Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-10 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] President Pavlopoulos meets President of Serbia's National Assembly Gojkovic [02] Out-of-court compromise mechanism for indebted companies to be launched in July [03] Kourïi found on Chios displayed at Chios Archaeological Museum [04] Greek annual inflation rose to 1.7 pct in March --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] President Pavlopoulos meets President of Serbia's National Assembly Gojkovic Greece belongs to those countries which really seek the immediate completion of the accession process and the integration of Serbia into the European Union, said the President of the Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos during his meeting earlier on Monday with the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Mrs Maja Gojkovic at the Presidential Mansion. Being a member of the EU is a great honour, but it also implies obligations and the biggest obligation is the solidarity to be shown by the peoples of Europe in pursuing the common goal for the EU," Pavlopoulos underlined adding, "without solidarity there cannot be a course to the future." He also said that Greece shows its solidarity in all sectors and wished that all partners do the same. On her part, Gojkovic referred to the possibility of improving the bilateral relations between the two countries and noted that Greece and Serbia celebrate 135 years of diplomatic relations. She also spoke of Serbia's efforts to complete the accession negotiations with the EE, adding that their aim is to have the negotiations concluded by 2020. The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia stressed the importance that her country gives to Greece's support and assistance. [02] Out-of-court compromise mechanism for indebted companies to be launched in July "A legislation of an out-of-court mechanism we bring to Parliament does not guarantee a rescheduling of debts for each company as no such rescheduling cannot be imposed against the will of the majority of creditors, but sets the preconditions offering fundamental opportunities of understanding between indebted companies and creditors," Greek Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou said on Monday. Speaking to reporters, during a news conference to present the draft bill -expected to be voted in Parliament by late April- Papadimitriou said the new legislation was expected to cover around 400,000 enterprises with large debts. He stressed that a plan for debt rescheduling will not focus only on the real data of a company's viability but also on the principle of avoiding a worsening of the positions of all parties, ensuring that a compromise agreement will be a win-win situation for all parties involved. The Greek minister said that a Special Secretariat of Private Debt Management will launch an electronic platform in July accepting applications for inclusion in the provisions of an out-of-court compromise framework. He said that the mechanism will commit both minority and non-participating creditors if an agreement was ratified with a court decision. [03] Kourïi found on Chios displayed at Chios Archaeological Museum The two kourïi from Apollo and Artemis sanctuary at the port of Emporios, Chios island, are now on display at the Archaeological Museum of Chios with the assistance of the Acropolis Museum experts. The kourïi were unearthed in 2004 by archaeologist Kokkona Roumbou. One of the kourïi is from a Paros island workshop and is dated back to 560 BC. The other kouros has been probably made at a Chios workshop in the period 575-550 BC. These important artifacts of the 6o century BC sculture remained in a warehouse of the Antiquities Ephorate despite the efforts to be displayed. The director of Chios Antiquities ephorate Olga Vassi asked from the director of the Acropolis Museum Dimitris Pandermalis to assist them. Pandermalis accepted and the curators of Acropolis Museum Giorgos Hatzilenis and Dimitris Kilkis in cooperation with Chios Antiquities Ephorate transferred them to the museum. "The problems were solved with the use of the Acropolis Museum technology," said Vassi adding that "the missing parts were replaced with stainless steel rods." [04] Greek annual inflation rose to 1.7 pct in March Greek annual inflation rate rose to 1.7 pct in March this year, from 1.3 pct in February and -1.5 pct in March 2016, boosted by price increases in food products, alcohol, cigarettes, heating oil and transport. Hellenic Statistical Authority, in a monthly report on the consumer price index, said the March increase was attributed to price increases in food/beverage (+1.6 pct), alchohol/tobacco (+2.8 pct), clothing/footwear (+0.1 pct), housing (+3.6 pct), transport (+8.6 pct), communications (+2.1 pct) and hotel/restaurants (+1.7 pct). On the other hand, prices fell by 3.3 pct in durable goods, 2.7 pct in health, 1.2 pct in entertainment, 0.3 pct in education and 2.0 pct in other goods and services. The consumer price index grew 1.8 pct in March from February 2017, after an 1.3 pct increase recorded in the same period last year. Greece's harmonized inflation rate grew 1.7 pct in March, after an 1.4 pct increase in February and a 0.7 pct decline recorded in March 2016. On a monthly basis, harmonized inflation grew 1.4 pct in March after an 1.1 pct rise recorded in the same period last year.