Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-08-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kranidiotis talks with Israeli leadership focus on trade, military cooperation

[02] Greece launches derivatives market on Aug. 27

[03] Latsis Group gets Ergobank

[04] Stocks rise in bargain hunting

[05] Kopelouzos Group in alliance with Italy's Enel

[06] Titan, Lafarge to buy Egyptian cement maker

[07] Greece on track for euro zone, analyst says

[08] Port of Piraeus renews deal with Swiss container shipper

[09] Athens Foreign Exchange

[10] Tsohatzopoulos interview to Albanian daily

[11] Gas taxes slashed in effort to curtail inflation

[12] Britain's Prince Charles in Greece

[13] Black Sea cruises set to coincide with eclipse

[14] Joint action by Greece, Bulgaria to fight outbreak of epizootic disease

[15] To the "Daily Bulletin" subscribers

[16] ATHENS NEWS AGENCY ON THE INTERNET

[01] Kranidiotis talks with Israeli leadership focus on trade, military cooperation

Mr. Kranidiotis is the first Greek government official to visit Israel after Labour leader Ehud Barak's recent election victory. The Greek minister said he discerned a "clearly upgraded" spirit of cooperation under the new Israeli government compared to the previous administration.

Specifically, the issue of a joint committee to study prospects for trade cooperation and the creation of various joint ventures was discussed.

In addition, Mr. Kranidiotis reportedly secured the participation of his interlocutors at an Israeli-Palestinian meeting to take place in Athens in early September, while he received reassurances regarding the visits of Israeli President Ezer Weizman an d Mr. Barak to Greece in the near future.

According to reports, both sides agreed over the possibilities for improved and closer cooperation in the military sector, with the Israeli navy chief set to visit Athens this month to be followed by National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos' visit to Israel in September.

In a related development, Israeli officials reiterated that Israeli-Turkish military cooperation is not directed against either Greece or Cyprus.

Mr. Kranidiotis stressed that Athens placed particular emphasis on the promotion of a peace process in the Middle East, especially since this could lead to a defusion of tensions and the downgrading of various military "axes and anti-axes" in the region .

Referring to a Cyprus solution, the Greek official said "a united Cyprus constitutes a factor for peace, while a divided Cyprus could constitute a source of anomaly with unpredictable consequences."

According to sources, Israel wants to improve relations with Cyprus within the framework of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation as well as in light of Cyprus' EU accession talks. Finally, Israeli officials briefed Mr. Kranidiotis on progress in the peace pro cess and the problems faced.

Mr. Kranidiotis was scheduled to meet with former premier Simon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Athens News Agency

[02] Greece launches derivatives market on Aug. 27

Ready to sign the contracts with the Athens Derivatives Market (ADM) and its clearing house are 16 brokerages and four banks.

The third and final stage of preparation for the launch began on June 21 with the exchange's future members holding mock trading trading sessions from their offices for about 40 days.

The banks due to become members of the ADM are National Bank of Greece, Commercial Bank of Greece, Ergobank and Xiosbank.

The brokerages are National, Hellenic, PSK, Sigma, Telesis, Alpha, Kappa, Midland, Xios, Ergo, Omega, Aspis, Devletoglou, Euroxx, Metrolife and Macedonia-Thrace.

Banking members of the market will have to receive approval from the central bank.

Until the end of the year, the banks will act as members of the clearing house and take part in non-equities derivatives trading, which is due to be introduced in the autumn.

Towards the end of the year, they will also gain the right to engage in equity derivatives trading. Athens News Agency

[03] Latsis Group gets Ergobank

The offer to shareholders was made through Consolidated Eurofinance Holdings (CEH), the parent of EFG Eurobank, which is destined to merge with Ergobank under the terms of the deal.

CEH, which already owns 20.57 percent of Ergobank, will acquire 12,025,000 further shares in order to secure the controlling stake, the EFG Bank Group said in a statement.

Preliminary results indicated that that the during the June 21-August 4 tender, a total of around 30,000 Ergobank shareholders accepted the offer, stating willingness to hand over 22,000,000 shares for stock in EFG Eurobank plus cash.

Following oversubscription of the tender, all accepting shareholders will receive an allocation of up to 200 Ergobank shares. For remaining shares tendered, stock will be scaled down on a pro-rata basi, the statement said.

Final results are due today after acceptance forms have been verified, it added.

The share exchange and cash payment are due for completion by August 10. Athens News Agency

[04] Stocks rise in bargain hunting

Turnover was 190.264 billion drachmas from 156.593 billion drachmas a day earlier. Changing hands were 28,699,565 stocks.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks (+1.13 pct), Leasing (-0.06 pct), Insurance (+6.08 pct), Investment (-1.18 pct), Construction (+4.84 pct), Industrials (+2.31 pct), Miscellaneous (+2.97 pct) and Holding (+3.51 pct).

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 4.31 percent higher. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips rose 1.18 percent to finish at 2,507.52 points.

Of 297 shares traded, advances outpaced declines at 217 to 69 with 11 issues unchanged.

National Bank of Greece ended at 21,400 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 21, 300, Bank of Piraeus at 8,650, Ergobank at 32,448, Titan Cement (commom) at 30,150, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,800 and Intracom (common) at 21,695 drachmas.

-- Bonds nose up in minor rally -- Secondary market bond prices gained five to 10 basis points in light to moderate trade yesterday, showing signs of consolidation after a two day sell-off.

Previous profit-taking was chiefly by domestic institutional investors with some by institutionals from abroad, who nevertheless kept their cash in the domestic market as shown by the drachma's stability and low interbank rates, a central bank official said.

Electronic trade was 26 billion drachmas from 162 billion drachmas in the previous session and 58 billion drachmas on Monday.

The benchmark 10 year bond was trading below par between 97.10 and 97.40, showing a yield of 6.67 percent from 6.74 percent a day earlier and 6.67 percent on Monday.

The yield spread above German bunds was 177 basis points from 184 basis points in the previous session and 170-172 basis points on Monday.

At the central bank's daily fix, the euro crept up against the drachma.

It was set at 325.800 drachmas 325.600 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fix, the dollar slumped versus the drachma in line with the US currency's decline in markets abroad.

The greenback was set at 302.740 drachmas from 305.750 drachmas a day earlier. Athens News Agency

[05] Kopelouzos Group in alliance with Italy's Enel

A Reuters report from Rome quoted Enel as saying that Enelpower, a subsidiary, would take a 50 percent stake in the consortium, to be named Enelco, with Prometheus Gas and Damco Energy of the Kopelouzos Group holding the remaining 50 percent of equity. Athens News Agency

[06] Titan, Lafarge to buy Egyptian cement maker

The two companies will own 95 percent of the firm by early 2000 when a phased sale process is completed, at a cost of around 150 million US dollars. The remaining five percent of shares will be owned by the plant's workers.

Titan is a blue chip on the Athens bourse. Athens News Agency

[07] Greece on track for euro zone, analyst says

Reuters quoted the bank as saying that the country's European Union partners may agree to a minor realignment of the drachma's central parity to the euro.

BoA's annual report that the realignment would depend on the strength of the dollar and the yen ahead of planned entry on January 1, 2001.

Athens News Agency

[08] Port of Piraeus renews deal with Swiss container shipper

The original two-year contract was signed in November 1997, taking Piraeus to the 41st position in a ranking of world ports.

The latest deal on container movement has a five-year duration. Athens News Agency

[09] Athens Foreign Exchange

US Dollar 300.318 307.281 Can.Dollar 200.245 204.888 Australian Dlr 197.408 201.985 Pound Sterling 487.092 498.385 Irish Punt 410.372 419.886 Pound Cyprus 559.270 572.237 Pound Malta 699.767 728.924 Turkish pound (100) 0.062 0.065 French franc 49.271 50.413 Swiss franc 201.892 206.573 Belgian franc 8.012 8.198 German Mark 165.246 169.078 Finnish Mark 54.358 55.618 Dutch Guilder 146.659 150.060 Danish Kr. 43.438 44.445 Swedish Kr. 36.898 37.754 Norwegian Kr. 38.906 39.808 Austrian Sh. 23.488 24.032 Italian lira (100) 16.691 17.078 Yen (100) 261.709 267.777 Spanish Peseta 1.942 1.987 Port. Escudo 1.612 1.649

Foreign Exchange Buying Selling New York 300.318 307.281 Montreal 200.245 204.888 Sydney 197.408 201.985 London 487.092 498.385 Dublin 410.372 419.886 Nicosia 559.270 572.237 Paris 49.271 50.413 Zurich 201.892 206.573 Brussels 8.012 8.198 Frankfurt 165.246 169.078 Helsinki 54.358 55.618 Amsterdam 146.659 150.060 Copenhagen 43.438 44.445 Stockholm 36.898 37.754 Oslo 38.906 39.808 Vienna 23.488 24.032 Milan 16.691 17.078 Tokyo 261.709 267.777 Madrid 1.942 1.987 Lisbon 1.612 1.649 Athens News Agency

[10] Tsohatzopoulos interview to Albanian daily

In statements to the daily "Caha Jone", Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the presence of foreign workers in Greece will have a specific timelimit and aim, such as the acquisition of employment, adding that in this manner all problems will be overcome and will no t affect bilateral relations. He also referred to the need for a policy of legalising the approximately 400,000 Albanians in Gree-ce, as the two peoples have a "history of good neighbourly relations, friendship and cooperation, which they should retain in light of their common future in Europe."

Responding to a relevant question, he said the Greek military force in Albania should remain in place, as it has actively assisted in infrastructure projects.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stressed that since 1990 the region has had a unique opportunity to be connected to Europe with the aid of the European Union, whereas NATO now offers Balkan countries the prospect of collective security.

Finally, he announced that the inauguration of a SE Europe multinational force command will take place in Athens on Sept. 2. Athens News Agency

[11] Gas taxes slashed in effort to curtail inflation

National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said the reduced gas taxes, by five drachmas, along with a corresponding reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) will amount to a 5.9-drachma per litre reduction, on average, at the pump.

The reduction was to take effect as of midnight yesterday and last until next June.

Indicative prices at petrol stations are 218.7 drachmas per litre for super and 202.7 drachmas for unleaded gasoline in Athens and Thessaloniki.

Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos described the reduction was part of a "gentlemens' agreement" with fuel wholesalers and retailers.

Athens News Agency

[12] Britain's Prince Charles in Greece

According to reports, Camilla Parker-Bowles, Charles' long-time companion, is already in Greece.

The royal family, along with Ms Parker-Bowles, will be hosted aboard a luxury motorship, the 'Alexander', belonging to the Latsis family. Athens News Agency

[13] Black Sea cruises set to coincide with eclipse

The firm said four of its vessels would carry passengers to the Black Sea, the area where the last total eclipse of the millennium on Aug. 11 will be seen at its most profound stage.

Scientists from NASA, including astronauts Scott Carpenter and Ronald Parise, who will be aboard one of the cruise ships, the "Olympic Countess", with special equipment in order to transmit clips of the eclipse at the Internet address: http://www.eclips e99.nasa.gov

Athens News Agency

[14] Joint action by Greece, Bulgaria to fight outbreak of epizootic disease

The general directors of the Greek and Bulgarian veterinary services announced after an international meeting in the Black Sea port of Burgas yesterday that the two countries were formulating a joint strategy to combat the disease.

Epizootic disease broke out in SE Bulgaria and quickly spread to three departments of the country which border with Greece.

Approximately 536 sheep and other farm animals have already been destroyed in the three departments.

Both Greek and Bulgarian officials agreed at yesterday's meeting, which was convened to examine the situation, to set up a joint group of experts to coordinate efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

Athens responded immediately to a Bulgarian invitation to attend the meeting, despite the fact that only a few isolated cases of epizootic disease have been reported on the island of Rhodes.

Greek official Vassilis Stilas also expressed regret that Ankara had declined the invitation, saying the stance of Turkish veterinary officials was " incomprehensible", given the incidence of infectious animal diseases in Turkey and even though the auth orities in the neighbouring country do not officially acknowledge it. His Bulgarian counterpart Ilian Batsavarov said he was extremely satisfied with the "excellent" cooperation between the Greek and Bulgarian services, not only in the present case but also in general.

The Bulgarian veterinary official also expressed surprise and disappointment over the fact that Turkish colleagues had declined the invitation to attend the meeting. Athens News Agency

[15] To the "Daily Bulletin" subscribers

As you are aware, technological developments in the mass media sector are rapid. Today, all the news services are offered online. The "electronic newspaper" supplements, and in many cases replaces, the printed newspaper. Contact via e-mail also affords the ability for direct communication.

These developments, as many others, have also influenced our own work here at Athens News Agency (ANA), which is adapting all its services to the new technology. In the framework of these changes, the "Daily Bulletin" will P as of Jan. 2, 2000 P be conv erted from a printed to an electronic medium for our subscribers.

With this change, our subscribers will: a) receive our news items online, at the moment the news is breaking. b) receive the next day's "Daily Bulletin" on their screens at midnight, with the ability to print it out if they wish or simply view on screen. c) receive the "Bulletin" either via the paid ANA services on the Internet, or via e-mail sent to a subscriber's e-mail address. d) also have the ability, for a small surcharge, to utilise the ANA's English-language data bank, which contains all the news items appearing in the "Daily Bulletin" since 1992.

We believe that these changes, which correspond with the new function of the international and national news agencies, will satisfy subscribers' needs for immediate and credible information. In order to subscribe to this service, you must have a PC and a modem, or an e-mail address.

All who wish to continue receiving our services must prepare for these changes which, as stated, will commence on Jan. 2, 2000.

Takis Mantis, the director of ANA's informatics and telecommunications department, is at your disposal for any technical information on tel: 64.00.560 and 64.00.038.

I sincerely hope all our subscribers will adapt to these necessary technological changes.

May we wish you a pleasant summer holiday. Andreas Christodoulides

ANA General Director Athens News Agency

[16] ATHENS NEWS AGENCY ON THE INTERNET

Log in to our Internet address: http://www.ana.gr and keep abreast with the latest news from Greece. Athens News Agency/END

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