[ana-dist] Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-04-25

[HR-Net News Distribution Manager]

Thursday,  25  April  2013          Issue No: 4344

CONTENTS
[01] PM Samaras expresses satisfaction with course of economy
[02] PASOK comments on gov't meeting on unemployment
[03] PM Samaras, Venizelos to visit Olympia Highway site
[04] Democratic Left's Kouvelis meets with European Parliament president
[05] DIM.AR leader Fotis Kouvelis meets with European Commissioner
      Laszlo Andor
[06] Government spokesman Kedikoglou on SYRIZA's stance to OPAP's
      privatization
[07] ND demands expulsion of SYRIZA-EKM MP for 'anti-Greek outburst'
[08] SYRIZA leader expresses grave concern over country's course
[09] German war reparations issue debated in Parliament
[10] Strengthening of Greek-Bosnian economic cooperation discussed
[11] Deputy FM on priorities of Greek EU presidency in first-half 2014
[12] FM: Reported release of abducted Syrian Metropolitans still not
      confirmed
[13] Austrian Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Spindelegger calls
      for immediate release of abducted Metropolitans
[14] Inner Cabinet to convene on Thursday
[15] Bakoyannis at PACE: Mixed impressions of reforms in Turkey
[16] Citizen Protection Minister Dendias on visit to the United States
[17] Six under arrest for lowering Greek flag at Athens University protest
[18] Government condemns lowering of Greek flag in central Athens by
      Indymedia activists
[19] PASOK leader meets AKEL sec.general Kyprianou
[20] Annual meeting of EU Economic and Social Committees beginning
      on Thursday
[21] Financial prosecutors investigating link between Lagarde list and
      capital repatriation 'amnesty' laws
[22] Civil Servants Union to hold rally in Athens during omnibus bill
      discussion
[23] Alternate health minister promises stiff fines for
      pharmaceutical-related offences
[24] Armenians stage march to Turkish embassy
[25] Commissioner Damanaki to launch new online market intelligence tool
      for fisheries and aquaculture
[26] Efforts will intensify to reduce VAT rate on food catering services,
      Finance Minister Stournaras says
[27] One in two enterprises plan new investments in 2013, ICAP survey
[28] More people hired than fired in March and April, Labor Minister
[29] Local governments show primary surplus in Q1
[30] European Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed
      acquisition of Olympic Air by Aegean Airlines
[31] Uninsured labor thriving in Greece
[32] Shipping ministry to resubmit article for lower crew contracts,
      sources say
[33] Greek authorities reject a request made by AGET Heracles
[34] Turkish delegation visits Crete for waste management exchange
      of know-how
[35] SBBE recommends actions to restart building activity
[36] Greek stocks end at five-week highs
[37] Greek bond market closing report
[38] ADEX closing report
[39] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday
[40] Bad living conditions for migrant labourers a chronic issue, Greek
      Ombudsman says
[41] Staff and visitors oust Golden Dawn members from General Hospital
      of Nikaia
[42] Two more arrests over Acropolis Securities' 40-billion-euro debt
      to Greek state
[43] 313 kilos of hashish seized
[44] Illegal cigarettes consumption up sharply in Greece
[45] Painting exhibition at Ukraine embassy on anniversary of Chernobyl
      tragedy
[46] Courthouse bomb drill in Thessaloniki
[47] Fair on Thursday
[48] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance
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Politics

[01] PM Samaras expresses satisfaction with course of economy

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras expressed satisfaction with the course of
the economy during a meeting with Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras,
Develop-ment Minister Costis Hatzidakis and Labour Minister Yiannis
Vroutsis on Wednesday, at the government headquarters in Maximos Mansion,
central Athens.

The prime minister noted that, for the first time since the start of
the recession, labour ministry figures showed hirings in March and April
had outnumbered layoffs.

He underlined that this cannot be attributed to seasonal factors, since
the tourism season has not opened yet. "We have an early indication
that the unemployment rate increase has started to slow down," he said,
adding that it "is a strong indication that remains to be confirmed in
the months to come".

The prime minister focused on the fact that one in two companies are
planning or considering investments in 2013, with over half the investment
plans to concern the creation of more job positions, according to a
report that was based on 1,085 companies with a turnover higher than a
million euros.

"The atmosphere is starting to change, the psychology is starting to
change," he said, noting that the labour ministry will draw 2.9 billion
euros from social fund programmes to be used to support the unemployed
and retrain vulnerable population groups and the young.

An estimated 715,000 people will benefit as a result, while over a billion
euros will be disbursed to support private enterprises and employment,
the prime minister said.

"The atmosphere has changed, the picture is changing, society will soon
feel the difference and hope, which has already started to gain ground,
will dominate again," Prime Minister Samaras noted. He also referred to
the recapitalization of the banks, the repayment of overdue debts owed
by the state and to new investments.

[02] PASOK comments on gov't meeting on unemployment

Commenting on the results of a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Antonis
Samaras on Wednesday to discuss unemployment, PASOK press spokeswoman Fofi
Gennimata expressed satisfaction that "PASOK's proposals are acquiring
a central role in the prime minister's agenda". PASOK is one of two
smaller parties supporting Greece's three-party coalition government.

Gennimata said that PASOK had already prepared specific legislative
measures for the immediate implementation of the party's programme for
curbing unemployment, which it will send to the government for their
inclusion in the omnibus bill to be discussed in Parliament.

Via PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, PASOK had some time ago submitted a
comprehensive plan for tackling unemployment, with the support of 500,000
jobs in at-risk sectors and the creation of som 200,000 temporary jobs
for the unemployed, she said.

She also noted that the prime minister's statements after the meeting on
Wednesday "give one more answer to those that attempted and are attempting
to present the programme to curb unemployment as a 'political favour'.

[03] PM Samaras, Venizelos to visit Olympia Highway site

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will be inspecting on Thursday the site
of the Olympia Highway project in the Peloponnese, it was announced
on Wednesday.

Samaras will be accompanied by PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos and
Democratic Left's (DIM.AR) parliamentary spokesman Nikos Tsoukalis,
as party leader Fotis Kouvelis is currently on a trip. PASOK and DIM.AR
are the ruling coalition's junior partners.

The works at the Olympia Highway site have resumed recently.

[04] Democratic Left's Kouvelis meets with European Parliament president

BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Spinthourakis)

Progressive and pro-European powers must be strengthened in the coming
European elections of 2014, Democratic Left (DIM.AR) leader Fotis
Kouvelis said in Brussels on Wednesday, following a meeting with European
Parliament President Martin Schulz.

Schulz is also a member and former chair of the Group of the Progressive
Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

"We agreed with Schulz that the austerity policy now being implemented is
not just socially unfair, but an economic dead-end as well," Kouvelis
said. "It leads to economic stagnation and social rupture. Thus
Euroscepticism increases and dangers greatly threaten the European
structure."

Kouvelis called for changes in European policies dealing with the crisis
and said his party supported the speeding up of economic and political
unifiation in the EU. "Ethnocentrism and state hegemonies will lead the
process of unification to a dead end," he warned.

On Greece, he said that he conveyed to Schulz the fact that the country's
adjustment programme needed fundamental changes. "Return to fiscal
health must be linked to development and social protection, urgently
and completely," he noted, adding that "social and political stability
is crucial for Greece, and this can only occur by correcting wrong
policies. This is what we hope to do by participating in the government
and that is what we are demanding of our allies in the European Union."

[05] DIM.AR leader Fotis Kouvelis meets with European Commissioner
Laszlo Andor

BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA / V. Demiris)

Democratic Left (DIM.AR) leader Fotis Kouvelis, a junior partner in the
coalition government in Greece, expressed his party's opposition to "the
austerity policies that downgrade the social state" in a meeting he had
here on Wednesday with European Commissioner Laszlo Andor, responsible
for employment, social affairs and inclusion.

After the meeting, Kouvelis said that he underlined the need for the
adoption of extraordinary measures in support of Greece aimed at relieving
the unemployed and supporting those living in conditions of deep poverty.

He suggested the introduction of immediate intervention in support of
households that have no employed members, in combination with programmes
designed to support the young. He said that more than 400,000 families
were in this category, adding that measures to support the unemployed
over 55 with obsolete qualifications are also necessary.

Kouvelis said that he pointed out the need for a minimum guaranteed
income across the country to ensure dignified living standards for the
financially weak.

He concluded that the social state's refoundation is necessary in Europe
and in Greece, adding that  the country's adjustment and fiscal reform
should take place in combination with social protection.

[06] Government spokesman Kedikoglou on SYRIZA's stance to OPAP's
privatization

Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou on Wednesday called on Radical
Left Coalition (SYRIZA-EKM) to clearly tell the Greek people "which
interests it is serving" by fighting the privatization of the state-run
lottery and betting pools agency OPAP. Kedikoglou made the statement in
response to the stance adopted by the main opposition party toward the
planned privatization.

He accused SYRIZA-EKM of doing everything possible to counteract the
government's efforts to lead the country out of the crisis and referred
to other examples, including investments like COSCO's and the goldmining
operation in Skouries, Halkidiki, in northern Greece.

"They have no valid arguments and so they resort to illegitimate means
- lies, slander, threats - and now to nonsense," he said, adding that
OPAP's net profits in 2012 were 505 million euros and, therefore, the
profits that correspond to the state's 34 pct share that is up for sale
were just 171.7 million euros.

"They should wait and see what will be the price for OPAP's 34 pct. It
will not be either two nor three times up. It will be more, despite
the fact that these are times of deep crisis. Also, the tax on OPAP's
gross profits - that was introduced by the present government and will
continue to be collected by the state over the next years - is not
counted. The specific tax has brought to state coffers the amount of
85 million euros in the first quarter of 2013 alone. The tender was a
transparent transaction supervised by the European Union. There was not
even the slightest objection to the terms of the tender or the overall
procedure. SYRIZA is the only one reacting! But once again, its plans
will fall through," the government spokesman said.

A statement issued earlier by SYRIZA-EKM said that "the government is
left exposed in different ways after it was proved that the procedure
for the sale of profit-making OPAP was fixed."

Referring to the prime minister, the main opposition party noted that
he was particularly shown up given his statement on Oct. 9, 2011 at
Thessaloniki's International Fair (TIF), that selling off a company "at a
price that it is two or three times the net profits of an organization or
company, then you are not selling it; you are practically giving it away."

SYRIZA pointed out that "instead of channeling the revenues of this
profit-making organization to the social insurance funds, that are
bleeding out as a result of the catastrophic memorandum policy, they
proceeded to underappreciate it (OPAP) and give it away to their
honorable friends."

"Only in North Korea and in Greece, do international tenders have only
one bidder. We repeat, no one  has immunity," SYRIZA noted.

[07] ND demands expulsion of SYRIZA-EKM MP for 'anti-Greek outburst'

The New Democracy party, the senior partner in Greece's three-party
coalition government, on Wednesday demanded that main opposition Radical
Left Coalition (SYRIZA-EKM) leader Alexis Tsipras expel one of the
party's MPs over what it called an "anti-Greek outburst".

According to ND, the statements attributed to SYRIZA-EKM MP Christos
Karagiannidis in an audio recording on the website parapolitika.gr was a
"major political issue".

ND's criticism referred to a recorded extract of a speech given by the MP
to SYRIZA-EKM's Central Committee, in which Karagiannidis is heard to say:
"Let us leave aside national fantastic [ideas], our national enemies,
because in this world there are no borders. There are no national
borders. There are class borders".

"The only clearcut condemnation of the MPs anti-Greek outburst by Tsipras,
who has only lately discovered concepts such as 'national responsibility'
and 'issue of major national importance', is his expulsion," ND said
in announcement.

[08] SYRIZA leader expresses grave concern over country's course

Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras, addressing
an event of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday,
expressed his grave concern over the country's course.

Tsipras said he has the feeling that the country is not going well, that
the economy is not going well and that, apart from who will be the one
to be called on to pull the chestnuts out of the fire, Greece was facing
very big dangers. The government, he added, as governments usually do,
is trying to beautify the atmosphere, to create an artificial climate
of optimism and complaisance.

According to Tsipras, the Greek stance is that "we must start from this to
realise that we must acquire a national vision on the national problem
we are facing, because some thought that when this crisis started,
it would concern the working people, the middle class and not Greek
society in its entirety".

[09] German war reparations issue debated in Parliament

The issue of German reparations and of the occupation loan constitutes
a national issue, and its claiming is an interparty issue, at least
for the parties that condemn Nazism. This seems the conclusion of
the positions expressed by political parties and the government, in
Parliament on Wednesday, during the discussion of a relevant question by
the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA). In this framework,
however, different approaches surfaced on the issue's handling, harsh
criticism for its handling so far and disagreements on the possibility
of offsetting the German commitments with those Greece has undertaken
in the framework of the Memorandums.

"The issue of the reparations is open, but this time it will close
with Justice triumphing, and in this move we are again present, as
elected representatives of the people," the Foreign Minister Dimitris
Avramopoluos said.

"In no way, however, must reference to the issue be considered a hostile
move, for a people with whom we are going along together in the European
family. The German citizens themselves have condemned this past, and
they realise the Greeks' position, which in no way identifies democratic
Germany of today with the past Nazi regime," Avramopoulos noted.

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras urged the organization at political level
of Greece's legal support in demanding German war reparations.

Tsipras asked that the necessary procedures be set in motion for the
formation of an inter-party parliamentary committee to look into the
issue of the German reparations, adding that only the "pro-nazi party"
referring to ultra-fight Chryssi Avghi (Golden Dawn) should be exempt
from the committee.

He congratulated the State General Accounts Office for the "excellent
work" it has done in collecting the documents and archives on the German
reparations adding that, from here on political handlings are needed and
"obviously the national issue of the German reparations is not a matter
that concerrns only the worthy but nonetheless functionaries of the state"
using the description the government has made of the State Legal Council.

Tsipras further called on the government to make all the documentation
collected by the State General Accounts Office available to the National
Council for Pursuance of the German War Reparations.

"The issue of the reparations did not close in a mutually acceptable
manner," Foreign Minister Avramopoulos said, adding that "no Greek
government has resigned the demands."

"What was denied to us, we demand. The outstanding issue of the war
reparations exists," Avramopoulos stressed.

"There is no doubt that the issue is complex. There is also however,
its other singular dimension, which is historical," the foreign minister
said, noting that "the truth is that the matter should have been dealt
with earlier, but sometimes history is not judged by time but by actions".

Some quarters attempted to connect the necessary fiscal adjustment and
reforms in Greece with the issue of the reparations, Avramopoulos noted,
adding "it is a mistake because it (the reparations) is an issue that is
open for 60 years now and has no place in the timetable of the crisis,
but its settlement will erase a dark point that was left by history and
open up a new chapter in our relations".

[10] Strengthening of Greek-Bosnian economic cooperation discussed

Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on Wednesday stressed the political
importance of the Belgrade-Pristina agreement for the region's future,
while welcoming his Bosnia-Herzegovina counterpart Zlatko Lagumdzija.

The two ministers underlined that extensive ground exists for
strengthening bilateral cooperation, that has a very good "20-year"
basis, as Lagumdzija said, indicating to the tourist, commercial and
economic sector and the energy sector in particular.

"Bosnia-Herzegovina is interested in being part of the economic
cooperation of the wider region and of course we shall have a mutual
interest on the TAP pipeline, for whose developments Mr. Avramopoulos
has just briefed me," said the Foreign minister and vice president of
the ministerial council of Bosnia-Herzegovina after the meeting.

Referring to the issue, the Greek Foreign minister, also in light of his
visit to Baku next week, observed that "the circle of interested countries
is widening" and expressed the wish and desire for the "welcoming" of
Bosnia to the group of countries directly involved in the project and
underlined the value of the programme for Greece's wider neighbourhood.

Avramopoulos noted the country's assistance for the speedier rapprochement
of Bosnia-Herzegovina to the EU, as well as Greek support for its course
towards NATO, while Lagumdzija reminded that the Greek Presidency will
coincide with the 100th anniversary of an explosion of divisions and
conflicts in Europe, that began from Sarajevo and which anniversary
will have during the EU Greek Presidency "a reversed direction, that
is reconciliation".

The two Foreign ministers also signed a Memorandum on the Greek provision
of know-how on European issues, while the issue of bilateral cooperation
was also examined in the morning during the meeting Lagumdzija held with
President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias.

President Papoulias, welcoming the Bosnian minister, observed that
"bilateral cooperation is good and can become much better", while
Lagumdzija thanked the Greek President for the support Greece provides
for Bosnia at political and economic as well as European level.

[11] Deputy FM on priorities of Greek EU presidency in first-half 2014

BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Spinthourakis)

One of the priorities of the Greek presidency of the European Council in
the first half of 2014 will be the mobility of workers, whether concerning
migration inside the EU borders of illegal migration originating from
outside the EU. IN statements to "Agence Europe' Greek deputy defence
minister Dimitris Kourkoulas said that Greece is planning to focus
interest on matter of concern to the citizens, such as growth and
employment as well as boosting the economic and monetary union.

For Greece, he said, the issue of human mobility is very important,
whether it concerns mobility inside the EU borders of illegal migration
originating from outside the EU., The management of the matter at European
level is of concern to Greece, which feels that it is a problem than
cannot be solved through national action alone, but requires a cohesive
European policy that will be not only to Greece's benefit but to the
benefit of the entire EU.

This matter is of concern to the citizens, Kourkoulas continued, adding
that the Dublin II regulation will be revised by the Greek EU presidency,
and stressing that a common position among the partners is needed.

Greece maintains that more solidarity is needed on the issue of management
of the Schengen area, although European policies dealing with the issue
of illegal migration exist, and joint action is conspired very important,
Greece feels that these policies need to be enhanced, Kourkoulas said.

He said that there is ample time to finalise the priorities, and Greece is
working closely with the other two presidencies (Ireland and Lithuania)
with which it has already developed a legislative programme for the
three six-month EU presidencies from January 1, 2013 to June 30 2014.

Kourkoulas noted that the Greek presidency coincides with  a transitional
period in the EU, with the My 014 European Parliament elections and
the renewal in the political faces. He added that the six-month period
of the Greek presidency will be a transitional period and period of
contemplation over the future of the EU, curing which the EU  is obliged
to boost its efforts to show the European citizens that it is capable
of dealing with the existing crisis, that it has the necessary tools --
which id did not in the preceding years - to face the crisis and guarantee
the European models.

For Greece, this is the priority, Kourkoulas stressed and voiced hope
that during the Greek presidency, the country will find itself closer to
the end o the tunnel, and underlined that there are encouraging signs
that although the crisis has not ended, Greece has completed more than
half the way to date.

[12] FM: Reported release of abducted Syrian Metropolitans still not
confirmed

There is no confirmation that Metropolitan Pavlos of the Antiochian
Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo and Metropolitan Gregorios Yohann Ibrahim
of the Syriac Archdiocese of Aleppo, who were abducted from a suburb
of the city of Aleppo in Syria on Monday, have been released, Foreign
Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said Wednesday in reply to a relevant
question on the fate of the two Metropolitans.

Referring to media reports, Avramopoulos said, "Unfortunately, yesterday's
information that spoke of the release of the two clerics was not
confirmed" and reiterated that the Foreign Ministry has activated the
crisis management apparatus and is in continuous contact with foreign
governments on the issue.

[13] Austrian Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Spindelegger calls
for immediate release of abducted Metropolitans

VIENNA (AMNA / D. Dimitrakoudis)

Austrian Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger on
Wednesday called for the immediate and unconditional release of the two
Metropolitan bishops, abducted at the borders of Syria with Turkey,
strongly condemning their abduction and the assassination of their driver.

Spindelegger said that he was overwhelmed by the "unacceptable attacks"
and pointed out that religion cannot be used as an excuse for acts of
violence and the illegal restriction of the rights of others.

He noted that the Austrian foreign ministry is in contact with everybody
involved to contribute to the efforts aimed at reaching a solution fast
and stressed that this tragic event is a painful message for Christian
minorities in the Middle East.

"An end should be put to all acts of violence instigated by religious
fanaticism and Austria will continue in the future to support religious
freedom and the protection of religious minorities around the world with
all means available," he added.

[14] Inner Cabinet to convene on Thursday

The Inner Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will convene
on Thursday at 18:30.

The meeting will focus on items on the agenda and Samaras' briefing
on current affairs as well as the selection of State Legal Council's
vice presidents.

[15] Bakoyannis at PACE: Mixed impressions of reforms in Turkey

STRASBOURG (ANA-MPA-- N. Roussis)

New Democracy (ND) Deputy of State Dora Bakoyannis noted Turkey's 'casus
belli' against Greece and he continuing occupation of 40 percent of the
island republic of Cyprus by Turkish troops, on which minimal progress
has been made, addressing the spring session of the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in Strasbourg on Tuesday, speaking on
behalf of the Europarliament's European People's Party (EPP).

Speaking during the Post-monitoring dialogue with Turkey, during a
discussion of French Socialist Rosette Durrieu's presentation of the
report of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by
Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) Bakoyannis,
who heads the Greek parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe,
said:

"Few countries go through such a marked transitional phase as Turkey. The
country is changing fast, and its importance is rising. Since 2004,
when the monitoring of Turkey by the

Assembly ended, the country has embarked on major reforms, some of which
are still pending. Twelve outstanding points still required action when
the monitoring phase ended, and they are now reviewed by our Assembly.

My general impression of the reforms is mixed. On the one hand, there
has been a stream of changes, most of them positive - for example,
the redefinition of the army's role, the prevalence of political over
military power and, most excitingly, the progress on issues regarding
Turkey's large Kurdish component. There are many fields in which progress
in adjusting to Council of Europe standards has been paramount, and I
have mentioned only three that appear more important to me.

On the other hand, as Ms Durrieu's report clearly underlines, the
general feeling is much more one of transition than of a completed set
of reforms. On the republic's institutional front, much will depend,
for example, on the expected changes in the constitution. In other
fields, such as gender equality, the prevention of torture, pre-trial
detention and the distinction between freedom of expression and terrorist
propaganda, short-term results have not matched expectations. Finally,
in many other important fields, such as conscientious objection and gay
rights, no real steps have been taken.

On issues of special interest to Greece that also relate to the
fundamental principles of the Council of Europe, there has, unfortunately,
been little progress. The report mentions only some of them. It mentions
that Turkey has not yet reopened the Halki seminary, thus refusing the
Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate not only its centuries-old title but
the elementary right to train its clergy. However, there is no mention
of Turkey's constant breaches of fundamental United Nations, Council of
Europe and European Union principles, such as disrespect for the national
sovereignty of Council of Europe member states; making overt threats,
such as the infamous casus belli against Greece, which is exercising
its rights in accordance to provisions in the law of the sea; and the
unheard-of occupation of nearly 40% of the territory of a Council of
Europe and EU state, Cyprus, at a time when Turkey is negotiating for
full EU membership. Let me be clear: Greece supports EU membership for
Turkey, because we strongly believe that this government will ultimately
be able to solve its long-standing problems, so that it can be a full
member of the European Union.

I congratulate Turkey on launching the reforms, and I encourage the
Turkish government to continue. If it is able to solve the Kurdish
problem, and I hope it will, it will be able, with the help of Greece,
to solve the problem of Cyprus."

Report of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments
by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee):

"When the Parliamentary Assembly decided to end its monitoring of Turkey
in 2004, there were 12 outstanding points which still required action,
and which have been the subject of regular post-monitoring dialogue
since then.

The Monitoring Committee recognises that a process of major reform
is taking place in Turkey against a complex background of political
transition involving the judiciary and the army, the Kurdish question
and regional instability, not least in neighbouring Syria. Economically,
Turkey has achieved much in a context of global crisis, confirming its
position as a regional power. It has become a "benchmark" for Muslim
countries in the southern Mediterranean following the upheavals of the
Arab Spring.

There have been many reforms between 2004 and 2013, but these only
partially respond to the remaining problem areas set out by the Assembly,
the committee believes. It assesses each of the 12 outstanding points
in turn, welcoming Turkey's progress in bringing its legislation
into line with the European Convention on Human Rights, promoting the
cultural and linguistic rights of the Kurds, stepping up dialogue with
religious communities and establishing the institution of ombudsman. But
it also spells out the steps Turkey still needs to take if it is to
successfully complete its reform programme, such as further reform of
the Constitution and continuing revision of the Criminal Code, as well
as progress on freedom of expression, pre-trial detentions, local and
regional decentralisation and resolving the Kurdish question.

Overall, the committee concludes, legislative reform and institutional
change in Turkey is ongoing but incomplete. The Assembly should continue
to follow future changes closely, while reiterating the full support of
the Council of Europe, and in particular its Venice Commission, to help
Turkey successfully completes its reforms."

[16] Citizen Protection Minister Dendias on visit to the United States

Public Order & Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday
departed for an official visit to the United States.

Dendias will address an audience at John Jay College of Criminal Justice,
The City University of  New York, at 5:30 p.m. (local time) on Thursday
on the topic "Citizen's protection and the State of Law".

Earlier on Thursday, he will visit the FBI and New York Police Department
(NYPD) centers of operations.

At 11:00 a.m. on Friday he will be received by Archbishop Demetrios of
America at the Archdiocese.

Later on Friday at 2:30 p.m., Dendias will meet with Greek and
Greek-American media at the Greek Consulate in New York.

[17] Six under arrest for lowering Greek flag at Athens University protest

Six individuals out of 63 detained during a protest outside the entrance
of Athens University were formally arrested and led before a public
prosecutor on Wednesday, facing a charge of "offending symbols" for
lowering the Greek flag flying on top of the university building.

Earlier on Wednesday, a group of about 30 anti-establishment activists
had taken over the Athens University building for about half an hour in
protest against the closure of the Greek Indymedia website and radio
station, which was previously broadcast by the National Technical
University of Athens (NTUA) server but shut down at the order of the
NTUA Rector Prof. S. Simopoulos.

The group lowered the Greek flag flying at the top of the building,
raising the red-and-black anarchist flag in its place and also draped the
university entrance porch with a huge, floor-to-ceiling banner reading
"Raise Your Voice, Fight Against State Censorship".

A strong force of police arrived on the scene soon afterward, detaining
several individuals and lowering the anarchist flag.

Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou also condemned the incident,
stressing that the "violent lowering of the Greek flag in the centre of
Athens offends the patriotic sentiments of all Greeks."

He slammed the group's actions as "unacceptable" and said they should
be condemned by all political parties, "even those that have avoided
condemnation of similar actions in the past".

[18] Government condemns lowering of Greek flag in central Athens by
Indymedia activists

Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou on Wednesday condemned the lowering
of the Greek flag from the roof of Athens University by activists
associated with the Indymedia website in Greece, raising a red-and-black
anarchist flag in its place. The activists also covered the university's
portico with a massive, floor-to-ceiling banner reading "Raise Your
Voice Fight Against State Censorship" that covered the entire entrance.

"The violent lowering of the Greek flag in the centre of Athens offends
the patriotic sentiments of all Greeks," Kedikoglou said.

He slammed the group's actions as "unacceptable" and said they should
be condemned by all political parties, "even those that have avoided
condemnation of similar actions in the past".

The activists were protesting against the shutting down of the Indymedia
website and radio, previously broadcast from the National Technical
University of Athens (NTUA) server.

[19] PASOK leader meets AKEL sec.general Kyprianou

PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos on Wednesday received visiting Cyprus
AKEL party secretary general Andros Kyprianou at his office in parliament.

"A friendly and frank discussion was held between the two officials
on the crisis in Cyprus and Greece within the framework of the new
phase that the crisis in the eurozone and the international economy has
entered? said PASOK in an announcement.

[20] Annual meeting of EU Economic and Social Committees beginning
on Thursday

The annual meeting of secretary generals of the European Economic and
Social Committee and of the Economic and Social Committees of the EU
member-states, will be hosted by the Greek section  on Thursday and
Friday.

According to an announcement by the Economic and Social Committee of
Greece, the initiatives and the interventions of the organised society of
citizens on the handling of the fiscal crisis in Europe and Greece will
be presented during the meeting, that will be the first of the meetings
of the European social partners in the framework of the Economic and
Social Committees for 2013.

The meeting's sessions will begin at the New Acropolis Museum at 2 p.m. on
Thursday. Addresses will be made by Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis and
the president of the Economic and Social Committee of Greece Christros
Polyzogopoulos. Poland's Deputy Labour Minister Jacek Mecina will also
be participating.

[21] Financial prosecutors investigating link between Lagarde list and
capital repatriation 'amnesty' laws

Greece's financial prosecutors have asked banks for lists of individuals
that repatriated sizeable amounts of capital between September 2010 and
September 2011, availing themselves of a "tax amnesty" then in force,
Greek authorities announced on Wednesday.

The request is made in the framework of the ongoing 'Lagarde list'
investigation, with the prosecutors seeking to determine whether a link
can be established between the list of individuals with deposits in the
Swiss branch of HSBC - known as the Lagarde list - and the decision made
by then finance minister George Papaconstantinou to extend favourable
regulations for repatriating funds.

The decision extended a law by a previous finance minister, George
Alogoskoufis, which gave those repatriating funds immunity from
prosecution and required them to pay only a fixed amount of tax.

A family member of Papaconstantinou included in the Lagarde list cited
this legislation in testimony to the two financial prosecutors.

A closer examination of the issue was deemed necessary when it became
apparent that Papaconstantinou had extended the favourable regime of
the Alogoskoufis law just a few days after he first received the Lagarde
list from French authorities at the end of September 2010.

The first extension by Papaconstantinou was from October 2010 until
December 31, 2010. This was followed by a second extension from March 31,
2011 until September 30, 2011.

Banks are expected to send their replies to the financial prosecutors
by mid May, while the two prosecutors have also sought the assistance
of the general secretariat for information systems.

Papaconstantinou is now the focus of a preliminary Parliamentary
investigation into the handling of the Lagarde list and the failure by
Greek authorities to promptly follow up on the evidence this contained.

[22] Civil Servants Union to hold rally in Athens during omnibus bill
discussion

The Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) on Wednesday
announced the holding of a rally in Syntagma Square in Athens at 6:30
in the evening on Sunday April 28.

The rally will be taking place during the discussion and ratification in
Parliament of the omnibus bill. ADEDY is reacting to clauses anticipating
employee layoffs in the public sector and the subjection of others to
a status of suspension, mergers and abolitions of public services.

For the same reason, ADEDY's Executive Committee calls on the Union's
trade union members for a protest at the Finance ministry on Friday
April 26 at 12 noon.

[23] Alternate health minister promises stiff fines for
pharmaceutical-related offences

Alternate Health Minister Marios Salmas on Wednesday promised
"punishingly" stiff penalties for those involved in incidences of
corruption, theft and illegal trade involving pharmaceuticals.

"Inspections are continuing and all that remains is for penalties to
be punishing," Salmas said, adding that a draft law introducing tougher
penalties for all offences related to pharmaceuticals had already been
tabled with the government's general secretariat.

He said these extremely stiff penalties will act as a deterrent against
such phenomena, while inspections were daily uncovering new evidence.

As an example, he cited the discovery of thousands of boxes of
pharmaceuticals without authenticity tapes and thousands of tapes without
their boxes in a raid on Thessaloniki pharmacies. "This is a major
violation. All the offenders found through inspections by authorities
in the next few days will be punished with the new fines," he added.

[24] Armenians stage march to Turkish embassy

Armenians staged a peaceful march to the Turkish embassy on Wednesday
afternoon, in the framework of events for the 98th anniversary of
the genocide of the Armenians by the Turks, on April 24, 1915. As the
protesters reported, the slaughter of the Turks had 1,500,000 victims,
while the western part of Armenia continues to be under occupation up
to now as well.

The Armenians, according to an announcement, demand from Turkey "to
recognise and condemn the genocide it carried out against them and
return the historic Armenian territory it occupies illegally and where,
for years, it is aiming at eliminating every trace of the rich Armenian
cultural heritage".

Financial News

[25] Commissioner Damanaki to launch new online market intelligence tool
for fisheries and aquaculture

BRUSSELS (AMNA / M.Aroni)

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki,
will officially launch the new European Market Observatory for Fishery
and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) at the European Seafood Exposition
here on Wednesday.

"If you want to know market trends and market drivers for wild or farmed
seafood products, the Market Observatory is the tool for you," she said,
adding that "what counts today is value, not volume, of production. With
this modern tool we empower economic actors through accurate, real-time
market information".

The Observatory is an EU-wide interactive web-tool offering up-to-date
data on volume, value and price of fisheries and aquaculture products
throughout the supply chain, from when they land to port to when they
are displayed on supermarket shelves.

It is updated daily with production information from the local to the
EU-wide level and includes data on imports, exports and consumption
trends. It regroups in one single place information that was previously
spread over several sources, formats and languages. It is multilingual,
user friendly and free of charge.

For example, with three clicks those interested can get the cod prices in
early April over 14 market places in 7 European countries. Just as easily,
one can research the wholesale prices for trout in late March in France,
Italy and Spain or the retail prices in four chosen countries. The main
EU tropical shrimp suppliers of the last 5 years are 4 clicks away. So
are the main EU exporters to Spain for small pelagic species by volume
and by price. If one needs to know what is caught, farmed, imported or
eaten in a specific area, can easily get all those core figures by a
simple search. The parameters of any search to obtain customized and
updated results weekly, monthly or whenever can be saved for a later
visit to the website.

The Observatory has been developed by the European Commission to
facilitate structural planning and decision making for economic operators,
NGOs and policy makers. Each user can obtain customized results according
to their specific interests or preferences.

It is expected to support market transparency and stability and
let producers identify new market opportunities and optimise value
of production. This should in turn help moving away from production
strategies based solely on volume and thus contribute to social, economic
and environmental sustainability.

EUMOFA is run and managed by the European Commission. Data are mainly
provided by public authorities in member states and European institutions.

[26] Efforts will intensify to reduce VAT rate on food catering services,
Finance Minister Stournaras says

Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras on Wednesday said that every possible
effort will be made to reach an agreement with Greece's lenders by June
that will allow reduction of the VAT rate on food catering services.

Stournaras made the comment after a meeting held at the government
headquarters in Maximos Mansion, chaired by Prime Minister Antonis
Samaras.

According to Stournaras, Parliament will vote on the omnibus bill
sponsored by the coalition government this weekend.

A clause for reducing VAT cannot be added to this omnibus bill because
the country's troika lenders wouldn't have approved it, sources said.

[27] One in two enterprises plan new investments in 2013, ICAP survey

One in two enterprises are planning or considering new investments in
2013, the majority of which (58 pct) will lead to an increase in job
positions, a survey by ICAP showed on Wednesday.

The survey, conducted in February on a sample of 1,095 enterprises
with a turnover of more than 1.0 million euros, was carried out under
the auspices of the development ministry with the cooperation of
the Federation of Hellenic Enterprises (SEV) and was presented during
Wednesday's meeting on combating unemployment chaired by Prime Minister
Antonis Samaras.

The greater majority or 83 pct of enterprises planning new investments
in 2013 are focusing in Greece, 12 pct both in Greece and abroad and
5.0 pct are focusing outside the country. Almost one in two (48 pct)
will cover their investment costs with own capital, 35 pct through bank
borrowing and 17 pct using subsidies.

In a report on the 2011-2012 period, ICAP said that a total of
8,390 enterprises completed share capital increase plans worth 7.8
billion euros while 438 enterprises carried out investments worth 5.0
billion euros, which maintained or even increased job positions. These
investments focused mainly on the purchase of equipment-machinery,
building-facilities, sales networks and acquisitions.

[28] More people hired than fired in March and April, Labor Minister

Labor market figures appear to have stabilised with hirings exceeding
layoffs, according to Labor, Social Insurance and Welfare Minister
Yiannis Vroutsis, who presented the figures at a meeting called by
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras earlier on Wednesday to review progress
on employment issues.

According to the figures, there were 8,950 more hirings in March this
year than there were layoffs. In April (as of April 24), there were
15,198 more hirings than layoffs.

Vroutsis said the new information system used by the ministry, dubbed
"Ergani", is "a pioneering tool for Labor Ministry interventions in
employment and in controlling undeclared work". Ergani digitally links
the Labor Inspector Agency, the Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED)
and the ministry, giving figures on employment at real time.

[29] Local governments show primary surplus in Q1

Greek local government's consolidated budget showed a cash surplus
of 394.8 million euros in the first quarter of 2013, with the surplus
totaling 36.7 million euros in March, after a shortfall of 22.3 million
euros in the same month last year, Interior ministry said on Wednesday.

In a report, the ministry attributed this surplus mainly to a positive
course of revenue despite a 13.5 pct fall in state budget subsidies in
the January-March period.

Spending were down by 14.2 pct in the three-month period, compared with
the same period in 2012, while spending in March fell by 24.7 pct.

Evripidis Stylianidis, Interior Minister, commenting on the results
said local governments achieved primary surplus for the third month in a
row helped by a systematic work made last year, adding that the results
dismissed early criticism over the efforts made by local authorities.

[30] European Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed
acquisition of Olympic Air by Aegean Airlines

BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA)

The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it has opened an
in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed
acquisition of Olympic Air by Aegean Airlines. The companies are the two
main Greek airlines offering passenger air transport services on Greek
domestic and international routes. Each of the companies operates a base
at Athens International Airport. The Commission has concerns that the
transaction may lead to price increases and poorer service on several
domestic Greek routes out of Athens, where the merged entity would have
a monopoly or an otherwise strong market position. The opening of an
in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation. The
Commission now has 90 working days, until 3 September 2013, to take a
decision on whether the proposed transaction would significantly impede
effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquin
Almunia said: "We have the duty to ensure that Greek passengers and
people visiting Greece can travel at competitive air fares, even more
so during challenging economic times."

The Commission's initial market investigation indicated that the proposed
transaction raises serious competition concerns on a number of Greek
domestic routes where Aegean and Olympic currently compete or are well
placed to compete. These routes are used not only by Greek passengers,
but also by a large number of foreign travelers, given the popularity
of Greece as a tourist destination.

The Commission's assessment takes account of relevant factors, such
as the state of the Greek economy and the financial situation of the
parties. However, the investigation so far showed that the proposed
acquisition would give the merged entity a monopoly on the routes
from Athens to Hania, Santorini, Mytilene, Corfu, Alexandroupolis and
Kos, to the detriment of ticket prices and service level offered to
passengers travelling on these routes. On other Greek domestic routes
where both airlines operate alongside Cyprus Airways (i.e. from Athens
to Thessaloniki, Heraklion and Rhodes), the transaction would remove an
important competitor.

Moreover, the Commission's investigation provided indications that the
two airlines' largest competitor, Cyprus Airways, may not continue to
act as a viable competitive force on the Greek domestic market in the
future. Finally, the Commission's initial market investigation revealed
no indications of entry prospects that would occur on a scale and within
a timeframe capable of constraining the merged entity and disciplining
its pricing behaviour.

The commitments proposed by Aegean during the preliminary investigation
did not address these serious competition concerns.

The Commission will now investigate the proposed acquisition in-depth
to determine whether its initial concerns are confirmed or not.

Background

On 26 January 2011, the Commission prohibited the first proposed
combination of Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines in case M.5830 In that
case, the Commission found competition concerns on 10 Greek domestic
routes out of Athens, with a quasi-monopoly on nine of these routes and
a loss of potential competition on one route. As part of its current
investigation, the Commission is examining the changes in the market
circumstances that have occurred since the 2011 decision.

Aegean is a Greek airline providing air transport of passengers and,
to a more limited extent, cargo services. Since 1999, Aegean has been
offering scheduled flights on Greek domestic routes and international
short-haul routes. It operates a base at Athens International Airport. It
currently serves approximately 53 international and domestic short-haul
destinations. Aegean is a member of the Star Alliance.

Olympic is a Greek airline active in air transport of passengers and
cargo. Like Aegean, Olympic operates a base at Athens International
Airport and currently serves approximately 45 short-haul destinations,
mainly within Greece. Olympic does not belong to any airline alliance.

Merger control rules and procedures

The Commission has the duty to assess mergers and acquisitions involving
companies with a turnover above certain thresholds (see Article 1 of the
Merger Regulation) and to prevent concentrations that would significantly
impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.

The vast majority of notified mergers do not pose competition problems
and are cleared after a routine review. From the moment a transaction
is notified, the Commission generally has a total of 25 working days
to decide whether to grant approval (phase I) or to start an in-depth
investigation (phase II).

There are currently three other on-going phase II merger
investigations. The first one examines the proposed combination of
Munksjo and the European label and processing business of Ahlstrom, in
the paper industry, with a deadline on 7 June 2013. The second phase II
investigation concerns the proposed acquisition of a roaming technologies
company Mach by its rival Syniverse), with a deadline on 30 May 2013. The
last ongoing phase II investigation was opened in March into the proposed
acquisition of Shell's Harburg refinery assets by Nynas of Sweden). The
deadline here is 6 September 2013.

[31] Uninsured labor thriving in Greece

Uninsured labor is thriving in Greece, with the rate of uninsured
workers totaling 40.5 pct of the country's workforce with 52 pct of
Greek enterprises employing uninsured workers, a report by the Special
Service Control and Security of Social Insurance Institution IKA showed
on Wednesday.

The report was presented by Marcos Tountas, director of the service,
during a news conference organized by representatives of the Panhellenic
Union of Workers in IKA.

The report showed that only in March, a total of 979 enterprises in a
sample of 1,891 inspected by the special service, were employing uninsured
workers and that from a total of 7,959 workers in these enterprises,
2,295 were uninsured. Commenting on recent developments in Manolada,
Tountas said that: "The whole of Greece is a Manolada" and underlined
the limited capabilities of inspection mechanisms because of a lack of
staff and the necessary means.

IKA's inspection mechanism is currently manned with 25 inspectors, with
workers' representatives noting that each inspector would have to make
16,000 inspections each year in order to cover the around 400,000 active
enterprises in the country. They said that inspections fell dramatically
in the last few years, from 107,115 in 2009, to 46,370 in 2012.

[32] Shipping ministry to resubmit article for lower crew contracts,
sources say

Shipping ministry sources on Wednesday announced plans to resubmit draft
legislation allowing shipping firms to draw up individual contracts with
lower crew members on Greek-flagged ships, after making improvements
and providing clarifications to the smaller parties in the coalition
government. They said the new, improved version will probably be tabled
in Parliament after the Easter holidays.

Greek-owned ships under a foreign flag can currently hire Greek sailors
with individual labour contracts but not Greek-owned ships under the
Greek flag.

The article allowing Greek-flagged ships to also sign on lower crew
members with individual labour contracts on long-haul voyages and for
leisure craft was not passed by Parliament with the rest of the shipping
ministry's omnibus bill, being opposed by the two smaller coalition
partners.

According to the Hellenic Union of Merchant Fleet Seamen (PENEN), which
has been locked in a dead-end negotiation with ship owners since 2010,
the proposed legislation is an attempt by Shipping Minister Kostis
Mousouroulis to create a fait accompli, bypassing collective bargaining
entirely.

Legal experts commenting on the issue to the ANA-MPA, however, said that
the collective agreements for seamen have effectively lapsed, since
there is no provision in them for residual duration, noting that ship
owners want the introduction of company and individual labour contracts.

The Panhellenic Seamens' Union (PNO), on the other hand, asserts that
the terms and conditions of previous collective agreements continue to
apply, even though new agreements have not been signed.

The collective labour agreement for open-sea voyages is the same since
2010, while for coastal shipping there has been no agreement signed since
2010 for the Adriatic and since 2011 for the ferry lines in the Aegean.

Ship owners and the 14 unions representing the sector are currently at
loggerheads, with the former asking seamen to accept cuts to pay and
benefits and the latter demanding pay rises and the immediate payment
of backpay owed by certain ferry companies.

[33] Greek authorities reject a request made by AGET Heracles

Greek authorities on Wednesday rejected a request made by AGET Heracles
cement industry -a subsidiary of Lafarge Group- to lay off its 229 workers
in its cement factory unit in Halkida, essentially shutting down the unit.
The Supreme Labor Council of the Greek authorities on Wednesday rejected
a request made by AGET Heracles cement industry -a subsidiary of Lafarge
Group- to lay off its 229 workers in its cement factory unit in Halkida,
essentially shutting down the unit.

The Supreme Labor Council of the Employment, Social Insurance and Welfare
ministry, with five votes in favor and one against, rejected Heracles
Cement plan and recommended to Labor Minister Yiannis Vroutsis not to
approve the demand. The cement industry said that the shutting down
of its unit in Halkida was imposed by financial reasons because of a
plunge in domestic construction activity and inactivity of the group to
distribute its surplus production to international markets.

[34] Turkish delegation visits Crete for waste management exchange
of know-how

A Turkish delegation of mayors and other local officials from the
northwest area of Balikesir met with Iraklio Mayor Yiannis Kourakis,
head of the association of towns handling waste management on Crete
(ESDAK), on Wednesday.

Mayors Mustafa Goksel of Bigadic, Ismail Cankul of Kepsut, three
town council members, and the manager of the Turkish Association of
Environmental Management, along with technical staff, visited Pera
Galinos, a model landfill station (XYTA) site, and other waste management
facilities of the Iraklio prefecture.

Mayor Yiannis Kourakis said local authorities are interested in
collaborating with the visiting town officials, while the Turkish
delegation invited him to visit Turkey in September.

[35] SBBE recommends actions to restart building activity

The Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE) on Wednesday
presented a series of recommendations aimed at dealing with a dramatic
fall in building activity in the country.

Building activity has fallen by 85 pct in the last eight years, recording
average annual declines of 35 pct in the last few years. Since 2008,
the industry has lost almost 50 pct of job positions, while around
180-200,000 new property assets remained unsold.

In a memorandum sent to Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras and Development
Minister Costis Hatzidakis, SBBE recommends a series of actions such as
a cut in property taxes, reducing notary expenses and reducing VAT on
new building licenses as part of a plan to restart sales of new property
in the country and boost budget revenue. SBBE also recommends a gradual
cut in VAT on building materials and reduced objective property values
to be harmonized with current market values which have fallen by 35 pct
since 2005.

[36] Greek stocks end at five-week highs

Greek stocks ended at their highest levels since March 15 in the Athens
Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the composite index of the market
surpassing the 950-point technical level. Buying interest focused on
bank shares and PPC. The composite index rose 0.92 pct to end at 950.84
points, with turnover falling to 48.955 million euros.

The Big Cap index rose 1.25 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 0.79 pct
higher. The Commerce (5.03 pct), Banks (4.27 pct), Utilities (3.57 pct)
and Financial Services (3.10 pct) sectors scored the biggest percentage
gains of the day, while Oils (0.85 pct) and Constructions (0.52 pct)
suffered losses.

Eurobank (6.63 pct), Alpha Bank (5.10 pct), National Bank (4.42 pct) and
PPC (4.38 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while Viohalco
(2.18 pct), Titan (2.10 pct) and Motor Oil (2.04 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 85 to 70 with another 24 issues
unchanged. Fieratex (29.07 pct), Pairis (24.11 pct) and Pasal (19.08
pct) were top losers, while HOL (20 pct), Alpha Grisin (12.38 pct)
and Paperpack (10.59 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Industrials: +0.04%

Commercial: +5.03%

Construction: -0.52%

Oil & Gas: -0.85%

Personal & Household: +1.14%

Raw Materials: +1.32%

Travel & Leisure: +1.09%

Technology: +1.28%

Telecoms: +1.13%

Banks: +4.27%

Food & Beverages: -0.01%

Health: +1.11%

Utilities: +3.57%

Financial Services: +3.10%

The stocks with the highest turnover were OTE, S&B, Alpha Bank, PPC and
Bank of Piraeus.

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

Alpha Bank: 1.03

Public Power Corp (PPC): 7.15

HBC Coca Cola: 18.40

Hellenic Petroleum: 8.28

National Bank of Greece: 0.61

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0.19

OPAP: 6.88

OTE: 6.29

Bank of Piraeus: 0.23

Titan: 14.00

[37] Greek bond market closing report

The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds
eased further to 10.03 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond
market on Wednesday, from 10.11 pct on Tuesday, with the Greek bond
yielding 11.26 pct and the German Bund 1.23 pct. Turnover was a thin
3.0 million euros, all buy orders.

In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-month
rate was 0.52 pct, the nine-month rate was 0.42 pct, the six-month rate
was 0.32 pct, the three-month rate was 0.20 pct and the one-month rate
was 0.12 pct.

[38] ADEX closing report

The June contract on the FTSE Large Cap index was trading at a premium of
4.88 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Wednesday, with turnover
falling to 9.391 million euros. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled
3,195 contracts worth 5.244 million euros, with 34,683 open positions
in the market.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 22,244 contracts worth
4.147 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National Bank's
contracts (8,006), followed by Piraeus Bank (7,822), OTE (2,325), PPC
(1,505), Eurobank (323), MIG (238), OPAP (480), Mytilineos (226), GEK
(333), Ellaktor (398) and Sidenor (49).

[39] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

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

U.S. dollar 1.320

Pound sterling  0.865

Danish kroner  7.567

Swedish kroner  8.717

Japanese yen  131.4

Swiss franc  1.248

Norwegian kroner   7.793

Canadian dollar  1.354

Australian dollar  1.284

General News

[40] Bad living conditions for migrant labourers a chronic issue, Greek
Ombudsman says

The Greek Ombudsman's office had warned the authorities about the living
conditions of migrant workers in the Manolada area as early as April 2008,
but "any checks carried out were situational, and the causes underlying
this continuing problematic situation were never sought or dealt with,"
office head Kalliopi Spanou told the Parliament's Special Standing
Committee on Equality, Youth and Human Rights on Wednesday.

"The insufficient intervention of the state in labour conditions for
weaker segments of society like migrants, besides leading to possible
violations of labour laws can also lead to extreme phenomena of violence,
such as those in Manolada," Ombudsman Spanou said, referring to the
shooting of migrant labourers who were shot on Wednesday last week after
demanding six months of back pay.

The incident resulted in the remanding of custody of three foremen and
the strawberry production owner allegedly giving the order to shoot,
and brought reactions by parties, tax inspectors, the Supreme Court and
the European Commission.

[41] Staff and visitors oust Golden Dawn members from General Hospital
of Nikaia

Staff at the General Hospital of Nikaia, in the greater Piraeus port
region, booed and ousted about 25 members of the extreme-right Golden
Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) on Wednesday when the latter tried to force their
way in and look for immigrants being treated there.

"A group of about 25 fascists wearing the well-known dark-colored shirts
with the Golden Dawn sign invaded the hospital and, before they were
noticed, photographed themselves at the entrance, then proceeded and
photographed themselves at the gynaecological clinic," an announcement
by the hospital's doctors said.

The doctors said that the individuals were forced to leave "after a
coordinated reaction by the hospital community, cursed by the staff and
citizens who gathered at the courtyard," while the administration called
the police.

"The hospital of Nikaia is a hospital and area of toleration and care for
poor, refugees, and immigrants. That is the way it has always been and
that is the way it will remain," doctors said, who called on all health
workers, relatives of patients and residents of Nikaia to participate
in the antifascist rally they are organising on Saturday at 12 noon,
at the Perivolaki area of Nikaia.

[42] Two more arrests over Acropolis Securities' 40-billion-euro debt
to Greek state

Police on Wednesday arrested two board members of Acropolis Securities
SA for their share in the brokerage's debt to the state, which approaches
a staggering 40 billion euros (or roughly 18 percent of Greece's GDP).

According to an announcement issued by the Attica Security Protection of
Property Rights Department, which carried out the arrest, each of the
brokerage's former board members now in custody is charged with unpaid
debts to the state of approximately 6.38 billion euros.

Those arrested on Wednesday include the Acropolis Securities
vice-president, aged 49, and a 46-year-old member of the brokerage's
board. The precise amount of their debt to the state, as listed in the
court orders against them, comes to 6,388,681,939.10 euros each.

According to the police, the debts of Acropolis Securities SA, combined
with the fines imposed on the brokerage by the finance ministry's
financial crime squad SDOE, is just shy of 40 billion euros and has been
divided equally among each member of the former and current board.

The arrest of the 40-year-old former vice-president of the brokerage,
Theodoros Priniotakis, and his two sisters Christina and Katerina, aged
30 and 37, both former board members, followed the arrest a few days ago
of the company's former president. The two arrests on Wednesday complete
the round of arrests in connection with the case.

Acropolis Securities SA was also the brokerage firm involved in the
notorious structured bonds scandal of 2007, in which a number of Greek
pension funds lost money through the purchase of these complex financial
instruments at well over their going rate on the market, and has since
had its license revoked.

All six suspects arrested will be led before the appropriate Misdemeanours
Court prosecutor.

[43] 313 kilos of hashish seized

A 33-year-old Albanian on Wednesday attempted to smuggle into Greece from
Albania 313 kilos of hashish, but he was arrested when police stopped
him at the village Nea Selefkia, northwestern Greece.

Police revealed in the suspect's truck the drugs hidden in a specially
formed crypt.

According to police the drugs were destined for the Athens market.

Igoumenitsa police are conducting an investigation.

[44] Illegal cigarettes consumption up sharply in Greece

More than 3.0 billion illegal cigarettes were consumed in Greece in
2012, an increase of 16 pct compared with 2011 and a sharp 330 pct rise
compared with 2008, a STAR report by KPMG released by Papastratos showed
on Wednesday.

The survey showed that illegal cigarettes in Greece accounted for
13.4 pct of cigarette consumption last year, up from 10.1 pct in 2011,
recording the biggest percentage increase in the EU along with the UK
and Italy. The previous collection of data (in September 2012) showed
that illegal cigarettes not directed to the domestic market rose further
to 15.7 pct of consumption.

Papastratos Group said the state's loss from illegal cigarette trading
reached 430 million euros.

The survey also said that so-called illicit whites - brand names
exclusively circulating in the illegal market - rose sharply last year
to around 6 out of every 10 illegal cigarettes consumed in the country.

In the EU, a total of 65.5 billion illegal cigarettes were consumed last
year, a size which surpassed the legitimate markets of France and Portugal
together, with Poland, Byelorussia, Ukraine and Russia named as the main
sources of origin, with estimated tax losses of 12.5 billion euros.

Nikitas Theofilopoulos, Papastratos' chairman and chief executive,
commenting on the findings of the survey said the group was starting a
campaign against illegal tobacco product which was rapidly rising.

[45] Painting exhibition at Ukraine embassy on anniversary of Chernobyl
tragedy

An exhibition of paintings by Vladyslav Dolgov (Ukraine) and Stratos
Papadopoulos (Greece), devoted to the 27-year anniversary of the Chernobyl
tragedy will take open on Friday, April 26 at the culture and information
centre of the embassy of the Ukraine in the Filothei district of Athens.

[46] Courthouse bomb drill in Thessaloniki

Security forces in Thessaloniki staged a preparedness drill for the
prospect of a bomb being planting at the northern Greek capital's
courthouses.

The drill caused traffic confusion in the city center as bomb-disposal
experts and security officers rushed to the courthouse complex in the
framework of the preparedness exercise.

Weather forecast

[47] Fair on Thursday

Fair weather and northerly winds are forecast in most parts of the country
on Thursday. Winds 3-6 beaufort. Temperatures between 8C and 27C. Fair
in Athens with northerly 3-6 beaufort winds and temperatures between
11C and 26C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures between 10C and 24C.

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

AVGHI: "That's the big trick with OPAP".

DIMOKRATIA: "Government 'pulled the trigger' against the public sector".

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: "The welchers' surplus".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Turmoil for 30,981 civil servants".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS:  "Installments starting from 10 euros for debts to
Tax Bureau and social security funds".

ESTIA: "National wealth destroyed".

ETHNOS: "First wave of layoffs in public sector".

IMERISSIA: "Systemic banks win the wager".

KATHIMERINI: "PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos disagreed at the last
minute on the omnibus bill'.

LOGOS: "The new public sector in the heart of the summer".

NAFTEMPORIKI: 'Budget at the razor's edge with shortfalls (in revenues)
and overshooting (spending targets)".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Looting of working classes with the omnibus bill".

TA NEA: "VAT 'fever' in government".

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