Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras calls on progressive European forces to forge alliance

[02] Government body says businessman Ivan Savvidis is next in line for a TV licence

[03] Tsakalotos: 'We are nearing the end of the first review'

[04] DESFA and Romania's Transgaz sign cooperation memorandum

[05] Piraeus Port says earnings up 5.6 pct in H1

[01] Tsipras calls on progressive European forces to forge alliance

"Progressive and left-wing forces must work together for a change in Europe because if Europe doesn't change it will face serious existential issues," Tsipras told attendants.

"We are at a very critical juncture for the future of Europe as a decisive confrontation at all levels is underway, with a clear political sign; a progressive pole on one hand, a conservative and ultra-conservative on the other," he added, noting that progressive forces must not be so fragmented.

SYRIZA, he said, constitutes a reference point throughout Europe in this effort for these forces to not be fragmented and urged all forces must agree to a social Europe by March next year. EU leaders are expected to gather in Rome to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Rome treaty.

Tsipras called once again for the implementation of the EU-Turkey deal and reiterated Greece's demand for debt relief.

[02] Government body says businessman Ivan Savvidis is next in line for a TV licence

Businessman Ioannis Kalogritsas, one of the initial four successful bidders announced that he would withdraw from the next stage in the process "for reasons that everyone is aware of." The company's bid and the provenance of its funds had come under intense media scrutiny in the weeks following the auction.

The temporary winner is Greek-Russian businessman Ivan Savvidis with his company "DIMERA Media Investments Ltd" who submitted a bid totaling 61,500,000 euros. According to the General Secretariat, the relevant audit committee will assess the financial situation of DIMERA and will then give the company a 15-day deadline to pay the first installment of the bid.

[03] Tsakalotos: 'We are nearing the end of the first review'

"We are within deadlines, we are nearing the end of the first review and the completion of all prior actions," he said, while announcing that tax revenues were up by 300 million euros, without including revenue from the ENFIA property tax or VAT.

He accused the opposition of spreading false rumours when they asserted that the "negotiation is up in the air, in delay, that finances are up in the air and that all the government's proposals for the Privatisation Fund have been turned down."

"The gold medal for increased VAT went to Mykonos, the silver to Rhodes and the bronze to Santorini," he added, noting that none of the previous governments had succeeded in collecting such amounts from the country's tourist destinations.

While addressing a joint session of Parliamentary committees discussing the omnibus bill for prior actions, Tsakalotos also promised that the Athens and Thessaloniki water companies, EYDAP and EYATh, would not be privatised while SYRIZA was in government and he was minister. He noted that the government's agreement was needed in order for any privatisation of a public utility by the Privatisation Fund to go ahead.

"There will not be such an agreement," he said, noting that this was built into the wording of the law. The finance minister clarified that the privatisation of public utilities placed under the control of the privatisation fund was not mandatory, but could not be ruled out either.

"The Privatisation Fund was a compromise. We never concealed this. It creates problems for us. It is up to us, however, to convert it into a tool for restructuring state organisations, which did not happen under previous governments," he pointed out. The goal was to stop political intervention in the negative sense but keep political intervention in the sense of coordination, based on the government's strategic plan, he explained.

The government does not have all the answers but does have good ideas, Tsakalotos said, urging the opposition to also contribute its own ideas "so we can avoid privatisations."

[04] DESFA and Romania's Transgaz sign cooperation memorandum

The two companies also agreed on cooperation within the European organisations in which they both participate.

Nikas said the agreement formed part of DESFA's strategy for the completion of the European natural gas market in the Balkans, which will allow natural gas imported into Greece to be distributed throughout the Balkans, increasing competition and security of supply.

[05] Piraeus Port says earnings up 5.6 pct in H1

The port authority said this improvement came despite a 5.2 pct decline in revenues (from 48.7 million euros in 2015 to 46.2 million in 2016) due to strike mobilizations which affected the port's activities.

Total operating expenses fell 4.8 pct to 43.1 million euros in the January-June period from 45.2 million in 2015, reflecting an 8.7 pct decline in payroll costs. After tax earnings totaled 1.6 million euros, significantly burdened by judicial cases.

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