Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-01-04

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Simitis says development will be greater in New Year

[02] Mexican police arrest three in connection with the Giannitsis murder

[03] Greek military comments on Kosovo uranium levels

[04] Tzannis Tzannetakis heads ND's Congress Organizing Committee

[05] Greece needs real convergence, report says

[06] Consumers group cites euro-related delays at local banks

[07] Indicative gas, heating oil prices drop slightly

[08] Winter sales season officially starts January 8

[09] New car sales in 2000 post second straight record

[10] Greek stocks begin 2001 with losses

[11] Four Turks found in possession of 513 kilos of heroin remanded in custody

[12] Attempt to annex occupied areas to Turkey would signal the end of Ankara's EU policy, spokesman says

[01] PM Simitis says development will be greater in New Year

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

"Funds from the 3rd Community Support framework (CSF) have been secured for the coming year. This means more investments, both public and private. Development will be greater. This means more prosperity. However, at the same time we should strive for more competitiveness, productivity and social justice. In this way we shall advance a more developed Greece, real convergence and a fairer society," he said.

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, on his departure from the event, said "Greece joined the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) unprepared, with a great delay and without necessary structural changes having taken place. Consequently, unemployment has surged to 12 percent and the stock exchange is in a crisis, while small and medium-size businessmen and farmers are in despair. It is not by chance that we are in the euro zone, but the income of the Greeks is only 67 percent of the average EU income."

National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said Greece is now experiencing the rates of the euro, adding that new challenges and possibilities exist for the country's economy, challenges to meet the appeal for competitiveness enabling strong economic development.

"We have five percent development rates. However, we should maintain them and achieve real social convergence, meaning to have the level reach the height of the European citizen. We are in a position to approach it, to reach this level at the end of the decade if we continue to have these rates of development," he said.

Papantoniou said Greece currently has possibilities, it has low interest rates, it has decreased taxes, it has strong development and over the past seven years it has shown a very great effectiveness, which is rare for its history.

"For the first time over the past 50 years we have achieved such high targets and such great effectiveness through the timetable we had set. Greece's successful accession to the euro zone yesterday (Tuesday), highlights precisely the effectiveness of both the government and the entire Greek economy. I am certain that the atmosphere regarding public opinion is that all we Greeks are determined to proceed steadfastly on the path we have paved," he added.

[02] Mexican police arrest three in connection with the Giannitsis murder

MEXICO CITY, 04/01/2001 (ANA/NOTIMEX)

Local prosecutor Carlos Javier Vega said that Louis Alberto Gonzalez Reyes, 16, Guillermo Ocambo Mortera, 15 and Guillermo Garsia Contreras, 17 were arrested in connection with the murder.

Reyes confessed to the slaying, admitting he was the one who mugged and killed Yiannitsis, robbing him in the process of 160 dollars worth of travelers checks and 70 Mexican pesos, Vega said.

The confessed culprit was arrested as he was attempting to depart to small town of Tasco for the 15-million-people metropolitan complex of Mexico City, where he planned to "disappear" after he found out the identity of his victim via the local media.

The prosecutor noted that Reyes was under the influence of cocaine when he committed the crime, adding that he confessed the murder to his mother.

Sources at the Greek embassy in Mexico City said that efforts were made for the speedy return of Giannitsis' remains to Greece, which is expected on Friday.

Meanwhile, Mexican media have provided extensive coverage of the murder case, pressuring authorities to arrest and punish the culprits.

Police sources also said that during that same day a German policewoman was mugged in the same area, Giannitsis was killed.

[03] Greek military comments on Kosovo uranium levels

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

Minister Dimitris Apostolakis, a retired army general, arrived in Kosovo to inspect Greek units participating in the multinational force (KFOR) deployed in the Yugoslav province. His comments came in light of Italy's request towards NATO for an investigation into claims that the deaths of six Italians who served in the Balkans were caused by exposure to depleted uranium.

Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato emphasized that point in an interview published on Wednesday.

Amato told the "La Repubblica" daily that alarm in Italy over the so-called "Balkan syndrome" was "more than legitimate". He added that he has also ordered Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini to ask NATO to open a probe into the cases.

Military sources at Greece's defense ministry noted on Wednesday that no suspicious health problems (leukemia, brain cancer etc.) have been recorded amongst Greek personnel serving in the Kosovo. An army health team in March took samples in areas patrolled by Greek troops to measure radiation levels, finding nothing unusual, the same sources said while also citing similar tests by US military scientists.

Greek military sources noted that armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium were mostly fired in western Kosovo, an area where Italian and German troops have been deployed.

According to reports, 1,481 men and women serve in the Greek contingent based in Kosovo, while specific orders have been given to keep safe distances from suspected contaminated sites, such as destroyed tanks.

Several wire stories on Wednesday reported that other NATO members have also begun screening soldiers that served in Kosovo.

[04] Tzannis Tzannetakis heads ND's Congress Organizing Committee

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

Marietta Yiannakou, Vangelis Meimarakis, George Orfanos, Fani Palli-Petralia, Eurodeputy Christos Folias, Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos and Drama Mayor Margaritis Tzimas are among the members appointed to the committee.

Bakoyianni refuses invitation to join ND Congress organizing committee: Prominent main opposition New Democracy MP Dora Bakoyianni has refused an invitation to participate in the organizing committee preparing the party's upcoming Congress, sources said Wednesday.

The sources said Bakoyianni turned down the invitation from ND former premier Tzannis Tzannetakis, who is slated to be formally designated the organizing committee's chairman in the next few days by ND leader Costas Karamanlis.

Bakoyianni told Tzannetakis that the political framework, role and authorities of the committee had not been clarified, and consequently there was no meaning in her taking part in it, the sources said.

The same sources said ND cadres Stavros Dimas and Costas Hadzidakis had also declined similar invitations.

[05] Greece needs real convergence, report says

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

IOBE in its quarterly report on the Greek economy said that it entered the eurozone with strong growth prospects, which however were undermined by a deteriorating business climate in the country.

"There is a sense that structural changes in the economy are lagging behind, economic policy has loosened, there are no comparative targets in the course towards real convergence, with inflation speeding up and a crisis under way on the Athens Stock Exchange," the report said.

"The Greek economy would have to take-off to achieve real convergence with the EU average by 2010," the report said.

IOBE said this aim was feasible on the precondition that Greece launches a new beginning in economic policy.

[06] Consumers group cites euro-related delays at local banks

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

INKA noted that it had received complaints of long lines at banks and allegations of poor familiarization of drachma-euro conversions by tellers and staff.

The consumer advocacy group also noted that an inordinate number of pensioners apparently headed to banks on the first day of transactions in order to have deposit interest rates passed into their booklets, whereas most branches were also short-handed due to the holidays.

Conversely, bank administrations said the first banking day following Greece's "euro zone" entry proceeded without problems at local banks and financial institutions.

[07] Indicative gas, heating oil prices drop slightly

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

Specifically, super and unleaded gasoline prices dropped by 1.5 drachmas per liter, while the suggested weekly retail price for heating oil was cut by 2.5 drachmas per liter, as Greece is currently experiencing one of the mildest winters in recent years. In the greater Athens area and Thessaloniki prefecture, super will sell for 227.6 drachmas (?0.67) per liter; 217.6 drachmas (?0.64) for unleaded; 215.4 (?0.63) for diesel and 107.4 drachmas (?0.32) per liter for heating oil.

The government announces indicative prices every Wednesday, which are effective for one week.

[08] Winter sales season officially starts January 8

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

The decision envisages stricter rules on pricing and intensive inspections by the ministry's agencies aiming to better protect consumers.

[09] New car sales in 2000 post second straight record

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

Car sales tax cuts and fierce competition led a speedy increase in sales of new cars, partly in replacement of much older automobiles.

S. Korean Hyundai sold 28,200 automobiles, ranking first in 2000 and dethroning Toyota, which placed second with 26,300 unit sales. Fiat, which ranked third in 2000, sold 5,800 units more than the previous year, totaling 25,500 cars.

Ferrari won first place in the high-end luxury car sector, with a 500-percent increase compared to last year, selling 12 units.

[10] Greek stocks begin 2001 with losses

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

Traders said the first session in euro transactions went smoothly but extremely slow.

Shares in the construction, leasing and smaller capitalization sectors came under strong pressure to lead the day's losers.

The general index ended 0.84 percent lower at 3,360.51 points, off the day's lows of 3,348.44 points, with turnover a low 24.685 billion drachmas or 72,443,220 euros.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.72 percent lower at 1,936.90 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 1.23 percent to 390.56 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 7,322.26 +0.06% Leasing: 525.64 -3.66% Insurance: 1,402.63 +1.35% Investment: 1,340.94 +0.44% Construction: 1,223.77 -3.78% Industrials: 2,055.38 -0.84% Miscellaneous: 2,838.70 -4.45% Holding: 3,877.97 +0.69%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 3.41 percent lower at 308.83 points.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 239 to 91 with another 22 issues unchanged.

Sidenor, Panafon, Alpha Bank and Hellenic Telecoms were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in euros): National Bank: 40.88 Alpha Bank: 35.82 Commercial Bank: 51.04 Eurobank: 21.30 Piraeus Bank: 16.56 Lambrakis Press: 14.36 Altec: 7.50 Titan Cement (c): 41.58 Hellenic Telecoms: 15.54 Panafon: 7.60 Hellenic Petroleum: 10.20 Attica Enterprises: 8.18 Intracom: 23.22 Minoan Lines: 5.86 Viohalco: 12.08 Hellenic Bottling: 17.50

Equity futures end session lower: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished the day on Wednesday lower, in line with the bourse indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.78 percent lower, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 1.23 percent lower.

Turnover was 20.9 million euros.

A total of 1,925 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 18.58 million euros.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 597 contracts changed hands on turnover of 2.33 million euros.

Bond prices drop in record trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Wednesday finished lower in record trade with trade focusing on the 20-year bond.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.266 percent from 5.371 percent in the previous session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 54 basis points from 59 basis points a day earlier.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 928 billion drachmas (2.7 billion euros) up from 185 billion drachmas in the session before.

The record high trading session was mainly due to the 25 point spread between the Greek 20-year bond and the Greek 10 year bond. The second widest spread - in the 12-member-state European Union eurozone - is held by the Italian 20-year and 10-year bonds and it is 15 base points from the later to the former.

Euro gains on the dollar: The euro gained ground against the dollar on Wednesday as the fixing rate of the euro was set by the European Central bank at 0.95 dollars, compared to 0.9423 on Tuesday.

The new currency is fixed at 340.75 drachmas per one euro.

[11] Four Turks found in possession of 513 kilos of heroin remanded in custody

Athens, 04/01/2001 (ANA)

They are Erhan Ginik, 47, Musin Aytogum, 50, Atnik Karadzeniz, 26, and Onur Biser, 45.

The quantity of heroin had been brought into the country from Turkey through the Evros border area and was destined for countries in Western Europe. It had been carefully packaged and concealed in a tourist coach.

In their pleas they denied any participation in the issue and claimed they were unaware of the quantity of heroin found.

[12] Attempt to annex occupied areas to Turkey would signal the end of Ankara's EU policy, spokesman says

NICOSIA, 04/01/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The spokesman stressed that Turkey's European Union accession course points out clearly Ankara's obligation to contribute to an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Referring to the prospects for convening another round of UN-led proximity talks, the spokesman said the government is taking precautionary moves against any attempt to appease demands by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to neutralize positive provisions relating to a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, included in a statement by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

"Turkey's application for EU membership concerns its geographical area and not the areas of Cyprus it occupies illegally since 1974," Papapetrou told his daily press briefing, adding that "any attempt to incorporate these areas into Turkey would mean the end of Ankara's European policy."

He said EU summit conclusions make it clear that the solution of the Cyprus question should be on the basis of UN resolutions and Turkey's partnership agreement refers to its obligation to contribute to a comprehensive settlement.

Asked how the government is responding to Turkish designs, Papapetrou said "the government has been working quietly, systematically and with caution to such designs and has often raised this issue at various meetings."

Replying to other questions, the spokesman said the application of the Republic of Cyprus to join the EU relates to the entire territory of the Republic, including the areas now under Turkish occupation.

"We are requesting the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the areas the government is now controlling and extension of the acquis to the occupied areas as soon as the government regains control of these areas".

The government has been prevented from exercising its jurisdiction in the northern Turkish occupied areas of the Republic since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied this part of the island.

The spokesman said this position has been communicated to the EU and seems to be understood by Brussels.

Replying to questions about a new round of UN peace talks, Papapetrou said the government is concerned about moves aimed at appeasing Denktash's demands for recognition of his self-styled regime in occupied Cyprus before he is to return to the negotiating table.

"The possibility of seeing some moves to neutralize or counteract positive elements in Kofi Annan's statement during the most recent round of proximity talks in Geneva in November exists and we have been very active in this regard to avert any such eventuality," Papapetrou said.

The UN has chaired five rounds of proximity talks since December 1999 and has invited the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to a new round in late January in Geneva.

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article