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Greece drafting case on antiquities looted by Nazis

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 14:46
Greece is preparing a case for the return of antiquities looted by the Nazis during World War II, officials said on Friday. "The entirety of the archaeological service's archives is under investigation" in a search for photographs and sketches of lost items, the general secretariat for culture said in a statement. "Final and scientifically documented conclusions on the issue of Greek cultural treasures looted during the (Nazi) occupation will be drawn in the coming months," the secretariat said.

Greek neo-Nazi lawmaker tries to strike Athens mayor

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 09:01
Greek police fired tear gas to break up an event staged by neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn in Athens Thursday and one lawmaker tried to assault the city's mayor for banning the gathering, police said. Golden Dawn MP Giorgos Germenis verbally abused and attempted to hit Athens mayor Giorgos Kaminis inside a municipal building. Local media reported Germenis was also carrying a weapon and that he ended up hitting a young girl instead. "Raw violence in the form that we saw today and coming from an elected lawmaker will not be tolerated," Kaminis told the press after the incident.

Former Greek PM's mother fights Swiss account claim

Agence France-PresseMay 1, 2013 11:45
The mother of former Greek prime minister George Papandreou has sued financial investigators and three newspapers over claims she held a 550-million-dollar Swiss bank account, a judicial source said Wednesday. Margaret Chadd, 90, accuses the weekly edition of To Vima and scandal-prone Proto Thema and Dimokratia of falsely claiming she held the account, linking her to the so-called Lagarde list scandal.

Greece adopts bill to cut 15,000 civil servant jobs

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 23:31
The Greek parliament voted late Sunday to adopt a law providing for the dismissal of 15,000 civil servants as part of austerity measures imposed by the country's international creditors. After heated debate during an emergency session, 168 deputies voted for the bill, with 123 voting against and one abstaining as the opposition proved powerless to stop cuts the government insisted were needed to keep the country afloat. The new law overturns what had been a guarantee of a job for life for workers in Greece's notoriously bloated civil service.

Piraeus Bank to stay private in 7.3 bn-euro capital boost

Agence France-PresseApril 23, 2013 09:30
Piraeus Bank, one of the four main Greek lenders, on Tuesday said it had mustered the necessary funds to remain private with a 7.3-billion-euro ($9.5 billion) recapitalisation drive. "Given that Piraeus Bank has already agreed on the participation of BCP and Societe Generale in its capital increase, it has ensured the private sector's minimum participation that safeguards the bank's private character," it said in an announcement. "The bank's private character has been confirmed," head of the Piraeus Banking Group Michalis Sallas told journalists.

Greek ex-minister's money laundering trial opens in Athens

Agence France-PresseApril 22, 2013 05:45
A prominent Greek ex-minister went on trial in Athens on Monday on charges of money laundering linked to controversial arms deals during his years in power. Facing a sentence of up to 20 years, 73-year-old Akis Tsochatzopoulos is accused of pocketing kickbacks on state contracts to buy a Russian-made anti-missile system and German submarines during his stint as defence minister from 1996 to 2001. The Greek state ended up paying surcharges of millions of euros. Tsochatzopoulos, a founding member of the socialist Pasok party, denies the accusations against him.

Greece's ruling conservatives regain narrow lead - poll

April 20, 2013 16:30
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's ruling conservatives have regained a narrow lead over anti-bailout leftists, an opinion poll published on Saturday showed. A survey by Metron Analysis for Sunday's Eleftherotypia newspaper put support for New Democracy at 18.7 percent, giving it a 0.6 percentage-point lead over the Syriza party. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's New Democracy party, which won elections in June with 29.6 percent of the vote, has been neck-and-neck with the anti-bailout Syriza in recent polls.

Troika concludes Greek bailout review, next aid tranche soon - source

April 13, 2013 15:45
By Annika Breidthardt and Renee Maltezou DUBLIN/ATHENS (Reuters) - An inspection team of international lenders has finished its review of Greece's austerity programme, paving the way for another 10 billion euros aid payment, a source with knowledge of the talks said on Saturday. The deal reached on Friday, concludes the first review by the so-called "troika" of the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank since they unlocked fresh aid in December, staving off a chaotic bankruptcy.

Russian billionaire's daughter buys Onassis island Skorpios

April 13, 2013 10:00
MOSCOW/ATHENS (Reuters) - The daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev has bought the Greek resort island where shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis famously married Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s, Rybolovlev's investment office said. The sale price was not disclosed. Greek media reports on Saturday placed the value of Skorpios island at over $100 million and said Ekaterina Rybolovleva, 24, wanted it not only for leisure but also business purposes.

Troika concludes Greek bailout review, next aid tranche soon - source

April 13, 2013 06:45
By Annika Breidthardt and Renee Maltezou DUBLIN/ATHENS (Reuters) - An inspection team of international lenders has finished its review of Greece's austerity programme, paving the way for another 10 billion euros aid payment, a source with knowledge of the talks said on Saturday. The deal reached on Friday, concludes the first review by the so-called "troika" of the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank since they unlocked fresh aid in December, staving off a chaotic bankruptcy.
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