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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 14-10-17

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

Friday, 17 October 2014 Issue No: 4787

CONTENTS

  • [01] PM Samaras in Milan: Greece contributing to Europe's energy security
  • [02] PM Samaras meets with Chinese counterpart in Milan
  • [03] Greece's position remains stable, everything will be done in consultation with Europe, government source says
  • [04] FinMin: Market climate does not reflect state of Greece's economy
  • [05] FinMin official calls future concerns over Greek economy 'unjustified'
  • [06] Gov't spokeswoman comments on EU Commissioner Katainen's statement
  • [07] Statements by New Democracy and SYRIZA deputies on market climate
  • [08] SYRIZA charges gov't with 'terrorising Greek citizens'
  • [09] Greece tables amendment to revise tax credit regulation
  • [10] Draft law articles on political party financing passed in parliament
  • [11] Azeri ambassador to Athens describes TAP pipeline as a project of friendship and cooperation
  • [12] Deputy FM Gerontopoulos on death of people of Greek origin in Sartana, Ukraine
  • [13] Deputy FM Gerontopoulos addresses relatives of those missing in the Cyprus tragedy
  • [14] Interior Minister Dinopoulos says no general government section can declare bankruptcy
  • [15] Tsipras-Theodorakis meeting for 'coming Tuesday' was a 'mistake by SYRIZA', Potami party says
  • [16] SYRIZA lashes out at Potami leader Theodorakis
  • [17] Governing coalition parties engaged in 'theatre of the absurd', SYRIZA's Constantopoulou tells ANA-MPA
  • [18] SYRIZA spokesman Skourletis testifies in MPs' alleged briberies case
  • [19] Twenty-one New Democracy MPs request retroactive audit of ministers' and deputies' assets
  • [20] Voultepsi on Skourletis, Pappas testimony: SYRIZA 'shed its poison' and now acts unaware
  • [21] Gov't spokeswoman responds to SYRIZA non-paper
  • [22] KKE's Koutsoumbas on the fight between ND-PASOK and SYRIZA
  • [23] Health Minister discusses measures to prevent Ebola at EU meeting
  • [24] Prosecutor recommends that 70 Golden Dawn members, including leader and MPs, be indicted
  • [25] Justice minister: Those indicted in Golden Dawn case will have a fair trial
  • [26] Golden Dawn trial case expected to open early in 2015
  • [27] Founding PASOK member and former minister Yiannis Charalambopoulos dies
  • [28] SYRIZA's Valavani expresses concern about the incidents of Albanian nationalism
  • [29] Mayor of historic city of Marathon declares it bankrupt
  • [30] Education minister announces closure of private vocational schools with overdue state debts
  • [31] British MPs call for return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece
  • [32] Austrian president to visit Greece on Oct. 22-23
  • [33] KKE delegation to visit Cuba on Oct 20-24
  • [34] Greek inflation second lowest in the EU in Sept
  • [35] Labour ministry initiative to create roughly 12,000 jobs for vulnerable social groups
  • [36] Business licensing procedures to be reduced by 70 pct, Development Minister Dendias announces
  • [37] ECB to loosen rules for Greek banks' borrowing
  • [38] Deputy Dev.Minister Mitarachi participates in European Investment Conference, London
  • [39] Tourism ministry, farmers' social insurance fund sign cooperation protocol
  • [40] Shipping Minister inaugurates Athens Boat Show, says he wants the boat market to grow
  • [41] Athens to host TBEX 2014 on Oct. 23-25
  • [42] Rural Development Minister Karasmanis on World Food Day
  • [43] Greek stocks suffer new heavy losses
  • [44] Greek bond market closing report
  • [45] Greek bond yield soar to 8.66 pct
  • [46] ADEX closing report
  • [47] Foreign exchange rates - Thursday
  • [48] Persephone is the third person on the mosaic floor of the Kasta tomb
  • [49] Ancient Amphipolis mosaic theme linked to Macedonian dynasty, official and excavator say
  • [50] Greek Parliament event marks 150th anniversary since birth of Venizelos
  • [51] Tremor off Kassos island in southeastern Aegean
  • [52] Two WWII bombs to be neutralised near Thessaloniki's airport on Friday
  • [53] Tension outside Athens University historic building in central Athens
  • [54] Greek air traffic controllers to hold work stoppage on Thursday, Oct. 23
  • [55] Scattered clouds on Friday
  • [56] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance Politics

  • [01] PM Samaras in Milan: Greece contributing to Europe's energy security

    MILAN (ANA-MPA/S. Goutzanis)

    Energy security and Greece's role in diversifying Europe's energy supplies were the focus of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' speech at the European Union-Asia Summit Meeting in Milan on Thursday.

    According to Greek government officials, Samaras said that it was crucial Europe diversify its energy sources and the routes of its supply, at a time when the continent is struggling to guarantee the security of the energy sector. Greece, he was quoted as saying, had assumed the role of a hub in energy security after the opening of the Southern Gas Corridor, which linked Caspian Sea deposits with Europe's energy markets. The project was not simply a pipeline issue but one of building bridges of cooperation, he was quoted as saying.

    The sources said the premier spoke of Greece's efforts to promote hydrocarbon research on its territory, noting the international calls for tenders for research and drilling in the Ionian Sea and south of the island of Crete, and said the collaboration of Europe and Asia extended beyond trade and economy to the academic and tourism exchanges as well.

    [02] PM Samaras meets with Chinese counterpart in Milan

    Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, who met on Thursday in Milan on the sidelines of the European Union-Asia Summit Meeting, confirmed the good level of economic relations between the two countries as well as the prospects of their further development.

    Keqiang pointed out that Samaras was the first prime minister to meet in a series of contacts that he will have with foreign leaders in Milan. He also expressed his content over the Cosco investment in the port of Piraeus and the prospect of its expansion while confirming his country's interest for the Greek privatization programme, which includes the Athens International Airport, the Railways, the Kastelli Airport.

    Special reference was made to the possibility of energy cooperation while the Chinese premier reiterated that Greece remained the main gateway for Chinese products in Europe.

    On his part, Samaras confirmed Greece's willingness to support China on all issues concerning its relations with the EU.

    Finally, the two leaders referred to the continuation of the cultural cooperation between the two countries and the setting up of a Chinese, Greek and Egyptian Committee on the decoding of ancient languages.

    Samaras is also scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. Moreover, on the sidelines of the Summit, he will have meetings with his European counterparts.

    The prime minister is accompanied by government spokeswoman Sofia Voultepsi, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas and his advisor Chrysanthos Lazaridis.

    [03] Greece's position remains stable, everything will be done in consultation with Europe, government source says

    The government attributes the stance of the markets towards Greece in the last few days to the difficult international circumstances, as growth in Europe remains stagnant, as well as to the internal developments related to the behavior of SYRIZA.

    "Greece does not change its negotiating position; the position of the country is stable. The discussion is ongoing; we will do our job," a government source said on the sidelines of the EU-Asia Summit meeting adding that "everything will be done in consultation with Europe."

    The Greek government insists that a new support programme will not be needed after the end of the year. The same source said that "the preventive credit line does not require a new programme." The source referred to the government's determination to continue on the same line and its optimism that the situation would improve.

    A government official explained that the international economic circumstances have a negative effect, as it found that while both China and the United States move at growth rates, the European economy is stagnant and unable to move forward to growth rates. International treaties interact with the internal causes of political instability and especially the behavior of the main opposition, the government official said. The same government source noted that the negative attitude of the main opposition, the statements that it would cancel privatizations and would challenge the fiscal stabilization were causing uncertainty among international players, who react.

    [04] FinMin: Market climate does not reflect state of Greece's economy

    "The climate that has formed in the markets in recent days does not reflect either the state of [Greece's] economy nor its prospects," Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis told Parliament on Thursday.

    "Greece is a champion of fiscal adjustment and structural reforms. It has proved that it has the guarantees to begin a course of rapid growth and recovery of the ground lost in the last six years. The course toward growth is a tangible reality. The future will not be cloudless but it will not resemble the painful period with have just been through. Calmness, focus on the targets and maximal consensus can lead us out of the crisis," the minister said.

    He pointed out that international markets were often "jittery" in their reactions. "The country has a fiscal result that allows it to take methodical and considered steps to restore injustices. The country will complete the programme it has set underway with its creditors," he said.

    Hardouvelis also emphasised that Greece, in collaboration with its EU partners, had embarked on the adoption of a sustainable solution for its public debt and had the support of the European Central Bank in this effort. "You may hear that measures will soon be announced that will facilitate the provision of liquidity from the ECB to the banks, in order to also facilitate provision of liquidity from banks to businesses and households," he said.

    [05] FinMin official calls future concerns over Greek economy 'unjustified'

    The abrupt yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds on Wednesday and Thursday are related to an unjustified concern abroad about the future of the Greek economy once its current fiscal adjustment programme ends, Finance Ministry Secretary General Tasos Anastasatos said on Thursday.

    Responding to a Euronews question, Anastasatos said the spread "is related, on one hand, to markets' concerns about the country's political uncertainty and on the other by their concern over the future of the Greek economy the day after the current form of the fiscal adjustment programme ends, which we consider unjustified."

    On Wednesday, the spread had widened to 6.68 pct from 6.17 pct the previous day. The state bond market remained under heavy selling pressure for one more day on Thursday, when the yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds widened sharply to 8.31 pct.

    EU Commissioner Katainen stresses that Europe's support to Greece will continue after the end of current programme

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Aroni)

    European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Jyrki Katainen on Thursday indicated that the EU will continue to support Greece and ensure "reasonable financing conditions" after the end of the current programme.

    Katainen's written statement is as follows:

    "Greece has made immense progress in creating a basis for a sustainable growth model, based on sound public finances, a more competitive economy and a robust, effectively supervised financial sector.

    This unprecedented programme of reforms and the necessary large fiscal adjustment have entailed very difficult choices. The Commission and the euro area as a whole have stood by Greece throughout this process. While there is a clear need to maintain the momentum of reform, there is strong evidence that the country has now turned a corner.

    There should be no doubt that Europe will continue to assist Greece in whatever way is necessary to ensure reasonable financing conditions for the Greek state and to smooth the path back to full and sustainable market access.

    To that end we will cooperate very closely with the Greek authorities to complete the current review, which will require a comprehensive package of ambitious reforms to be agreed. We will work to ensure a smooth evolution of European support for the country after the end of the current programme. We will support Greece in reassuring lenders and financial markets of the ongoing firm commitment to reform and to the maintenance of budgetary targets, including a strong and adequate fiscal buffer."

    Katainen's spokesman Simon O' Connor, when asked to comment on the Commissioner's statement, said that "there are concerns" and that is why the Commission felt it was important to clarify its position on Greece.

    Regarding what would follow after the end of the current programme, O' Connor said that talks would take place at the end of autumn between the Greek authorities, the Commission, the IMF and also between the Eurozone member-states and Athens.

    Asked about the sustainability of Greece's debt, he said that the Commission's estimates that this will become sustainable in the medium-term and that this was a main precondition for Greece to receive financial aid.

    [06] Gov't spokeswoman comments on EU Commissioner Katainen's statement

    "The prophets of disaster were once more proven wrong," government spokeswoman Sofia Voultepsi said on Thursday, commenting on a statement by European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Jyrki Katainen.

    Voultepsi said that after the doomsday rhetoric of the past two days, the truth has finally been revealed in the most official way.

    She said that according to Katainen's statement on Thursday, Greece has made tremendous progress and is working together with its partners for the smooth completion of the programme by the end of the year and the safe entry to the post-memorandum era.

    [07] Statements by New Democracy and SYRIZA deputies on market climate

    New Democracy (ND) and main opposition SYRIZA attack each other over the negative climate in the markets. The climate in the markets changed after Bloomberg news agency published a poll showing SYRIZA having a 6.5 percentage point lead over ND and analyzed the main opposition's policy, ND parliamentary spokesman Adonis Georgiadis told Skai TV on Thursday.

    "Unfortunately, markets from now on do not only listen to Samaras, but to Tsipras as well. When they hear all these insanities about changing everything when they come to power, how are markets supposed to react?" Georgiadis wondered.

    SYRIZA deputy Giorgos Stathakis, in statements to the same TV station, said that "the government rushed to draft its own roadmap of exiting the IMF. But, the other side does not embrace it."

    [08] SYRIZA charges gov't with 'terrorising Greek citizens'

    The government has adopted a strategy of escalating tension and talk of danger, "to terrorise citizens," main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party said on Thursday.

    In an unofficial report on recent political developments, the party claimed "the government is panic-stricken by developments" and is falling back on this strategy as a last resort. It also charged Prime Minister Antonis Samaras with trying to create the impression that SYRIZA is linked to terrorism and that the government "does not hesitate to risk even citizens' bank deposits" and "place Greece in danger in order to extend its rule by a few months."

    It then said that "we need to turn to the popular verdict in a coordinated and normal way so that the Greek people decide their own future," referring to national elections.

    [09] Greece tables amendment to revise tax credit regulation

    The Greek government on Wednesday tabled an amendment in Parliament revising the status on tax credit for the country's financial institutions.

    The amendment rephrases the article 27A of the income tax code to align with existing European rules over the recognition of tax credit on the supervisory capital of banks and with the new rules under the Basel III status.

    The amendment was necessary to fulfill the preconditions set by the existing supervisory framework (Basel III and CRR) and the full harmonization of the Greek regulation over the transformation of tax credit demands, in line with other south European states, such as Portugal, to deal with the problem of capital adequacy of financial institutions.

    [10] Draft law articles on political party financing passed in parliament

    Articles 5 and 7 of a draft bill on political party financing - concerning the use of coupons for fundraising purposes and the financing of political parties by private law legal entities - were passed in parliament on Thursday, in a roll-call vote by main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA).

    All the MPs of the governing coalition, New Democracy (ND) and PASOK, voted in favour of the controversial articles with the exception of PASOK MP Apostolos Kaklamanis, who voted against article 7 on the financing of political parties by private law legal entities.

    Of the 263 MPs present, 148 voted "yes" for article 5 concerning the use of coupons for fundraising purposes and 115 voted "no", while 147 MPs voted in favour of article 7 and 116 against.

    [11] Azeri ambassador to Athens describes TAP pipeline as a project of friendship and cooperation

    Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Athens Rahman Mustafayev, who is on a courtesy visit to Kavala, in northern Greece, wished that the new natural gas Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) would become a project of friendship and cooperation between Greece and his country.

    Mustafayev, in a meeting with Kavala mayor Dimitra Tsanaka and deputy region governor Theodoros Markopoulos, underlined the need to strengthen cooperation and friendship between the two countries and noted that the top issue on the agenda of his meetings with local community representatives is the significance of the TAP.

    "The pipeline is not only a project that will transport gas from Greece, Albania and Italy to the rest of Europe. It is a project of friendship and cooperation and not just of natural gas," he said.

    He added that his priority is to take the necessary measures to increase tourist inflows from his country to Greece. "Kavala is a beautiful place and we should open doors for cooperation in tourism and culture," he noted.

    Asked on the pipeline's passing through zones of high productivity as well as farmers' objections to the pipeline's routing, who claim it would affect agricultural land, Mustafayev appeared reassuring.

    "We will deal with it, there is no need for concern," he noted and said "This project will be good for Greece and Azerbaijan. We are not simply saying nice things; we respond with work. So far everything has been done properly. The project is very important, not only for Greece and Azerbaijan. Greece is not the first country where we implement such a big energy investment. We have done bigger investments in other countries of the world, always in good partnership. We will do the best for the Greek citizens and the companies involved in the project. However, you should know that each dollar invested in such a project is not only related to the construction of the pipeline; it brings many more dollars from other business and investment activities that are developed and are focused on the pipeline construction."

    Threats against investors at every opportunity do not help economy, let alone the sensitive Greek one, Dev't min Dendias says

    Development Minister Nikos Dendias, during a press conference on Thursday, called on the main opposition to put the country and the economy's interests first rather than its partisan interests.

    "Threatening investors at every opportunity does not help the economy, let alone the sensitive Greek one," Dendias said commenting on the recent negative economic climate.

    Referring to the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) and the creation of a special front-loaded mechanism, that is direct funding of 735 projects through the 2014-2020 NSRF with the amount of 4.9 billion euros, Dendias said the government made plans on the assumption that elections would be held in 2016 and "we show society that there are strong elements for the support of the Greek economy. In contrast, the main opposition's threats against investors are the most irresponsible action."

    Dendias said on Wednesday he had a meeting with SYRIZA's MP Giorgos Stathakis following a public invitation by the prime minister, so that the opposition was briefed directly by the government on its targeting.

    Deputy Development Minister Odysseas Konstantinopoulos underlined the importance of political stability for making the best use of the economy's positive assets. He reiterated that he has invited SYRIZA members for a briefing by ministry officials on the national target.

    [12] Deputy FM Gerontopoulos on death of people of Greek origin in Sartana, Ukraine

    We are trying with everyone's cooperation to find solutions and protect the life and the rights of our own people, of the Greek community in Ukraine, Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos said on Thursday regarding the death of six persons of Greek origin in the village of Sartana, near Mariupol. He was addressing the Parliamentary Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad, which met on the establishment of the International Day of Greek Language and Education.

    Gerontopoulos underlined that Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos and himself have been in close contact with the Greek consul in Mariupol, Dimitris Papandreou, about the situation there.

    Despite Greece's poor economic conditions, Gerontopoulos said, a decision was taken on Wednesday to provide emergency financial assistance of 20,000 euros to the families of the victims, while he also arranged so that emergency financial assistance is given to the Federation of Greek Communities in order to assist the Greeks of Ukraine ahead of the winter.

    Gerontopoulos informed the members of the Committee that an interministerial meeting was recently held with the Interior and Public Order ministries, initiated by him, in order to speed up the procedures for issuing visas and pending applications for Greek citizenship submitted by expatriates in Ukraine because of the unstable situation in the region.

    He also clarified, in response to a question from the head of the Committee Savvas Anastasiadis, that the foreign ministry in cooperation with the relevant ministries, is ready to intervene at any point if there is need, depending on the circumstances.

    [13] Deputy FM Gerontopoulos addresses relatives of those missing in the Cyprus tragedy

    The Greek state's unabated interest in resolving the cases of missing Greek nationals on Cyprus was reaffirmed on Thursday by Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos, who addressed an event hosted at the Foreign ministry by the Committee of Relatives of the Fallen and Missing in the Cypriot Tragedy.

    "The Greek state honours the fallen and the missing with a series of measures and actions," Gerontopoulos said, adding that the issue of the missing is systematically raised by the Greek state at the UN's General Assembly and at its Council of Human Rights.

    Praising the work of the Committee of Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP), Gerontopoulos underlined that Turkey is responsible for the difficulties in the investigation into the fate of those missing, reminding that last May the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Turkey.

    He underlined that "Turkey's overall stance is not satisfactory," and referred to its "systematic refusal - with few exceptions - to allow investigators to have access to military zones in the occupied part of Cyprus and to its systematic refusal to implement European Court of Human Rights rulings."

    Gerontopoulos also noted with regret that that the committee's work is often being hampered by the Turkish-Cypriot side's representative, which "results in a very limited percentage of cases having been resolved, forty years later."

    [14] Interior Minister Dinopoulos says no general government section can declare bankruptcy

    No part of the general government, and under no circumstances, can declare bankruptcy, Interior Minister Argyris Dinopoulos on Thursday underlined in his meeting with Marathonas Mayor Ilias Psinakis, who visited him at the ministry after he publicly declared his municipality bankrupt.

    The interior ministry approved the amount of 400,000 euros for the municipality of Marathonas, in the greater Athens region, in the form of an advance of the approved budget to pay the wages of the municipal employees.

    [15] Tsipras-Theodorakis meeting for 'coming Tuesday' was a 'mistake by SYRIZA', Potami party says

    Potami party dismissed a report on a scheduled meeting between its leader Stavros Theodorakis and main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras next Tuesday, as it was announced to journalists on Wednesday evening, saying it was a mistake made by SYRIZA.

    "Perhaps with the main opposition leader's numerous meetings, SYRIZA was rather confused with schedules, parties, Tuesdays and the leaders available," Potami said in announcement.

    In an informal note on Wednesday, SYRIZA said that the party leader was reportedly open to a dialogue with Stavros Theodorakis, despite Theodorakis' attack against Tsipras regarding the latter's meeting with Independent Greeks president Panos Kammenos.

    According to the note, Theodorakis asked to meet with Tsipras, who responded positively. The meeting was originally scheduled for Thursday, but it was postponed upon Theodorakis' initiate. According to SYRIZA, the meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 21.

    [16] SYRIZA lashes out at Potami leader Theodorakis

    Main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) on Thursday lashed out at Potami party leader Stavros Theodorakis over a statement denying that a meeting between himself and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras was scheduled for next Tuesday.

    SYRIZA underlined that Theodorakis' "retractions as regards his meeting with the president of SYRIZA are indicative of the political ethos he professes and of the selective talks he holds".

    A non paper by SYRIZA issued on Wednesday night, which mentioned that Theodorakis had requested the postponement of the meeting for a week, as well as Theodorakis' attack on SYRIZA's leader in response to the latter's meeting with opposition Independent Greeks (ANEL) leader Panos Kammenos, had preceded the strong statement issued by SYRIZA.

    According to party sources, SYRIZA is very annoyed with Theodorakis' stance and "his constant transitions".

    Earlier, Potami party had dismissed a report on a scheduled meeting between its leader and the SYRIZA leader next Tuesday, saying it was a mistake made by SYRIZA.

    "Perhaps with the main opposition leader's numerous meetings, SYRIZA was rather confused with schedules, parties, Tuesdays and the leaders available," Potami said in an announcement.

    According to an informal note issued on Wednesday by SYRIZA, its leader was reportedly open to a dialogue with Stavros Theodorakis, despite Theodorakis' attack against Tsipras regarding the latter's meeting with Independent Greeks president Panos Kammenos.

    According to the note, Theodorakis had asked to meet with Tsipras, who responded positively. The meeting was originally scheduled for Thursday, but it was postponed on Theodorakis' initiative. According to SYRIZA, the meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, October 21.

    [17] Governing coalition parties engaged in 'theatre of the absurd', SYRIZA's Constantopoulou tells ANA-MPA

    The two parties in Greece's governing coalition, New Democracy and PASOK, were engaged in a "theatre of the absurd" regarding the issue of political party funding, main opposition SYRIZA MP Zoi Constantopoulou said in an interview with ANA-MPA on Thursday.

    "On the one hand, they are bringing legislation to supposedly enhance transparency in party finances and reform the fund-raising process but in reality, they are once against giving their parties the option of handling their finances in a suspect way," she said.

    She called the draft bill on party finances a "monstrosity" and claimed it "provides for the laundering of graft." According to Constantopoulou, it called for financial support of parties by private entities in ways that were not only reminiscent of political systems entirely foreign to Greek political tradition but also marked the intention of these parties to "legalise their illicit and selective relationship with representatives of economic interests."

    The MP underlined that SYRIZA, if elected to government, will abolish the laws for party financing and especially on lending to political parties:

    "We have said in a clear and unequivocal way that all these manipulations giving asylum and protection to those responsible for squandering significant sums will not be considered accomplished facts. We are absolutely determined not to allow such tricks, which also have penal demerits, to survive in public life, in the public sphere and in political life," she said.

    Constantopoulou went on to suggest that Prime Minister Antonis Samaras should also be called to testify before the public prosecutor over his statements in June 2014, when he "ensured the abrupt closure of Parliament so as to once again 'launder' the penal liabilities of [Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos] and when he spoke of 180 MPs that were supposedly ready and willing to vote for any president of the Republic."

    There was an awareness in every citizen, she added "that such a majority of 180 MPs could not be secured except by underground paths."

    The interview in full is available on the ANA-MPA website.

    [18] SYRIZA spokesman Skourletis testifies in MPs' alleged briberies case

    "Justice must be allowed to be free and do its work without interventions," main opposition SYRIZA spokesman Panos Skourletis said on Thursday exiting the Appeals Prosecutor Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos' office where he testified over the case of MPs' alleged briberies.

    "The hypocritical cries, the doomsday rhetoric and the government's efforts to reverse reality are a conscious choice to conceal the fiasco of the country's so-called withdrawal from the memorandum and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)," he underlined adding that the government will be overthrown by the need for a strong government, which will correspond to the real correlation that exists in society, for exiting the crisis.

    Skourletis had been called to testify as part of an investigation into MPs' bribery allegations regarding the election of a President of Republic. The head of SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras' office Nikos Pappas will testify later in the day.

    [19] Twenty-one New Democracy MPs request retroactive audit of ministers' and deputies' assets

    Twenty-one lawmakers from New Democracy, the majority party in Greece's governing coalition, have asked the minister of justice to confirm that beyond the annual submission of the so-called "origin of wealth" (pothen esches) form, ministers as well as deputy and alternate ministers are not be exempt from the provisions of law 4065/2012, which includes a retroactive and mandatory audit of their assets.

    The origin of wealth form is a document in which specific professional sectors are required to list the provenance of all of their assets so that the Finance ministry can cross-check depositors' details with their earnings.

    In the document, lawmakers say the government has stressed the importance of a special auditing body that would examine origin of wealth forms for anyone who has served as a minister, deputy and alternate ministers since 1974 and has made it onto a law in 2012.

    However, they added, neither in the law in question, nor in the amendment which followed in March 2014, is it stated clearly that everyone who holds a public office today should be included in the audit.

    "This is a provision that should be considered self-evident, considering the spirit of the law," the document reads, adding, "It is an amendment that will contribute significantly to the strengthening of people's trust towards politicians."

    [20] Voultepsi on Skourletis, Pappas testimony: SYRIZA 'shed its poison' and now acts unaware

    The government will not follow the path of main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras and his party, government spokeswoman Sofia Voultepsi stressed on Thursday.

    "With unity, stability and the decisive support of our European partners, we are leading the country to an exit from the crisis," she added.

    Commenting on the testimony given by SYRIZA spokesman Panos Skourletis and another SYRIZA member regarding allegations of attempts to 'buy' deputies, she pointed out that "after shedding their poison," neither was able to tell a public prosecutor anything tangible.

    She pointed out that SYRIZA's leader had until yesterday been making allegations that the government was engaged in a "safari to buy votes of support and buy consciences" of MPs, while SYRIZA MP Dimitris Papadimoulis had referred to Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Government Vice-President Evangelos Venizelos "buying" MPs and others had spoken about "pressures with gifts and exchanges" and "bribery of MPs".

    On Thursday, while appearing before a public prosecutor to testify, neither SYRIZA spokesman Panos Skourletis nor the head of Tsipras' office Nikos Pappas had seen, heard or knew anything, Voultepsi added.

    "After shedding their poison in order to politically extort MPs and upset markets, today they present themselves as simply unaware," she said.

    Voultepsi stressed that markets were both watching and aware of the main opposition's behaviour and statements, "which they interpret in the way we have seen in the last hours, both in terms of the political anomaly they are striving for and for the official statements in the last hours of Mr. Tsipras and his colleagues."

    Among such, she quoted SYRIZA statements that 'we will not recognise any agreement by the country'," or a statements concerning financial markets, such as "when we speak of markets we mean main speculative interests, something like international bands of crooks," or "we don't depend on markets or borrow from markets".

    [21] Gov't spokeswoman responds to SYRIZA non-paper

    Now "everyone knows who they really are," government spokeswoman Sofia Voultepsi responded on Thursday, following the release of a non-paper by main opposition SYRIZA which called for national elections.

    "At a time when Europe openly supports Greece and recognises the success of the Greek government, SYRIZA is the one playing games with the bank deposits of the Greek people and at the same time fundamentally asking that Greece does not exit the memorandum" (loan agreement), she said.

    [22] KKE's Koutsoumbas on the fight between ND-PASOK and SYRIZA

    The "cockfight" between the two-party coalition government of New Democracy (ND) and PASOK and main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) "goes beyond disorientation and is reminiscent of past fights between ND and PASOK," opposition Communist Party of Greece (KKE) general secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas said on Thursday, adding that it takes place at a time "when the struggle and organizing of the people should intensify".

    He accused them of maintaining open communication channels with strong business interests and of fighting over the people's vote by promising handouts in return.

    Koutsoumbas underlined that ND, PASOK and SYRIZA fight over who will be the chosen one to manage the memorandums of the EU and the capital holders and continue the path that gives birth to decay and leads the people to even bigger bankruptcy.

    [23] Health Minister discusses measures to prevent Ebola at EU meeting

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Spinthourakis)

    Health Minister Makis Voridis participated on Thursday in a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels to coordinate the measures taken to prevent the spread of Ebola virus in Europe, especially through checks on travellers arriving on European soil by air, road and sea from high-risk countries of West Africa.

    The meeting was prompted by the US's and Britain's decision to impose checks in airports.

    Considering that any efforts to check passengers is weakened if done in isolation, checks should be performed in coordination with other countries, as the French Health Minister said during the meeting, following a similar announcement by her country.

    Other member-states of the EU were in favour of checks when leaving a country where cases of Ebola have been reported, a measure recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    Voridis said he's in favour of exchanging information and creating a database for the infectious disease.

    As far as performing checks in each country's entry points, the minister said although there are no direct flights to Greece from infected countries (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea), it was decided to use thermal cameras.

    For ports and other entry points to the country, the first measure will be to hire 30 medics who will be placed at the First Reception Centers for migrants, as well as to train law enforcement officials and the military.

    Voridis also requested some economic or other assistance, a move that was supported by Cyprus and Italy.

    [24] Prosecutor recommends that 70 Golden Dawn members, including leader and MPs, be indicted

    Prosecutor Isidoros Dogiakos, who is handling the Golden Dawn (GD) case, on Thursday recommended that 70 out of a total of 85 accused in the case - including the party leader and all its deputies - be indicted on the grounds that Golden Dawn was a criminal organisation.

    "A party that seeks to achieve its goals through the use of physical or armed force is not legal," Dogiakos said in his report, stressing that Greek courts had a right to judge a political party as a criminal organisation.

    The prosecutor, in a 700-page recommendation, asked the Judicial Council to indict all current and former members of Golden Dawn's parliamentary group - including the now independent deputies Chrysovalantis Alexopoulos and Stathis Boukouras - to be tried by a three-member Criminal Appeals Court for the actions relating to the party's activities as an organised criminal outfit.

    He stressed any union of persons "under the guise of a political party" that did not uphold the functioning of the democratic regime but abusively exercised the right to found a political party, seeking to impose their goals through acts of violence and intimidation, could not be considered legal. He also stressed that if Golden Dawn's members were convicted on criminal organisation charges, then the party must be outlawed.

    Specifically, for Nikos Michaloliakos and his deputies, he recommended that they be indicted for participating and leading a criminal organisation. The prosecutor also recommended that Nikos Michaloliakos, Ilias Kasidiaris, Nikos Michos, Yiannis Lagos, Giorgos Germenis and Stathis Boukouras be indicted for additional felony charges of gun possesion with an aim to supply a criminal organisation. For Christos Pappas, the prosecutor recommended that additional charges against him for illegal possession of files be converted to misdemeanours.

    In his recommendation, the prosecutor, according to sources, referred to all Golden Dawn's criminal actions, including the murder of musician Pavlos Fyssas, the attacks against members of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in Perama, the attack against Egyptian fishermen, the attack against a student in Paleo Faliro and against Pakistani workers in Crete.

    The prosecutor referred to several incidents since 1980 and stressed that - from 2008 onwards - Golden Dawn had become more aggressive. He also emphasised that the intensity of violent incidents increased shortly before and after the 2012 election, when - with the tabling of the GD statute in the 'Areios Pagos' Supreme Court - the criminal organisation took on the form of a political party.

    The prosecutor reportedly said that a political party can be a criminal organisation when it is using its mechanisms and staff to commit criminal acts. Dogiakos noted that the organisation was operating under an absolute hierarchy, led by Nikos Michaloliakos and followed by Christos Pappas, Ilias Kasidiaris, Ilias Panagiotaros and Giorgos Germenis.

    In relation to the murder of musician Pavlos Fyssas, Dogiakos reportedly noted that the victim had been targeted and that the mechanism of Golden Dawn was mobilised for his murder. "They knew who he was," the prosecutor reportedly said.

    In his recommendation, the prosecutor noted that the claims of five protected witnesses were fully confirmed by the history and the details of the case.

    He also noted that the 15 defendants whose exemption he recommended were accidentally involved in incidents included in the case file.

    [25] Justice minister: Those indicted in Golden Dawn case will have a fair trial

    Anyone who will be indicted in the case of the jailed members of the extreme-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) party will have a fair trial, Justice Minister Haralambos Athanasiou said on Thursday.

    Athanasiou's comment followed the prosecutor's proposal to indict the entire parliamentary group of the extreme-right Golden Dawn party on charges of belonging to a criminal organisation.

    "I categorically state that justice will do its duty and those who are indicted - if they are indicted - will have a fair trial, as demanded by the Constitution," the minister said on the sidelines of a conference titled "Institutions in crisis", hosted by New Democracy's youth party (ONNED).

    [26] Golden Dawn trial case expected to open early in 2015

    A Judicial Appeals Council is expected to issue a decision roughly a month from now on which of the 85 defendants in the extreme-right Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avgi) party will be tried before a Criminal Court, it was announced on Thursday.

    Golden Dawn deputies, including its leader, are being charged with participating in a criminal organisation, in an unprecedented trial in the country's history where a parliamentary group is facing prosecution.

    The trial will most likely start in early 2015, while a number of options are being considered as regards to where the actual trial will take place.

    [27] Founding PASOK member and former minister Yiannis Charalambopoulos dies

    Yiannis Charalambopoulos, a historical figure in the governments of the late Andreas Papandreou and his close aide, passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 95.

    A founding member of PASOK, Charalambopoulos participated actively in the struggle against the dictatorship. He served as government Vice-president, Foreign and National Defence minister.

    In a message, Republic President Karolos Papoulias underlined that Charalambopoulos' life was a continuous struggle for democracy, freedom and social justice, noting that for him politics was about contribution and not about power.

    Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in a statement described Charalambopoulos as an "honourable politician and passionate defender of our national rights".

    Parliament President Evangelos Meimarakis expressed grief for the loss of the "historical figure and fighter in the resistance against the dictatorship. "His ethos, his struggles and his consistency have set an example," he said.

    Main opposition SYRIZA expressed grief over Charalambopoulos' death and said he was a political figure who offered valuable services to the country.

    Charalambopoulos was "one of the most emblematic figures of the democratic wing, a leading fighter in the anti-dictatorship struggle, a true servant of the public interest," Government Vice-President, Foreign Minister and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos said in a statement, adding that he holds a special place in the collective consciousness of the party.

    Opposition Communist Party (KKE) underlined the anti-dictatorship struggle of the deceased and the tortures he suffered when he was jailed by the junta.

    Grief for his loss was expressed by opposition Democratic Left (DIMAR), noting that he was among the most emblematic figures of the post-dictatorship era and a relentless fighter in the struggle against the dictatorship.

    [28] SYRIZA's Valavani expresses concern about the incidents of Albanian nationalism

    The head of foreign policy for main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) parliamentary group, MP Nadia Valavani, on Thursday expressed her party's concern about nationalist incidents targeting the Greek minority in Albania.

    Valavani underlined that yesterday's incident in Dervitsani, the Greek minority village near Gjirokaster allegedly raided by a group of civilians from another village, who used slogans with religion-related and nationalist content targeting the minority population and in certain cases abused elderly people, could be regarded as isolated if they had not been preceded by other actions that rekindled nationalist tensions, weighing down on the efforts for the solution of the problems in the region.

    The Albanian government should intensify its efforts to ease the tension in a period crucial for the implementation of its European expectations, Valavani said.

    She also called on the foreign ministry to "recognize with calmness that the developing escalation of nationalist passions in the region is a thorn which, unless faced promptly through effective initiatives, threatens to seriously undermine stability in the Western Balkans and the settlement of pending bilateral issues".

    According to Valavani, "new unrest and the rekindling of irredentist claims could have only dark and unpredictable consequences on all countries in the region indiscriminately."

    [29] Mayor of historic city of Marathon declares it bankrupt

    The newly elected mayor of the historic city of Marathon, located in the region of east Attica, announced to reporters on Wednesday night the municipality is bankrupt.

    "There's not a cent in the municipality's coffers. Not even to pay the salaries of the employees. Unfortunately, we're bankrupt," Ilias Psinakis said.

    The mayor added the municipality is in a state of emergency and announced he will start a fund raising campaign in Greece and abroad, called "Save Marathon", to save the city.

    The mayor said his municipality owes 12,700,000 euros in commissions, loans and utility bills which have to be paid by the end of the year.

    He said municipal coffers presently contain only 70,000 euros and expressed his wish to find a solution for unpaid wages.

    Attempting to explain the bankruptcy, Psinakis cited direct project commissions to friends and relatives of officials who served in the previous municipal council and argued there was a methodical destruction of the municipality by transferring staff so as to create many problems to its operation.

    The mayor's lawyer, Alexandros Lykourezos was present at the press conference.

    [30] Education minister announces closure of private vocational schools with overdue state debts

    Education Minister Andreas Loverdos on Thursday announced that the ministry will close down private vocational training schools (IEK) that had not paid overdue debts to the state and social insurance funds by Wednesday, which was the final deadline. He said that students that had enrolled at these schools and paid their fees would be allowed to continue their studies at public vocational schools.

    The minister said that only three of the private schools had settled their debts with the state and emphasised that he would not tolerate "phenomena of mockery", citing as an example a college owing millions that sought a debt settlement of 160 euros a month. "All of us here will be dead by the time that gentleman manages to pay up. We will not accept such phenomena, therefore; they are illegal state subsidies in the eyes of the European Commission," he said before a Parliamentary committee.

    [31] British MPs call for return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece

    LONDON (ANA-MPA/ I. Karipidis)

    Deputies in the British Parliament on Thursday urged their government to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, saying the United Kingdom should "engage constructively and engage also in a gracious act" to recognise that the sculptures should return to Athens.

    According to Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George, during culture questions on Wednesday, "parading stolen booty in the otherwise excellent British Museum" brings "shame on this country."

    Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn similarly backed the view that the sculptures were "stolen" from the people of Greece and said there were "very strong feelings" about the matter in the country. He suggested that relations with Greece could be improved "if we constructively engage with a view to returning some, if not all, of these items".

    Replying, British Culture Minister Helen Grant told MPs that UNESCO was ready to facilitate mediation, and that the government would consider the proposal "and respond in due course". She added, however, that the sculptures were "legally owned" by the British Museum, which "provides access to all, free of charge."

    She did not accept that they were stolen and reiterated that there was constructive engagement between the UK and Greek governments on the matter, with a discussion held in early October at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris.

    The discussion was held after Andrew submitted a question on Wednesday regarding the British government's intentions in response to UNESCO's proposal. The issue has dominated the British press in recent days due to a visit to Athens by London-based lawyer Amal Alamuddin-Clooney and members of the firm she works with to discuss the Parthenon Marbles case with Greece's government.

    [32] Austrian president to visit Greece on Oct. 22-23

    VIENNA (ANA - MPA/ D.Dimitrakoudi)

    Federal President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, will arrive in Athens for a two-day working visit on October 22-23.

    Fischer is scheduled to meet his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias, with whom they will discuss, among other issues, the crisis in Greece and developments in Europe and the rest of the world.

    The Austrian president will also meet with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the leader of the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party Alexis Tsipras.

    [33] KKE delegation to visit Cuba on Oct 20-24

    A communist KKE party delegation, led by secretary general Dimitris Koutsoumbas, will visit Cuba between October 20 and 24, following an invitation by Cuba's communist party.

    During the visit, the KKE delegation will hold meetings and talks with the Cuban party leadership as well as state and government officials.

    Note to subscribers: In Wednesday's Bulletin, the story "Greek exports to Austria rise by 22.5 pct in first half of year, embassy official says," quoted Bruno Freitag; he was Commercial Counsellor until September 5, according to the Embassy. The rest of the story stands as is.

    Financial News

    [34] Greek inflation second lowest in the EU in Sept

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/V.Demiris)

    Greek inflation rate remained in negative territory (-1.1 pct) in September, recording the second lowest inflation rate in the European Union after Bulgaria (-1.4 pct), Eurostat said on Thursday.

    In a report, the EU executive's statistics office said that the inflation rate in the Eurozone eased to 0.3 pct in September from 0.4 pct in August -the lowest rate since October 2009. In the EU, the inflation rate fell to 0.4 pct in September from 0.5 pct in August -the lowest rate since September 2009.

    Hungary (-0.5 pct), Spain (-0.3 pct), Poland (-0.2 pct), Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia (-0.1 pct each) also recorded negative inflation rates, while Romania (1.8 pct), Finland (1.5 pct) and Austria (1.4 pct) recorded the highest inflation rates.

    [35] Labour ministry initiative to create roughly 12,000 jobs for vulnerable social groups

    The ministry of labour has issued a public invitation for the establishment of "development partnerships", it was announced on Thursday.

    The partnerships, set up with the participation of companies from the public and the private sectors, aimed to create structures focusing on the support, operation and development of social enterprises on a local level, while spreading the idea of social economy and consolidating it through permanent networks of cooperation and local agreements.

    Roughly 12,000 individuals, that belong to "vulnerable" and "special" population groups, will benefit from the project. A total of 6,489 will be prospective social entrepreneurs and 6,000 will be already active social entrepreneurs. Applications can be filed until November 28, 2014.

    The 19,466,000-euro project will be financed by the 2014-2020 Operational Programme on the Development of Human Resources, Education and Life-long learning.

    "As a country we have turned our attention to social economy to be able to meet our goals for 2020, namely, to combat poverty and social exclusion and achieve 'smart' and sustainable growth," Deputy Labour Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis underlined in the context of the public invitation.

    Regional mechanisms will operate nationwide and offer "one-stop shop" services to social entrepreneurs, while depending on the needs and the geographic identity of each region, they will offer information on social economy and entrepreneurship.

    [36] Business licensing procedures to be reduced by 70 pct, Development Minister Dendias announces

    The ministry of development is planning to abolish 70 pct of the licensing procedures necessary to open or operate an enterprise by introducing an innovative method, currently under discussion with the World Bank, that will be based on business risk assessment for society using statistical data, Development & Competitiveness Minister Nikos Dendias on Thursday announced.

    Addressing an event hosted by the Hellenic LSE Alumni Association, Dendias said that enterprises will be divided into three categories. The first category of enterprises will cover the biggest part of economic activity and will need no licensing, according to Dendias, who used as an example the newsstands, noting that their activities could pose no threat to society.

    Another category of enterprises, that will cover 20 pct of the economic activity, will need licensing and those interested should submit their business' file to be available for random checks, while the third category of enterprises, that will cover only 10 pct of the economic activity, will have to be licensed in advance, he said.

    Dendias announced that the reform will be implemented by June 2015 and until then the bankruptcy law will also be changed, noting that "risk-taking should be encouraged and not punished".

    [37] ECB to loosen rules for Greek banks' borrowing

    The European Central Bank will further lower a "haircut" imposed on bonds offered as collateral by Greek banks for their borrowing from the Eurosystem.

    The Bank of Greece on Thursday confirmed that during a communication between Greek central banker Yannis Stournaras with ECB's president Mario Draghi, the ECB expressed its intention to "loosen" the framework covering Greek banks' borrowing with the aim to boost their liquidity.

    In its framework, the ECB is expected to lower a "haircut" imposed on securities offered by Greek banks as collateral to borrow from the central bank.

    According to the latest figures, Greek banks' borrowing from the European Central Bank totaled 42.6 billion euros in September.

    [38] Deputy Dev.Minister Mitarachi participates in European Investment Conference, London

    Deputy Development and Competitiveness Minister Notis Mitarachi on Thursday is visiting London to participate in the 7th Annual European Investment Conference, organised by the CFA Institute.

    According to a ministry announcement, Mitarachi will speak during the session on "Rechecking the Roadmap: Have European Regulatory Approaches Helped or Hindered Growth?", at 13.30.

    The Greek minister will also have a series of contacts of institutional investors.

    [39] Tourism ministry, farmers' social insurance fund sign cooperation protocol

    Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni on Thursday signed a cooperation protocol with the head of the farmers' social insurance fund OGA Xenophon Verginis. The agreement concerns the implementation of OGA subsidised tourism programmes, offering those insured with the fund low-cost holidays within Greece.

    Kefalogianni stressed that the ministry's aim was to support domestic tourism, extend the tourist season and boost the hotel and theme tourism sectors. She said the agreement signed on Thursday focused mainly on spa and winter tourism and on providing knowhow to assist the organisation and development of OGA benefits.

    [40] Shipping Minister inaugurates Athens Boat Show, says he wants the boat market to grow

    Shipping and Aegean Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis expressed on Thursday his hope the Greek boat market will grow and more vessels will come to the country, during the inauguration of the annual exhibition Athens Boat Show.

    "For this reason when we passed the amendments for the recreational boats we abolished the 10 percent luxury tax for all boats," Varvitsiotis said.

    The minister also said he followed through with the pledge he made to the same show last year to abolish many bureaucratic procedures and open the market for the leases of boats.

    Varvitsiotis ended his speech by mentioning the need for a Port Authority which will specialize on recreational boats. He said the port will be named Saronikos Authority and its operations will extend from the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus to the town of Saronida, south of Athens.

    [41] Athens to host TBEX 2014 on Oct. 23-25

    Athens Mayor George Kaminis on Thursday announced that more than 700 bloggers from 50 countries have registered to take part in TBEX 2014, the annual conference for travel bloggers, writers, new media content creators and travel industry professionals.

    "It is a great opportunity because the Greek capital is making a dynamic return to the international tourism map," he told a meeting of the muncipal council.

    TEBX 2014 will be held in Athens on October 23-25, at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre. It is organised by the Municipality of Athens, the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency and sponsored by the City of Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), the tourism ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO).

    In the context of efforts to ensure the success of the conference, the Athens municipality and tourism ministry have prepared 70 special tours and fam trip packages, many of which have been posted on the special ACVB website http://www.thisisathens.org/node/5001713.

    [42] Rural Development Minister Karasmanis on World Food Day

    Family farming supports the Greek economy and constitutes a "compass" for any decision on boosting farmers' income, Rural Development and Food Minister Giorgos Karasmanis said on the occasion of the World Food Day.

    "In the Rural Development and Food ministry," he said, "we see each family farm as a dynamic business unit, with the ability to ensure food sufficiency and production of quality, safe, competitive as well as environmentally friendly products. Today, family farming is not just a way of organizing production, but a stable value we all have to serve. Besides this is how 70 percent of food is produced worldwide and about 40 percent of households are directly dependent on this activity," Karasmanis added.

    [43] Greek stocks suffer new heavy losses

    A statement by European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen that Europe will continue supporting Greece after the completion of the current programme "in whatever way is necessary to ensure reasonable financing conditions," were unable to stabilise the Athens Stock Exchange after a two-day massive sell-off in the market. These comments offered only a small support and limited earlier heavier losses in the Greek market. The composite index fell to its lowest levels since the end of July 2013, with market sentiment undermined by a soaring 10-year bond yield (around 9.0 pct) and a strong decline in other European markets.

    Markets were hit strongly, along with South European bonds, following a failed bond auction by Spain, while Fitch warned of a possible downgrade of the European Stability Mechanism. European markets recorded their worst decline in 11 years, by falling for a successive eight days.

    The composite index fell 2.22 pct to end at 869.16 points, after falling as much as 856.38 points. The index is down 13.56 pct in the last three sessions, losing 25.25 pct so far this year.

    Turnover remained a heavy 231.99 million euros. The Large Cap index fell 2.43 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 1.12 pct down. Intralot (4.39 pct), Eurobank Properties (1.25 pct), National Bank (1.08 pct) and Folli Follie (0.86 pct) were the only gainers among blue chip stocks, while GEK Terna (8.54 pct), OPAP (6.76 pct), Motor Oil (6.75 pct), Piraeus Bank (5.45 pct), PPC (5.20 pct) and Ellaktor (5.06 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

    Among market sectors, the Insurance (2.27 pct), Health (1.22 pct) and Commerce (0.84 pct) scored gains, while Travel (5.77 pct), Oil (5.28 pct) and Telecoms (4.73 pct) suffered losses.

    Broadly, decliners led advancers by 77 to 51 with another 20 issues unchanged. Minerva (29.97 pct), Compucon (18.60 pct) and Dionic (18.52 pct) were top gainers, while PC Systems (16.67 pct), ANEK (14.89 pct) and Leventeris (10 pct) were top losers.

    Sector indices ended as follows:

    Banks: -1,13%

    Insurance: +2,27%

    Financial Services: -1,15%

    Industrial Products: -0,62%

    Retail: +0,84%

    Real Estate: +0,63%

    Personal & Household: -3,75%

    Food & Beverages: -1,65%

    Raw Materials: -3,23%

    Constructions: -3,06%

    Oil: -5,28%

    Chemicals: -0,77%

    Mass Media: Unchanged

    Travel & Leisure: -5,77%

    Technology: -2,25%

    Telecoms: -4,73%

    Utilities: -4,41%

    Health: +1,22%

    The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, OPAP, Piraeus Bank and OTE.

    Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index closed in euros as follows:

    Alpha Bank: 0.53

    Public Power Corp (PPC): 6.20

    Coca Cola HBC: 15.73

    Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE): 4.20

    National Bank of Greece: 1.87

    Eurobank Properties: 8.10

    OPAP: 8.00

    OTE: 8.86

    Piraeus Bank: 1.04

    Titan: 16.80

    [44] Greek bond market closing report

    The Greek state bond market remained under heavy selling pressure for one more day on Thursday, with the market ignoring positive comments made by European Commission officials for the Greek economy and a decision by European Central bank to loosen the rules of borrowing for Greek banks.

    The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds widened sharply to 8.31 pct from 6.68 pct the previous day, with the Greek bond yielding 9.12 pct and the German Bund yielding 0.81 pct. Turnover was a heavy 159 million euros of which 145 million were sell orders and the remaining 14 million euros buy orders.

    In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-month rate rose to 0.339 pct from 0.338 pct, the nine-month rate was 0.254 pct, the six-month rate was unchanged at 0.182 pct, the three-month rate was 0.081 pct and the one-month rate was stable at 0.006 pct.

    [45] Greek bond yield soar to 8.66 pct

    Greek 10-year bond yield soared to 8.66 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond market in midday trading, after rising as much as 8.71 pct earlier in the day, Bloomberg data showed on Thursday.

    It is the highest level since July 2012. Greek bond yields rose sharply in the last few days on market concern over Greek plans for an early exit from bailout support programs and over political developments in the country.

    [46] ADEX closing report

    The October contract on the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index was trading at a discount of 0.91 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Thursday.

    Volume on the Big Cap index totalled 35,138 contracts with 51,588 open positions in the market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totalled 54,190 contracts with investment interest focusing on Piraeus Bank's contracts (13,604), followed by National Bank (11,684), Alpha Bank (6,838), Eurobank (6,596), GEK (3,661), PPC (3,106), OTE (2,973), OPAP (1,383), Mytilineos (1,123), MIG (845), Hellenic Petroleum (438), Hellenic Exchanges (389), Athens Water (241), Jumbo (162), Titan (144), and Terna Energy (143).

    [47] Foreign exchange rates - Thursday

    Reference rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:

    U.S. dollar 1.2749

    Pound sterling 0.797

    Danish kroner 7.4455

    Swedish kroner 9.1931

    Japanese yen 134.95

    Swiss franc 1.2061

    Norwegian kroner 8.4565

    Canadian dollar 1.4446

    Australian dollar 1.4645

    General News

    [48] Persephone is the third person on the mosaic floor of the Kasta tomb

    The Abduction of Persephone by Pluto, in the presence of psychopomp Hermes, is the scene represented by the Kasta Tomb mosaic revealed by archaeologists at the Ancient Amphipolis excavation site, the culture ministry told journalists on Thursday.

    An announcement said that the last of the earth covering eastern section of the 4.5X3 metre mosaic floor was removed to reveal a third figure, a woman. She leans back, away from the bearded man, who is shown to be wearing a red garment, in addition to the wreath on his head.

    "It is a young female form, with red wavy curls, wearing a white garment held by a thin red cord at her chest. She wears jewellery on the wrist of her left hand," the announcement said, adding that this was clearly a scene from mythology depicting Persephone's abduction by Pluto, while Hermes in his capacity as the 'guide of souls' is also shown, as is customary in such scenes.

    The particular mosaic was remarkable, the ministry said, for both its rich colours and the perfect execution of the design. It notes that the third dimension is presented in the mosaic, especially in the figures of the psychopomp and Persephone, and it is also a reference to the equivalent scene of Persephone's abduction in the royal cemetery at Aiges.

    "The depiction of the abduction of Persephone at Aiges, however, is a mural. Here, for the first time, it is in the form of pebble mosaic, in a tomb monument," the announcement said.

    With the full uncovering of the mosaic, the ministry said, archaeologists were now free to complete the work of supporting the caryatids' architrave and had already begun work to protect the mosaic itself. This includes laying down styrofoam sheets on the surface and then a covering of wood. Some 40 cm above this, archaeologists will then position a floor giving access to the fourth area of the dig, supporting on the third row of supports.

    From a section in the part of the mosaic that was already destroyed, archaeologists have also discovered how the mosaic was built, uncovering a layer of mortar, about 8-10 cm thick, over a layer of pebbles 10-12 cm thick, which in turn are place on a natural floor of packed, clayey sand.

    Support work in the fourth area has already been completed, while no further progress in the excavation has been made while the team was occupied in uncovering the mosaic, the announcement said.

    [49] Ancient Amphipolis mosaic theme linked to Macedonian dynasty, official and excavator say

    The funeral theme of the floor mosaic found at the northern Greek Kasta tomb, at Ancient Amphipolis, confirms the tomb is dated to the last quarter of the 4th centruy BC, the site's chief archaeologist, Katerina Peristeri said on Thursday.

    The mosaic depicts the abduction of Persephone by Pluto (also known as Hades), the god ruling the underworld. Persephone is facing backwards (to the right), Hades is driving a two-horse chariot and moving to the left, where he is preceded by Hermes in the role of "psychopompos," escort of souls to the afterlife.

    The abduction of Persephone "is clearly a funeral theme," Peristeri said, adding that "we have yet another example of dating the tomb - the last quarter of the 4th century BC" (315-300 BC).

    Peristeri added that the mosaic does not indicate the sex of the person who was buried there and specified that "it is early" to say whether the tomb is royal. "We cannot say anything before the excavation ends. It is a very important tomb and its significance rises with the mosaic, which is the first of its kind to be found at a funeral monument."

    "The theme of Persephone's abduction is found in the wall painting of the so-called Tomb of Persephone, at the royal cemetery of Aegae" - the ancient capital of the Macedonian dynasty which includes Philip and his son Alexander the Great - Culture Ministry Secretary General Lina Mendoni said during a press conference on Thursday.

    "Pluto and Persephone, as a sacred marriage theme, are also found on the backrest of the marble throne found in the tomb of Euridice, the mother of Philip, at Aegae," Mendoni said. The scenes related to these two "are related to cults of the underworld, the Orphic cults and the Dionysian cult practices," she added.

    Among other things she said was that "there is no question ever raised of moving the findings" while a sample of the earth has been submitted for geologic analysis abroad.

    [50] Greek Parliament event marks 150th anniversary since birth of Venizelos

    An event marking the 150th anniversary since the birth of the early 20th century statesman Eleftherios Venizelos, was held in Parliament on Thursday, during which the government and political parties referred to him as a figure that left an indelible stamp on Greece's history.

    Speaking on behalf of the government, Deputy Labour Minister Vassilis Kegeroglou praised Venizelos as a great leader and "the most important politician of recent history," while he was similarly praised as an emblematic figure by the majority of the parties and independent MPs in Parliament.

    The event was not without a note of controversy, however, with MPs of the New Democracy party, the leader of the governing coalition, reacting angrily to the intervention of far-right Golden Dawn MP Antonis Gregos and his statement that Venizelos "most times governed dictatorially and, unfortunately with the intervention of foreign powers," while also holding him partly responsible for Greece's defeat in Asia Minor during the early 1920s.

    [51] Tremor off Kassos island in southeastern Aegean

    An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale was recorded at 09:48 on Thursday, 363 klm southeastern of Athens.

    According to the National Observatory of Athens Institute of Geodynamics, its epicenter was located in a sea area 46 klm northern-west of Kassos island.

    [52] Two WWII bombs to be neutralised near Thessaloniki's airport on Friday

    Two bombs dating from the Second World War will be neutralized on Friday morning near Macedonia international airport, in the northern city of Thessaloniki, authorities announced on Thursday.

    Because of the operation and for safety reasons, the airport will remain closed for passengers between 3:30 am and 4:30 am in the morning, while all airport employees will remain at work, Macedonia Airport Manager Achilleios Topouzas told ANA-MPA.

    Topouzas said the day and time were chosen because there are no flights scheduled, so none will need to be cancelled, adding that any planes that may land before the airport closes down, will be lead to a safe area.

    According to the airport manager, the bombs were discovered two weeks ago, at a depth of 2.5 metres during reconstruction work at the landing and take-off tarmac 10/28.

    Traffic police announced they will interrupt circulation from 3:00 am to 5:00 am at the nearby rural road connecting Thessaloniki with Mihaniona.

    [53] Tension outside Athens University historic building in central Athens

    Tension flared earlier on Thursday in central Athens, when police used tear gas to disperse a group of about 100 university students who tried to approach the Athens University historic building.

    The gates of the building remain closed by order of the Rectorate, while all events scheduled at the premises for this week are either cancelled or moved to a different venue.

    [54] Greek air traffic controllers to hold work stoppage on Thursday, Oct. 23

    Air traffic controllers will stage a four-hour work stoppage on October 23 (Thursday) from 09:00 to 13:00 to hold a general assembly meeting, their trade union EEEKE announced on Thursday.

    In an announcement issued by the union, the air traffic controllers focus on the issues of staff reductions, the escalating fatigue of the overworked remaining personnel and the lack of investments to update air navigation systems.

    Weather forecast

    [55] Scattered clouds on Friday

    Partly cloudy weather and mainly northwesterly winds are forecast for Friday. Wind velocity will reach 7 on the Beaufort scale. Scattered clouds in the northern parts of the country with temperatures between 13C and 25C. Partly cloudy in the western and the eastern parts with temperatures ranging between 13C and 30C. Same weather over the islands, 18C-27C. Scattered clouds in Athens, 19C-29C; same weather in Thessaloniki, 16C-24C.

    [56] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

    AVGHI: Full speed reverse to the arms of the troika

    EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Irrepressible challenge

    ELEFTHEROTYPIA: Gift for New Democracy-PASOK, confiscations for the people

    ESTIA: A crucial showdown with many consequences

    ETHNOS: Markets send tough messages to all directions

    IMERISSIA: Hit on the brakes now

    KATHIMERINI: Message to the markets for stable course

    LOGOS: Free fall (of the Greek securities market)

    NAFTEMPORIKI: A change of course scenario after the markets' crash

    PONTIKI: Irrepressible political money

    RIZOSPASTIS: No loosening of the anti-popular attack

    TA NEA: The markets won't open up the gates

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