Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-04-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM receives Libyan emissary

[02] Hellenic Petroleum workers launch 10-day strike

[03] Gov't lambasted on economy

[04] Plunge at ASE opening

[05] Athens Newspaper Headlines 

[01] PM receives Libyan emissary

Afterwards, Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said Athens had over the past days a series of contacts regarding developments in Libya.(ANA-MPA)

"The prime minister spoke, amongst others, with the Libyan prime minister and this contact resulted in the dispatch of a special emissary here in Athens, whom we received within the framework that Greece has underlined from the very first: the efforts for a political, diplomatic solution in Libya must continue," Droutsas said in a statement.(ANA-MPA)

"This emissary, as he has informed us, will continue his contacts in Turkey tomorrow (Monday) and then Malta.(ANA-MPA)

"On our part, we underlined, we reiterated the clear message of the international community: full respect and implementation of UN resolutions, an immediate cease-fire, end of violence and hostilities, particularly against civilians in Libya. Judging from the emissary's words, it seems that the (Libyan) regime is also searching for a solution.(ANA-MPA)

"What is necessary is a serious effort for peace and stability in the region. Greece will continue, in this effort, to offer its good services. We are in contact with all our partners and allies; we will brief them on our contacts as well as on Greece's ideas and proposals." (ANA-MPA)

Earlier on Sunday, the Greek premier's office announced the meeting following a request by Libyan prime minister al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmudi in a telephone call to Papandreou.(ANA-MPA)

Caption: Greek prime minister George Papandreou (R) receives Libyan emissary Abdulati Al-Obeidi in Athens. (ANA-MPA)

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[02] Hellenic Petroleum workers launch 10-day strike

The employees at ELPE, which controls three of the four oil refineries in Greece, are striking in demand of "the safe staffing of the new units that are commencing operation at the (ELPE) industrial installations in Thessaloniki and Elefsina".(ANA-MPA)

Market sources told ANA-MPA that the problems are not expected to arise immediately, given that there are ample reserves in fuel stations and at the installations of the fuel marketing companies, while supply will be normal from the fourth refinery, that of Motor Oil.(ANA-MPA)

Given, however, that ELPE controls three of the country's four refineries -- in Aspropyrgos, Elefsina and Thessaloniki -- and more than 60 percent of the market, the strike could cause fuel shortages, especially if there is a flurry of drivers rushing to fill their tanks, in which case the reserves will dry up earlier, the sources said.(ANA-MPA)

The ELPE management has filed a petition in court asking that the strike be declared illegal.(ANA-MPA)

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[03] Gov't lambasted on economy

The crisis of the economy and the country is deepening, the PASOK government is preparing new measures that will intensify the stifling of the economy, unemployment and the shut downs of businesses, Samaras warned, adding that the unprecedented measures that the PASOK government has imposed to date had scant results and the sacrifices of the people were going to waste.(ANA-MPA)

He said that the criticism he has made to now has proved correct, given that even ruling PASOK MPs not in government posts are now admitting that the Memorandum is not working.(ANA-MPA)

Samaras accused the government of not producing revenues, but only deficits, and pledged that ND will remedy the injustices against the low salary and pension earners.(ANA-MPA)

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[04] Plunge at ASE opening

Individual sector indices were moving downward across the board, with the heaviest losses in Health, down 3.06 percent; Banks, down 2.95 percent; and Chemicals, down 2.29 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 2.22 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 1.62 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 3.59 percent.

Of the stocks traded, 12 were up, 81 were down, and 17 were unchanged.

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[05] Athens Newspaper Headlines

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "(ND leader) Antonis Samaras issues call to distinguished younger generation (to join main opposition party)".

City Press: "Government at a crossroads".

DIMOKRATIA: "Dangerous ministers for Greece!"

ETHNOS: "Granting of five state stipends based on incomes criteria".

ELEFTHEROS: "PM's brother disagrees with tax policy".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Free work stamps for unemployed between the ages of 55 and 64".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "End to (holiday, vacation) bonuses in public sector".

ESTIA: "(Former minister, MP and noted neo-liberal proponent) Stefanos Manos responds to Economist (magazine)".

IMERISSIA: "Half of listed companies on Athens Stock Exchange under supervision; another 26 under special regime".

ÔÁ ÍÅÁ: "(Military) officers' transfers with criteria".

VRADYNI: "Salary reduction via individual business contracts".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "In search of 16 billion euros to service the (state) debt".

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