Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-07-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM to personally oversee administrative reform

[02] Greek U19 team qualifies for European 2012 Championship final

[03] Major fraud amounting to 5.0 million against IKA-ETAM

[04] Man arrested for smuggling contraband cigarettes

[05] Athens' newspapers at a glance on Friday

[01] PM to personally oversee administrative reform

Samaras will send a letter in the next few days to all his ministers instructing them to speed up procedures, and stressing the importance of administrative reform for the economy, business and the public.

[02] Greek U19 team qualifies for European 2012 Championship final

The Greek national under-19 soccer team qualified for the final of the European 2012 Championship, in Estonia, after beating England 2-1 in extra time, in the first semi-final on Thursday, while the team was left with 10 players in the 45th minute after Kapino was sent off.

The national team went into the lead with Bougaidis 38', Afobe equalised 56' and Lykoyiannis scored the winning goal 108'.

[03] Major fraud amounting to 5.0 million against IKA-ETAM

Major fraud against the Social Insurance Fund (IKA-ETAM) was discovered after the "Risk Analysis" profiling system was activated in late 2011, it was announced on Thursday.

After processing available data, the system traced a brand name outerwear company which, according to the personnel information statements it had submitted to IKA-ETAM since 2002, was employing personnel with very large salaries but had never paid corresponding contributions to the social insurance fund.

The company's practices had defrauded IKA-ETAM of millions of euros in pensions because, according to existing legislation, a retired employee will receive a pension pegged to their salary, regardless of whether employers have paid their contributions.

The company in question owes IKA-ETAM the amount of 4.5 million euros, while a second company founded in 2009, both members of the same business group, owes the sum of 592,515 euros.

The investigation into the case continues in Athens and other cities where companies of the business group in question are based.

[04] Man arrested for smuggling contraband cigarettes

A 21-year-old Greek man was arrested at Exohi customs post in Nevrokopi for trying to cross the border carrying 17,500 packets of contraband cigarettes without paying the necessary duty.

The man was driving a bus with German number plates and attempting to leave the country. The cigarettes were concealed in a hidden compartment in the roof of the bus. Both the bus and cigarettes were confiscated.

[05] Athens' newspapers at a glance on Friday

The 11.6 billion euros in measures being sought by the government before the Troika's return to Athens in 10 days, the soaring unemployment and the so-called special salary scales applying to the 'uniformed' officers (military, police) were the main items in Athens' dailies on Friday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "No to reduction of the uniformed officers' salaries".

AVGHI: "Unemployment at 22.5 percent - Health, Education in the vise".

AVRIANI: "Battle to save the special salary scales".

DIMOKRATIA: "Tsohatzopoulos blackmailing Simitis and six former ministers".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "University entry with 9, Technical College with 4 - The base grades for entry into higher education institutions this year".

ELLADA: "Bankers want the Greeks 'hostages' of the Memorandum".

ESTIA: "The 'on' switch for the economy".

ETHNOS: "Two scenarios for the special salary scales".

IMERISSIA: "11.5 billion euros in measures being 'locked in'."

KATHIMERINI: "11.6 billion euro in measures to be decided over next 10 days".

LOGOS: "There are no new measures for this year".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "New hike in unemployment to 22.5 percent".

NIKI: "The 'keys' to reducing your rent by up to 30 percent".

RIZOSPASTIS: "KKE draft law tabled for abolition of Memorandums, loan agreements, application laws".

TA NEA: "'Smart' bombs for reducing expenditures".

VRADYNI: "SOS - The entire country without firefighting means".

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