Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Sapin: We cannot ask Greece for more austerity

[02] Grexit now 'off the table' says EWG's Thomas Wieser at Delphi Economic Forum

[03] President receives visiting French PM Bernard Cazeneuve

[04] Thessaloniki Documentary Festival kicks off with film on Rolling Stones Olé Olé Olé! tour

[05] Labour ministry amendment to correct problem with index for calculating pensions

[06] Greece arrests four, seizes 10-mln-euro worth of Captagon in major drugs bust

[07] Greece ranked 3rd lowest in EU's digital economy and society index

[01] Sapin: We cannot ask Greece for more austerity

"We cannot ask Greece for more measures and austerity. However, reforms must be completed to benefit the economy and competitiveness and to boost employment, mainly for small and medium-sized businesses which constitute the backbone of Greek entrepreneurship," he said.

Sapin welcomed the efforts of the Greek government, saying it was the first time he saw a strong will and ability on Greece's side for reforms in the country.

"The policy followed has already had positive results, the targets have been exceeded on a fiscal level and everything indicates the country will soon enter a path of growth," he added.

The French minister stressed the need for Greece to return to the international markets and said his country will help in surpassing any difficulties and entanglements. Sapin told Papadimitriou the French business community in Greece has faith in the country's abilities and intends to develop and invest further to help the economy.

On his side, Papadimitriou recognised France as an important ally for Greece during the crisis and thanked Sapin for his support.

"The government remains committed to the structural reforms the country needs," he said during the meeting and briefed the French minister on the government's efforts to attract investments and reverse the unemployment trend.

He also discussed the need to increase Greek exports to France and improving bilateral trade relations.

"We're working to help the economy recover and employ all necessary growth tools that will take the country out of the vicious circle of recession," he added.

[02] Grexit now 'off the table' says EWG's Thomas Wieser at Delphi Economic Forum

Wieser said it was disappointing that the review had not yet been completed and called for "more action and fewer words" in order to reach an agreement. Asked what he would change in Greece, he said this would be a public sector without political intervention, which would serve Greek citizens to the maximum degree.

[03] President receives visiting French PM Bernard Cazeneuve

"I have no right to prejudge the outcome of the verdict of the French people. But as President of the Hellenic Republic […] I am certain that the French people will honour their history which is linked to Europe," he said.

"The European edifice was based on the fact that France would be one of its main pillars. I am certain that the French people's decision will prove it. Without France, the Eurozone would lose its identity and France its orientation," he added.

On his side, Cazeneuve expressed certainty that Greece's ongoing talks with its lenders will have a positive outcome. France will make every effort to assist in this goal, he added, which will be positive for both Greece and Europe.

Relations with the Greek government are very close and "will allow us to exit the crisis," which is affecting the Eurozone in the past few years, as they are relations based on mutual trust and mutual demands, he continued.

Commenting on French domestic politics, he said the values and principles that inspire Europe arose from the Greek civilisation and are values that the two countries share. Cazeneuve also expressed his belief that France will prove stronger and will manage to overcome "the temptations and demagogic calls" for all kinds of populism and isolationism.

"We will give the electoral battle and I believe that in any case, France will be able to remain true to the essence, nature and ideals of European culture," he noted.

[04] Thessaloniki Documentary Festival kicks off with film on Rolling Stones Olé Olé Olé! tour

The festival returned this year with an enriched programme of 213 films covering a range of topics, from politics to art to migration to history, including an entirely new section devoted to food and gastronomy - in keeping with the city's tradition as Greece's "foodie" capital.

The opening night screening, following an opening ceremony with a similarly musical flavour, will take place at Thessaloniki's Olympion theatre. The film will be also be screened again on March 6 at 23:00, in the 'Stavros Tornes' theatre, as part of the regular programme.

Among the 213 films featured during this year's festival there are 64 Greek productions, while the 10-day event also includes a number of sidebar events. It is also the first year that there is an official International Competition section, with 12 films of over 50' competing for the Golden Alexander and the Special Jury Award.

The Golden Alexander award is accompanied by a 5,000-euro cash prize, sponsored by the Municipality of Thessaloniki. Ôhe Special Jury Award is accompanied by a 2.000-euro cash prize, sponsored by ERT, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation. An international FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) jury will hand out one award to a film of the International Competition section.

Among the sidebar events is a tribute to the late artist John Berger, with an exhibition entitled "John Berger: A Radical Humanist" at the Contemporary Art Center of Thessaloniki (Warehouse B1, Port) on March 4-April 13. This features 30 drawings and paintings by John Berger, presented for the first time, only two months after his passing. Most of them were lent to the Festival exclusively for this exhibition by John Berger's son, Yves, while others are part of private collections. The exhibition will also include screenings of films, video extracts and TV shows about Berger, as well as copies of Berger's books and a round-table discussion on Berger's work on March 8.

Other events related to the festival include the exhibition "Without a knife and fork" (March 3 – August 30, 2017, Cinema Museum of Thessaloniki (Warehouse A, Port)) on the role of food in Greek cinema, the cartoon exhibition "Michael Kountouris, Made in Europe: Describing the Refugee Crisis without Words" (March 4 – 19, 2017, MOB Café, Ionos Dragoumi & 2 Papadopoulou str.), the Moving Silence Event on silent films (March 10 – 11, 2017, Contemporary Art Center of Thessaloniki) and others.

[05] Labour ministry amendment to correct problem with index for calculating pensions

The amendment stipulated that the calculation of the contributions-based segment of pensions issued between now and 2020 will be temporarily based on the change in ELSTAT's annual consumer price index. After this period has elapsed in 2021, there will be a switch to the new method of calculation based on an index for the annual fluctuation of wages.

Earlier on Friday, ELSTAT announced that the available statistical data at its disposal cannot be used to produce an index for the annual fluctuation of wages since this is different from the Labour Cost Index that is produced and published by ELSTAT.

ELSTAT said this conclusion was reached following consultation with the Hellenic Actuarial Authority and the General Secretariat for Social Insurance, following a request submitted to ELSTAT last November. It noted that this divergence had also been pointed out by the Hellenic Actuarial Authority in relation to a previous request relating to the calculation of pensions, implementing a law passed in 2010.

According to ELSTAT, the references in the law to "an annual change in wages as determined by ELSTAT" were included without prior consultation with the authority as required by law.

The statistical authority had proposed that the Hellenic Actuarial Authority and the general secretariat examine methodologies used in other countries in order to draw up a national methodology for calculating such an index, with ELSTAT's support, while denying that it had been working on such an index for nine months.

[06] Greece arrests four, seizes 10-mln-euro worth of Captagon in major drugs bust

Following a lengthy stake-out, SDOE located and raided a drugs lab near Elefsina, seizing 635,000 tablets of the drug, which is associated with ISIS fighters who are said to use it extensively. The market value of the tablets is estimated at 10 million euros. Authorities also seized weapons, cash and a car. The pills were stashed in specially made crypts inside a truck that was also seized.

Two Greeks, one Albanian and one Turk were arrested but police said they are looking for at least three more ring members, including a retired policeman.

In a separate raid in Megara, SDOE found a speed boat that had been retrofitted specifically to transfer the pills out of Greece.

It is the first time authorities have discovered a Captagon lab in Greece, SDOE said.

Captagon is a synthetic amphetamine which was first created in the sixties to treat hyperactivity, narcolepsy and depression but was banned in the mid-eighties for being highly addictive. The drug is believed to be flooding the Middle East. Data from 2010 showed one third of the worldwide Captagon production was consumed in the region.

SDOE said it will hold a joint press conference with the police and Navy on Monday (March 6).

[07] Greece ranked 3rd lowest in EU's digital economy and society index

The index revealed a continuing large gap between the more technologically advanced countries and those with lower performance. The three top performers in the EU - Denmark, Finland, Sweden - are also "global champions" having surpassed South Korea, Japan and the United States.

The countries that made the greatest progress in the past year were Slovakia and Slovenia, while Poland, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania continued to lag behind.

The index measures a variety of factors, including connectivity, human capital/ digital skills, use of the internet by citizens, integration of digital technology by businesses and digital public services.

Greece is making slower progress with regard to the penetration of fast broadband connections and digital skills are relatively low but Greeks are active users of social media and online content, including online banking services. Integration of digital technology in businesses in proceeding slowly, however, with companies reluctant to adopt new technologies such as the cloud or RFID, while there is an increase in SMEs making electronic sales domestically but not abroad. The country has made some progress in providing online public services but not as fast as in other European countries.

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