday, due to high winds in the area, but no injuries
were reported.

The Phaestos Palace docked in port with the help of a tugboat, and the
715 passengers were safely disembarked.

The ferry will resume its itinerary after an inspection by local merchant
shipping inspectorate officials.

[35] Train crashes with car

A train crashed with a car on Wednesday noon near Kamaroto village,
northern Greece.

The car overran the rail bars and crashed into the oncoming train,
which had fifty passengers on board.

The car driver was injured and was rushed to Serres hospital, while none
of the train's passengers were injured.

The train was carrying out the itinerary Alexandroupolis-Thessaloniki.

Weather forecast

[36] Cloudy on Thursday

Cloudy weather and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the
country on Thursday. Winds 3-7 beaufort. Temperatures between 4C and
22C. Slightly cloudy in Athens with northerly 3-5 beaufort winds and
temperatures between 11C and 22C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures
between 9C and 18C.

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

AVGHI: "Lies' time is running out".

DIMOKRATIA: "Crazy 'ideas' for the surtax on real estate".

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: "Poison in the vein".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Landmine to Memorandum 2".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Troika's bomb on OAEE (social insurance fund for
self-employed and freelance workers) pensions

ESTIA: "The nightmare of Tsipras' (Alexis, main opposition SYRIZA leader)
drachma".

ETHNOS: "Burning law for 2,000 civil servants who have been indicted
for criminal offences".

IMERISSIA: "Difficult test for 8.8 billion euros".

KATHIMERINI: "In search of an agreement in a heavy climate".

LOGOS: "The 'thorns' on the table (at Prime Minister Antonis Samaras'
meeting with party leaders that participate in the coalition government,
PASOK Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic left Fotis Kouvelis on
Wednesday)".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Six open fronts just before troika's arrival".

NIKI: "The final arrangements for unlicenced buildings".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Communist Party (KKE)'s proposal for the relief of the
working classes".

TA NEA: "Balancing act and bargaining".

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