Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-02-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't approves measures to combat price hikes in domestic markets

[02] Parliament rejects PASOK proposal for Factfinding Committee on Siemens affair

[03] Gov't comments on Siemens case

[04] FM Bakoyannis' contacts in Washington

[05] Deputy FM Valynakis outlines Mediterranean dimension of European policy

[06] U.S. State Department on FYROM

[07] Archbishop Ieronymos meets with President Papoulias

[08] French minister proposes EU Pact on Immigration, in meeting with interior minister

[09] Illegal migration problem discussed by Voulgarakis, France's Hortefeux

[10] French immigration minister visits immigrants centre on Samos island

[11] Interior minister discusses illegal immigration with Italian counterpart

[12] ND lead over PASOK at 3.5 points; SYRIZA garners double-digit support

[13] Leftist party's new leader barred from entering OTE HQ

[14] Deputy FM Kassimis holds talks with Jerusalem Patriarch

[15] Attorney faces questioning over criminal involvement in Zachopoulos case

[16] 24-hour nationwide labour strike on Wednesday

[17] Gov't on social security system reform debate

[18] FinMin expresses concern over conduct of sovereign wealth funds

[19] Synaspismos on ECOFIN's conclusions

[20] European Commission announces data on EU funds absorption rates

[21] SYRIZA on cost of living

[22] Six Greek regions below EU average per capita GDP

[23] Question by 52 ND deputies on reduction of pension age for farmers

[24] Greek unemployment slides to 7.6% in Nov. 2007

[25] Bank of Piraeus says net profits up 50% in 2007

[26] Athens hotel occupancy rates slightly up in Dec.

[27] British-Hellenic chamber con'f in London this month

[28] Club Hotel Loutraki - inauguration of Belgrade casino

[29] Greek industrial import price index up 8.4% in Dec. 2007, yr/yr

[30] Greek state bond yields down in Jan., report

[31] Greek stocks end 1.88 pct higher

[32] ADEX closing report

[33] Greek bond market closing report

[34] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[35] Greece participates in UN General Assembly meeting on climatic change

[36] Larissa appellate court ruling in massive loan-sharking case

[37] Drug arrests in northern a nd central Greece

[38] Alexander the Great bust stolen in Veria

[39] German School in Thessaloniki celebrates 120th anniversary

[40] Cloud, sleet on Wednesday

[41] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[42] President: solution will come through negotiations

[43] President: Cyprus-Russia share common views on Kosovo Politics

[01] Gov't approves measures to combat price hikes in domestic markets

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Development Minister Christos Folias said the inner Cabinet approved a package of measures and actions aimed to resolved problems in the market.

"Our aim is to guarantee for consumers, particularly citizens with greatest needs, a better market operation and healthier competition; ensuring availability of products and services with safety and affordable prices," the Greek minister said.

Folias noted that additional measures would be announced in the next few days. Responding to reporters' questions over measures envisaged against offenders, Folias said sanctions will be strict.

"We are interested in effective measures, while actions and measures to be implemented will be carefully studied," he said.

[02] Parliament rejects PASOK proposal for Factfinding Committee on Siemens affair

PASOK's rapporteur Christos Papoutsis referred to the two issues - claims by the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) on behalf of Siemens and Intracom - and the purchase of the electronic monitoring system (C41) and invoked reports appearing in the German press concerning the "funding of parties in light of the elections."

"We have no right to permit Parliament to become the hostage of illicit competition by multinational colossuses, or industrial espionage or intelligence services," PASOK's deputy said.

As regards OTE, Papoutsis referred to the "disagreement" observed between OTE's Network Management Department and the corporation's Administrative Council, concerning the payment of claims of the Siemens and Intracom companies (with a difference in assessment amounting to six million euros).

Ruling New Democracy party rapporteur Christos Markoyiannakis said on his part that those who are seeking the creation of a Factfinding Committee for Siemens are not seeking the clarification but the covering up of the issue.

As he said, the judicial probe is at a "delicate stage and it is possible that in a few days we shall be having specific actions and names," adding that "then it will not be necessary for us to create a Factfinding Committee, it is possible that we shall move on directly to an investigating committee."

Markoyiannakis, said that the deputies of the main opposition party "are playing on the wrong court, with a wrong ball, a bad system and a bad coach", and stressed that the PASOK government at the time was not interested in the implementation of the contract on the security of the Olympic Games, but only in its signing and the "benefits resulting from it possibly."

PASOK party leader George Papandreou said that PASOK's proposal has no petty partisan goal, but is part of a series of initiatives aimed at cracking down on corruption and the shaping of a national plan for a way out of the crisis. Papandreou also accused the government of "obstructing" the probing of "issues of great public interest."

Defending his proposal for the creation of a Factfinding Committee, Papandreou said that "the German mother company has already admitted at the highest level that it carried out criminal acts against the Greek state, cooperating with perjuring Greek state functionaries. You should have turned legally against the mother company and its Greek branch, claiming civil compensation and to activate legal procedures immediately to enable the culprits to be arrested and to be held accountable."

Lastly, Papandreou said that "instead of this, you were obstructing for several months, instead of responding to the request by German justice."

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos spoke of a "theatre of the absurd and an operation to cover up the Siemens issue on the part of PASOK." He said that PASOK is calling for a Factfinding Committee at a time when the scandals being sought in Germany "belong mainly to the 2002-3 period concerning contracts that were signed by the governments of PASOK at that time."

The minister predicted that "there will be both a Factfinding Committee and an investigating committee" when justice identifies political personalities or others who are possiby responsible. According to Pavlopoulos, the creation of a Factfinding Committee beforehand "would be criminal, it would be a covering up."

Lastly, Pavlopoulos said that the truth "will shine soon" and assessed that the German authorities will have closed the issue as regards investigating and will have revealed everything until April if possible.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga called for the creation of a Factfinding Committee on the "Siemens scandal", and calls for a control of justice "because neither is justice above control."

Papariga questioned the argument by the ruling party that a probe by Parliament and justice cannot take place at the same time "because there will be leaks", saying that "leaks are the modern political tool."

On his part, Radical Left Coalition leader Alekos Alavanos attributed "great responsibilities" to the government for, what he said, lack of controls on all sectors of the state and its refusal for establishing a Factfinding Committee on the Siemens affair and asked for the establishment of such a committee.

Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis also asked for the establishmen of a Factfinding Committee.

[03] Gov't comments on Siemens case

Regarding the likely establishment of a Parliament fact-finding committee following the completion of a judicial investigation into the international Siemens kickback and bribery case, the spokesman pointed directly to the prime minister's response last Friday in Parliament.

Rousopoulos also stated that MP Costas Koukodimos made a personal decision when he resigned from ruling New Democracy's Parliament group last week to become an independent, adding that there is no question of the decision being reversed following a judicial magistrate's decision this week.

The magistrate found no basis in accusations against him (Koukodimos) after he was indirectly linked to the ongoing Zachopoulos affair, and following claims of his alleged "mediation" between Kladas' service and a high-profile newspaper publisher and TV personality. The latter has come under scrutiny for various large monetary transactions and his involvement with the infamous DVD in the Zachopoulos case.

[04] FM Bakoyannis' contacts in Washington

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis is expected to arrive here later in the evening on Tuesday for a three-day visit and talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, Bakoyannis will have a working lunch with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, which will be followed by a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. The meeting between Bakoyannis and Rice is scheduled to last 45 minutes.

On Wednesday, the Greek foreign minister will address an event organised by the Center of Strategic and International Studies» and meet with Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, who will host a reception in her honor at the Pentagon.

On Thursday and before her meetings at the State Department, Bakoyannis will visit the US Capitol where she will meet with several House of Representatives members active in Greek issues.

Bakoyannis will also meet with the chairman of the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee Joe Biden. On Friday she will meet with the chairman of the Senate's Armed Services Committee Carl Levin.

Before concluding her Washington visit, Bakoyannis will meet with the Bush administration's National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley at the White House.

[05] Deputy FM Valynakis outlines Mediterranean dimension of European policy

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis outlined the Mediterranean dimension of European policy, while presenting Greek initiatives on its promotion at the European Union-Arab Federation session in Malta on Tuesday.

It is the first session in which the 27 European delegations are sitting at the same table, with the Arab world in its entirety, from Iraq to the countries of Magreb, during which ground for common interest and cooperation is being sought.

Valynakis said that better communication between the two sides lies at the base of all this, that will lift misunderstandings and will lead the future generations to a more harmonious coexistence, meaning the dialogue of cultures.

In order to promote the dialogue of cultures, Greece, through the culture ministry, will host the Euromediterranean conference of culture ministers in May, which will be attended by the 27 EU countries and the countries of the southern Mediterranean.

Greece also proposed on Tuesday, through Valynakis, the creation of a university network of the eastern Mediterranean, having the University of the Aegean as its headquarters, taking a step further from the existing Euromediterranean university network, headquartered in Slovenia.

The deputy foreign minister said that "we also requested an extension of programmes of the 'ERASMOS' type for an exchange of students with the Arab countries."

Another field of future cooperation that is being developed is the one resulting from climatic change and from energy security needs.

Sensitive regions will benefit from such cooperation, such as the islands, as well as sensitive categories of the populations which may constitute "climatic refugees" in the future.

Valynakis said that Greece will focus its efforts on precisely this issue as presidend of the Human Security Network, in 2008.

Greece, Valynakis added, is promoting its know-how in the sector of renewable energy sources in the framework of its cooperation with the Arab world, in harmony with European policy, that is also beneficial for the environment.

[06] U.S. State Department on FYROM

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks on Tuesday with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki on the landlocked republic's application to join NATO, develpoments on Kosovo and FYROM's name issue, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said on Tuesday.

Terming the meeting "good", McCormack added that Rice "encouraged" the neighbouring country "to fully take part in the process taking place under the UN's special representative (Matthew Nimetz) who works hard on this issue."

The spokesman added that, in this spirit Mrs Rice encouraged Milososki so as FYROM exploits the ongoing process under Nimetz in order to find a solution to the name issue, adding that Rice would ask the same think from Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis during their meeting on Thursday.

Answering to a relevant question, McCormack said that Rice and her FYROM counterpart had not discussed any proposals regarding FYROM's definite name.

[07] Archbishop Ieronymos meets with President Papoulias

Earlier, the Archbishop had a brief meeting with the President followed by a prayer officiated by the new prelate of the Church of Greece and the members of the Holy Synod, which was also attended by Education and Religious Affairs Minister Evripidis Stylianidis.

[08] French minister proposes EU Pact on Immigration, in meeting with interior minister

The Pact proposal is part of France's program for its EU presidency in the second half of 2008.

Speaking a joint press conference after their meeting, Pavlopoulos spoke of common rules and a common policy based on respect of human rights with respect to the issue of immigratin, and stressed that Greece always champions the creation of a common policy on illegal immigration and on protection of Europe's borders.

Hortefeux outlined the French proposal, stressing that among the principles proposed by the French side are refusal of legalisation ofillegal immigrants without prior agreement among the EU states and EU authorities, agreement for return of illegal immigrants to the countries of origin, joint determination of the right of asylum, and boosting the development of the countries of origin of illegal migrants.

Pavlopoulos said that Greece will respond to the French proposal in mid-March.

Later in the day, Hortefuex, accompanied by deputy interior minister Panagiotis Chinofotis, will fly to Samos to visit the island's new reception center for illegal immigrants.

[09] Illegal migration problem discussed by Voulgarakis, France's Hortefeux

During the meeting, Voulgarakis briefed the French side on the Greek coast guard's mission to protect the European Union's external sea borders and to tackle the problem of seaborne illegal immigration.

The Greek minister also outlined Athens' proposals for a common EU policy and actions to stem the tide of illegal immigration.

On his part, Hortefeux detailed the upcoming French EU presidency's priorities on immigration issues.

"I believe that there is an opportunity to cooperate, as the issue of illegal immigration cannot be effectively dealt with only by one country, but by all the EU member-states affected by this problem," Voulgarakis later said.

[10] French immigration minister visits immigrants centre on Samos island

"I came to present to Greece's relevant authorities, the interior ministry and the merchant marine, Aegean and island policy ministry the priorities of the French Presidency regarding the challenge that is constituted by illegal immigration for all of Europe and I wish to stress that the positions of France and Greece are in absolute agreement with each other," the French minister said.

On his part, Hinofotis referred to the great effort that the Greek government is making to meet, despite the great influx of immigrants to Greece, all the requirements set by the UN, the European Union, the Geneva Convention in 1951, the New York protocol in 1967 and domestic legislation.

[11] Interior minister discusses illegal immigration with Italian counterpart

"We shall intensify our cooperation as well as cooperation with third countries, as for example countries of north Africa, so as to be able to deal with the problems that exist and for the organised crime of trafficking to stop. We mainly agreed to intensify our efforts so that other countries, for example Turkey, to at last accept the rules of re-entry to the country of origin, and to abide by them," Pavlopoulos said.

On his part, the Italian interior minister referred to the long term effort by the two countries regarding illegal immigration and asylum, and to the improvement of cooperation between the two sides. He noted that "we already have joint groups which cooperate at the ports of both countries, so as to locate the illegal immigrants who often reach Greece and in continuation illegally pass into Italy in various ways."

[12] ND lead over PASOK at 3.5 points; SYRIZA garners double-digit support

The "surprise" of the latest poll was an 11.5-percent showing for the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA), followed by 7.5 percent for the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and 4.5 percent for the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS).

SYRIZA is the only political grouping that increased its popularity amongst respondents in relation to the last poll by the same firm.

According to other figures, 19 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the government, a figure that drops to 5 percent for the main opposition.

Finally, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis garnered 49 percent of respondents' preference on the question of "who is more capable" as prime minister, with PASOK leader George Papandreou garnering 20 percent.

The poll was conducted between Feb. 5 and Feb. 8 by the firm Publc Issue, and published in the Athens daily "Kathimerini".

[13] Leftist party's new leader barred from entering OTE HQ (adds OTE's REAX)

Tsipras, who was accompanied by a party delegation and a handful of reporters when he arrived at the OTE offices, reportedly aimed to meet with employees to discuss the issue of "flexible employment" (part-time employment).

According to Tsipras, OTE's management said he should not have been accompanied by a party delegation and reporters in the building.

OTE response

In a later response to Tsipras' comments, a press release by OTE noted that "entrance to OTE's buildings by unauthorised individuals and mass media is not allowed. Political party leaders as well as party representatives and their accompanying delegations are excluded from this rule and are welcome, under the condition that they will have submitted request in a timely manner and (under the condition) that they are not accompanied by mass media inside the building. This procedure was respected to date by all party leaders and representatives that have from time to time visited OTE's facilities".

The press release also notes that the new Synaspismos president's request on Tuesday was immediately approved despite the fact it was sent an hour and a half prior to the scheduled visit.

[14] Deputy FM Kassimis holds talks with Jerusalem Patriarch

About two months after the recognition of Theophilos by the state of Israel, the path toward supporting the ecclesiastical and social work of the Patriarchate is now open. These two sectors constituted the topic of the discussion between Kassimis and Theophilos, a discussion that was very "constructive and substantive" since "it does not remain on paper, but it is always translated into work and actions," as the Patriarch said.

[15] Attorney faces questioning over criminal involvement in Zachopoulos case

The attorney, Christos Nikolitsopoulos, remains hospitalised at a state-run clinic's psychiatric ward in Athens following his voluntary committal several weeks ago when the case burst onto the national limelight. At the time he cited "suicidal ideation" as the reason for seeking treatment.

Nikolitsopoulos apparently accompanied 35-year-old Evi Tsekou, who remains jailed on extortion charges, in visits to at least one private television station and a weekly newspaper.

Nikolitsopoulos, who resigned as a legal advisor to the GSEE union following the case's disclosure, will face questioning regarding felony extortion and violation of personal data charges. According to an indictment, Nikolitsopoulos allegedly committed the offences with Tsekou and against former culture ministry general secretary Christos Zachopoulos. Another two individuals are implicated in the same charges. The individuals are being investigated over the secret filming of an erotic encounter between Tsekou and Zachopoulos for the purpose of blackmail.

The attorney, who specialises in employment and contract worker case law, also faces a misdemeanor charge of simple participation in a suicide (Zachopoulos' attempt).

Tsekou will also face more questioning on Monday.

According to Nikolitsopoulos' attorney on Tuesday, his client is willing to answer questions if "two university physicians treating him acquiesce".

Financial News

[16] 24-hour nationwide labour strike on Wednesday

Participating in the strike will be all employees in the public and private sectors, professionals, journalists and all press unions.

ANA-MPA will not transmit news from 6:00 Wednesday morning until 6:00 Thursday morning.

Schools, public services, municipalities, banks, hospitals, industries and construction sites will remain closed, while no ships will sail for scheduled itineraries to and from any Greek port.

Moreover, from Tuesday midnight until Wednesday midnight all flights to and from Greek airports will be cancelled due to participation by air traffic controllers in the strike.

Disruptions are also expected in commuter services due to strikes and work-stoppages in public transport.

More specifically, the 'blue' (urban buses) will be on strike, while employees of the trolley buses will stage a five-hour work-stoppage from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Athens Metro, the ISAP train service and the Tram service will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

[17] Gov't on social security system reform debate

Rousopoulos stressed that the issue of social security reforms is a major government policy, on the agenda since the government's last term in office. He made the comment in response to a question on whether ruling party deputies will be called to vote in Parliament along strictly party lines when a relative draft bill will be presented for approval.

[18] FinMin expresses concern over conduct of sovereign wealth funds

The impact from a climate of uncertainty currently prevailing in international financial markets is expected to be limited on the European economy, Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said here on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after an ECOFIN meeting in Brussels, the Greek minister stressed that inflation was the most significant worrying factor, noting that inflation in Europe was imported. He added that efforts to combat inflationary pressures must be widespread and cover financial markets, labour markets and the administrative decisions regarding the price of certain goods and services.

Commenting on the fiscal situation of Eurozone member-states, such as France and Italy, Alogoskoufis said the council confirmed the goal of eliminating fiscal deficits by 2010, although he added that, particularly for France, this goal would largely depend on the economic growth rates of the country in the next few years.

The minister also noted that several EU member-states aired their concern over the conduct and transparency of sovereign wealth funds, and stressed that an EU summit in March would present specific proposals on the issue.

The main problem, he said, was the way these funds participated in privatisation procedures around EU. Despite the fact that no problems have been noted yet, the Greek minister stressed that concerns were mutual among several EU member-states.

Alogoskoufis said it was important to protect strategic sectors of national economy from "invasion" of third countries' sovereign funds, ones that failed to meet main preconditions of conduct and transparency, although he said that the re-institution of a "golden share" rule by the EU would be a most extreme measure.

[19] Synaspismos on ECOFIN's conclusions

"It constitutes a tragedy for Europe, at the time when the European economy, due to the developing recession in the United States and of the world fiscal crisis, faces important dangers, for ECOFIN to come, with Mr. George Alogoskoufis playing the role of a 'hare' to insist in the neo-liberal myths and mainly to the policy of austerity in salaries and of 'flexicurity' in the labour markets for dealing with the supposed inflationary dangers, ignoring the excessive profits of Europe's multi-national companies," Lafazanis said.

[20] European Commission announces data on EU funds absorption rates

Greece's absorption rate regarding available European Union funds from the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF), concerning the period between 2000-2006, reached 74 percent on February 5, 2008, according to an announcement made by the European Commission here on Tuesday.

The data concerning the absorption rates for EU funds by EU member-states, in the framework of the Cohesion policy, was presented by Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner.

It is reminded that with the so-called "n+2" rule, member-states have the possibility of completing projects selected for EU funding by December 31, 2008, meaning two years after the expiry of the scheduled period.

[21] SYRIZA on cost of living

He added that if the measures are in the direction of what has leaked out, then they will fall through.

Lastly, Lafazanis stressed that the development ministry, "lacking any will and being fatalistic has turned into a 'traffic policeman' for price increases, while the government, with the continuous sharp increases in public utility rates, in ordinary tickets in public transport recently, also following outrageous increases in Public Power Corporation (DEH) rates, has emerged as an 'arsonist' for the high cost of living."

[22] Six Greek regions below EU average per capita GDP

Greece's average per capita Gross Domestic Product totaled 96.4 percent of the average community in 2005, Eurostat announced on Tuesday.

The EU executive's statistics agency, in a report, said that six Greek regions were below the 75 percent EU average per capita GDP, with northeastern Romania (24 pct) recording the lowest per capita GDP in the EU-27, while central London (303 pct) recorded the highest per capita GDP figures.

Western Greece (59.1 pct of community GDP), eastern Macedonia-Thrace (63.5 pct), the northern Aegean (66.1 pct), Epirus (68.7 pct), Thessaly (73.8 pct) and the Ionian Islands (74.9 pct) were the six regions with per capita GDP below the EU average in 2005.

Attica prefecture (131.0 pct), central Greece (102.4 pct), the south Aegean (94.4 pct), the Peloponnese (84.4 pct), Crete (82.1 pct), central Macedonia (77.9 pct) and western Macedonia (77.2 pct) were above the EU average rate.

Eurostat said the 15 regions with per capita GDP below the EU average were located in Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. London (303.0 pct), Luxembourg (264 pct), Brussels (241 pct) and Hamburg (202 pct) were the regions with the highest per capita GDP in the European Union.

[23] Question by 52 ND deputies on reduction of pension age for farmers

The questioners propose the gradual reduction of the pension age for women farmers from 65 years of age to 60 by 2017 and for men farmers from 65 years of age to 62 by 2015.

[24] Greek unemployment slides to 7.6% in Nov. 2007

The statistical service said the number of unemployed people totaled 373,410 in November, while the financially non-active population totaled 4,299,948.

NSS said the number of employed people steadily rose in the period 2004-2007, while the number unemployed people fell steadily during the same period.

The unemployment rate fell from 10.6 pct in November 2004 to 10.0 pct in November 2005, 9.1 pct in November 2006 and 7.6 pct in November 2007.

[25] Bank of Piraeus says net profits up 50% in 2007

Presenting the results, Mihalis Sallas, the bank's chairman, said a turmoil in international credit markets found the group strengthened, both in capital adequacy and liquidity, with the loans/deposits index at 127 percent, while saving deposits rose by 33 percent last year.

Sallas said the group's upward course was continuing this year, with domestic fundamentals - covering around 80 pct of turnover and 87 pct of profitability - remaining strong, while international activities were expected to continue growing at satisfactory rates.

Bank of Piraeus said group assets totaled 46.427 billion euros, up 50 percent in 2007, with loans rising 48 pct to 30.705 billion euros. Loans in the domestic market rose by 37 pct last year, surpassing a 20 pct growth rate of the total market.

Housing loans grew by 29 pct in 2007 to 5.743 billion euros in December, up from 4.442 billion a year earlier. Consumer loans grew by 49 pct to 4.336 billion euros, while the non-performing loans rate fell to 2.05 pct from 2.37 pct in December 2006.

Saving deposits grew 33 pct to 23.914 billion euros last year.

Bank of Piraeus said its international network totaled 424 units last year, from 235 in December 2006, reflecting the acquisition of ICB in Ukraine and the expansion of networks in Romania and Serbia. International network accounted for 57 pct of group branches. The bank said its workforce totaled 5,757 last year.

Net profits from international activities totaled 79.7 million euros, raising their contribution to 16 pct in 2007 from 12 pct in 2006.

The bank's board will seek shareholders' approval to a plan to pay a 0.72-euros per share dividend to shareholders (up from 0.51 euros last year).

[26] Athens hotel occupancy rates slightly up in Dec.

In its monthly report, the association said occupancy rates rose by 7.5 pct in five-star hotels in December, but this trend reflected special offers during the month, while it noted that a slight increase in occupancy rates was due to a traditional hike in demand during the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

The association, in a statement, underlined its concern over the outlook of Athens as a destination in 2008 and noted that, according to early estimates, tourism in the country's capital will be steady or even lower compared with last year's levels.

Five-star hotels' occupancy rates rose 7.5 pct to 37.82 pct in December, four-star hotels' rose 1.1 pct to 36.47 pct, three-star hotels rose 2.9 pct to 32.42 pct and two-star hotels fell 2.7 pct to 23.23 pct.

[27] British-Hellenic chamber con'f in London this month

The event is under auspices of the British ambassador in Greece, Simon Gass.

The conference aims to brief high-ranking British executives and multinationals' managers on the Greek economy's prospects.

The Greek delegation at the conference will be headed by Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis.

[28] Club Hotel Loutraki - inauguration of Belgrade casino

The first investment plan by Club Hotel Loutraki S.A. outside Greece was completed with the inauguration last Friday of the luxury Grand Casino Beograd, on the Danube River, in Belgrade.

The investment totaling 85 million euros was developed with the cooperation of Casinos Austria International (51%), of Club Hotel Loutraki (39%) and Serbia's State Betting Organisation. The procedure for the construction of the casino began in November 2005 at the building of the historic hotel Jugoslavija.

[29] Greek industrial import price index up 8.4% in Dec. 2007, yr/yr

The composite index fell 0.7 pct in December from November 2007, while the average index in the 12-month period from January 2007 to December 2007 rose 3.0 pct compared with the same 12-month period in 2006.

The statistics service said the 0.7 pct monthly decline of the import price index reflected an 1.6 pct drop in the import price index from countries outside Eurozone, while the 8.4 percent annual increase in December, reflected a 2.7 pct rise in the import price index from Eurozone countries and a 16.8 percent jump in countries outside Eurozone.

[30] Greek state bond yields down in Jan., report

In its monthly report on the Greek electronic secondary bond market, the central bank said the return of the 10-year benchmark bond fell by 32 basis points to 4.34 percent at the end of January, from 4.66 pct a month earlier, while the 30-year benchmark bond yield fell by 10 bps to 4.96 pct from 5.05 pct, over the same period respectively.

Monthly average yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds rose to 35 bps in January, from 29 bps in December, while benchmark bond prices rose by 75 to 242 basis points in the first month of 2008, with the 10-year bond recording the biggest monthly rise to 99.64, from 97.22 in December. The price of the new three-year bond was 100.09 at the end of January, while the price of the 30-year bond rose to 94.2 from 92.7 in December.

Turnover in the Greek bond market totalled 43.73 billion euros in January, from 21.36 billion in December and 64.31 billion in January 2007. Average daily turnover was 1.99 billion euros in January, from 1.12 billion in December.

The seven and 10-year bonds were the most heavily traded securities, accounting for 49 percent of total transactions (21.5 billion euros).

[31] Greek stocks end 1.88 pct higher

Most sectors ended higher with the exception of the Healthcare index which fell by 0.50 percent. Utilities (4.68 pct), Industrial Products (4.20 pct), Financial Services (3.48 pct), Personal/Home Products (3.03 pct) and Travel (3.03 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains of the day.

The Big Cap index rose 1.78 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 1.88 pct higher and the Small Cap index rose 0.70 pct. Kalpinis (12.41 pct), ANEK (11.33 pct) and Dias Fish Farming (9.94 pct) were top gainers, while Ippotour (8.06 pct), Euroholdings (6.82 pct) and United Textiles (6.67 pct) were top losers. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 200 to 48 with another 41 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: +1.13%

Industrials: +4.20%

Commercial: +0.09%

Construction: +0.98%

Media: +1.18%

Oil & Gas: +1.31%

Personal & Household: +3.03%

Raw Materials: +2.49%

Travel & Leisure: +3.03%

Technology: +2.64%

Telecoms: +2.44%

Banks: +1.18%

Food & Beverages: +0.63%

Health: -0.50%

Utilities: +4.68%

Chemicals: +1.77%

Financial Services: +3.48%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Eurobank, Piraeus Bank and Alpha Bank.

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

Alpha Bank: 21.00

ATEbank: 3.48

Public Power Corp (PPC): 29.60

HBC Coca Cola: 28.40

Hellenic Petroleum: 9.92

National Bank of Greece: 39.20

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 18.70

Intralot: 12.60

OPAP: 24.20

OTE: 21.00

Titan Cement Company: 31.00

[32] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the Big Cap index totaled 11,445 contracts worth 129.860 million euros, with 27,444 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was 628 contracts worth 16.496 million euros with 535 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 9,469 contracts worth 16.081 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Marfin Popular Bank's contracts (1,928) followed by Eurobank (771), Marfin Investment Group (661), National Bank (1,985), Alpha Bank (704), Intracom (657), GEK (1,903) and ATEbank (447).

[33] Greek bond market closing report

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were mixed. National Bank's overnight rate was 4.07 pct, the two-day rate 4.07 pct, the one-month rate 4.14 pct and the 12-month rate 4.32 pct.

[34] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

U.S. dollar 1.465

Pound sterling 0.751

Danish kroner 7.513

Swedish kroner 9.491

Japanese yen 157.43

Swiss franc 1.616

Norwegian kroner 8.067

Canadian dollar 1.464

Australian dollar 1.618

General News

[35] Greece participates in UN General Assembly meeting on climatic change

International Economic Relations & Developmental Cooperation Secretary General, as well as Special Representative of the Foreign Ministry on climatic change, Theodoros Skylakakis, spoke on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly's debate on climatic change and referred to the contribution of Greece and to the measures which the country takes for dealing with the phenomenon.

Skylakakis, who represents Greece at the discussion, referred to "the difficulties of international negotiation which started in Bali, due to different participation in the creation of the gases of the greenhouse effect between developed, developing and least developing countries, to the various economic, social and environmental repercussions of climatic change in regions of the planet." He underlined the importance of "joint action" on the part of the international community for its confrontation.

He also spoke about Greece's policy, both domestically and abroad, on matters of the environment, stressing that "Greece contributes in the strengthening of the adjustment ability of least developing countries and of small island states, through the planned granting of relevant financing to regional organisations, such as the African Union, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Community of the Caribbean (CARICOM).

[36] Larissa appellate court ruling in massive loan-sharking case

Twenty three of the 49 defendants were acquitted, while 26 received a variety of prison terms, ranging from 25 years to 3 months; fines ranged from 40,500 to 10,500 euros.

The harshest sentences were handed down against seven defendants, most of members of the same gypsy family.

Convictions included racketeering, setting up a criminal organization, money-laundering, loan-sharking, fraud, extortion, etc.

Among the original list of defendants were 17 OPAP football pools parlor operators, eight of whom were acquitted and nine found guilty of money-laundering. The latter received three-year suspended sentences.

[37] Drug arrests in northern a nd central Greece

Meanwhile, Trikala police arrested a 38-year-old woman from Albania who tried to sell controlled substances to undercover officers. The woman was captured in Larisa, central Greece, after police found on her 730 grams of heroin and 104 grams of cocaine. According to the authorities, she is believed to be a member of a ring smuggling illegal drugs from Albania and an investigation is underway.

A 42-year-old foreign national was arrested on Monday in the region of Pieria Prefecture, northern Greece, on drug possession charges after a police search in his house and a warehouse he owned revealed 1,027 grams of heroin.

In a separate incident in Thessaloniki, an undercover police officer posing as a buyer arrested a 35-year-old foreign national who attempted to sell him a kilo of unprocessed cannabis for 1,500 euros.

A 42-year-old was arrested in Retsiki, Thessaloniki after police found 319.3 grams of heroin in the basement of the store where he worked.

A foreign national, 27, was arrested in Faliro, Thessaloniki, after police confiscated 116.4 grams of cocaine and 234 grams of a mixture of controlled substances they found on him and in his apartment. The culprit had a false residence permit in his possession and was on the Schengen list following a court-ordered expulsion.

According to the Thessaloniki Police Department, a total of 47 individuals were arrested in the region last month having in their possession 6 kilos and 659 grams of heroin, roughly 1.5 kilos of cocaine and 11.5 kilos of cannabis.

[38] Alexander the Great bust stolen in Veria

The 58cm-tall bust made of gold-plated bronze weighs 15-20 kilos and is the work of well-known sculptor Efthimis Varlamis.

[39] German School in Thessaloniki celebrates 120th anniversary

In the opening event there will be a re-enactment of the School's first lessons. Students and professors will be dressed with the colours of the era, while the first three tuition hours will be held with the old and strict practices.

Weather Forecast

[40] Cloud, sleet on Wednesday

[41] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The country 'shuts down' - General nationwide strike against social security reforms".

APOGEVMATINI: "Change of guard in the Archdiocese - Who are coming, who are leaving and who are uncertain".

AVGHI: "Strike: A dynamic reply to government - Public and private sectors to participate in Wednesday's general strike".

AVRIANI: "The election of Tsipras signals the 'eviction' of civil war and Polytechnic uprising generation members from the party".

CHORA: "Karamanlis' initiatives - 3 fronts - High cost of living, social security, FYROM name issue".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Government and ND look on contentedly at the rift in the relations between PASOK and SYN".

ELEFTHEROS: "ND reins-in its parliament members - Maximos mansion (government headquarters) in fear of mutiny over social security reforms and Siemens scandal".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Corruption, nepotism, scandals and DVDs - Do we deserve this image for our country transmitted by all international mass media? - The Zachopoulos affair 'travels' throughout the world due to a foreign news agency dispatch".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "6+1 lies over social security reforms - Government will announce measures that have not been sufficiently studied".

ESTIA: "Disproportionate decline of government due to its successive mistakes".

ETHNOS: " Mouths wide shut - Maximos mansion (government headquarters) orders New Democracy (ND) MPs to keep their mouths shut over social security reforms and scandals".

KATHIMERINI: "New plunge in PASOK, ND's popularity - SYRIZA reaches 11.5 percent, poll claims".

LOGOS: "Social security reforms' main axes - Prime Minister will present them in parliament on Friday".

NIKI: "(Development Minister Christos) Folias' provocative statement blaming the people for the high cost of living enrages the citizens"

RIZOSPASTIS: "All together at Wednesday's general strike - Struggle for social security and collective labour agreements".

TA NEA: " 'High prices' cartel in banks and supermarkets - Government in panic over profiteering".

TO VIMA: "2,000 public sector officials' bank accounts released - Following check-up on their 'source of wealth' statements".

VRADYNI: "Two strangers - The day after Tsipras' election indicates all-out rift between PASOK and Synaspismos (SYN)".

Cyprus Affairs

[42] President: solution will come through negotiations

The solution of the Cyprus problem will emerge through political negotiations and not through discussions by experts or at committee level, President Tassos Papadopoulos said here Tuesday.

He also said that meeting the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat to talk would be a deviation from the UN agreement of July 2006, reached between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities.

"A meeting between the leaders of the two communities, without prior preparation through the subcommittees, will not accelerate the political settlement," Papadopoulos said, addressing a public gathering of political parties.

He said that such a meeting would only confirm and make official the big gap between the two communities and the existing deadlock, adding that he has explained these thoughts to Talat.

The President pointed out that an encounter and a chat with Talat would be "a deviation from the July agreement which stipulates clearly the various stages of the negotiating process - a study of certain issues by the committees concerned, within a defined time table, and depending on the progress achieved on the issues under discussion, the leaders of the two communities will meet for the political negotiation."

On attempts to upgrade the status of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus, Papadopoulos said that moves to bring about partition or recognition of a separate state have failed.

Efforts to give the regime the status of a state, short of diplomatic recognition, have also failed.

Since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriots have set up a regime in the northern Turkish occupied areas which no state except Ankara recognises. The UN has called on all states not to recognise or facilitate the self-styled regime and said its unilateral declaration of independence was "legally invalid."

[43] President: Cyprus-Russia share common views on Kosovo

Cyprus' position on a possible unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo is based on principles, President Tassos Papadopoulos stressed here Tuesday, adding that Nicosia and Moscow share common positions on the Kosovo issue.

Invited to comment on statements by first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergei Ivanov on Kosovo, Papadopoulos said that Ivanov had pointed out that a UDI by Kosovo is "an unorthodox and bad idea and that this would set a precedent which could affect other issues. He did not say it would by necessity affect Cyprus."

"Cyprus and Russia have maintained a position of principle on Kosovo," President Papadopoulos said, answering press questions.

The Cypriot President added that Cyprus' EU partners understand Nicosia's stance on Kosovo.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, he expressed the conviction that the government, through its declarations and actions, has convinced the international community that it has all the necessary "political will, the willingness and the readiness to begin a serious dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot side in the framework of the Gambari process which was agreed under UN auspices and was signed by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat".

President Papadopoulos was also asked about the recommencement of the illegal route between the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta and Latakia, Syria.

"The government has done all it could and even more than that to end this illegal route. We will continue our efforts", he concluded.

Famagusta has been declared by the government of Cyprus a closed port following the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

The UN has branded the illegal regime in occupied Cyprus "legally invalid" and called on all states not to recognise or facilitate it in any way.

President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of then UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

We wish to inform the readers of the English Daily News Bulletin that the bulletin will not be published on Thursday, February 14, in view of a 24-hour strike declared on Wednesday by the Athens Journalists Union in protest over the social security reforms. The next edition of the bulletin will appear on Friday, February 15.

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana-mpa.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS

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