Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-04-26

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens condemns illegal drilling in Turkish-occupied Cyprus

[02] Tsohatzopoulos' daughter remanded in custody

[03] National Bank to set up subsidiary for SE European units

[01] Athens condemns illegal drilling in Turkish-occupied Cyprus

Foreign ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras, referring to the drilling by a Turkish petrol company, stressed that this is another illegal Turkish move, blatantly violating the UN Security Council resolutions that call on all countries to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. The UN resolutions call on all countries not to recognise or help in any way the illegitimate, secessionist entity in the occupied part of northern Cyprus, he underlined.

The spokesman observed that this move is yet more proof of the fact that the Cyprus issue is primarily an international problem of invasion and occupation. amna

Delavekouras called on Ankara to contribute, in a tangible way, to the efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive and mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus issue within the framework of the agreed negotiating effort based on the UN Security Council resolutions and Cyprus' status as an EU member.

[02] Tsohatzopoulos' daughter remanded in custody

Tsohatzopoulos himself remanded in custody before Orthodox Easter after appearing before magistrate Gabriel Mallis to answer to charges of money laundering, and specifically charges of kickbacks that he received in order to approve the purchase of the Russian-made TOR-M1 missile systems and German-designed (HDW) submarines for the Hellenic Navy. amna

The chief prosecutor's decision also concerns the bank accounts that belong to Asterios Economidis.

Economidis is the major shareholder of a construction company that did renovation work at the former minister's luxurious house on Dionyssios Areopagitis Street and sold an apartment to Tsohatzopoulos' daughter located in Athens' upscale Kolonaki district.

In a later development, an aunt of Tsohatzopoulos' wife also provided testimony in the case. www.amna.gr

Ekaterini Stamati, an aunt of Vicky Stamati, Tsohatzopoulos' wife, submitted a memorandum whose contents allegedly link Tsohatzopoulos with the off-shore company Torcaso.

The woman decried what she called behaviour treating her as a "professional criminal" only because "I received, without knowing and only once, money (bank transfer) from a company linked to Mr. Tsohatzopoulos".

The former minister's brother-in-law, Panayiotis Stamatis, is due to appear before the magistrate on Thursday, as is his sister and Tsohatzopoulos' wife, Vicky Stamati. amna

[03] National Bank to set up subsidiary for SE European units

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by the bank to award innovative business ideas, Tamvakakis said the final bank recapitalisation plan will be ready after the elections. amna

Commenting on National Bank, he said the bank will continue its efforts to boost its capital adequacy and noted that nothing has changed over a decision to sell a minority equity stake in its subsidiary in Turkey, Finansbank, although he stressed that this will happen when market conditions allow it. amna

Tamvakakis said National Bank will present in the next four months NBG International, a new subsidiary which will take under its umbrella all group subsidiaries in Southeastern Europe (except Turkey) and noted that the bank was examining a plan to sell a minority stake in the new company.

The Greek banker said National Bank was moving towards selling its Astir Vouliagmeni resort through an international tender. www.amna.gr

Meanwhile, OTOE, the Federation of bank employees, urged all commercial banks – both private and state-owned along with cooperative banks - to participate in a recapitalisation plan envisaged by a PSI programme. www.amna.gr

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article