Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-08-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Position on EU financing of Turkey unchanged - Papandreou

[02] Simitis chairs meeting ahead of his visit to Tirana

[03] Greek minister gives full backing to Cyprus' EU bid

[04] Constantopoulos meets PDS Eurodeputy

[05] Greece takes delivery of Russian anti-aircraft missiles

[06] Athens 2004 Olympics emblem presented

[07] Copy of 'Nike of Samothrace' reaches Aegean island

[08] Election of new Archbishop of America completed

[09] Northern Greece taxi drivers take initiative against swindlers

[10] Economic News

[01] Position on EU financing of Turkey unchanged - Papandreou

Athens, 21/8/1999 (ANA)

Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis were asked by reporters if Greece was considering re-examining its position on the release of EU funds to Turkey as they left a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costa s Simitis in preparation for his visit to Albania next Tuesday.

"Our position is undoubtedly the same. It is of course too early to speak about certain things, since we must wait and see what the EU's reaction will be to the catastrophe," Mr. Papandreou said.

Mr. Papandreou expressed the view that there would be some informal discussion regarding the type and size of EU aid for Turkey at the forthcoming Council of Ministers in Gymnich.

Asked the same questions, Mr. Kranidiotis replied that "our position remains the same".

"We shall see what initiatives will be taken by the EU which will discuss the issue," Mr. Kranidiotis said, adding that "the issues which are connected with Turkey's European vocation are based on the terms set by the EU itself at the Luxembourg summit and other meetings".

Greek quake aid continues: Two more Greek air force C-130 aircraft left Elefsina military airport yesterday for Istanbul with 14 nurses of the Hellenic Red Cross and a three-member "Doctors of the World" team to help quake relief efforts.

The aircraft also carried 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, bedding, tents, two mini-buses and three tonnes of flame retarding agent to be used in the fire at Turkey's biggest refinery in Izmit.

A group from the "Doctors of the World" organisation yesterday called on Turkish Ambassador in Athens, Ali Tuygan, who expressed the gratitude of the Turkish people for their valuable support.

Mr. Tuygan described the quake which hit northwest Turkey early on Tuesday as "the biggest catastrophe of the century".

On his part Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos will visit Istanbul next week, where he will meet with the city's Mayor Ali Mufit Giurduna to discuss conditions following the earthquake and distrubution of humanitrian aid.

Furthermore, Mr. Avramopoulos announced that the municipality is preparing material for a camp with a capacity of 1,000 persons to be send to the earthquake hit region.

The aid programme, entitled "Operation Solidarity" will be completed in 10 days and will reach Turkey via cargoship. The material includes donations of Greeks from around the country.

In a related development, Civil Protection Secretary General Dimitris Katrivanos said that the Greek rescue team was transfered to Izmit to combat the flames consuming the oil refinery located in that industrial city.

Speaking to ANA, Mr. Katrivanos said that if the fire is not extinguished it could reach a chemical factory with dire consequences.

He added that the Greek rescue team continues its efforts to discover survivors under the rubble, despite the fact that the three-day limit of anyone expected to found alive has passed.

Mr. Katrivanos also said that Greek ministries are ready to provide further aid to Turkey, while the Turkish foreign ministry is preparing a list on needs and is informing its Greek counterpart.

He added that the aid will be send as soon as Turkey notifies Greece.

Athens News Agency

[02] Simitis chairs meeting ahead of his visit to Tirana

Athens, 21/8/1999 (ANA)

The meeting was also attended by Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas and other government officials.

During his trip to Tirana, Mr. Simitis will have talks with his Albanian counterpart Panteli Majko and President Rexhep Meidani.

Foreign Minister George Papandreou told reporters after today's meeting that all the issues relating to Greek-Albanian relations had been discussed.

"We have many common interests and many things tie us to the neighbouring country. There will be further announcements regarding closer cooperation and strengthening of relations," Mr. Papandreou said. He added that Greece wants to contribute to Albania's economic development and the fight against crime.

Among the items on the agenda of the Greek delegation in Tirana are developments in Kosovo, the issue of greater protection for the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania and the matter of Albanian immigrants to Greece.

Athens News Agency

[03] Greek minister gives full backing to Cyprus' EU bid

LARNACA, 21/8/1999 (CNA/ANA)

"As far as Greece is concerned Cyprus' accession to the European Union is a European commitment and an absolute priority, which cannot be connected to the possible prospect of Trukey's union with the EU", he said on arrival.

Mr. Niotis, here to address the opening of the world congress of overseas Cypriots today, also said that Greece "has no strategic reasons to exclude Turkey's European prospect", adding that this "cannot be linked with Cyprus' accession". He said that Cy prus "belongs to the first wave of enlargement and we must move fast in this direction". He said that the Congress "interests not only overseas Cypriots, but generally Hellenism at large".

On Monday, Mr. Niotis will be received by President Glafcos Clerides.

Athens News Agency

[04] Constantopoulos meets PDS Eurodeputy

Coalition of the left (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos and Germany's PDS Eurodeputy Feleknaz Uca, of Kurdish origin, met in Athens yesterday and agreed to promote the idea of an international conference on the Kurdish problem. They also expresse d their opposition to the death sentence passed by a Turkish court on Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in June. Ms Uca also expressed support for a solution to the Kurdish problem through political means.

Athens News Agency

[05] Greece takes delivery of Russian anti-aircraft missiles

Athens, 21/8/1999 (ANA)

A total of 21 TOR M1 systems designed for medium range protection will be inducted in the Greek artillery forces, by the end of 2000, according to Army General Staff (GES) Chief Gen. Konstantinos Panagiotakis.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that this was an important day for Greece.

Athens News Agency

[06] Athens 2004 Olympics emblem presented

Athens, 21/8/1999 (ANA)

IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch expressed full satisfaction and congratulated the members of the Greek committee.

"Selection procedures were conducted in full seriousness. The new emblem expresses the ideals of the Olympic Movement, and the identity of modern Greece and Athens. I believe the Greek public will receive the new emblem with the same enthusiasm as IOC members," he said.

The Athens 2004 emblem will be unveiled to the Greek public on September 30, pending approval by the IOC.

The Greek delegation last night attended the openign ceremony of the 7the World Athletics Championship in the Spanish city.

Athens News Agency

[07] Copy of 'Nike of Samothrace' reaches Aegean island

Athens, 21/8/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Miller began his treck in Paris tracing the route French officials used to transport the original statue to the French capital. Today the original statue, which was created during the Hellenistic era, is housed in the Louvres Museum in Paris.

The copy, made of metal, will be placed at the site of the marble original.

The island's Mayor Griorgos Hanos said that he was informed of Mr. Miller's actions which he applauded, adding that this initiative will aid the efforts for the return of the statue to the island.

The municipality of the island is expected to honour the suclptor.

Athens News Agency

[08] Election of new Archbishop of America completed

ISTANBUL, 21/8/1999 (ANA- A. Kourkoulas)

In his address, Dimitrios referred to the difficulties of his mission as well as the significant potential of the Orthodox flock of America.

Addressing the new head of the Church in America Patriarch Vartholomaios said, "we are entrusting you the largest and most dynamic province of the Ecumenical throne".

Athens News Agency

[09] Northern Greece taxi drivers take initiative against swindlers

Athens, 21/8/1999 (ANA)

As of today, a large map of northern Greece showing the major cities, ports, archaeological sites and border posts with the distances in kilometres from "Macedonia" international airport in Thessaloniki will be on display at the airport.

Next to it will be a schedule of taxi fares to these destinations.

The initiative belongs to the "Hermes" taxi association, which created the map in cooperation with Thessaloniki prefectural authorities as part of an effort to counter gross overcharging by a handful of taxi drivers.

It is also within the framework of a campaign by Thessaloniki prefecture and the Greek National Tourism Organisation to boost tourism to Thessaloniki and northern Greece in general.

Presenting the map at a news conference in Thessaloniki, "Hermes" president Paris Kissas told a news conference that his association would propose to the Transport Ministry that the map initiative be adopted also in other cities, including Athens.

Mr. Kissas said that a bill drafted by the ministery that will soon be tabled in parliament contained provisions aimed at protecting taxi drivers, following a recent spate of attacks by robbers.

Athens News Agency

[10] Economic News

Athens, 21/8/1999 (ANA)

The two are to meet again on Friday to discuss the country's regional development plan for 2000-2006.

In order to prepare for the sessions, Mr. Papantoniou will meet key government economic officials on Monday.

He also held talks yesterday with Deputy National Economy Minister Christos Pahtas on planning for the European Union's Third Community Support Framework package of funds; with Deputy Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis on the budget for 2000 being d rafted; and with Petros Lambrou, chairman of the Agricultural Bank of Greece, which is to be restructured for bourse entry.

Latsis pulls out of planned alliance with Gaz de France: The Latsis Group said yesterday it would not pursue an alliance with Gaz de France for joint bids in international tenders for the distribution of natural gas in Athens, Thessaloniki and Thessalia.

The talks between the two sides broke down after a failure to agree on the basic terms of the alliance, the Latsis Group said in a statement.

At the same time, the Group retained its interest in the growing Greek energy market, the statement said.

Stocks retake 4,900 points after correction: Equity prices ended the week with gains yesterday, resuming their upward trend in high liquidity following the previous session's downward correction.

The general index overtook the 4,900-point level once again, ending 1.10 percent higher at 4,939.69 points. Turnover was 289.208 billion drachmas.

Dealers said persistent high cash inflows helped the market to easily overcome any profit-taking.

Analysts expect the market to break the 5,000 level sometime next week. Sector indices ended as follows: Banks (-0.12 pct), Insurance (+6.42 pct), Construction (+6.65 pct), Miscellaneous (+1.90 pct), Leasing (+7.06 pct), Holding (+2.03 pct), Investme nt (+6.49 pct) and Industrials (+0.74 pct).

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks rose 3.66 percent while the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.13 percent off at 2,693.63 points.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 235 to 55 with another seven issues unchanged.

A total of 82 shares ended at the day's 8.0 percent limit up, while only one (Agrinio Metaplastics) ended at the day's limit down.

Ergo Invest and Hellenic Petroleum were the most heavily traded stocks. National Bank of Greece ended at 22,200 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 22, 750, Commercial Bank at 27,060, Ergobank at 30,200, Titan Cement at 34,990, Hellenic Petroleum at 3,010,

Intracom at 22,740, Minoan Lines 7,090, Panafon at 8,470 and Hellenic Telecoms at 6,430.

Bond prices nose up in scant trade: Secondary market bond prices crept up in negligible trade yesterday with electronic turnover slumping to 3.0 billion drachmas from 17 billion drachmas in the previous session.

The 10 year bond maturing in 2009 traded at 97.80-98.10, showing a yield of 6.91-6.57 percent.

The ten year bond maturing in 2008 was trading at 111.20-111.40 with a yield of 6.82-6.79 percent.

The yield spread above German bunds was 178 basis points from 180 basis points on Thursday.

At the central bank's daily fix, the euro edged up versus the drachma on demand.

The euro was set at 326.790 drachmas from 326.670 drachmas on Thursday and 326.300 drachmas on Wednesday.

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

The greenback was set at 306.730 drachmas from 310.350 drachmas on Thursday and 309.690 drachmas on Wednesday.

The yen dropped sharply against the drachma. The Japanese currency was fixed at 274.340 drachmas from 278.120 drachmas on Thursday and 273.760 drachmas on Wednesday.

Greece to reopen 7-yr bond Tuesday: The finance ministry will auction 120 billion drachmas of seven year bonds in paperless form on Tuesday in a re- opening of the original February 9 bond, it said in a statement.

The state security pays an annual coupon of 6.0 percent. The bonds will be auctioned to the market's primary dealers, the statement said.

Port of Piraeus renews container deal: Piraeus Port Authority and MSC Greece, a shipping company, yesterday renewed a contract for the movement of containers through the country's biggest port.

The contract was signed by the Piraeus Port Authority's general director, Harilaos Psaraftis, and MSC Greece's chairman, Dimitris Theodorikas.

Under the terms of the deal, MSC Greece will double its annual minimum transit container movement through Piraeus from 100,000 to 200,000 per year.

The new five-year contract offers an option for renegotiation of prices, which are charged in euros, after the first two years.

The deal with one of the world's largest shipping companies shows the confidence in the quality of services offered by the port of Piraeus, and is expected to boost the port's growth plans in a time of increasing competition among ports in the Mediterra nean.

Interamerican launches new product: Interamerican, a domestic insurer, is to offer policies to cover customers who incur losses from uninsured vehicles driven by third parties, it said in a statement.

The product is part of the company's Autohelp insurance plan.

Xifias gets OK to break into new sectors: Xifias SA, a fisheries company, yesterday secured shareholder approval to acquire holdings or buy out firms in other sectors in order to boost turnover and profits.

In addition, company officials announced that work at Xifias' Romanian plant in Bucharest was nearing completion.

At the beginning of September, the factory will start meeting orders for canned sardines placed by the Romanian army.

Finally, a new airline called Galaxy Airways, which is 75 percent owned by Xifias, will launch flights next week, the officials said.

Athens foreign exchange:

Banknotes Buying Selling
US Dollar 304.276 311.331
Can.Dollar 203.062 207.770
Australian Dlr 193.103 197.580
Pound Sterling 491.873 503.278
Irish Punt 411.618 421.162
Pound Cyprus 561.412 574.429
Pound Malta 708.990 738.531
Turkish pound (100) 0.063 0.066
French franc 49.420 50.566
Swiss franc 202.904 207.608
Belgian franc 8.036 8.222
German Mark 165.748 169.591
Finnish Mark 54.522 55.786
Dutch Guilder 147.105 150.515
Danish Kr. 43.588 44.599
Swedish Kr. 36.942 37.799
Norwegian Kr. 39.263 40.174
Austrian Sh. 23.559 24.105
Italian lira (100) 16.742 17.130
Yen (100) 272.145 278.455
Spanish Peseta 1.948 1.993
Port. Escudo 1.617 1.654

Athens News Agency

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