[ana-dist] Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 13-04-29

[HR-Net News Distribution Manager]

Monday,  29  April  2013          Issue No: 4347

CONTENTS
[01] Parliament ratifies omnibus bill related to bailout terms
[02] Finmin: Omnibus bill aims to make Greece more competitive
[03] Main opposition leader charges gov't with turning Greece into
      'colony in debt'
[04] PASOK leader criticises main opposition, digs at FinMin
[05] Independent Leader party walks off podium
[06] Golden Dawn leader charges gov't with 'subjugation' policy
[07] Former KKE leader criticises gov't and main opposition on exiting
      crisis strategy
[08] Former PASOK minister downvotes omnibus bill
[09] Discussion of government's omnibus bill begins in Parliament
[10] Syntagma metro station reopens after trade unions rally
[11] Foreign ministry: 'Nothing disputable' in status of Aegean islands
      and islets
[12] Greek foreign minister on goals of Baku trip
[13] Deputy FM Tsiaras sent to Beirut to assist efforts for release of
      abducted clerics
[14] Dendias gives press conference about NY visit results
[15] Justice minister on controversial measure for temporary court rulings
[16] Finmin to 'Typos on Sunday': 'We are on the right track'
[17] Junior coalition partners call for changes to government in 'Real
      News' interviews
[18] Kammenos elected president of Independent Greeks party
[19] Independent Greeks founding conference begins in Athens
[20] Greek Communist Party message for Labour Day
[21] GD's 'Greek-only' blood drive provokes clashes in Larissa, Tripolis
[22] Development ministry denies press report on property foreclosures
[23] Tax office revenues within budget targets, finance ministry says
[24] Piraeus Bank president 'optimistic' about banking system
[25] Deputy development minister highlights measures to boost transparency
      at private investments directorate
[26] Meeting on use of Piraeus Port 'Pagoda' building on Tuesday
[27] Deadline for Greeks abroad to file income tax extended to June 28
[28] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday
[29] Kilkis police dismantle major counterfeiting ring in Thessaloniki
[30] Local residents stage protest over gold-mining project in Halkidiki
[31] Member of SDOE financial crime unit arrested on extortion charge
[32] Police chief visits Patras, discusses law enforcement issues
[33] Youth arrested for murdering his grandmother for 25 euros
[34] Search launched for three escaped from Corinth migrant centre
[35] Migrant traffickers arrested in northern Greece
[36] Four arrested for sale of contraband cigarettes
[37] Man arrested on suspicion of violating antiquities, cultural
      heritage laws
[38] Two caught with 2.5 kilos heroin in Drapetsona
[39] Two arrested for migrant trafficking; 15 illegal migrants caught
[40] Weak tremor in eastern Peloponnese
[41] Weak tremor in sea off Aigio, Peloponnese
[42] Hot and sunny on Monday
[43] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance
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[01] Parliament ratifies omnibus bill related to bailout terms

A draft omnibus bill outlining a series of measures and prior actions
agreed with the troika of Greece's troika of lenders was passed with
168 votes for, 123 against, one present but not voting, late on Sunday
night. A total of 292 deputies voted.

The draft bill, which has been tabled as urgent in the form of a single
article, covers a wide spectrum of measures and prior actions agreed by
the Greek government and the European Commission, European Central Bank
and International Monetary Fund in the memorandums outlining the terms
and conditions of bailout loans to Greece.

[02] Finmin: Omnibus bill aims to make Greece more competitive

The main aim of the measures outlined in the finance ministry's draft
omnibus bill is to make Greece more competitive, Finance Minister Yannis
Stournaras told Parliament on Sunday.

In his speech during the Parliament plenum's debate on the draft bill,
which will culminate in a vote late on Sunday night, the minister also
underlined that Greece continued to be cut off from the markets and
depended entirely on EU-IMF fiscal support programmes for its funding.

"The aim is to improve competitiveness so as to increase exports, restore
the normal flow of credit to the economy and to increase investments,"
he emphasised.

The minister also stressed that government negotiation, within these
constraints, could point to some notable achievements, among them a
reduction of public debt by 40 billion euros at the end of 2012, a 2
percent reduction in the interest rate on bailout loans, an extension
of the repayment period for some of the country's loan obligations until
2040, a two-year extension of the fiscal consolidation period until 2016
and the return to Greece by Eurozone central banks of a sizeable portion
of their profits from holding Greek bonds.

In exchange, Greece was called upon to preserve a stable political
climate, carry out immediate recapitalisation of its banks, make use of
funds reaching 44 billion euros from European funds by 2020 and improve
its structural competitiveness through opening markets, improving their
competitiveness and lifting any remaining obstacles to attracting foreign
investments, he said.

According to the minister, the finance ministry's omnibus bill met
precisely these demands, while the government's top priority for the
current year was to ensure a primary surplus and thus give Greece the
right to ask for a further drastic 'haircut' of its public debt.

Repeating that Greece had already covered two thirds of the way toward
recovery, Stournaras admitted that the remainder would be harder because
of 'reform fatigue' in Greek society.

"Today, however, we are fighting for the next generation, we are not
dressing things up, not trading in hopes, we are not saying lies by
claiming that we can stay in the euro without staying in austerity
programmes," he emphasised.

Earlier in the debate, Stournaras announced that he accepted the first
article of a PASOK-sponsored amendment for the temporary hiring of staff
by local authorities as a way to fight unemployment but not the second
article proposing a conditional reduction of employer contributions.

He also accepted an amendment tabled by the two junior parties in the
coalition government, PASOK and Democratic Left (DIM.AR), settling pay
issues for successful candidates of a 2010 civil service exam.

The minister additionally announced improvements to the wording of an
article governing bake off products, which is included in the omnibus
bill.

The draft bill, which has been tabled as urgent in the form of a single
article, covers a wide spectrum of measures and prior actions agreed
by the Greek government and the European Commission, European Central
Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) troika of lenders in the
memorandums outlining the terms and conditions of bailout loans to Greece.

Labour Minister calls omnibus regulations 'last opportunity' for
settlement of outstanding insurance fund debts

This omnibus bill is an opportunity for all those with outstanding
insurance fund and tax debts to settle their obligations under the
new regulations currently being debated in Parliament, Labour Minister
Yiannis Vroutsis said on Sunday, adding, "It is their last chance."

During his speech in Parliament, Vroutsis said "Greece will not see
another settlement opportunity" and said its beneficial terms should
be taken advantage by all concerned. The seamen's pension fund (NAT)
was excluded from the regulation, he said, because its terms were so
favourable that had shipowners used it, the fund would have collapsed.

In terms of employment, Vroutsis said there there 2.4 billion euros that
were guaranteed by the European Social Fund for programmes in Greece
while a programme involving businesses and totalling 1 billion euros to
help out 500,000 unemployed was being developed.

[03] Main opposition leader charges gov't with turning Greece into
'colony in debt'

Main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras
unleashed strong criticism against all three parties in the coalition
government, charging them with "a catastrophic policy that has transformed
Greece into a colony in debt and its citizens into 'newly poor'."

Speaking in Parliament during the debate on the omnibus bill on Sunday,
Tsipras charged, "You always save us at the last moment," he charged,
"regardless of the repercussions. You have replaced the social state
with a state of emergency. You have replaced the constitution with a
memorandum article. You have turned Parliament into the approval agency
of one article."

Tsipras added, "I'm trying to find a substantial argument to understand
the optimism of the prime minister and the finance minister. The
prime minister in such a critical bill does not show up to defend
his choices. The prime minister is absent from critical parliamentary
procedures."

[04] PASOK leader criticises main opposition, digs at FinMin

PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos levelled criticism at both the main
opposition leader and the finance minister in his speech in Parliament
before the omnibus bill vote on Sunday night.

Venizelos, whose party is a junior member of the ruling coalition,
criticised Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras of
being "a prisoner of an unsurpassable conflict in his party - that
of not being able to balance between a progressive, friendly to the
populace European prospect and that of the Communist Party of Greece
(KKE) that says you cannot lie blatantly that you are in the eurozone
and out of the memorandum."

The PASOK leader also criticised Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras for
his handling of a PASOK proposal on unemployment, saying "Nobody is making
us a favour - this is a vital need of the government and an agreement
of three party leaders that the government is obliged to apply. We do
not need any favours, we want the application of policies. PASOK does
not use blackmail."

[05] Independent Leader party walks off podium

Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos charged the government with
trying to force deputies to vote policies that serve the memorandum of
lenders, during the discussion preceding the vote on the omnibus bill
in Parliament on Sunday night.

He charged that the government was applying internal devaluation, which
meant that minimum wages and pensions would drop further.

Speaking about the provision to settle outstanding debts, he said,
"The measures included in the bill have been described in the troika
[of lenders'] planning and this policy contains traps the average citizen
cannot see."

Kammenos walked off the podium before finishing his speech in protest
of the noise in the room. After the presiding official's lack of success
in quieting the noise down, the party leader walked off.

[06] Golden Dawn leader charges gov't with 'subjugation' policy

Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) party leader Nikos Michaloliakos charged
in Parliament on Sunday that in the dilemma of choosing between Greece
and staying in the eurozone, "we would choose to return to the drachma,
if necessary, to stop the subjugation."

During the discussion on the omnibus bill expected to be voted on tonight,
Michaloliakos anticipated that following the national elections in Germany
this autumn the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central
Bank (ECB) would come to a clash that could end in the destruction of
the euro, but in Greece, he claimed, the government will have already
provoked the selloff of the country.

The extreme-right party leader also said that "[Finance Minister Yannis]
Stournaras has said that if we don't move ahead, we will return to the
drachma and fall back by decades. But we have fallen back by decades,
Mr Finance Minister, and it seems that you have not realised it."

[07] Former KKE leader criticises gov't and main opposition on exiting
crisis strategy

Both the government and the main opposition, Radical Left Coalition
(SYRIZA), offer solutions to exit the crisis that do not cast any doubt
on the laws of the capitalist market, charged Aleka Papariga, chair
of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) parliamentary group, on Sunday,
during the debate preceding the vote on the omnibus bill in Parliament.

"Ruling New Democracy (ND) aligns with the predominant German, French and
Dutch recipe, although Holland has begun asking for a relaxation [of the
austerity programme]. SYRIZA, using a more relaxed recipe, believes it
will bring development more easily. Are there any differences? At certain
points there are, but from the point of view of the people, none. When
you talk about development, who will do development? Business groups,"
Papariga said.

The government wants to get the loan tranche of 6.2 billion euros,
combined with the payment of 5.6 billion euros for the unshaven state
bonds that mature on May 20, she charged. "So you can understand whether
it is worth succumbing to the blackmail of whether we will be given the
money or not. The government is able to carry out blackmail," she said.

[08] Former PASOK minister downvotes omnibus bill

Former high-profile PASOK minister and current independent deputy Andreas
Loverdos said he would vote down the omnibus to be voted in Parliament
on Sunday, because its regulations do not serve the real economy and do
not help business.

Speaking in Parliament, Loverdos said "only a sick bureaucratic mind"
could have invented the conditions for payment of outstanding debts.

"The political crisis and political tension will be the future
perspective," but said that there was time for a change in direction.

[09] Discussion of government's omnibus bill begins in Parliament

Discussion of the government's draft omnibus bill, outlining a series of
measures and prior actions agreed with the troika of Greece's lenders
(European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary
Fund), began before the Parliamentary Committee for Economic Affairs
on Saturday.

Among the speakers appearing before the committee was Finance Minister
Yannis Stournaras, who said that an amendment to give work to the
unemployed via local authorities proposed by coalition government partner
PASOK was "in the right direction".

The minister announced that the labour and finance ministry were now
working together with PASOK to calculate the cost of the amendment and,
if this was done by Sunday, would add the amendment to the omnibus
bill. If not, he added, the legislation would be included in the next
draft labour ministry bill.

According to Stournaras, Greece had now covered approximately two thirds
of the adjustment programme and was doing better than the forecasts in
the first quarter of 2013.

"We have a primary surplus, something that was forecast to be achieved
at the end of the year. The debt was reduced and is forecast to fall
below 110 percent of GDP in 2022. The unemployment rate will begin to
fall from next year. Already in March we had more hirings and firings,"
Stournaras said.

The debate on the bill began with a clash between the government and
opposition over the decision to table the bill as urgent, thus restricting
the debate before the full Parliament to just a few hours since the vote
will be held on Sunday night.

Stournaras defended the decision on the grounds that the Euro Working
Group is due to convene on Monday in order to decide on the disbursement
of the remaining 2.8 billion euros to be given to Greece from the previous
tranche of bailout loans, as well as the 6.0 billion euros due to be
given in May.

Main opposition SYRIZA-EKM MP Efklidis Tsakalotos rejected this reasoning,
however, noting that the government had been given ample time to prepare
the draft legislation now presented at the last minute.

"It is not our fault if you fight amongst yourselves, if you are
inefficient, if you do not respect democratic process," he accused the
coalition government, calling the draft bill "unacceptable".

SYRIZA-EKM MP Panagiotis Lafazanis also objected to the decision to
table the omnibus bill as a single article, saying this prevented MPs
from accepting or rejecting individual measures on their merits and thus
violated the Constitution.

Similar objections were voiced by other opposition parties in Parliament
but the urgent nature of the bill was finally approved by 26 votes in
favour and 15 against.

[10] Syntagma metro station reopens after trade unions rally

Syntagma metro station reopened late on Sunday after being shut down by
the Greek police ahead of a protest rally against the omnibus bill due
to be voted on by Parliament.

The rally was held in the late afternoon by the umbrella trade union
groups of the private and public sector respectively, GSEE and ADEDY,
in protest against a new round of austerity measures, among them planned
dismissals of public sector workers, included in the bill.

Politics

[11] Foreign ministry: 'Nothing disputable' in status of Aegean islands
and islets

Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras on Friday stated the
following in response to a journalist's question regarding Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's response to a parliamentary question on the
sovereignty status of Aegean islands:

"Apparently, they put someone up to asking this question once a year.

So I will give exactly the same response I gave the last time: I want
to make it clear that there is nothing disputable, nothing is in doubt
about the status of any island or islet in the Aegean. All of this is
governed by international treaties that are absolutely clear, and that
is why there are no grounds for disputing the status of any Greek islands
in the Aegean.

I hope we won't have to say this again this time next year."

[12] Greek foreign minister on goals of Baku trip

In an interview with Azerbaijan's local news agency released on Sunday,
Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said that EU issues will
figure prominently in his agenda while visiting the country, as Greece
gears up for its stint as EU presidency in the first half of 2014.

Among others, he noted, the trip will also serve to enrich the Greek
presidency's programme and help upgrade EU relations with other countries.

The minister said his main focus, however, will be on two predominantly
bilateral issues: energy cooperation and tourism.

"Greece is one of the closest and most easily accessible entry portals
to European markets for Azerbaijan," Avramopoulos pointed out in the
interview, noting that Azerbaijan already exported natural gas to Greece
via Turkey and that Athens wishes to expand bilateral cooperation via
the TAP pipeline.

"The construction of the pipelines that will transport Azeri natural gas
to European markets via Greece, Albania and Italy - at the same time
supplying gas to the Southeastern European markets along its route -
is a major project that will benefit all involved and their people,"
Avramopoulos said.

He noted that Greece, Italy and Albania had already signed the agreement
but the crucial decision now lay with the companies.

Replying to questions regarding tourism, Avramopoulos pointed out that
bilateral cooperation between the two countries began eight years ago
and he underlined the importance of the direct flights to be introduced
by Aegean Airlines from May 28.

He said that Greek consular authorities had been given instructions
to facilitate the issue of visas and noted that tourism was Greece's
second largest industry after shipping, so that Greek knowhow could
help Azerbaijan better exploit its own rich natural resources as a
tourism destination.

[13] Deputy FM Tsiaras sent to Beirut to assist efforts for release of
abducted clerics

Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Tsiaras on Friday left for Beirut in
Lebanon in order to monitor efforts for the rescue of two abducted
Orthodox metropolitan bishops at close hand, at the orders of Foreign
Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos.

The minister's presence in the area was judged necessary so that he might
have a series of contacts and talks and coordinate efforts to find and
arrange the release of the two abducted Aleppo clerics.

[14] Dendias gives press conference about NY visit results

NEW YORK (ANA-MPA - P. Panagiotou)

Greek Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Nikolaos Dendias
on Friday said his contacts at the FBI and New York Police Department
(NYPD) while visiting New York had focused on "deepening relations"
between Greece and the United States.

The minister was speaking during a press conference held at the Greek
press and communications office in the city on the results of his visit.

He stressed that they had also discussed ways to transfer U.S. know-how
in law enforcement to Greece, as part of an effort to radically overhaul
the Greek police force.

"The model used in New York to fight crime interests us a great deal,
we have studied it and are trying to implement it," he said. Since
his visit had taken place so soon after the terror strikes in Boston,
they were also an opportunity to experience the way U.S. authorities
had responded and acted, he added.

Questioned on migration issues, Dendias referred to the Independent
Asylum Authority and the Migrant Reception Centres and overall government
policy in this area, saying it had brought about "measurable results"
and extracted praise from Greece's EU partners, with 30,000 migrants
returned to their country of origin in recent months.

He also pointed to the negative aspects of the EU's Dublin Treaty and
said that Greece proposed a new model in which the EU dealt with such
as issues as "friends and partners".

On issues of racism and the actions of extreme far-right groups like the
Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) party, the minister stressed that events
like that recently in Manolada "were an affront to human existence"
and stressed that the police response was immediate. He stressed that
Greek society was not xenophobic and racist and that groups engaging in
extreme behaviour like Golden Dawn will disappear once Greece emerges
from the crisis.

Dendias was later due to visit the offices of the Stavros Niarchos
Foundation in Manhattan and meet its director and co-president Andreas
Dracopoulos while he will also meet American Jewish Committee Executive
Director David Harris.

[15] Justice minister on controversial measure for temporary court rulings

Temporary court rulings will remain as an institution but steps will be
taken to prevent their excessive use, Justice Minister Antonis Roupakiotis
said in an interview appearing the Sunday issue of the Greek newspaper
"Eleftherotypia".

The minister said a measure to this effect will be tabled after the Easter
holiday, while he was strongly critical of those drawing up the draft
legislation he had refused to support the previous week, outlining the
reasons for his refusal. Among others, he noted that the wording would
have affected employees in the private sector.

He also strongly disagreed with the prospect of merging the justice
and public order ministries, saying that "the thought alone of such a
prospect is frightening."

[16] Finmin to 'Typos on Sunday': 'We are on the right track'

Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras seemed confident that Greece's economy
will see recovery, in an interview appearing in the Greek Sunday newspaper
'Typos tis Kyriakis'.

"We are on the right track," the minister said, noting that the country
was 2.5 billion euros 'ahead' of targets but stressing that this was no
time for complacency.

The finance minister warmly praised all three party leaders in Greece's
coalition government, especially Prime Minister Antonis Samaras,
and stressed that the effort to get Greece's finances into order was
collective.

"As finance minister I am the programme's keeper, I cannot consent when
we have agreed that the deficit will be 'a' with measures that will make
this 'a-plus'. I must take equivalent measures or my signature counts
for nothing," he said.

With regard to VAT for food catering services, the minister said this
was an issue raised with Greece's creditors a long time ago but Greece
needed to provide reliable estimates of what the measure will cost in
terms of revenue, in order to convince the troika to agree.

"We have handed over studies carried out by independent analysts, by
the General Accounting Office, [Alternate Finance Minister Christos
Staikouras] has given his estimates that the loss will be of the order
of 80 to 85 million euros and that we consider, in fact, that there
will be collateral benefits from this reduction so that there is finally
no cost. They said that they want to see and study them and discuss it
again in June," Stournaras said.

[17] Junior coalition partners call for changes to government in 'Real
News' interviews

The leaders of the two smaller parties in Greece's coalition government,
PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic Left (DIM.AR) leader
Fotis Kouvelis, have both told the 'Realnews on Sunday' newspaper that
they would like to see changes in the structure and functioning of
the government.

Venizelos noted that the situation in the country appeared to be coming
under control, while it was becoming accepted internationally that Greece
must not carry out additional fiscal austerity measures, so that the
central issue was now to "highlight the national reconstruction plan as
a national strategic target".

"The coalition government of the three parties must serve this aim,
both in policy and in function. Both as a political framework and as a
formation," he added.

Kouvelis noted that the operation of the government was linked to the
efficiency of the government's work and stressed that it was imperative
"to immediately solve any functional problems that have been observed
and recorded," adding that the creation of an informal coordinating body
would be useful.

"In this framework, we need to see what changes must be made to government
structure, exclusively based on criteria of merit. The extended discussion
and rumour about a reshuffle harms the government's efficiency," he said.

[18] Kammenos elected president of Independent Greeks party

The founding conference of the right-wing Independent Greeks party has
elected Panos Kammenos as president, bringing forward the party leader's
election by one day.

The vote, originally scheduled to take place on Sunday after two days
discussing policy and the party's charter, was finally held on Saturday
night by acclamation. The decision to bring forward the vote was made
in light of Sunday's Parliamentary debate of the draft omnibus bill
implementing agreements with the troika.

In statements after being elected party leader, Kammenos promised
delegates that "I will never betray you. And I promise you one more thing,
that we will get our Greece back".

"We will become many, we will become and remain independent and we will
take over the government of the country. We will raise the Greek flag
high and give hope," he added.

[19] Independent Greeks founding conference begins in Athens

The founding conference of the right-wing Independent Greeks party began
in Athens' Peace and Frienship Stadium on Saturday with a speech delivered
by party leader Panos Kammenos.

In his speech, Kammenos noted that the "pro-bailout memorandum parties"
had not been invited to attend but only representatives of foreign
parties occupying the same political spectrum as the Independent Greeks.

He also voiced sharp criticism of the government, stressed the need
for unity among Greeks and promised that this will be the priority for
his party, making overtures to what he called "patriotic PASOK" and the
"voters of the democratic, patriotic axis".

If his party should come to power, he promised to "find and mercilessly
punish all those that were involved in scandals and who led Greeks to
their current state," and to impound wealth stolen from the Greek people.

On Saturday and Sunday the conference will discuss the party's policy
platformand will also vote its founding charter. It will end on Sunday
evening with the election of the party president by the delegates.

The conference was also addressed by main opposition SYRIZA-EKM secretary
Dimitris Vitsas, who noted that despite the very great ideological
and policy differences between left-wing SYRIZA-EKM and the right-wing
Independent Greeks, this did not prevent them from fighting together
against the Memorandum austerity policies.

[20] Greek Communist Party message for Labour Day

In a message for Labour Day next Wednesday, the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Saturday said it was "extending its
hand to all labourers, unemployed, young people and workers experiencing
'black days' and sorely tried by the repercussions of the capitalist
crisis and the anti-popular policies of the coalition government and
the European Union".

"It is a lie that the situation for workers will improve if the high
profits of industrialists, bankers and ship owners recover. Even then
the plutocracy, whose appetite as been whetted, will want workers cheaper
than those today. This is shown by productive development of the United
States, by the wages in big units returning from China to the U.S.,"
the party's announcement said.

[21] GD's 'Greek-only' blood drive provokes clashes in Larissa, Tripolis

Members of the far-right nationalist party Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi)
responding to the party's call for a "Greeks only" blood drive on
Saturday clashed protestors outside hospitals in Larisa, central Greece
and Tripolis in the Peloponnese.

Outside the PanArcadian Hospital in Tripolis, a camera man for a local
television station complained that he was attacked by a GD party member
and physically forced to erase footage recorded on his cell phone showing
the faces of Golden Dawn members.

GD members also clashed verbally with members of anti-racist organisations
in the city of Larisa, when the former organised a "Greeks only" blood
drive at the Larisa General Hospital.

Dozens of anti-racist activists had gathered outside the hospital to
protest but reactions were kept in check by a strong police presence,
with the two groups kept separate by a police cordon.

The blood drive was completed under police supervision, whereupon both
the Golden Dawn members and the protestors departed.

The head of the 5th Regional Health Service Lazaros Makris, meanwhile,
stated that the blood donated by the GD supporters will be allocated
wherever the hospital judges expedient, without conditions or
restrictions.

Financial News

[22] Development ministry denies press report on property foreclosures

Responding to a report in a Sunday newspaper about property
foreclosures for unserviced mortgages, the Development, Competitiveness,
Infrastructure, Transport and Networks ministry issued an announcement
denying that there had been any negotiation on this issue with the troika
of Greece's lenders, the European Commission, European Central Bank
(ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"There is also no issue of revoking the legislative measures for the
suspension of auctions passed at the end of 2012. The axis of our policy
remains protection of the citizens' property," the announcement said.

[23] Tax office revenues within budget targets, finance ministry says

Tax office revenues were within or even better than budget targets in the
first quarter of 2013, the Greek finance ministry said in an announcement
on Sunday.

Specifically, the target for the q1 2013 was 6.2 billion euros while
the actual revenues collected reached 6.21 billion euros.

In addition, the number of individuals with outstanding debts to the tax
office was reduced by 16.2 percent in that period, or by 435,729 debtors.

General secretary for revenues Haris Theoharis expressed satisfaction
with the results but stressed that the effort must be continuous and
that there was no room for complacency.

[24] Piraeus Bank president 'optimistic' about banking system

Piraeus Bank governor Mihalis Sallas expressed confidence about the future
of Greece's banking system and the economy in an interview published by
the Sunday issue of the newspaper "Kathimerini".

"The situation remains critical and the challenges that have to be faced
are major. Nevertheless, after some time, the first positive indications
are appearing that create hopes for reversing the situation. The
impressive improvement in the balance of payments, the reduction of the
deficits, the prospects of achieving a primary surplus in the management
of public finances are encouraging signs," Sallas said.

Referring to the banking system, Sallas noted that the important thing
was to complete the recapitalisation of the banks in order to restore
its capital base and for all systemic banks to play their critical role
adequately and finance the market.

"Our priority, therefore, is the needs of the real economy," he added.

Concerning Piraeus Bank, Sallas said that it had already raised the
minimum private-sector participation needed, allowing the bank to remain
private, and that the next goal was to raise funds of up to 733 million
euro so that the bank was not burdened with the cost of convertible bonds.

[25] Deputy development minister highlights measures to boost transparency
at private investments directorate

Responding to an article appearing in a Sunday newspaper, Deputy
Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks
Minister Notis Mitarakis said that the government had taken "direct
institutional measures to boost transparency at the General Directorate
for Private Investments".

He noted that the article referred to exclusively to cases in the period
before the general elections and that the present ministry leadership had
carried out a series of major changes to the laws to boost transparency,
for which the article had failed to give credit.

[26] Meeting on use of Piraeus Port 'Pagoda' building on Tuesday

A meeting on the management of Piraeus port infrastructure, focusing
particularly on the use assigned to the so-called 'Pagoda' building,
will be held at the shipping and Aegean ministry next Tuesday, Piraeus
Mayor Vasilis Mihaloliakos told the ANA-MPA on Saturday.

Those taking part will include Shipping and Aegean Minister Kostis
Mousouroulis, Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) chief
Stelios Stavridis, Piraeus Port Organisation President George Anomeritis
and also Mihaloliakos.

The mayor said the meeting will discuss all legal matters relating to
the concession of the Pagoda building to Piraeus, at the orders of Prime
Minister Antonis Samaras, adding that the building will most likely be
used to house the municipality's central services.

He also announced that an international tender has already been launched
for the exploitation of other buildings in Piraeus, such as the Tower,
the Ralleio building, the town hall and two buildings on Thivon Street.

According to the Piraeus Port investment programme for 2012-2016, the
1960s "Pagoda" building in Agios Nikolaos was to be converted into a
passenger station for cruiseships and a luxury five-star hotel. It was
originally built to serve passengers on ocean liners.

[27] Deadline for Greeks abroad to file income tax extended to June 28

MELBOURNE (ANA-MPA/S. Hatzimanolis)

The deadline for Greeks living abroad to file income tax has been extended
to June 28, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's office said in a letter to
the Australian and New Zealand Federation of Cretans.

Federation secretary Ioannis Trypidakis released a letter by the Greek
premier's office to the community members who had expressed concern over
taxation issues for property owned in Greece.

According to the letter, the Greek government "recognises and appreciates
what you and the rest of the Greek organisations abroad have achieved
and continue to achieve with love for your country."

It said that "in a relevant change of the taxation law to make it more
just and simpler in its application, we have moved to regulate the issue
of identification for overseas Greeks before tax authorities in Greece
through article 43 of law 4141/2013 (published in the Government Gazette,
or FEK, A' 81/08.04.2013). At the same time, under the regulations of
circular number 1062/28.03.2013 (published in FEK B' 884/11.04.2013),
the deadline for filing supporting documents for income tax of individuals
living abroad has been extended to June 28, 2013."

Through the letter, the Greek premier also expressed his personal support
of Greeks abroad and wished the Federation members Happy Easter.

[28] Foreign Exchange rates - Monday

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

U.S. dollar 1.319

Pound sterling  0.852

Danish kroner  7.567

Swedish kroner 8.686

Japanese yen  130.05

Swiss franc  1.245

Norwegian kroner 7.735

Canadian dollar  1.345

Australian dollar  1.284

General News

[29] Kilkis police dismantle major counterfeiting ring in Thessaloniki

A counterfeiting ring producing hundreds of thousands of forged bank
notes was traced to a print shop in Thessaloniki's Toumba district and
dismantled by the Kilkis police department, Greek authorities announced
on Saturday. According to a police announcement, the bust is one of the
biggest counterfeiting cases to be unravelled by the Greek police force.

Acting on a tip-off and after a 20-day investigation, Kilkis officers
carried out raids that led to the discovery of 675,000 forged 100-dollar
notes, eight trial colour prints of 500-euro bills, 15,000 sheets of
paper with half-printed notes of 100 dollars and the printing machinery
used to produce them.

The proceeded to make five arrests, including the 40-year-old suspected
leader of the ring and several of his alleged accomplices.

A later police announcement said that the 40-year-old had rented the print
shop from a 55-year-old owner and used it to print the forged bank notes
at night. Police believe the group planned to distribute a large number
of the counterfeit notes in Greece and neighbouring Balkan countries.

The first arrests were made during a raid on Friday, when a 32-year-old
man and a 37-year-old woman were intercepted while negotiating the sale
of forged 100-dollar bills with a nominal value of 80,000 dollars for
the sum of 10,000 euros.

Police next arrested the alleged mastermind of the operation and a
57-year-old man that came to the location in two vehicles, carrying the
forged bank notes up for sale.

More forged bank notes, printing equipment, chemicals, a computer, USB
flash drives, cash and other evidence were found in the two vehicles
and the home of the 32-year-old suspect, a pick-up truck owned by the
40-year-old, a warehouse he was renting in Thessaloniki, his holiday
home in Pieria and the print shop itself.

The police investigation is continuing on a national and
European-international level in order to determine the exact range and
duration of the criminal organisation's illegal activities within and
outside Greece.

Those arrested will be led before a Thessaloniki first-instance court
prosecutor.

[30] Local residents stage protest over gold-mining project in Halkidiki

Local residents in the Halkidiki peninsula on Saturday organised a protest
against a planned gold-mining project near the village of Skouries,
gathering in a location known as Kalogeriko to voice their objections to
the start of work to open roads through the forest by the mining company
Hellas Gold.

The protestors gathered early on Saturday morning, claiming the company
was guilty of illegal logging and that company representatives had not
produced the necessary licence for the work when asked.

"People are worried about their area, concerned that there are no
mechanisms to monitor the repercussions on the environment," said local
resident Giorgos Lagontzos to the ANA-MPA.

A representative for the company, Constantinos Georgantzis, stressed that
the work was being carried out legally and that the company had nothing
to hide but had been vindicated on all issues by the Council of State.

The work was stopped, however, after a clash with residents in the
morning.

Protesting residents finally departed on Saturday afternoon, after
receiving assurances that a meeting will be held on Monday - most likely
at the Polygyros public prosecutor's office - with representatives of
the company, the police, residents and the forest department to determine
whether the company has a licence for the work in the forest.

[31] Member of SDOE financial crime unit arrested on extortion charge

Police in Thessaloniki on Saturday announced the arrest of a 47-year-old
member of the finance ministry's SDOE financial crime squad and a
42-year-old alleged accomplice accused of extorting a local business man.

According to the complaint filed by the victim, the 42-year-old had
impersonated an SDOE employee and demanded 2,000 euros so as not to
impose fines for tax violations on his business.

Police lay in wait at a pre-arranged meeting point within the city's
vegetable market on Friday, arresting the 42-year-old when he turned
up to take the money from the business man. A police investigation then
revealed that the suspect had intended to share the blackmail money with
the 47-year-old SDOE employee, who was also arrested.

[32] Police chief visits Patras, discusses law enforcement issues

Greek Police Chief Lieut. Gen. Nikos Papagiannopoulos on Sunday paid
a visit to the Achaia police headquarters in the port city of Patras
in order to take part in a meeting on law enforcement issues in the
region. Other participants included Western Greece General Police Chief
Lieut. Gen. Athanassios Matsikas, Achaia Police Chief Costas Kyriakopoulos
and senior officers in Patras.

According to sources, one of the issues that dominated the meeting was a
series of recent murders in Patras and the progress of the investigation
to solve a double murder outside a nightclub in the city.

[33] Youth arrested for murdering his grandmother for 25 euros

An 18-year-old has been arrested as the leader of a gang of five suspects
that killed his 75-year-old grandmother for the sum of 25 euros.

The announcement was made by police on Saturday, who said they had
cracked the brutal murder of the elderly woman that was discovered on
December 3, 2012 in the Athens district of Neo Iraklio, when the woman
was found bound and gagged in her bedroom in a state of advanced decay.

In addition to the woman's grandson, the other suspects include two
Greek men aged 24 and 20 years old, a 34-year-old Albanian man and a
25-year-old Albanian woman. The three Greeks were arrested in Athens on
Friday and the two Albanians on the Ionian island of Lefkada.

All five were led before an Athens public prosecutor facing charges of
collusion to commit murder and robbery.

[34] Search launched for three escaped from Corinth migrant centre

Law enforcement authorities in Corinth on Saturday launched a search
to find and arrest three Afghan nationals that escaped from the "closed
reception facility" for illegal migrants at the city's old army base on
Friday night.

The three Afghans slipped out of the detention centre by climbing a
pillar and jumping over the fence into the surrounding unlit streets.

[35] Migrant traffickers arrested in northern Greece

Alexandroupolis illegal migration police on Saturday announced the arrest
of two individual that were caught trying to smuggle illegal migrants
into the interior of Greece, on a rural road near Alexandroupolis in
the extreme northeast of Greece.

Authorities also intercepted five illegal migrants among a group waiting
to be picked up by the two men, who fled upon seeing the police.

[36] Four arrested for sale of contraband cigarettes

A man and three women were arrested on Saturday for selling contraband
cigarettes in the centre of Thessaloniki. Police confiscated 5,800 packets
of cigarettes on which no duty had been paid, costing the Greek state
an estimated 16,700 euros. The suspects will go before a Thessaloniki
public prosecutor.

[37] Man arrested on suspicion of violating antiquities, cultural
heritage laws

Police on Saturday announced the arrest of a 28-year-old man from Terpni
in Serres, northern Greece, for possession of an antique printed edition
of the New Testament dating from 1765 and five gold coins. The arrest
was made following a tip-off that the man was seeking buyers for the
items via two accomplices in Thessaloniki.

All three were charged with violating laws on the protection of
antiquities and cultural heritage and will appear before a Serres public
prosecutor.

[38] Two caught with 2.5 kilos heroin in Drapetsona

Two Albanian nationals were caught holding more than 2.5 kilos of heroin,
during a raid by a police drug squad in the Drapetsona district of
Piraeus on Saturday.

The 35-year-old man and 29-year-old woman will be led before a public
prosecutor for possession of 2,540 grammes of heroin, 55 grammes of
cocaine and 740 grammes of cannabis.

Police also confiscated the sum of 815 euros, two precision scales,
three cell phones and a car.

[39] Two arrested for migrant trafficking; 15 illegal migrants caught

Police on Sunday announced the arrest of two men caught in the act of
smuggling 15 illegal migrants into the country, intercepted near Soufli
by Border Police based in Alexandroupolis.

The 40-year-old Albanian national and a 26-year-old Afghan national picked
up the migrants in Soufli and intended to take them to the northern Greek
city of Thessaloniki. Police first stopped the vehicle driven by the
Afghan man, which carried seven people, and then that of the Albanian,
containing another eight migrants. The Albanian man attempted to flee
but without result.

Ten of the migrants were Syrian nationals, three were from Iraq and two
from Afghanistan.

Further investigation showed that one of the vehicles driven by the
traffickers had been reported stolen in Attica roughly six weeks earlier.

Both cars were confiscated and the suspects led before an Alexandroupolis
first-instance court prosecutor.

[40] Weak tremor in eastern Peloponnese

An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale shook the region of
Astros in the eastern Peloponnese at 7:31 p.m. on Sunday afternoon,
with no damages reported at press time.

According to the Euromediterranean Seismological Centre, the quake's
epicentre was 108 km southwest of Athens and 4 km northwest of Astros,
in the Kinouria region, and occurred at a  depth of 10 km.

The quake was felt throughout the central Peloponnese.

[41] Weak tremor in sea off Aigio, Peloponnese

An earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale shook the coastal town
of Aigio at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, causing minimal damage. According
to the Athens Observatory Geodynamic Institute, the epicentre of the quake
was in the sea of the Corinthian Gulf, about 13 kilometres east of Aigio.

The quake was felt in Aigio and other areas of Achaia, Fokida, Corinth,
Aitologakarnania and Viotia.

Weather forecast

[42] Hot and sunny on Monday

Hot, sunny weather with some scattered clouds is forecast throughout
the country on Monday, the start of Orthodox Holy Week. Winds variable,
measuring between 2 and 5 on the Beaufort scale. Temperatures will
range from a minimum of 8C to a maximum of 31C. Sunny in Attica, with
temperatures from 10C to 30C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures
from 11C to 29C.

[43] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance

AVGHI: "The OPAP 'Colpo Grosso'".

DIMOKRATIA: "National crime. Troika forcing Greece to let armed forces
fall apart".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "They're preparing 'stick of dynamite' for university
entrance exams. Teachers threaten strike".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Trick with layoffs in the civil service".

ETHNOS: "The list of fire for the public sector. The organisations
being abolished".

KATHIMERINI: "All pensions from a single fund".

KERDOS: "Recapitalisation bring new investment tools".

LOGOS: "Ten solutions from the Consumer Protection Society of Crete".

NIKI: "Loans. Three sure-fire solutions for writing off debts".

PARON: "Tax-terrorism. A hurricane of billion-euro burdens behind
'facilitations'"

PROTO THEMA: "110,000 homes heading for foreclosure"

Realnews: "Searing documents on occupation loan. Documents on the
great heist"

RIZOSPASTIS: "People's alliance for people's power. KKE's programme
and charter".

TO ARTHRO: "Roupakiotis: protector of bogus employees"

TO VIMA: "Merkel's plan for a new Maastricht".

VRADYNI: "The 17 key points for early retirement".

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