Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-02-09 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Alternate Defence Min Vitsas expresses optimism that programme review will be concluded on time [02] Aegean Airlines to launch Thessaloniki-Tel Aviv direct link [03] Greek industrial production up 2.2 pct in December [04] Refugees steal boat and attempt to return to Turkey --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Alternate Defence Min Vitsas expresses optimism that programme review will be concluded on time Alternate Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas on Thursday in statements to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency's radio Praktoreio 104.9 FM expressed his optimism over the conclusion of the second review of the Greek programme. "The government sets targets and achieves them; we have set our goals and our arguments on the negotiations table and now it lies within the IMF to decide whether it will participate in the programme or not," he underlined and added: "In any case, it is impossible to decide for measures for the period after 2019". [02] Aegean Airlines to launch Thessaloniki-Tel Aviv direct link Aegean Airlines announced on Thursday that will include in its schedule a new direct flight that will link Thessaloniki with Tel Aviv. Sales manager of Aegean Airlines Irini Sidiropoulou made the announcement in an event organised by the delegation of the Cities Diplomacy held in Tel Aviv to promote Thessaloniki as a tourism destination, said to Athens Macedonian News Agency deputy mayor of Thessaloniki Spyros Pengas. The flight will start on May 29 on pilot basis and will run until October 15 and with three flights per week. [03] Greek industrial production up 2.2 pct in December Greek industrial production rose 2.2 pct in December 2016, for a 2.3 pct average rise in 2016, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday. The statistics service, in a report, said that manufacturing production fell 1.9 pct in December but grew 4.0 pct in 2016. The composite industrial production index rose 2.2 pct in December compared with the same month in 2015, after a 6.9 pct increase recorded in the 2015/2014 period. This development reflected a 0.6 pct increase in the mining production index, a 15.9 pct jump in electricity production, while manufacturing production fell 1.9 pct (beverage production down 12.5 pct, clothing down 11.4 pct, electronics/optics down 27.9 pct, transport equipment down 21.4 pct and furniture down 16.8 pct). Water production fell 1.0 pct in December. [04] Refugees steal boat and attempt to return to Turkey Two refugees, that had applied for asylum in Greece two months ago and their request was still pending, stole a boat and attempted to escape from Chios and return to Turkey. The 32 year-old Syrian and the 28 year-old man from Egypt stole the boat from St. Hermione port early on Wednesday and set sail for the Turkish coasts. However, they were spotted by a Frontex patrol vessel and were sent back to Chios. The two refugees were arrested accused of theft while the boat was returned to its owner. Meanwhile, a total of 52 migrants and refugees arrived at Chios in the last 24h while no arrivals were reported on Lesvos and Samos. Police said that on Thursday 9,921 people were recorded in the hotspots on Lesvos, Chios and Samos.