[ana-dist] Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-04-19
HR-Net News Distribution Manager
dist at hri.org
Sat Apr 20 07:33:32 EDT 2013
Friday, 19 April 2013 Issue No: 4339
CONTENTS
[01] PM: Europe can contribute to speedy completion of EEZs of Med
countries
[02] EU, EIB and IMO joining forces for development of 'blue economy in
the Mediterranean'
[03] Government, ministers condemn Manolada shooting incident
[04] 28 migrant fieldworkers injured in shooting incident, political
parties demand attribution of justice
[05] Three being sought for Manolada incident, police say
[06] Police announce action to clamp down on illegal labour
[07] PM Samaras congratulates ONNED for student election victory
[08] Tsipras pledge to scrap bailout memorandums harshly criticised by
PASOK leader
[09] Independent Greeks leader charges 'frame' using fake evidence
against his party
[10] Barack Obama to address White House event on Greek Independence Day
[11] Frontex reports drop in migrants crossing Greek-Turkish land border,
increase on sea border
[12] Justice ministry promoting transfer of Albanian inmates to Albanian
prisons
[13] FM Avramopoulos, DM Panayiotopoulos attend Israeli embassy
celebration
[14] Inspection finds third USB stick associated with Lagarde list affair
[15] Exercise 'Pyrpolitis 3/13' concludes successfully
[16] FinMin confers with central bank chief on recapitalization
[17] FinMin holds second meeting with Shenzhen Airport-Friedmann Pacific
Asset Management consortium
[18] Development minister holds talks with Cyprus Communications minister
[19] Australian Embassy, IOBE, HABC hold event on 'Structural Reform'
[20] GSEE seeks start of talks on national collective labour agreement
[21] Tourism minister a keynote speaker at WTFL 2013
[22] Zakynthos tourist season opens on Saturday
[23] Piraeus Bank to sell ATE Bank Romania for 10.3 mln euros
[24] Alpha Bank hires JP Morgan as advisor in share capital increase plan
[25] Draft law allowing department stores, shops to open on Sundays to
be tabled soon
[26] One million euros set aside for riot-damage compensation
[27] Shipping minister addresses 12th FEMIP conference
[28] Heating oil consumption down, revenues up in Oct 2012-Feb 2013
[29] Business Briefs
[30] Greek stocks end slightly lower
[31] Greek bond market closing report
[32] ADEX closing report
[33] Foreign Exchange rates - Friday
[34] Solidarity to Greece event organised by mass media in Belgium, May 31
[35] Entrance to museums, archaeological sites free on Thursday, World
Heritage Day
[36] Foreign national arrested for 2009 kidnapping of shipowner
[37] Young patient who underwent brain surgery in Germany returns
home healthy
[38] Normal Proastiakos train services to airport resume from Friday
[39] Metro workers work stoppage on May Day
[40] Two get life sentence for 2011 murder of Thessaloniki psychiatrist
[41] Police shootout in Mandra with gunmen in a car
[42] Octogenarian arrested for attempted murder
[43] Large hashish plantation discovered in Sounio
[44] Rainy on Friday
[45] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance
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Politics
[01] PM: Europe can contribute to speedy completion of EEZs of Med
countries
A message to Europe that, with its stance, it can contribute to the
efforts being made for speedy and safe completion of the procedures for
declaring Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) not only by Greece but also by
the other Mediterranean countries of Europe was issued by Greek Prime
Minister Antonis Samaras, in his opening address to the 12th conference
of the Euro-Med Cooperation and Investments Mechanism that opened in
Athens on Thursday.
Samaras noted that the energy reserves in the wider region were under
the jurisdiction mainly of European member countries.
"They are part of our European assets, that must be exploited --
the declaration of the EEZ is in the jurisdiction of the sates, but
the EU can back these states so that everything can be completed with
security," he said, adding that "we must rally together for something that
unites us, we must raise our head for something that gives us prospect,"
Samaras said, emphasizing that Greece is at the most neuralgic point of
the Mediterranean.
Indeed, the prime minister made mention for the first time of a prospect
of connecting the EEZs of Greece, Cyprus and Malta, and stressed that
the Mediterranean is much more than just a Sea, it is the most critical
sea border of Europe.
Europe must be safeguarded from the dangers at its south, and that is
where waves of migrants come, on the opposite coast are wealth-producing
sources that Europe has need of, but also in the seabed of the
Mediterranean, Samaras said, noting that Europe's energy sufficiency
can hinge on the Mediterranean.
"Europe must make its presence felt in its neighbourhood. The
Mediterranean plays and will play a decisive role for the security and
international radiance of Europe, for its energy supply," he added.
[02] EU, EIB and IMO joining forces for development of 'blue economy in
the Mediterranean'
A conference taking place in Athens on Thursday and Friday is focusing
on the maximization of marine and maritime cooperation between the
Mediterranean countries, aiming at promoting opportunities for growth and
the creation of jobs. Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime
Affairs and Fisheries, European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-president
Philippe de Fontaine Vive and Andrew Winbow, Assistant Secretary-General
of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) committed themselves
to joining forces, each in his own sector - European policy, funding,
security - to support a viable "blue economy" in the Mediterranean.
"We are trying in the EU, through the Integrated Maritime Policy,
to coordinate the various activities such as shipping, sea transport,
fisheries, aquacultures, ports and coastal infrastructures, marine energy
sources and marine tourism to avert the threats that illegal immigration,
interstate crime, drug trafficking, illegal fishing constitute,"
Commissioner Damanaki said.
"Our aim is to determine and undertake activities that favour the
development of dexterities, the creation of jobs, the protection and
security of citizens, the protection of the environment and the 'blue'
development in the region. The EIB must depend on the increase in the
private sector's participation in this effort," Philippe de Fontaine
Vive said on his part.
Andrew Winbow from IMO, placing emphasis on the protection of the
environment, stressed that "the action must focus on two main sectors
of vital importance: training, preparation and the dissemination of
information and some form of monitoring and supervision to secure
the effective implementation of the policies and practices that must
be selected".
"Our aim is the mapping of all the European sea depths by 2020 to
facilitate the excavation and the energy utilisation of the sea depths",
he noted, underlining the contribution of the EU funds to the 2014-2020
programme in the research sector, as well as the EIB's positive stance.
Participating in the 12th conference of the Facility for
Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) are ministers from
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Malta and Palestine who are
responsible for maritime policy issues, personalities in the sector of
shipping, entrepreneurship, sciences and activities related to the sea.
[03] Government, ministers condemn Manolada shooting incident
The Greek government and several cabinet ministers on Thursday condemned
Wednesday's incident in Nea Manolada, Ilia when foreign farm labourers
working on a local strawberry farm were shot and injured when they went
to demand six months of unpaid wages.
Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said it was an "inhuman attack and
an unprecedented and despicable action", which was "absolutely condemned
by the entire Greek society."
"This unprecedented and despicable action is foreign to the Greek people's
principles and the relevant authorities' action will be immediate and
exemplary," he added.
Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Dendias warned
that "the economic exploitation of hundreds or even thousands of our
fellow-humans, or their living in unacceptable conditions, cannot be
tolerated today in the Hellenic Republic. The more so an attempt to
murder them."
Dendias stressed that "in this direction, we have the active support of
the overwhelming majority of the law-abiding residents of Ilia and the
local authorities".
"I feel the need to reiterate that enforcement of the law is not only
a self-evident obligation of all of us, but also a necessary condition
for the country's economic recovery," Dendias added.
The minister is to visit the Varda police station handling the case
on Friday morning, in order to be briefed into the progress of the
investigation. He will be accompanied by Police Chief Lieut. General
Nikos Papagiannopoulos, the General Inspector for Southern Greece,
Lieut. General Yiannis Dikopoulos and the heads of the Financial Police
and Service Against Racist Violence.
Justice Minister Antonis Roupakiotis similarly expressed his horror at
what he called a "murderous" attack:
"The barbaric and inhumane armed attack by Greek employers against
migrant workers in Nea Manolada, Ilia drags forth abhorrent images
of a slave-era South that has no place in our country," he stressed,
expressing his disgust and deep concern.
"I stress that the State will impose and uphold legality and give
an immediate reply to this criminal action. I have already asked the
Supreme Court prosecutor to give priority to the investigation of this
case and to apportioning responsibility," he added, noting that society
must condemn such actions and the political forces that support them.
Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis, on his part, condemned "the inhuman
working conditions, violence and human exploitation" to which the victims
had been subjected by a local land owner and stressed that "upholding
the law and legality in the labour market are non-negotiable."
He announced that he had asked Labour Inspectors' Corps Special Secretary
Mihalis Kandarakis to urgently send a team to Manolada to investigate,
adding that the events on Wednesday confirmed the need to involve the
police in clamping down on 'black' undeclared labour.
The incident was also strongly condemned by trade union organisations,
such as the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE
representing private-sector workers and the civil servants' union
federation ADEDY, and employer associations such as the Federation of
Hellenic Enterprises (SEV).
GSEE said that conditions on Manolada strawberry farms "amounted
to contemporary slavery" and stressed that those responsible must be
brought to account, while calling for the exemplary punishment of those
"choking even the few remaining labour and insurance rights and sinking
social insurance funds through contribution evasion".
A similar call was made by ADEDY, which stressed the government should
not shirk its responsibilities and said that trade unions were planning
action to tackle such incidents.
"Phenomena of this type are counter to every sense of justice, humanity
and refer us to social conditions in the Middle Ages, offending the whole
of Greek society, which has been brutally injured by the conditions of
severe austerity that prevail in the country as a result of the policies
of the government and the troika," an ADEDY announcement said.
SEV spoke of a "barbaric exploitation of human beings that are subjected
to a regime of black labour amounting to slavery," and said that the
Greek state and Greek society must "must move with determination to
punish and crack down on similar phenomena." SEV stressed that "there
is no future for the Greek economy if it allows practices that crush
human dignity and labour ethics."
The events in Nea Manolada were similarly condemned by the Central
Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), the Athens Bar Association,
political parties and many other organisations.
During an incident on Wednesday afternoon, 28 Bangladeshi field hands
working on a Nea Manolada strawberry farm ended up in hospital after
three gunmen armed with shotguns and a pistol opened fire on them. The
farmhands had gone to meet with the farmer to demand six months of
backpay owed to them for working on his fields.
Nine were taken to the university hospital in the western port city of
Patras and the remaining 19 to a hospital in nearby Pyrgos. Eight were
said to have serious but not life-threatening injuries and seven were
still in hospital on Thursday afternoon.
The owner of the strawberry farm has been arrested and police are seeking
three local men believed to be involved in the shooting and were employed
as foremen on the farm.
[04] 28 migrant fieldworkers injured in shooting incident, political
parties demand attribution of justice
Some 28 foreign field workers -- Bangladeshi nationals -- were injured
on Wednesday afternoon in Nea Manolada, Ileia prefecture, when three
gunmen opened fire on them as they showed up for what they thought was
an appointment with their employer to seek six months in back-pay for
working his strawberry fields.
According to information, nine of the workers were taken to the university
hospital in the western port city of Patras and the other 19 were taken
to hospital in Pyrgos.
Reports also said that the owner of the strawberry fields has been
arrested.
Sources said that eight of the workers suffered more serious injuries,
but were not in a life-threatening condition.
Police are searching for three local men involved in the shooting,
allegedly 'representatives' of the employer, who opened fire on the
workers with shotguns when the former asked to be given the six months
in back-pay owed them.
Police have beefed up security measures in the area to avert new violence.
The foreign workers were wounded by gunshots in Nea Manolada, in the
Ilia prefecture in the Peloponnese, shortly after 6 on Wednesday evening.
According to reports, about 200 foreign workers in strawberry fields
carried out a protest in the region to demand six months in back-pay. A
clash followed with three Greeks who, according to police, are believed
to be representatives of the employer.
One of them started firing against the workers, resulting in 28 people
being wounded. According to reports, the police have arrested the owner
of strawberry farm and are continuing investigations to locate the
three Greeks.
The violation of the labor rights of the workers due to their origin
is in every instance a racist act and should be treated as such," the
PASOK division on human rights said in an announcement on the "incident
of extreme violence in Nea Manolada", adding that the law enforcement
authorities must mobilise immediately.
PASOK said that the incident must be investigated immediately, adding
that the employment of undocumented foreign nationals, if proved,
is done with the accountability of the employer and is not an alibi,
according to the law, for non-payment of wage and all the more so for
exercising any form of violence.
Main opposition SYRIZA said attribution of justice is urgent and pressing,
adding that "the gunshots against migrant workers in Manolada, who were
demanding pay owed them, is a criminal, racist act.
The SYRIZA press office, in an announcement, said this was not the
first time that such incidences have occurred in the Manolada region
against working migrants who, apart from extreme exploitation also
suffer violence.
Democratic Left (DIMAR) condemned the "criminal attack against
working migrants in Manolada" and called on justice to deal with the
matter without delay. "It is an insult against the human being and his
rights. Repelling violence and racism is a cause of the entire society,"
DIMAR said in an announcement.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) put "heavy blame" on the government
and the local authorities in Manolada over the "modern-day slave trade
and inhuman working conditions of the migrant laborers".
The KKE, in an announcement, condemned "the murderous attack against
migrant field-workers by 'big landowners and foremen in Manolada because
they (the workers) were demanding the self-evident, namely payment
of pay owe them, resoling in more than 20 injuries, of which four in
serious condition".
The KKE added that this was not the first time such an incident has
occurred in this specific region.
This specific incident, by big-bosses with their henchmen attacking
workers demanding their rights, is reminiscent of other eras and confirms
that barbarity is synonymous to today's capitalist system, the KKE
said, adding that Greek and foreign workers, united in a tight fist,
must fight against this barbarity and the system that breeds it.
Independent Greeks party leader Panos Kammenos categorically condemned
the shooting of Bangladeshi farm workers seeking unpaid wages from a
farmer in Manolada, while speaking on the sidelines of an emergency
press conference.
"The results of neo-Nazism and the legalisation of the extremes, as the
former prime minister Costas Karamanlis has called them, as well as the
publicising of their positions, are grievous phenomena that offend our
country and have nothing to do with Greece. The things that happened in
Manolada are of course condemned by us all," he said.
A press release issued by the ultra-right nationalist party Golden Dawn
(Chryssi Avghi) condemned an incident in rural Manolada, in which 28
Bangladeshi farm workers were shot when they went to demand unpaid wages
from a local farmer, while calling for the immediate deportation of all
illegal migrants and a "final end to the illegal labour of foreigners".
The party's press release also condemned "all those that illegally
give work to illegal migrants, depriving thousands of Greek families
of bread" and said blame for the incident lay fully on "the political
establishment that has led us to the current pitiful stiuation, with
millions of illegal migrants flooding the country."
"Those who brought the foreigners illegally into the country and until
today tolerate 'black' labour and their exploitation should not now
pretend to sensivity," the party said, adding that both left- and
right-wing politicians shared responsibility for the exploitation of
migrant workers and the huge problems that illegal migrants created for
the Greek people.
[05] Three being sought for Manolada incident, police say
Police on Thursday announced that a manhunt has been launched to find the
three foremen accused of opening fire on 200 Bangladeshi farm workers on
a strawberry farm in Nea Manolada, Ilia and injuring 28 people. According
to a spokesman for the Greek Police (ELAS) Christos Parthenis, one of
the three has a pending court case over a similar incident that led to
the injury of a foreign national last August.
The 57-year-old land owner running the strawberry farm is already in
custody, following his arrest in Lappa, Achaia on Wednesday on a charge
of morally instigating attempted homicide and violating laws on the
employment of foreign nationals.
Also under arrest is a 38-year-old man from Pinia, Amaliada, who is
accused of harbouring two of the suspects sought by police for some
hours. In a raid on his home, police found a can of pepper spray and a
shot gun whose licence had expired.
According to the spokesman, the land owner and the three foremen -
aged 39, 27 and 21 years old, respectively - were equipped in a manner
reminiscent of U.S. plantation bosses during the slavery era, while the
armed attack on the migrant workers did not take place in the heat of
an altercation but later, indicating criminal intent.
By order of the chief of police, the Attica Security Police Department
Against Racist Violence will also be involved in the investigation of the
case, in order to determine whether the three foremen might be implicated
in other acts of violence targeting foreigners.
One of the three men, the 27-year-old, is already facing trial for
injuring an Egyptian labourer in August, again following a dispute over
unpaid wages. Acting with another Greek man that had not participated
in the events on Wednesday, the 27-year-old had been accosted by workers
demanding their money and had attempted to drive away in his car. When the
Egyptian tried to stop them, the two Greeks had rolled up the car window
so that they caught the man's hand and then dragged him a considerable
distance so that he was injured. A trial over the incident is pending.
During the incident on Wednesday, a police investigation showed that
there was an argument between the three foremen and the migrants over
six months of unpaid wages, after which the three foremen left. They
returned a few hours later with two shotguns and a pistol and started
firing at the gathered foreign labourers.
Evidence found on the scene included five empty shotgun shells and one
unused shotgun shell, 15 iron pipes and 12 makeshift clubs, among others.
Of the 28 labourers injured in the shooting, seven have not yet been
discharged from the Patras University Hospital and Pyrgos General Hospital
though none appear to have sustained life-threatening injuries.
Police have briefed the Amaliada public prosecutor on the actions and
the course of the investigation so far, while the main investigation
has been assigned to the Amaliada security police in cooperation with
the Varda police station.
The spokesman also stressed that no illegal migrants have been detained
in connection with the incident so far.
[06] Police announce action to clamp down on illegal labour
During the briefing, Parthenis announced plans for a police campaign to
clamp down on undeclared and uninsured labour, on the basis of a new
labour ministry law passed by Parliament nine days earlier. Once this
is published in the government gazette, it will give the ELAS Financial
Police powers to investigate incidents of 'black' labour and start
systematic inspections throughout the country.
"I want to make it clear that both the leadership of the Greek Police and
the political leadership of the [public order and citizen protection
ministry] is determined to stamp out such phenomena involving the
exploitation of foreigners, which offend our country's culture," the
spokesman said.
[07] PM Samaras congratulates ONNED for student election victory
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Thursday appeared determined to push
ahead with substantive changes in the country's production model, speaking
of the need for an immediate reversal of mentalities and stereotypes.
Addressing members of the New Democracy party's youth group ONNED,
at the group's headquarters, Samaras stressed that he was "determined,
in every way, to reverse all of yesterday's mentalities and stereotypes
and the country's worn-out production model."
The premier visited ONNED's offices to congratulate its members for the
victorius outcome in Greece's student elections on Wednesday, saying
"the party won the battle of ideas, quality in education, resolve for
sweeping reforms and the new generation's bet."
Samaras expressed satisfaction over the large turnout in the student
elections, pointing out that young people offer strength and "we provide
stability."
[08] Tsipras pledge to scrap bailout memorandums harshly criticised by
PASOK leader
Main opposition SYRIZA-EKM leader Alexis Tsipras on Thursday addressed
the annual economic forum organised by the Hellenic Business Union
(EENE) on "The crisis in the Eurozone: challenges and opportunities for
the European South" and repeated his party's determination to scrap the
bailout memorandums if elected to power.
"The memorandum will end on the same night as the elections when our
people give us a large majority and a clean mandate in a government of
social salvation," he said.
Tsipras spoke of five immediate actions for the country's exit from
the crisis, saying that his party's main priorities will be economic
stabilisation, a mobilisation of productive potential for recovery,
establishing a sense of social security and justice for the Greek people.
These included: the replacement, through a law passed by Parliament, of
the catastrophic bailout memorandums with a national plan for economic,
social and environment reorganisation of the country and the start of a
"real" negotiation concerning the country's loan obligations; "social
just and viable" fiscal stabilisation; establishing a stable labour
and tax framework; a national plan to tackle unemployment and restoring
social welfare institutions.
He stressed SYRIZA-EKM's determination to put an end to the austerity
'adventure' and transform Greece "from a recipient of third-party
decisions to a politically equal partner and real participant in shaping
European developments."
PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, whose party is a junior member of the
coalition government, replied to Tsipras and accused him of indulging in
"old-style party rhetoric" that PASOK had "broken all ties with".
"We know how great the difficulties are and how the difficulty of the
negotiations will disprove the easy words," he said, appealing to all
"healthy forces to stand behind the effort for national recovery".
He disputed what he called the "deceptive idea that there is an easy
path within the euro and within Europe" that Greece might follow and was
harshly critical of SYRIZA-EKM's stance toward the bailout memorandum
agreements, especially Tsipras' statement that these will "end" on the
night of the elections.
[09] Independent Greeks leader charges 'frame' using fake evidence
against his party
In an emergency press conference on Thursday, the head of the Independent
Greeks party Panos Kammenos said his party had been the target of a
"mud-slinging attack using fake evidence" in the run-up to the elections,
which had cost the party a seat in the Ioannina constituency.
He attacked the newspaper "Eleftheros Typos" and a news website, as well
as an unidentified 'big banker' and members of the New Democracy party,
claiming that they had organised a deliberate frame targeting the party's
election result by accusing an Ind. Greeks candidate of having taken
money from the National Intelligence Service (EYP).
Kammenos said that he had visited the Supreme Court prosecutor Ioannis
Tentes earlier on Thursday to brief him on the issue and be informed on
the progress of three lawsuits filed a year earlier against the head of
the EYP, an EYP department head whose signature is on the receipts and
the Ind. Greeks candidate.
[10] Barack Obama to address White House event on Greek Independence Day
U.S. president Barack Obama is expected to reiterate his country's
solidarity with Greece for its economic recovery during an event at the
White House in the early hours of Friday (Greek time).
Due to president Obama's commitments, the customary annual ceremony to
celebrate the national day of March 25 and the Greek Independence Day
of March 25 has been moved to Friday (at 01:00 local time).
In addition to president Obama and Archbishop Demetrios of America,
who are to address an audience of 350 guests, the event is also to
be attended by US vice-president, Joe Biden, members of Congress,
Greek origin officials of government departments and many other
Greek-Americans. The Greek government will be represented by ambassador
to Washington, Christos Panagopoulos.
The American president will highlight the fact that "every year, America
celebrates the Greek Independence Day to strengthen ties between the
birthplace of democracy and the oldest democracy in the world." He
will add "we reflect on the ancient Greek principles that inspired the
founders of our nation to assign the powers of government in the hands
of the people."
Barack Obama will also emphasize that "our nations (USA and Greece)
have learned that democracy flourishes when we show respect for our
differences and persist on the principles that unite us to move forward
with a common purpose."
[11] Frontex reports drop in migrants crossing Greek-Turkish land border,
increase on sea border
BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA - M. Aroni)
There has been a significant reduction in the number of illegal migrants
attempting to cross the land border between Greece and Turkey since
August 2012 but increased migration pressure on the islands of the eastern
Aegean, according to the annual report presented on Thursday by Frontex
Executive Director Ilkka Laitinen.
The Frontex chief said that illegal crossings of EU borders were roughly
halved in 2012 relative to the previous year (down to 72,430 tracked
in 2012 from 141,060 in 2011), largely due to the heightened security
along the Greek-Turkish land border in Evros after August 2012.
The numbers of illegal migrants crossing the Greek-Turkish land border
fell by 44 percent in 2012, Laitinen added, as a result of a phenomenal
mobilisation of human and other resources, including 1,800 Greek police
officers patrolling the border. He said this led to a reduction in the
numbers of illegal migrants crossing the border from 2,000 a week in
August 2012 to just 10 a week in October 2012.
However, the reduction along the Greek-Turkish border resulted in a shift
of migration flows to the Bulgarian-Turkish border (where trackings
increased fourfold) and the sea border between Greece and Turkey in
the Aegean, where the numbers tracked peaked from September 2012, with
migrants attempted to get from the coast of Izmir to the islands of
Lesvos, Samos, Agathonissi, Farmakonissi and Symi.
In his report, the Frontex chief also referred to the unsatisfactory
conditions for the detention of migrants in Greece while recognising
the efforts being made by Greek authorities to address the problem. The
report also noted that Greece was more a 'transit country' than a
destination country for migrants, most of whom continued to reach other
EU member-states after arriving in Greece.
[12] Justice ministry promoting transfer of Albanian inmates to Albanian
prisons
The Justice ministry is promoting the transfer of Albanian inmates from
Greek to Albanian prisons.
Through an initiative by Deputy Justice Minister Costas Karangounis
initial discussions have already taken place with senior Albanian Justice
ministry officials on the sidelines of the regional conference of Justice
and Interior ministers held in Belgrade.
The two sides agreed on the start of bilateral negotiations to determine
the framework and in particular the terms with which the Albanian inmates
in Greek prisons will be able to serve the remainder of their sentences
in prisons in their country.
As is reported by the Justice ministry, the first target of the Greek
side is for 500 Albanian inmates (of serious crime) to be forwarded to
prisons in Albania soon.
This initiative by the deputy Justice minister is part of the overall
effort to decongest Greek prisons in which, according to recent data,
about 8,000 foreign nationals are being held, of whom 2,500 are Albanian
citizens.
[13] FM Avramopoulos, DM Panayiotopoulos attend Israeli embassy
celebration
Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos and Defence Minister Panos
Panayiotopoulos expressed the Greek government's position in favour of
further strengthening relations between Greece and Israel, during the
celebration held by the Israeli embassy on the occasion of Israel's 65th
independence anniversary.
Avramopoulos, in an exclusive statement to ANA/MPA, revealed that he will
go to Tel Aviv next month for the preparation of the Joint Greece-Israel
ministerial Council, while Israel's new Defence Minister Yaalon, is
expected in Athens soon, as was stated by his Greek counterpart.
"The further strengthening of relations between Greece and Israel,
for the benefit of peace, stability and security in the wider region of
the Mediterranean is a position of the (Antonis) Samaras government,"
the Defence minister said on his arrival at the celebration.
Israel's ambassador to Greece Arye Mekel termed Panayiotopoulos "a
greart supporter of relations between the two countries and a big friend
of Israel".
The event was also attended by a number of other Greek ministers.
[14] Inspection finds third USB stick associated with Lagarde list affair
A second inspection done on a laptop belonging to Ioannis
Diotis, former head of the Economic Crime Squad (SDOE), has been sent
to Parliament's investigation committee by two financial prosecutors
investigating the Lagarde list affair, sources said on late Thursday
evening.
The expert report drawn up on the hard drive of the computer shows that
there are traces of 23 USB sticks, three of which are associated with
the Lagarde list.
According to the same sources, the third USB stick was "entered" for the
first time on the computer by Diotis on 15/7/2011 and the last connection
was made on 16/1/2012.
Also the search found a total of 2,059 files on the hard drive, but
three files containing information about former finance minister George
Papaconstantinou's relations are missing.
According to members of the probing committee, a "memory stick" handed
by Diotis to the then finance minister Evangelos Venizelos was entered
into Diotis' computer 8/7/2011 at 14:01:41 pm and disconnected the same
night at 11:01:44 pm.
[15] Exercise 'Pyrpolitis 3/13' concludes successfully
The exercise "Pyrpolitis 3/13", that was held on Thursday morning at the
order of the National Defence General Staff chief to a section of the
speedy reaction force, with the aim of holding operations on an island
in the eastern Aegean, was successfully concluded.
According to reports, the exercise was carried out on the island of Kos,
while its scenario anticipated the holding of defence operations in the
event of an offensive against the island.
Special army and navy forces participated in the exercise with the role
of an attacker and all of the island's forces with the role of defender.
Financial News
[16] FinMin confers with central bank chief on recapitalization
Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras met with central Bank of Greece (BoG)
government George Provopoulos on Thursday for talks focusing on progress
in the recapitalization of the Greek banks.
Stournaras had recently said that the recapitalization of the country's
four systemic banks must be completed by April 30 (from the 50 billion
euros that have been earmarked for that purpose), while by the end of
June there will need to be a strategy for the entire domestic banking
sector, including the smaller banks.
The strategy will be drafted by the Hellenic Fiscal Stability Fund (HFSF)
and the Finance Ministry, in collaboration with the European Commission
(EC), European Central Bank (ECB) and (International Monetary Fund (IMF)
troika of Greece's international lenders.
During that time (April 30-July 31), the expedience of a possible buy-out
of the smaller banks by the four systemic banks -- Alpha Bank, Piraeus
Bank, National Bank of Greece (NBG) and Eurobank -- will be examined.
[17] FinMin holds second meeting with Shenzhen Airport-Friedmann Pacific
Asset Management consortium
Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras on Thursday met the heads of the
Chinese consortium comprising Shenzhen Airport and Friedmann Pacific Asset
Management Ltd, holding the second such meeting in the space of a month.
The consortium confirmed the interest of Chinese investors in the upcoming
privatisation of Athens International Airport but also regional airports
in Greece, as well as cargo and logistics activities.
It is led by the Shenzhen Airport company, which manages a rapidly
growing Chinese airport that handles roughly 30 million passengers and
828 thousand tonnes of goods each year. The airport is the base of the
Chinese airline company Shenzhen Airline, which has been a member of
the Star Alliance group since November 2012.
Friedmann Pacific Asset Management Ltd is an investment firm with a
strong presence in infrastructure projects and aircraft leases.
The consortium's aim is to further boost the position of the Athens
International Airport by attracting airlines from SE Asia and establishing
direct flights between Greece and China. It is currently preparing its
business plan and preparing to formulate its proposal.
It has already indicated a desire to submit an official bid when the
Hellenic Real Asset Development Fund (HRADF) begins the relevant tender
for Athens airport, in order to acquire the share currently held by
Hochtief.
[18] Development minister holds talks with Cyprus Communications minister
Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis held talks on Thursday with
Cyprus Communications and Works Minister Tasos Mitsopoulos, focusing on
the course of public works' implementation in a period of fiscal crisis
and the future of Cyprus Airways.
As regards public works, Hatzidakis said that Greece's experience was
discussed in relation to the repercussions of the crisis on projects,
as well as the moves made in Greece to increase funding for the projects
so that the budget will not be burdened further. Also discussed was
the gloomy future of Cyprus Airways and the decisions of the Cyprus
government that will determine the course of the Cypriot air carrier.
Lastly, the progress of the Blue Med programme was discussed, through
which the airspace of Greece and Cyprus will be unified operationally
with the airspaces of neighbouring countries in the framework of the
European Union's programme aimed at reducing the cost of flights.
[19] Australian Embassy, IOBE, HABC hold event on 'Structural Reform'
An event was organised on Thursday in Athens by the Australian Embassy,
the Hellenic-Australian Business Council (HABC) and the Foundation for
Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE), entitled "Structural Reform:
An Australian Success Story."
The event was held on the occasion of a visit to Greece by Professor
Gary Banks, Dean of the School of Government of Australia and New
Zealand (ANZSOG) and former Chairman of the Australian Productivity
Commission. The event was addressed by the Australian Ambassador to
Greece Ms. Jenny Bloomfield and IOBE chairman Odiseas Kyriakopoulos.
Ms. Bloomfield referred to the social and economic stability currently
enjoyed by Australia, as a result of the extensive economic and
social reforms in decades, and the opening of the Australian economy
to competition.
She Stressed the role of Professor Banks as one of the most influential
scientists of Australia, Chairman of the Productivity Commission in
Australia's effort to implement the structural changes that have ensured
economic and social stability for two decades.
"In Australia, through the will of the political leadership, technocratic
and scientific support institutions such as the Productivity Commission
and a broad social consensus, we conducted a national debate that allowed
us to formulate a shared vision for the future of our country. We drew
a roadmap for the implementation of radical changes that have led to
economic growth... The important lesson of our experience is that the
future of any country lies in the hands of its citizens," Ms. Bloomfield
said.
Odiseas Kyriakopoulos referred to the significant progress made in
fiscal adjustment and emphasized the key role of structural change for
the country's return to a growth path.
"It is certainly obvious that reform experiences cannot simply be
transplanted from country to country, but we can learn important
things from the experiences of other countries such as Australia,"
Mr Kyriacopoulos said.
Professor Gary Banks
In his speech, Professor Banks referred to the strategy and challenges
encountered to achieve the transition of Australia from the protectionist
regime to a free market.
According to Professor Banks, a change in Australia's model of economic
operation was dictated by the decline of the economy.
In 1950 the Australian economy was in fourth place, according to the
classification by OECD, dropping to 14th place in 1983.
The implementation of reforms in the early 1980's and the liberalization
of markets and the economy, allowed Australia to regain lost
competitiveness and in 2010 the economy was back in 5th place (OECD).
Referring to the obstacles encountered in the course of the effort,
he said that there is a lag between cost, which is usually immediate,
and benefits which are achieved in the long run. He also noted that,
while the cost of a reform is specific, the benefits may cover a much
wider range of factors.
Professor Banks also referred to a series of innovative public
institutions in Australia, which contributed decisively to supporting
reforms such as the Productivity Commission and the Office of Best
Practice Regulation.
Australia's Productivity Commission is an independent government agency
that examines discriminatory policies, programs and regulatory actions,
and provides research and consulting services regarding reforms that
serve the long-term national interest.
The Commission has an advisory role for a wide range of activities
including issues of sectoral support and trade policies, regulatory
frameworks for infrastructure and public services, competition and
consumer regulation, labour market reforms, social and environmental
programs, reduction of bureaucracy in the business industry and
productivity issues.
John Kalogirou, Professor of Economic Technological and Industrial
Strategy at NTUA, referred to the importance of the international transfer
of knowledge and experience on both the design and implementation of
public policies to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the
Greek economy. He stressed the urgent need to develop a strategy to
improve the competitive position of the Greek economy.
Professor Nikos Vettas, Athens University of Economics & Business,
referred to the growth and productivity increase programme in Australia
and noted similarities and significant differences from the Greek case.
In Greece's case, according to Mr. Vettas, design and implementation of
such a policy has been relatively much less important than the fiscal
adjustment.
[20] GSEE seeks start of talks on national collective labour agreement
The General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE), Greece's
largest umbrella trade union group representing the private sector,
on Thursday sent out letters inviting employer associations to begin
talks to negotiate a new national general collective labour agreement.
In the letter, GSEE says the 'starting point' for the new agreement
should be an agreement made on February 2012 with employers that set
the minimum wage at 751.39 euros a month. The minimum wage has currently
been set at 586.08 euros a month by an act of cabinet.
GSEE also asked the social partners to back a new joint resolution
to demand a return to full and universal application of the national
collective labour agreement, its extension to all economic sectors and
similar trade agreements, and restoration of the residual duration of
collective labour agreements.
The letter was sent to the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV),
the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants
(GSEBEE), the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce (ESEE) and
the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE).
[21] Tourism minister a keynote speaker at WTFL 2013
Addressing the 2013 World Tourism Forum Lucerne (WTFL) as keynote
speaker on Thursday, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni repeated
her conviction that 2013 will be a bumper year for the Greek tourism
industry, with record arrivals to the country.
Noting the rising trend in the tourism market worldwide, the minister
particularly emphasised the issue of tourist visas needed by a significant
percentage of visitors and said that Greece was making every effort to
facilitate and improve the process of issuing visas as much as possible.
The minister also referred to the economic, geopolitical, demographic
and technological changes brought about by globalisation and outlined
initiatives taken by the tourism ministry in this framework, such
as the National Tourism Observatory or the specially adjusted and
targeted promotional policies using new technologies, and highlighted
the 'durability' of the Greek tourism product, in spite of the global
economic crisis.
On the sidelines of the forum, the Greek tourism minister met Swiss State
Secretary for Economic Affairs Marie-Gabrielle Fleisch, "Switzerland
Tourism" Director J?rg Schmid and UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai. She
also gave interviews to the Swiss, German and Austrian media.
[22] Zakynthos tourist season opens on Saturday
The tourist season opens officially for the island of Zakynthos on
Saturday with the arrival of the first charter flight of the season
from the Netherlands and in a couple of days later with a charter flight
from Russia.
Low cost airline Easy Jet and Ryanair flights have already landed on
the island since the end of March.
2013 has brought optimism to the local businesses given that all
estimations say that an increase in tourist arrivals will be recorded.
The local businessmen say that the low rates and the offer are the reason
the tourists preferred Zakynthos for their holidays.
The first German tourists are expected to arrive on the island in fifteen
days while the Russian tourists are expected to double from 2012 and
create a dynamic prospect for the future.
[23] Piraeus Bank to sell ATE Bank Romania for 10.3 mln euros
Piraeus Bank on Thursday said it has signed an agreement with Dorinel
Umbrarescu, owner of a business group with main activities in the
construction sector in Romania, to sell its 93.27 pct equity holding in
ATE Bank Romania for 10.3 million euros.
Piraeus Bank, in a statement said that the transaction will be completed
following the spinoff of ATE Bank Romania's assets. The deal is also
subject to approval by the country's competition authorities.
[24] Alpha Bank hires JP Morgan as advisor in share capital increase plan
Alpha Bank on Thursday said it hired JP Morgan as financial advisor
in its forthcoming share capital increase plan. The bank said that an
extraordinary general shareholders' meeting, held in April 16, approved
a board plan for a share capital increase plan aimed at covering a 10
pct of the bank's recapitalization needs from private investors.
[25] Draft law allowing department stores, shops to open on Sundays to
be tabled soon
The government will table in parliament a draft law that will allow
department stores and small shops to open on Sundays deputy development
minister Thanassis Skordas said on state ERA radio station on Thursday.
He said the option of opening for business on all 52 Sundays of the year
will apply to small shops below 250 square meters in area and will be
voluntary. "Whichever shop wishes to, may open (on Sundays), it is not
obligatory," he said.
As for the larger, department stores, this will apply for seven Sundays
a year, Skordas added.
On the arrangements being advanced for the settlement of 'red' loans,
he noted that: "Today, in the country, mortgage loans have been given
-- talking about only this category of loans -- valued at 80 billion
euros. If, therefore, we were to speak of a 20 percent 'haircut' for
example, you can understand that the immediate need would arise for an
additional 16 billion euros for the banks' recapitalization. A 'haircut'
of the loans would require a provision of an equal sum from the system. As
you can understand, 16 billion euros cannot be found at this time".
[26] One million euros set aside for riot-damage compensation
Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras on Thursday ordered that one million
euros be set aside for the payment of compensation to businesses and
properties damaged by rioters during a demonstration held in Athens in
February 2012.
[27] Shipping minister addresses 12th FEMIP conference
Shipping Minister Kostis Mousouroulis, addressing the 12th two-day
conference of the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and
Partnership (FEMIP), taking place at the Athens Concert Hall with the
participation of representatives from all the Mediterranean countries,
determined sea tourism as a basic sector having great development
possibilities for Greece.
Replying to a question by a reporter, Mousouroulis said that Greece has
all the preconditions - many islands, rich environment and history -
to succeed in this sector, however he said that many steps must still
be taken.
Wishing to provide a clear indication for this, he stressed that Greece,
while being third in the number of cruise passengers in the Mediterranean,
is sixth in revenues.
According to data by the European Cruise Council Report in 2011 the
first country in passenger travel in Europe was Italy, with 5,403,000
and revenues totalling 4.5 billion followed by Spain, with 4,911,000
passengers and 1.1 billion, Greece with 4,473,000 passengers and 580
million, France with 2,010,000 passengers and 972 million, while the
United Kingdom that was ninth, with 541,000 passengers, received 2.5
billion euros, meaning that while it had 1/8 of travel it had five times
the revenues.
[28] Heating oil consumption down, revenues up in Oct 2012-Feb 2013
Consumption of heating oil dropped 68.7 pct in the October 2012-February
2013 period to 567,634,000 litres from 1,833,800,000 litres in the
previous corresponding period, the Finance ministry said in a report
to Parliament.
The ministry report, however, said that state revenues from a special
consumption tax on heating oil jumped to 244 million euros in the
five-month period from 141.5 million euros in the same period in
2011-2012, boosted by a sharp increase in the tax rate.
The report also said that heating oil subsidies totaled 59.2 million
euros to 346,687 eligible households. The Finance ministry plans to
negotiate with its international creditors changes in tax policies to
help in the economic recovery of the country, such as a VAT on tourism
and a special tax on heating oil.
[29] Business Briefs
-- Cooperative Bank of Chania on Thursday announced it has become main
shareholder in BIOXYM, a fresh fruit juice company, after purchasing
Piraeus Bank's equity stake in the company through its 100 pct subsidiary
"Cretan Holdings".
[30] Greek stocks end slightly lower
Greek stocks remained under pressure pushing the composite index of
the market lower in the Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday, despite
strong gains recorded by OPAP, OTE and PPC. OPAP's share price rose
significantly following news that two bids were submitted in a tender
to sell a 33 pct equity stake of the Organization, OTE rose strongly
after a decision by MSCI to list its shares in the MSCI Global index,
an upgrade from its current listing in the MSCI Small Cap index.
The composite index fell 0.53 pct to end at 918.81 points, off the day's
lows of 915.24 points. Turnover rose to 69.622 million euros.
The Big Cap index rose 0.20 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 0.97 pct
higher. The Financial Services (6.73 pct), Travel (5.32 pct) and Telecoms
(4.75 pct) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while
Food (8.47 pct) and Banks (2.99 pct) suffered losses. MIG (13 pct),
OPAP (6.20 pct) and VIOHALCO (5.62 pct) were top gainers, while Coca
Cola Hellenic (8.6 pct), National Bak (7.44 pct) and Eurobank (3.07 pct)
were top losers.
Broadly, advancers led decliners by 83 to 55 with another 30 issues
unchanged. Fieratex (22.81 pct), Yalco (19.35 pct) and Sfakianakis (13.49
pct) were top gainers, while PC Systems (19.39 pct), Sato (18.97 pct)
and Perseus (17.13 pct) were top losers.
Sector indices ended as follows:
Industrials: +2.20%
Commercial: +0.40%
Construction: +0.14%
Oil & Gas: +0.72%
Personal & Household: -1.04%
Raw Materials: +2.34%
Travel & Leisure: +5.32%
Technology: -1.21%
Telecoms: +4.75%
Banks: -2.99%
Food & Beverages: -8.47%
Health: +1.56%
Utilities: +3.48%
Financial Services: +6.73%
The stocks with the highest turnover were OTE, S&B, HBC Coca Cola,
OPAP and PPC.
Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:
Alpha Bank: 0.76
Public Power Corp (PPC): 6.87
HBC Coca Cola: 17.00
Hellenic Petroleum: 8.30
National Bank of Greece: 0.51
EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.25
OPAP: 7.02
OTE: 6.18
Bank of Piraeus: 0.19
Titan: 14.66
[31] Greek bond market closing report
The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds
widened slightly to 10.26 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond
market on Thursday, from 10.11 pct on Wednesday, with the Greek bond
yielding 11.48 pct and the German Bund 1.22 pct. There was no turnover
in the market.
In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-month
rate was 0.53 pct, the nine-month rate was 0.43 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.
[32] ADEX closing report
The June contract on the FTSE Large Cap index was trading at a premium
of 1.92 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Thursday, with turnover
remaining a low 15.597 million euros.
Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 4,617 contracts worth 7.103 million
euros, with 33,427 open positions in the market. Volume in futures
contracts on equities totaled 25,659 contracts worth 8.494 million euros,
with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (4,905),
followed by Alpha Bank (3,765), Piraeus Bank (3,553), MIG (1,008), OTE
(4,725), PPC (1,704), OPAP (1,203), Folli Follie 1,232), GEK (1,359),
Mytilineos (507), Ellaktor (249) and Hellenic Exchanges (130).
[33] Foreign Exchange rates - Friday
Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:
U.S. dollar 1.324
Pound sterling 0.867
Danish kroner 7.567
Swedish kroner 8.628
Japanese yen 130.33
Swiss franc 1.234
Norwegian kroner 7.700
Canadian dollar 1.356
Australian dollar 1.282
General News
[34] Solidarity to Greece event organised by mass media in Belgium, May 31
An event aimed at showing solidarity to Greece, titled ?Workers Run & Bike
for Greece?, will be organised in Brussels on May 31, at the initiative
of state and private mass media in Belgium's? Dutch-speaking?region
of Flanders.
A report titled "Flemish mass media companies take part in a Run & Bike
for Greece" in De Morgen newspaper, said the solidarity initiative was
taken by the state broadcaster VRT, with participation of a number of
Flemish media companies.
Runners will cover a distance of 44 km, while bikers will pedal for 75 km.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Theotokos foundation,
a private, non-profit organisation operating in Ilion, Athens, offering
services to children and youngsters with developmental disabilities.
[35] Entrance to museums, archaeological sites free on Thursday, World
Heritage Day
Entrance to museums and archaeological sites throughout Greece are free
to public on Thursday in observance of the UNESCO-designated International
Day for Monuments and Sites, informally referred to as World Heritage Day.
World Heritage Day is observed on April 18 each year around the world
with different types of activities, including visits to monuments and
heritage sites, conferences, round tables and newspaper articles.
The theme of this year's theme is "The Cultural Heritage of
Education"(schools, universities, libraries, academies, etc.) in
its expressions in different geo-cultural contexts, and the Culture
Ministry has scheduled a series of events that will take place at the
participating sites.
The International Day for Monuments and Sites was proposed by the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on 18 April 1982
and approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983. The aim is to
promote awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage of humanity,
their vulnerability and the efforts required for their protection and
conservation.
As stated on the World Heritage Day website, "World Heritage is the
shared wealth of humankind. Protecting and preserving this valuable
asset demands the collective efforts of the international community. This
special day offers an opportunity to raise the public's awareness about
the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to
protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability."
[36] Foreign national arrested for 2009 kidnapping of shipowner
Police on Thursday announced the arrest of a 34-year-old foreign
national from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), sought
in connection with the kidnapping of ship owner Periklis Panagopoulos
in January 2009. The suspect was arrested after an investigation lasting
several months, conducted by the Attica Security Crimes Against Property
department, and is also accused of a series of armed robberies targeting
banks. Among others, he is believed to have been an accomplice of the
notorious criminal Mihalis Makrygiannis.
The suspect was arrested in Peristeri on Wednesday afternoon and has
several outstanding convictions and arrest warrants against him. They
include a sentence of 15 years, eight months passed by an Athens Criminal
Appeals Court for possession of an improvised bomb and participation
in the criminal gang that kidnapped Panagopoulos and three warrants for
forming a criminal organisation, pimping, extortion and robbery.
A police investigation implicates the suspect in 21 bank robberies
carried out in various parts of Greece from May 2012 until March 2013,
with a collective loot of 250,000 euros, and robberies carried out in
collaboration with Makrygiannis and an escaped inmate from May until
October 2012.
At the time of his arrest and during a raid of his home, police found
and seized: a tazer, a bullet-proof vest, shells of various calibres,
three replica guns, three wigs, a fake ID and driving licence, heroin,
a number of mobile phones and clothes worn during the robberies, as well
as a sum of money.
The suspect was led before a Misdemeanours Court prosecutor and is to
appear before an examining magistrate.
[37] Young patient who underwent brain surgery in Germany returns
home healthy
A 15-year-old boy who was airlifted to Hanover, Germany, via a government
aircraft for brain surgery two weeks ago, returned healthy to his home
in Patras on Wednesday.
Doctors at the German clinic removed a cavernous angioma from the
student's brain in an operation that could not be performed in Greece.
According to information the 15-year old boy will continue his therapy
in Patras in order to completely recover his mobility.
[38] Normal Proastiakos train services to airport resume from Friday
Train services on the Proastiakos suburban railway lines Kiato-Athens
Airport and Ano Liosia-Athens Airport will return to normal from Friday,
following the completion of works on the railway infrastructure.
More information is available at the telephone number 14511 and the
website www.trainose.gr
[39] Metro workers work stoppage on May Day
The Athens metro employees' union announced on Thursday that they will
hold a work stoppage from the start of the shift until 9 a.m. on May 1
(Labour Day) stating that "May 1 is a strike not a holiday".
The union says that will participate in the nationwide May Day labor
strike with an early morning work-stoppage noting, that they will
"operate the metro (during the rest of the day) to facilitate the striking
labourers to participate in the mobilisations".
[40] Two get life sentence for 2011 murder of Thessaloniki psychiatrist
A Thessaloniki Mixed Jury Court on Thursday handed down life sentences
to two men, aged 45 and 34 years old, respectively, for the brutal murder
of a 46-year-old psychiatrist killed in his practice in December 2011.
The two were drug addicts attending an OKANA rehabilitation programme,
where they met the victim, and had visited him at his practice in order
to get a prescription for drugs.
When he refused, they stabbed him with a knife and then left him bound and
gagged while they made their getaway, causing his death. On their way out,
they set fire to the doctor's surgery to cover their traces. Testifying
before the court, the two defendants blamed each other for the murder.
[41] Police shootout in Mandra with gunmen in a car
A police pursuit involving a shootout between DIAS Group police and
unidentified persons travelling in a car bearing stolen licence plates
occurred at 8:10 Thursday evening in the western Attica region of Mandra.
According to police, the policemen attempted to check the car's passengers
but they opened fire on them and sped up in an effort to get away.
Police returned the fire and chased them but the perpetrators succeeded
in escaping.
No policeman was wounded during the exchange of shots, but it is unknown
whether any of the perpetrators was wounded.
A police operation was continuing late Thursday evening in the wider
region to locate and arrest the gunmen.
[42] Octogenarian arrested for attempted murder
An 88-year-old man from Rhodes was arrested on Thursday charged with
attempted murder and illegal possession of arms.
The octogenarian is alleged to have shot and injured a fellow villager
over property differences.
The incident occurred Thursday morning in a farming area of Kameiros
region when the suspect shot and injured in the face a 68-year-old man
with a shotgun.
The injured man was taken to hospital and the suspect initially fled,
but was arrested later.
The suspect indicated to police the spot where he had hidden the shotgun,
which he illegally possessed.
[43] Large hashish plantation discovered in Sounio
Police on Wednesday discovered a large plantation containing 2,410 indian
cannabis trees, in the National Sounio Forest in a forested region at the
location of Kaos in the municipality of Lavreotiki, southeastern Attica.
Three Greeks, aged 41, 43 qnd 53, were arrested on the spot who were
reportedly in charge of the plantation.
Police uprooted the trees and discovered more evidence that led them to
the roof of an apartment building in the Athens region of Zografou, where
those arrested had reportedly stored 215 kilos of unprocessed cannabis.
Weather forecast
[44] Rainy on Friday
Rainy weather and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the
country on Friday. Winds 3-7 beaufort. Temperatures between 2C and
20C. Slightly cloudy with possible local showers in Athens with northerly
4-6 beaufort winds and temperatures between 10C and 19C. Local showers
in Thessaloniki with temperatures between 8C and 16C.
[45] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance
AVGHI: "Bloody strawberries'.
DIMOKRATIA: "18,450 euros 'gift' to PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos'
man".
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: "Strawberries soaked in blood'.
ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "The strawberry mafia shot 35 migrants".
ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Arrange debts to tax bureau, social security funds,
banks and Public Power Corporation".
ELLADA AVRIO: "Loans arrangement a 'bubble'."
ESTIA: "Elections are a mental battle"
ETHNOS: "Express evaluations for 50,000 civil servants".
IMERISSIA: "Battle for OPAP (the Greek football prognostics, numerical
lottery and sports betting games operator) - Two bids submitted for the
acquisition of 33 percent".
KATHIMERINI: "Shooting in cold blood against foreign field workers'.
NAFTEMPORIKI: "Battle of trenches over Sunday opening of shops".
RIZOSPASTIS: "Armed murderous attack against migrant workers in Manolada".
TA NEA: "Sweeping draft law for VAT, debts and surtax".
VRADYNI: "Pension at 62 with successive insurance".
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