Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Pappas: 'Government will continue to strive for consensus'

[02] Justice minister says won't comment on TV licencing case to avoid affecting court

[03] Property prices in free-fall during the crisis, BoG says

[04] Turkish fighter jets enter Athens FIR, violate airspace

[01] Pappas: 'Government will continue to strive for consensus'

"If the law is judged constitutional the process ends there, we pass on to the new television landscape and a new day. If it is judged unconstitutional, and especially as regards the aspect of powers - in other words, if the CoS expresses the view that in no case and for no reason should executive power have undertaken to organise the tender procedure - you understand that the government's hands are tied. There is no option afterward but to return exactly to the status quo ante of unconstitutional operation without a licence of television stations," Pappas said.

He underlined that the television stations had no operating licence, but only a state of "temporary legal operation," and had been run by a "closed club" of media owners "pirating" the country's broadcasting spectrum.

In the case that the law was found unconstitutional, the minister said that an extremely lengthy and time-consuming process would follow, since it would require the formation of the NCRTV and the launch of all legal procedures.

"In this case we return to a status quo in television that the constitutional court has itself described as illegal," he added.

Regarding a recently tabled then hastily withdrawn amendment to the original law, Pappas insisted that he will table this in Parliament again, irrespective of when the Council of State reached its decision. "This process of the transition to the new television landscape cannot be postponed indefinitely," he noted, pointing that there were legal provisions before his own law that forbid broadcasts by unlicensed television stations.

[02] Justice minister says won't comment on TV licencing case to avoid affecting court

"Personally, on the issue of constitutionality [of the law] I have argued analytically in parliament. I'm tempted to comment again with arguments on this issue, however I won't do it … I read things I disagree with, but I don't talk because I don't want, even in the least way, to influence the judiciary. I also did not affect it in any way, not open, or secret, anyone," the minister told Real FM radio station.

He also rejected claims the government is attempting to manipulate top court judges discussing the TV licensing law, saying the government is under fire.

"The government is under fire [about the case], but this is not the reality … I have not come in contact with any judge, I have not done anything that could sway the court."

[03] Property prices in free-fall during the crisis, BoG says

Addressing a real estate conference, Mitrakos said nominal prices for office space and high-standard commercial property fell by 30 pct in the period from 2010 until the end of 2015, while revenue from leasing offices stabilised in 2015 and revenue from leasing commercial property fell 6.3 pct in the country. In total, a decline in revenue from leasing offices and commercial property amounted to around 30 pct and 35 pct, respectively, since 2010.

The central banker noted that these figures were of particular importance to the banking sector as a reduction in property prices reduced the value of loan guarantees, negatively affecting the credit behavior of borrowers and possible revenue from the liquidation of guarantees. This trend was even more important since commercial and housing property accounted for 82 pct of guarantees held by banks for loans to enterprises and households, without taking into account personal and corporate guarantees.

The Bank of Greece in 2015, with the help of an independent advisor, drafted a survey to categorize non-performing loans and to evaluate the commercial banks' tool kit for dealing with this problem. The findings of the survey were offered to credit institutions which were called to integrated them into their strategic and business plans for the management of NPLs. Mitrakos said that an obligation by banks to achieve specific operating goals on management of NPLs will have a positive contribution. These goals were agreed in June 2016 after a consultation between the Bank of Greece, with the European Central Bank and the four systemic banks. Greek banks pledged to reduce their NPLs by around 40 pct (or around 40 billion euros) by the end of 2019.

[04] Turkish fighter jets enter Athens FIR, violate airspace

Most of the violations were committed by one of the CN-235s. Two of the national airspace violations were committed by the Turkish coastguard aircraft which flew over the islet of Panagia of the Oinouses island complex at 3,400 feet at 03:39 and 05:32 respectively. According to the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, in all cases the Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted by Greek fighter jets. In two instances, the interception developed into a dogfight. The two Turkish aircraft were armed.

This is the third time that there's a dogfight between Greek and Turkish fighter jets since the failed coup attempt in Turkey.

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