Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-03-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis: European gave among two options to chose from

[02] Stephanopoulos dismisses more Turkish claims over alleged Athens-PKK ties

[03] Gov't denies increased tension in Aegean

[04] Turkish warplanes infringe on Athens FIR

[05] Greece, Uzbekistan sign three agreements

[06] G.Papandreou begins briefing political leaders

[07] State Dept.: No issue of instability in Greek gov't

[08] Gov't displeased over distortion of Pangalos remarks by Swedish news agency

[09] Iranian delegation of women to be hosted by PASOK

[10] Alleged Viagra use cited in elderly Cretan man's death

[11] Most drug addicts unemployed, survey finds

[12] Yield edges down in 15-yr bond reopening

[13] Stocks dive on talk of Aegean tension with Turkey

[14] Bond prices slump in wake of markets abroad

[15] AGET Heracles Cement posts 26.4 pct profit rise in 1998

[16] Mutual fund assets nose up 1.22 pct in February

[17] Greek inflation at 3.5 pct against EU average of 0.9 pct

[18] De Silguy spokesman: No political criteria, flexible interpretation of Maastricht envisioned for Greece

[19] Venizelos on tourism policy

[20] Tegopoulos reports significant rise in pre-tax profits for '98

[21] New general director at Bank of Attica

[22] Air Manos announces take-off

[23] New Playboy casino set to open on Rhodes

[24] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] Simitis: European gave among two options to chose from

MILAN, 03/03/1999 (ANA - S. Liarellis)

Speaking at a press conference at the end of the European Socialist Party's (ESP) conference here yesterday, Mr. Simitis said the two different options are becoming obvious in Europe at present. He said the one is the conservative one and the other that of the socialists who envisage a government placing emphasis on social justice, the combatting of unemployment and the speedier unification of Europe.

He added that unemployment increased in the past because conservative governments faced it as a "natural phenomenon", leaving everything to the domination of the market.On the contrary, he said, the socialists are going ahead with the coordination of their policies for development and employment and this "other course will show results."

Mr. Simitis said conflicting views also exist on issues concerning social policy and the conception of Europe's role.

He said it is clear that two alternative solutions exist because for the socialists Europe is not merely a unified market and an Economic and Monetary Union, but a place in which citizens play a role and the EU has a presence on the international scene.

He added that the integrated prospect for Europe will be judged at the Euroelections and that "the main slogan voiced was jobs, jobs, jobs.However, now we also say development, development, development. And we add education and more possibilities and op portunities for the citizen."

The ESP's conference also ratified resolutions on transparency in the functioning of the European Commission, an increase in the effort aimed at employment, equality for women and against xenophobia and racism. It also unanimously ratified a resolution on the Kurdish issue and the trial of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Tsohatzopoulos : On his part, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos was re-elected ESP vice-president.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that the socialists' message is that there is a new path for Europe and on the basis of their majority "those on which Europe suffered in the past must change." He said that all European socialists will mobilise at the Euroelecti ons, regardless of possible national characteristics which the elections might have in certain countries.

The Greek minister added that it is the ESP's assessment that conservative parties will try to exploit the Euroelections to improve their position. Consequently, he went on to say, initiatives will be undertaken for a joint presence of leaders and prime ministers in all countries so that intercessions will have a substantive content (relevant decisions will be taken in March).

Mr. Simitis has already accepted a proposal by Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema to attend an event at Palermo, Italy.

Athens News Agency

[02] Stephanopoulos dismisses more Turkish claims over alleged Athens-PKK ties

TASHKENT, 03/03/1999 (ANA - N. Megadoukas)

Mr. Stephanopoulos, on a three-day state visit to Uzbekistan, said "we refuse to render the Kurdish issue and Mr. Ocalan the object of a Greek- Turkish dispute", while he expressed a hope that Ankara would become "more prudent and careful".

The president called Ankara's allegations "slanderous", adding that Greece has "never reinforced the PKK and Abdullah Ocalan with military means, financially or politically."

The Greek president's response was prompted by a question by a Turkish news agency's correspondent in Tashkent, asking Mr. Stephanopoulos why Greece "supports the terrorist Ocalan" and why the country "pro-vides assistance and training to the PKK."

Mr. Stephanopoulos also expressed hope that Turkey would realise how wrong this impression was.

"I regret that I do not know in what condition Mr. Ocalan is in, so that he would be able to confirm the untruth of the Turkish claims," he said.

"The supposed 'training camp' at Lavrion, as alleged by Ankara," he explained, "is just a facility where humanitarian assistance is provided to Kurdish refugees, a facility that operates under the supervision and control of the Red Cross".

He also said Greece had never supplied arms or weapons systems to Ocalan or the PKK.

"Greece is a democratic country with respect for human rights, and as such it accepts the Kurdish refugees in order to offer them humanitarian aid," Mr Stephanopoulos said, adding there were Kurdish refugees in other European countries as well, and that Greece did nothing more for the refugees than those other European countries did.

Mr. Stephanopoulos further explained that Greece did not grant political asylum to Ocalan "not because it does not recognise the humanitarian dimension of the issue but due to the difficulties in Greek-Turkish relations."

"Mr. Ocalan entered Greece illegally, without the consent of the Greek government, which tried to find an outlet for him and political asylum outside Greece, for humanitarian reasons," the Greek president explained.

Mr. Stephanopoulos expressed the hope that, after his above explanations, Ankara would become more cautious and prudent, and that more "cool-headed thoughts" would prevail in the neighbouring country's leadership.

Athens News Agency

[03] Gov't denies increased tension in Aegean

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas attributed the rumours to "games related to the operation of the stock exchange" and political motives.

He advised citizens and investors alike to "remain calm and responsible," warning that similar rumours would also be circulated in the future by "persons wishing to profiteer."

He claimed the same "circles" were responsible for rumours last week that Prime Minister Costas Simitis was about to resign, which resulted in a sharp drop on the Athens Stock Exchange.

The incident referred to in the rumours, Mr. Reppas added, was nothing more than a now familiar move by Turkish warplanes, which were intercepted immediately.

Although Turkey's stance was indeed a provocative one, he said, it did not justify the rumours.

Athens News Agency

[04] Turkish warplanes infringe on Athens FIR

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

Both warplanes were intercepted by two Greek fighter planes. The Turkish planes had not submitted flight plans as is required by international convention.

Athens News Agency Athens 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The former head of the Greek intelligence service (EYP) yesterday filed a libel suit against Sesme (Dillan) Kilic, the Ocalan aide evacuated from the Greek embassy in Nairobi last week. Haralambos Stavrakakis, who was asked to resign in the wake of news that the Kurd rebel leader had been captured, said the Kurdish spokeswoman defamed him by alleging he was an agent of the CIA during a news conference in Athens over the weekend.

An Athens court prosecutor is expected to examine and rule on the suit on Wednesday.

Mr. Stavrakakis also filed for 100 million drachmas in damages from the Athens daily "Athinaiki" for defamation, following reports based on Ms Kilic's allegations. A trial date was set for Dec. 16, 1999.

Athens News Agency

[05] Greece, Uzbekistan sign three agreements

TASHKENT, 03/03/1999 (ANA N. Megadoukas)

The accords were signed following talks between President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, on a three-day state visit to Uzbekistan, and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov. The agreements concern cooperation in the consular sector, a road transpo rts agreement and cooperation between the two countries' national banks.

Presidents Stephanopoulos and Karimov discussed international issues and Greek-Turkish relations.

They also expressed the political will for further expansion of relations between Greece and Uzbekistan in all areas, particularly in the economic, cultural and commercial sectors.

Mr. Stephanopoulos briefed Mr. Karimov on Greek-Turkish relations, expressing the hope that the existing problems would be resolved.

He told reporters later that the Uzbek president showed interest in Athens- Ankara relations, given his desire for stability in the region.

Mr. Karimov said he shared Mr. Stephanopoulos' statement that the Greek people had an interest in ensuring peace and stability in the region and therefore looked forward to improvement in its relations with Turkey.

He also said they had exchanged views on international issues, adding that the views of the two countries were very close, expressing hope that Greek- Uzbeki cooperation would be further strengthened in all sectors.

Mr. Stephanopoulos said he and Mr. Karimov agreed on their assessments of the political situation in the Balkans, Europe and Central Asia where, he added, Uzbekistan plays a stabilising role. He further said that the thousands of ethnic Greeks living in

Uzbekistan, where they had fled decades ago under difficult circumstances and found a warm welcome, played the role of a bridge in relations between the two countries.

Afterwards, Mr. Stephanopoulos met with representatives of the ethnic Greek community in Tashkent, reassuring them that he was aware of the problems they were facing.

Mr. Stephanopoulos said that in the economic sector relations between Athens and Tashkent did not share the high level of political relations between the two countries, although he reiterated the political will for furthering them.

Athens News Agency

[06] G.Papandreou begins briefing political leaders

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The foreign minister was speaking to reporters after meetings with several political party leaders.

Underlining the need to confront Turkish propaganda, Mr. Papandreou said the "front-line weapon" in this effort would be a campaign to inform international public opinion about Athens' positions, relevant decisions of the European Union and the need to formulate a common strategy, "not only for issues of major importance, but also lesser matters which, however, make an important contribution to regional stability."

Mr. Papandreou met with the chairman of Parliament's foreign affairs committee and former PASOK FM, Karolos Papoulias, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas and Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constant opoulos.

Mr. Papoulias expressed concern over developments in the Ocalan affair, stressing that the present period required "particularly careful handling" and that Greece must show that it would not budge on matters related to national rights.

Asked by reporters whether he feared some type of "incident" or provocation on the part of Turkey, Mr. Papoulias replied that "everything is possible in this game".

Mr. Papoulias spoke of poor handling by the Greek government in the Ocalan affair and of the need for efforts to be made "to regain our credibility and the lost ground".

Mr. Tsovolas requested certain documents concerning the Ocalan affair from the foreign ministry, while he criticised the government's handling of the Ocalan affair as being "damaging to national interests and unacceptable".

Mr. Constantopoulos described developments following the capture and imprisonment of Ocalan as "a political tragedy and a great moral ordeal".

He also spoke of poor handling by the Greek government, which he attributed to "a lack of institutions and bodies" for dealing with crises and "decisive voids" in the political system.

He said the voids were created by a lack of communication between the political parties, which resulted from time to time in the appearance of "national traitors and national saviours".

Mr. Constantopoulos reiterated his party's proposal for the setting up of a "foreign policy council" and said Mr. Papandreou appeared to view it in a positive light.

Mr. Papandreou expressed satisfaction with yesterday's talks, saying he had noted "a disposition of support". He expressed the hope that he would find the same disposition in the other party leaders whom he intends to meet.

The FM said his aim was "to allow the participation of the political parties and continuously inform them within a framework of consensus in order to formulate a common strategy on a number of issues which cover the entire spectrum of Greek foreign poli cy".

The ultimate objective, he added, is to strengthen Greece's position internationally.

Mr. Papandreou said he would be conveying the results of his talks, which he will continue during the next two days, to the prime minister.

Today, he will be meeting with main opposition New Democracy honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis.

Athens News Agency

[07] State Dept.: No issue of instability in Greek gov't

WASHINGTON, 03/03/1999 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Athens News Agency

[08] Gov't displeased over distortion of Pangalos remarks by Swedish news agency

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

"The dispatch in question created false impressions. Mr. Pangalos never made such statements," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, criticising the adoption of the dispatch by "certain parties" without verifying it.

Mr. Pangalos himself on Monday denied that he had spoken to a Swedish news agency reporter or indeed to any other news agency regarding the Ocalan affair.

Speaking in Milan, where he was attending a European Socialist Party (ESP) summit, he said it was obvious that he could not make any statements on the Ocalan affair in view of the fact that a parliamentary fact-finding committee had been set up to exami ne the issue.

The only statements he made, Mr. Pangalos said, were about the ESP.

The Swedish news agency reportedly claimed that Mr. Pangalos said "we had to choose between very bad solutions and chose the one which would cost us the least".

Speaking in Milan yesterday, Mr. Pangalos reiterated that he had not given any interview on the Ocalan affair to anybody, according to an ANA dispatch.

In statements to reporters, he said:

"Despite the suspicious and, I would say, regrettable side to this matter - manufacturing of dispatches, distortion of texts - I want to stress what I said yesterday: I have not given any interview to anybody about the Ocalan affair. I gave only one int erview to a group of journalists about the prospects of the ESP, in the light of Euro-elections. But, of course, I spoke with various colleagues and members of the socialist parties about the issue, and my resignation, which is of concern to them.

"What I told them is what I have already told the Greek press and the Greek Parliament and will be what I shall reiterate to the fact-finding commission which will conduct an inquiry. Up to now I have made absolutely no statement on this issue.

"I regret that some agencies and a mill of false information has targeted... my dignity and the tranquillity of my country. I believe that all Greek citizens must rally to give a lesson to all these persons ... Likewise the political leadership must acc ept its responsibilities, refrain from petty political games, because the times are dangerous. These events do not happen by chance. We must understand that beyond Pangalos, beyond Simitis, doubt is being thrown on the authority and the very meaning of the political and social solidarity in our country. I regret having to use such language, I don't normally, but I believe that I can no longer be silent," Mr. Pangalos said.

Asked whether his comments referred to the Swedish news agency, the former minister said:

"I believe that the Swedish agency did absolutely nothing, Others fabricated (this interview), others disseminated it and others used it. They are the same people who are fuelling this issue and exploiting it. They must be asked what they are seeking," he said.

Swedish correspondent : The Swedish news agency reporter, Janus Lindgren, told Greek reporters in Milan yesterday that he had spoken to Mr. Pangalos about the Ocalan affair shortly before an official dinner on Monday when he met him by chance.

Mr. Lindgren said, however, that he did not recognise the introduction to the contentious despatch, because it had been written by someone else.

"Mr. Pangalos told me that there were not many alternatives open to Greece regarding the handling of the (Ocalan) affair. He said that the Greek government had chosen the least harmful solution, which was a secret operation, about which, however, he ref used to divulge details and the final destination, which I find logical, since it was a secret operation, which, however, failed," he said.

Mr. Lindgren claimed Mr. Pangalos said Greece had three solutions - either to seek assistance from other European countries, "which was impossible, given what had happened in Italy, or to send him directly to Turkey, which was also impossible, or thirdly, to send him to Latin America".

When reporters pointed out that this bore no relation to the title and introduction of the contentious despatch, he replied:

"I cannot explain the title or the introduction. It appears that something happened in the process of the despatch from Stockholm to Athens...".

Mr. Lindgren said one of the things he is alleged to have written was that Pangalos told him Greece handed Ocalan over to Turkey.

"Pangalos never said this and I never used such a phrase," he said, reiterating that "something must have happened" to the dispatch between Stockholm and Athens.

Mr. Lindgren on Monday said the title of the dispatch, "Greece supported the handing over of Ocalan", the first paragraph and the phrase "with the aim of sending Ocalan to Turkey" were not in the dispatch which he had filed and were added subsequently.

Simitis : On his part, Prime Minister Costas Simitis supported Mr. Pangalos yesterday in connection with the dispatch.

Speaking to Greek reporters in Milan, Mr. Simitis pointed out that "there are many who are trying to promote views and policies, through the situations created, with distortions, slandering and the creation of events leading to troubled situations, such as Ocalan's illegal entry into Greece."

"Those who brought Mr. Ocalan to Greece, without legal processes, while the government's statement was clear that this would be contrary to Greek interests, did not think of what was beneficial for the country. Period. Let us not search further," he added.

Mr. Simitis said many do not realise that the country's interests must be safeguarded and do not understand that Greece lies in a sensitive region and must exercise a policy compatible with its principles. They do not want and use every means to create obstacles and bring impediments.

He said that in the face of these efforts, one must stand steadfast, denounce them and highlight what the country's interest is.

Athens News Agency

[09] Iranian delegation of women to be hosted by PASOK

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

An itinerary includes discussions between the Iranian delegation and PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis, Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou as well as a brief meeting with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Athens News Agency

[10] Alleged Viagra use cited in elderly Cretan man's death

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

According to available information, the 75-year-old was found dead in early January. His death was initially attributed to pathological causes but his children later found an empty pack of Viagra in a drawer.

His children contacted the man's doctor, who told them their father had informed him of his intention to use the pills, allegedly acquired by post from the United States.

The doctor said he had examined the man and had found him to be in good condition but had advised using the pills sparingly.

Athens News Agency

[11] Most drug addicts unemployed, survey finds

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

Unemployment, lack of social benefits and homelessness are often both a cause and symptom of drug abuse, speakers at a news conference said. In many cases these three factors contributed significantly to drug-related deaths.

Almost 64 per cent were believed to be suffering from some form of hepatitis, primarily hepatitis C. Meanwhile, detox centre officials said they had distributed more than 47,000 syringes in the 18 months of its operation.

According to the findings, the average age of a regular drug user is 30. One in three drug addicts was a woman, 22 per cent were homeless, 50 per cent were unemployed and 53 per cent had no access to social security benefits.

Social discrimination was the major problem addicts faced in dealing with their problem; the second most serious obstacle was finding a place in a detoxification and social re-adjustment programme, speakers said.

Athens News Agency

[12] Yield edges down in 15-yr bond reopening

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The average weighed yield fell to 6.27 percent from 6.32 percent in the previous auction.

Bids submitted totalled 385 billion drachmas, 1.8 times more than the offered amount.

Finally, the finance ministry accepted bids totalling 264 billion drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[13] Stocks dive on talk of Aegean tension with Turkey

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 2.25 percent down at 3,318.02 points reversing an early advance above the 3,420 level.

Traders said investors preferred to liquidate gains in a market that needed a downward correction.

Turnover was 125.792 billion drachmas and volume 29,115,977 shares.

Sector indices suffered losses.

Banks dropped 2.33 percent, Leasing was 0.07 percent off, Insurance fell 1.24 percent, Investment was 1.80 percent down, Construction eased 0.60 percent, Industrials dropped 2.95 percent, Miscellaneous ended 0.66 percent down and Holding fell 1.92 perce nt.

The parallel market index for small cap companies, however, ended 0.40 percent up.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index dropped 2.33 percent to 2,056.96.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 156 to 129 with another 9 issues unchanged.

Strintzis, Macedonian Spinning Mills, Eskimo and Thessaliki were the most heavily traded stocks.

Nevaco's shares soared 99 percent in their second day of trading on the parallel market.

Viokarpet, Mohlos, Connection, Sportsman, Nematemboriki, Daring, Alysida and Pairis hit the day's 8.0 percent limit up.

Macedonian Spinning Mills, Viosol, Despec, Radio Athina, Hellenic Bottling, Alte, Lavipharm and Terna suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 20,550 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 33, 300, Ergobank at 22,500, Ionian Bank at 18,000, Titan Cement at 23,030, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,575, Intracom at 19,650, Minoan Lines at 7,690, Panafon at 9,110 and Hellenic Telecoms at 7,500.

Athens News Agency

[14] Bond prices slump in wake of markets abroad

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

15-year paper lost around 150 basis points to trade at 102.09-102.15, and 10-year bonds traded at 101.49 to show yield of 6.11 percent.

Electronic trade was 80 billion drachmas.

The foreign currency market was quiet. The euro was 322.100 drachmas at the central bank's daily fix from 321.730 in the previous session.

The dollar rose again in line with markets abroad to end at 296.220 drachmas at the fix from 292.880 a day earlier.

Athens News Agency

[15] AGET Heracles Cement posts 26.4 pct profit rise in 1998

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The group's turnover rose 5.6 percent to 105.6 billion drachmas from 100 billion in 1997.

The Aget Heracles Group's consolidated turnover was 158.1 billion drachmas, up from 146.2 billion in 1997, while pre-tax profits were 21.96 billion drachmas last year from 18.2 billion in 1997, a rise of 20 percent.

AGET Heracles is currently implementing a plan to expand activities in Albania.

Athens News Agency

[16] Mutual fund assets nose up 1.22 pct in February

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The increase mainly reflects a 13.51 percent rise in equity mutual fund assets, evidence of a gradual turn by domestic investors towards that category.

Money market funds accounted for 64.76 percent of mutual funds, followed by fixed income funds at 18.37 percent, combined funds at 8.70 percent and equity funds at 8.17 percent.

Returns from equity and combined mutual funds were robust in the first two months of 1999.

The country's 36 equity funds yielded an average 24.29 percent, led by 38.77 percent for Ionian Equity, 38.42 percent for Egnatia-Olympia, and 35.68 pct for Eurohellenic.

The country's 19 combined funds yielded an average 16.34 percent, led by 24.05 percent for International, 23.88 percent for Alpha Trust Eurostar and a 21.24 pct for Allianz Unit Linked.

There are 30 mutual fund management companies currently operating in Greece.

Athens News Agency

[17] Greek inflation at 3.5 pct against EU average of 0.9 pct

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The EU's statistics agency said in its monthly report that the euro zone countries' inflation rate was steady against December.

Greece had the highest rate of inflation in January, followed by Portugal at 2.5 percent and Ireland and the Netherlands, both at 2.1 percent.

Sweden's rate of increase was zero percent.

Athens News Agency

[18] De Silguy spokesman: No political criteria, flexible interpretation of Maastricht envisioned for Greece

BRUSSELS, 03/03/1999 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

"Greece's entry will take place on the same conditions and criteria that applied to the other countries," he said.

Commenting on the course of the Greek economy in general, the spokesman said "the Commission expresses its satisfaction over the resolutness of the Greek authorities to participate as soon as possible in the euro zone," although he also stressed that th e European Commission will present a report at the end of March containing assessments of EU member-states' economies.

Commission officials also noted that it was wrong for anyone to expect that flexible interpretations and political criteria could secure Greece's accession to the euro, as the Treaty has references containing elements of flexibility and political parameters.

Athens News Agency

[19] Venizelos on tourism policy

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The until recently culture minister said he was planning to formulate the role of the council into a practical and business-type organisation, with himself as the chairman. Other members will be the general secretaries of relevant ministries along with sector entrepreneurs.

The council was established in order to help resolve problems in Greece's tourism sector.

He said he doesn't believe the Ocalan affair will affect Greek tourism, adding there are no indications of changes in tourist reservations to date.

Mr. Venizelos also said he will emphasise a change of the Greek tourist policy "doctrine".

In other matters, he said he will personally supervise tourism affairs and will support small-to-medium tourist businesses, which constitute about 85 per cent of the total.

Athens News Agency

[20] Tegopoulos reports significant rise in pre-tax profits for '98

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

Pre-tax profits exceeded 4.1 billion drachmas as against 1.4 billion drachmas in 1997, increasing by 192.5 per cent.

Turnover increased by 7.5 per cent, approaching 18.8 billion drachmas compared to 17.5 billion drachmas in 1997.

The company was recently listed at the Athens Stock Exchange's main market and revenues from public registration amounted to 6.9 billion drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[21] New general director at Bank of Attica

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The Bank of Attica's board also decided to proceed with an increase in its share capital. Details will be announced soon and a relevant study has been assigned to a consultant company for this purpose.

Athens News Agency

[22] Air Manos announces take-off

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The flights will connect Athens with Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Samos, Santorini, Hios, Syros, Agrinio and Hania.

Manos, a long-time tour operator in Greece, began a charter service to London and Manchester, England in 1989 with leased aircraft, while it has recently purchased four planes for domectic flights.

Athens News Agency

[23] New Playboy casino set to open on Rhodes

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

The most recent addition to Greek gaming will be operated by the Playboy company, part of the international publishing group, and will feature two floors filled with various casino games and slot machines.

The US-based company said it allocated some 14 billion drachmas for renovations at the historic Rodon hotel, built in 1927, and owned by the municipality of Rhodes.

Athens News Agency

[24] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens, 03/03/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes             Buying  Selling
US Dollar             293.850 300.663
Can.Dollar            192.309 196.768
Australian Dlr        182.761 186.999
Pound Sterling        472.371 483.323
Irish Punt            405.711 415.118
Pound Cyprus          549.568 562.310
Pound Malta           722.970 753.094
Turkish pound (100)     0.071   0.074
French franc           48.711  49.841
Swiss franc           200.677 205.329
Belgian franc           7.921   8.104
German Mark           163.369 167.157
Finnish Mark           53.740  54.986
Dutch Guilder         144.994 148.355
Danish Kr.             42.987  43.984
Swedish Kr.            35.529  36.353
Norwegian Kr.          36.910  37.766
Austrian Sh.           23.221  23.759
Italian lira (100)     16.502  16.885
Yen (100)             243.744 249.396
Spanish Peseta          1.921   1.965
Port. Escudo            1.594   1.631

Foreign Exchange      Buying  Selling
New York              293.850 300.663
Montreal              192.309 196.768
Sydney                182.761 186.999
London                472.371 483.323
Dublin                405.711 415.118
Nicosia               549.568 562.310
Paris                  48.711  49.841
Zurich                200.677 205.329
Brussels                7.921   8.104
Frankfurt             163.369 167.157
Helsinki               53.740  54.986
Amsterdam             144.994 148.355
Copenhagen             42.987  43.984
Stockholm              35.529  36.353
Oslo                   36.910  37.766
Vienna                 23.221  23.759
Milan                  16.502  16.885
Tokyo                 243.744 249.396
Madrid                  1.921   1.965
Lisbon                  1.594   1.631

Athens News Agency

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