Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-10-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: No new salary cuts or taxes

[02] UN special rapporteur urges revision of Dublin II

[03] Stocks end 1.02 pct up

[01] PM: No new salary cuts or taxes

Greece, he said, was at a turning point. "We are making the largest reduction of the deficit ever done in the country, and have unprecedented results," Papandreou said, stressing that "this should give us self-confidence that we can achieve the targets we set".

In a greeting to the event/meeting between young innovative entrepreneurs and regional development and competitiveness minister Michalis Chryssohoidis, Papandreou said that his government will abide by its commitments and there will be no new increase in tax rates or burden on salary and pension earners.

Papandreou said that everyone "inside and outside Greece" must realise that the Greek people have made "unprecedented sacrifices", stressing that "through the enhancement of the taxation system, which is a fundamental target of the government, a reduction of taxes will be achieved", and pledging that "the clientele state, with its parasitic and its state-dependent economy of wasteful spending will cease to exist".

"We are moving to a change of the production model, and this vision needs to be adopted by the (productive) forces of the country themselves," he said, adding that the "young innovative entrepreneurs are the spearhead for investment in knowledge and the human factor".

The premier also said that incentives will be given so that the youth will not leave the country but stay and "innovate" in Greece, and expressed his "deep conviction" that, albeit much work is necessary, "we can change the state".

Addressing the meeting, Chryssohoidis said the aim is for government and entrepreneurs "to speak the same language", warning that there was no room for further delay. "We are seeking ways to fill the confidence deficit existing between the state and entrepreneurship," he said.

"We live in a Greece of 'bubbles' and consumption that bursts over you and creates obstacles to growth and extroversion," the minister said, noting that those who are trying to build their own business today shoulder a large risk, resulting in a trend of leaving the country and marginalization in the young generation.

The ministry's goal is for the proposals by the young entrepreneurs to comprise developmental incentives and to achieve easy and quick access to the financing tools.

He added that an internet platform will be created in the coming months with innovative ideas from all over the country, while actions will be advanced via the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) and the new development law.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman Panos Panagiotopoulos, commenting on the prime minister's statements to young entrepreneurs stated that "the government's policy is identified with closed businesses, the drying out of the market and economic suffocation".

As regards the assurances that salaries and pensions will not be affected, Panagiotopoulos stated that the messages received show that "more cruel measures are on the way after the local government elections" next month.

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[02] UN special rapporteur urges revision of Dublin II

The UN Special Rapporteur, who visited numerous detention centres along the Greek borders, as well as, police stations in Athens and elsewhere in the country, called on the Greek government to ratify the international protocol against torture OPCAT and set up an independent authority (to operate independently from police and the citizen's protection ministry) to investigate complaints on inmate maltreatment and torture.

He also issued an appeal to the EU to revise the Dublin II Regulation and examine all the readmission cases of foreigners to Greece, pointing out that "the current crisis Greece is facing should become a starting point for the renegotiation of the Dublin II Regulation leading to a joint EU policy on asylum and migration.

The UN Special Rapporteur expressed great concern about the overcrowding in police station jails and in prisons, which in certain cases "is a cause of tension, and clashes between groups of inmates of different nationalities."

He stated that "many police stations in Athens have been turned into detention centres for migrants, who are being held there for periods longer than six months, their numbers are four times higher than allowed, and the detention areas are filthy with poor ventilation and lighting conditions. They have no access to information, no interpreters and no legal aid or medical care".

He said that access to the asylum procedure is difficult and characterized the entire system as dysfunctional but, at the same time, praised the Greek government decision for an action plan on asylum seekers, underlining that "the action plan will have to be 'translated' into legislative measures and be implemented."

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[03] Stocks end 1.02 pct up

Eurobank (3.67 pct), Titan (4.55 pct), National Bank (1.93 pct), OPAP (1.75 pct) and Alpha Bank (1.53 pct) were top gainers among blue chip stocks, while MIG and PPC ended 2.35 pct and 2.05 pct lower, respectively.

The Big Cap index rose 1.15 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 0.53 pct higher and the Small Cap index ended 0.55 pct up. The Insurance (6.20 pct) and Constructions (2.86 pct) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Utilities (1.41 pct) and Financial Services (1.04 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 87 to 74 with another 65 issues unchanged. Elmec Sport (18.37 pct), Ridenco (12.5 pct) and Nikas (10 pct) were top gainers, while Altec (11.11 pct), Compucon (11.11 pct) and Euroline (10.17 pct) were top losers.

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