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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-08-31Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Papandreou begins meetings with political leaders on EU financing of TurkeyAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday kicked off a series of contacts with political leaders and ruling PASOK party cadres, to discuss Greece's stance on European Union financing to Turkey, by meeting former PASOK foreign ministers Karolos Papoulias and Ioannis Haralampopoulos.Following the meeting, Mr. Papoulias expressed his satisfaction over Mr. Papandreou's leading efforts in providing support for Turkey following the disasterous earthquake. In regards to the lifting of Greece's veto on the Union's structural funds protocol with Turkey, Mr. Papoulias said "Greece should not be hasty on this issue and make decisions in the haze", adding that it would be better to wait on developments in talks within the Union and decide over the next few months. He also made clear that humanitarian assistance is separate to funding through a protocol, which demands a political decision. On his part, Mr. Haralampopoulos said that all moves by the Greek government should be made in relation with Turkey`s actions, adding that humanitarian aid due to disaster is different to funding through protocol agreements. Papandreou proposal : Mr. Papandreou is to set out to his European Union counterparts in Saariseka, Finland, on Sept. 4, a Greek proposal incorporating the three existing Union regulations for financial aid to Turkey into a new one, also including one regarding assistance for the recent earthquake. According to sources, the new regulation would have a different legal basis from the previous ones and will place emphasis on the sectors of energy, transport and industry. Mr. Papandreou has already tentatively discussed the issue with the current president of the Union Council of Foreign Ministers Tarja Halonen and Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem. PM Simitis to meet former FM : Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Foreign Minister George Papandreou will meet with former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos in the next few days to discuss views expressed by Mr. Pangalos regarding Greece's stance on the disbursement of European Union aid to Turkey, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday. Mr. Pangalos set out his views on the issue of EU aid to Turkey in an article in yesterday's edition of the Athens daily "Ta Nea". The article follows recent speculation about whether Greece might lift its objections to the release of EU funds to Turkey. In his article, Mr. Pangalos clarified that the use of the term "veto" to describe Greece's objection to the release of the funds is incorrect. Greece's objections, Mr. Pangalos underlines, simply mean that there is no unanimity on the issue. "When Greece disagrees, it is simply exercising its inalienable and established right of being in the minority," Mr. Pangalos said in the article, adding that there were also countries which, while abstaining, in fact agreed with the minority. At the most recent EU discussion, Mr. Pangalos said, there were three such countries. "So why is there talk of a (Greek) veto?" he asks. Mr. Pangalos said he strongly supported the allocation of humanitarian aid to Turkey following the devastating earthquake which claimed thousands of lives in the neighbouring country. He said Greece should not only approve such aid but press for it. " But that is as far as we should go," he said, stressing that any change in policy regarding the release of EU funds to Turkey in general should be "based on positive developments, which no one can claim to have ascertained". Replying to reporters' questions on Mr. Pangalos' article, Mr. Reppas said the former minister fully supported the government and his views were in no way directed against the government. The spokesman said the government's position on the issue of EU funds to Turkey had been the result of systematic deliberation and would be presented at the forthcoming Council of Ministers. "Our policy on EU funds for Turkey will not be a 'blank cheque'. It will take into account the rules of international law," Mr. Reppas said. Papandreou-Karamanlis meeting : Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis will meet with Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Thursday, following a request of the latter, party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos announced yesterday. Mr. Spiliotopoulos also reiterated that ND does not agree with lifting Greece's veto on European Union structural funds for Turkey, adding that humanitarian aid to Turkey is a different issue, while the lifting of the veto is a political action and has as a precondition a change of policy by Turkey. Athens News Agency[02] Montenegro's Djukanovic in Athens talksAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Visiting Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic will have talks today with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.Asked by reporters whether Mr. Djukanovic's visit to Greece might upset relations between Athens and Belgrade, Mr. Reppas replied that he was the president of a republic and it was in this capacity that he had talks with Foreign Minister George Papandre ou and would meet this morning with Mr. Simitis. "We do not believe that Mr. Djukanovic's presence here constitutes a source of friction in relations between Greece and Yugoslavia," Mr. Reppas said. Mr. Djukanovic and Mr. Papandreou discussed conditions in the Balkans following the war in Kosovo and focused on relations between Montenegro and Serbia. The two men discussed possibilities for the upgrade of bilateral relations and closer relations between Montenegro and the European Union. They also discussed issues pertaining to the democratisation of Serbia and the relations of that country with the rest of the world. The Montenegrin president expressed his satisfaction over the his talks with the Greek government and the level of relations between Greece and Montenegro. Following the meeting, Mr. Djukanovic said that "we hope for the re- establishment of our relations with Serbia, based on the platform we have proposed." Montenegro had proposed a new relationship with Belgrade, which included a separate currency, defence and foreign ministries. "We do not have secret aims. All we want are listed in the platform. We want to maintain the unity of Yugoslavia, but our relationship with Serbia should allow for the autonomous development of Montenegro," Mr. Djukanovic added. He also said that Montenegro continued to "live together" with Serbia during the difficult period following the dissolution of Yugo-slavia, but "because of the wrong policy of Belgrade our hopes were not realised. Yugoslavia is closed in a cage, under t he state of dictatorship of one man." According to diplomatic sources, Greece is expected to request of the next Union Foreign Ministers' Council to partially lift the embargo on Yugoslavia, in efforts to funnel humanitarian aid to that country in order to promote efforts for its democratisation. Athens News Agency[03] 'We just did our job', say triumphant athletesAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)The last three Greek World Athletics Championships medallists arrived yesterday in Athens, from Seville , Spain, with a gold, silver and copper medal in their luggage.Women's javelin world champion Mirella Tzelili, men's javelin silver medallist Costas Gatsioudis and women's 100 metre sprinter copper medallist Katerina Thanou arrived at Athens Airport and were greeted by family and fans. Ms. Tzelili summed up the feelings of all three when she said "what we did was just our job. A medal in a world championship is the dream of every athlete." Greece gathered a total of six medals (two gold, two silver and two bronze), placing it fourth in world ranking, behind the USA, Russia and Germany. Athens News Agency[04] Greece, Ukraine sign military cooperation agreementKIEV, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Greece and the Ukraine yesterday signed a military and technical cooperation agreement, in the framework of Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos' official visit here. The agreeement was signed by Mr. Tsohatzopoulos and the Ukraine's Ind ustry Minister Vassili Gureyev.Earlier in the day, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos met with his Ukrainian counterpart Alexander Kuzmuk and discussed issues relating to bilateral, European and regional security, including conditions in Kosovo. Mr. Kuzmuk thanked Mr. Tsohatzopoulos and the leadership of the country for their support in the transportation of the Ukrainian peacekeeping force to Kosovo through Greece. Athens News Agency[05] Concert given in Xanthi for Turkey quake victimsAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Popular musicians George Dalaras and Thanasis Gayfillias yesterday gave a large concert in Xanthi, northern Greece, for the victims of the recent devastating earthquake in Turkey.All the proceeds from the concert, which was held in both Greek and Turkish, will be handed over on September 17 in a way to be indicated by the Turkish authorities, along with the proceeds from a similar concert to be held in Izmit. All musicians performed for free at the concert, which was broadcast by Turkish television channels and radio stations. Athens News Agency[06] Agricultural Bank gets Duty Free Shops shares for resaleAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Agricultural Bank of Greece is to buy 23 million shares in Hellenic Duty Free Shops for 126.6 billion drachmas ahead of resale to unnamed investors and the allocation of management to the same group."The Agricultural Bank of Greece is committed to proceeding with the immediate sale of a block or blocks of shares to a group of investors and allocating management of the company to the same investors under terms and agreements it will negotiate," the finance ministry said in a statement yesterday. The state securities management agency will sell the stock to Agricultural Bank, and the ministry's deal with Agricultural was the result of negotiations, the statement said. The move follows abortive tenders for the sale of Hellenic Duty Free Shops, which is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. Athens News Agency[07] Forthnet completes share cap rise for bourse entryAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Forthnet, which is expected to be the first Internet provider to enter the Athens bourse, has successfully completed a 20 percent increase of its share capital, the company said yesterday.It said in a statement that shareholders' equity now totalled 4.6 billion drachmas. Taking part in the increase with a 12 percent stake was the Interamerican Group. The remainder went to staff and associates of the company. Also holding equity in Forthnet are Minoan Lines, the Research and Technology Institute and the Cyprus Development Bank. Athens News Agency[08] Stocks climb again in high turnoverAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Equity prices resumed their upward course yesterday following a wave of profit taking late last week, helped by increasing liquidity in the market.The general index soared 1.48 percent to end at 5,220.28 points off the day's highs, and near its record close of 5,224.15. Turnover was 350.071 billion drachmas. The Banks sector underperformed the market ending 0.55 percent lower while Construction shares remained at the focus of attention with the sector index ending 8.0 percent higher, reflecting limit-up gains in 28 out of the 29 shares in the sector. Other sector indices ended as follows: Insurance (+4.04 pct), Miscellaneous (+4.20 pct), Leasing (+5.01 pct), Investment (+3.86 pct), Industrials (+2.04 pct) and Holding (+3.56 pct). The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks rose 4.97 percent while the FTSE/ASE index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.06 pct higher at 2,803.65 points. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 248 to 49 with another five issues unchanged. A total of 116 shares ended at the day's 8.0 percent limit up. Naoussa Textiles and Ergo Invest were the most heavily traded stocks, while Lambrakis Press, Naoussa, National Bank, Alpha Credit Bank and Piraeus Bank led the day's turnover. Autohellas shares rose 99 percent on the first day of trading in the market. National Bank of Greece ended at 22,995 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 23, 380, Commercial Bank at 28,280, Titan Cement at 34,795, Hellenic Petroleum at 3,235, Intracom at 26,390, Minoan Lines at 7,350, Panafon at 9,080 and Hellenic Telecoms at 6,530. Athens News Agency[09] Bonds drop in profit-takingAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Secondary market bond prices slumped in light to moderate trade yesterday with mainly domestic institutional investors raking in their gains. Worst hit were 10-year securitiesElectronic turnover was sharply higher at 38 billion drachmas from 8.0 billion drachmas in the previous session and 62 billion drachmas on Thursday. Of yesterday's total, sell orders accounted for around 36 billion drachmas of the total. The benchmark 10-year bond was trading around 98.75, showing a yield of 6.50 percent from 6.39 percent in the previous trading day and 6.34 percent on Thursday. The yield spread over German bunds was 164 basis points from 161 basis points in the previous session and 163 basis points on Thursday. At the central bank's daily fix, the euro crept down versus the drachma. It ended at 326.430 drachmas from 326.580 drachmas a session earlier. Also at the fix, the dollar edged down against the drachma but remained high in line with its performance in markets abroad. The greenback was set at 312.100 drachmas from 312.280 drachmas in the previous session and 312.220 drachmas on Thursday. Derivatives trade noses up : The number of derivatives trades in the country's new market rose to 680 contracts yesterday in the second day of operation from 602 in the first session, traders said. Of total trades on the Athens Derivatives Market (ADEX), 529 were September futures, which closed at 2,809.70 after ranging between 2,800.50 and and 2, 835.00 during trade. The remaining contracts were October futures. Athens News Agency[10] Attica Enterprises reports higher H1 profitAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)The Attica Enterprises Group, operators of Superfast Ferries, yesterday reported a 14.8 percent increase in its net profits to 2.66 billion drachmas in the first six months of 1999 compared with the same period of last year.Turnover was 12.2 billion drachmas, up 22.6 percent from the first half of 1998, the company said in a statement yesterday. Superfast Ferries' four ships, which ply the Greece-Italy line, carried 195, 381 passengers, 35.5 percent more than the corresponding period last year. Trucks were 41.1 percent higher (51,306) and vehicles 34.5 percent up (32, 269). Superfast Ferries claimed the biggest market share in the Greece-Italy line in passengers and trucks, and the second biggest in vehicles. A total of 35 ferries ply the Adriatic Sea route, it said. Attica Enterprises has launched an investment programme worth 650 million US dollars, which envisages the building of six new Superfast ferries to be delivered in two stages by 2001, raising its total fleet to 10 ships. Athens News Agency[11] Sanyo Hellas shows profit, turnover riseAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Sanyo Hellas Holding SA reported that its first half consolidated net pre- tax profits and turnover totalled 1.91 billion and 19.75 billion drachmas respectively, sharply up from 500 million and 4.5 billion drachmas in the same period of last year.The parent company's profits rose to 514 million drachmas in the first half from 382 million last year, it said in a statement yesterday. Athens News Agency[12] Interamerican reports H1 profit jumpAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Interamerican Life said yesterday it posted consolidated pre-tax profits of 18.6 billion drachmas in the first half against the same period of last year, up 90 percent.The company said in a statement that premiums totalled 43.6 billion drachmas, up 37 percent on the first half of 1998. Athens News Agency[13] Barclays Bank opens two new branchesAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Barclays Bank Plc has opened two new branches outside Athens as part of a strategy of expanding its network in Greece.The new branches are located in Piraeus and Voula, taking the bank's network to 12 branches. Another two are due to open by the end of the year. Athens News Agency[14] Athens Foreign ExchangeAthens, 31/08/1999 (ANA)Bank of Greece closing rates of: August 30, 1999Parities in Drachmas Banknotes Buying Selling US Dollar 309.603 316.781 Can.Dollar 207.328 212.135 Australian Dlr 195.647 200.183 Pound Sterling 491.695 503.095 Irish Punt 411.165 420.698 Pound Cyprus 558.794 571.749 Pound Malta 722.896 753.017 Turkish pound (100) 0.064 0.067 French franc 49.366 50.510 Swiss franc 202.140 206.827 Belgian franc 8.027 8.213 German Mark 165.566 169.405 Finnish Mark 54.463 55.726 Dutch Guilder 146.942 150.349 Danish Kr. 43.559 44.569 Swedish Kr. 37.144 38.006 Norwegian Kr. 39.025 39.930 Austrian Sh. 23.533 24.079 Italian lira (100) 16.724 17.112 Yen (100) 278.554 285.012 Spanish Peseta 1.946 1.991 Port. Escudo 1.615 1.652 Foreign Exchange Buying Selling New York 309.603 316.781 Montreal 207.328 212.135 Sydney 195.647 200.183 London 491.695 503.095 Dublin 411.165 420.698 Nicosia 558.794 571.749 Paris 49.366 50.510 Zurich 202.140 206.827 Brussels 8.027 8.213 Frankfurt 165.566 169.405 Helsinki 54.463 55.726 Amsterdam 146.942 150.349 Copenhagen 43.559 44.569 Stockholm 37.144 38.006 Oslo 39.025 39.930 Vienna 23.533 24.079 Milan 16.724 17.112 Tokyo 278.554 285.012 Madrid 1.946 1.991 Lisbon 1.615 1.652 Athens News AgencyAthens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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