Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece's Tzelili and Thanou win silver and bronze medals at Edmonton games

[02] Acting government spokesman says possibility of creating European Police not discussed so far

[03] ND cadres say DM's statements on military service a rehash of past announcements

[04] Free Citizens Movement leader says country's political life characterized by morass and inertia

[05] HDW-Ferrostaal preferred buyer of Skaramanga shipyards

[06] Four new helipads for Greek isles announced

[07] Deficiencies reported on stretch of Egnatia

[08] Alpha Investments announces share buyback program

[09] Commercial Bank reports 24 percent increase in pre-tax profits

[10] Mutual fund assets steady in July, most returns in the red

[11] Greek stocks plunge on profit disappointment

[12] Charges filed over mass slaying of Sparta bird colony

[13] 2004 Marathon to be conducted on classic route

[14] XINHUA delegation meets with Athens 2004 committee

[15] Cyprus is making progress in its bid to amend legislation in line with EU laws

[16] President Clerides holds talks with US Ambassador

[01] Greece's Tzelili and Thanou win silver and bronze medals at Edmonton games

EDMONTON, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

“Golden girls”, Mirella Tzelili, who received a silver medal for her throw of 65.78 meters and sprinter Katerina Thanou, who was awarded a bronze medal for her time of 10.91, was praised by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos as well as main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis for their performances.

In a congratulatory message, the Greek prime minister said that the significant results achieved by both athletes once again reconfirmed the rising trend in Greek athletics.

“You graced your ethnic colors with the highest distinction, I therefore call on you to continue with the same zeal, fighting spirit and determination and I am certain that you will achieve even more challenging targets,” said Simitis.

On his part, Karamanlis said that the achievements by both Greek athletes once again thrilled the citizens of Greece and made the whole nation proud and he wished them “health, strength and the ability to achieve even more wins for the nation.”

Expressing her satisfaction, Tzelili said that what was most important to her was the medal.

"Today my technique was not that good, but I felt very strong and was able to throw (the javelin) even further," she said.

She said that what mattered to her was to once again be able to climb the pedestal of one of the largest competitions in the world, "and for this I am quite pleased," she added.

Following her run, Thanou told reporters that she had competed less in 2001 than she had other years but, nevertheless, was quite pleased with her time.

She said that achieving a time of 10.85 in the specific event was too challenging for her even though, she added an athlete enters an event with the determination to accomplish a high-ranking mark.

"If you do not have this in your mind, then you cannot compete," added Thanou.

The Greek sprinter, who ended behind US sprinter Marion Jones, said that for the past four years she has scored stable results in most of the games she has competed in and commenting on Jones' performance noted that the US sprinter is not unbeatable.

Other hopefuls such as Kostas Kenteris, who on Tuesday would be placed to the challenge at the 200-meter run and athlete Niki Xanthou who would venture the long jump event, are also expected to achieve similar if not better results.

[02] Acting government spokesman says possibility of creating European Police not discussed so far

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

"No such proposal has reached the Greek government and nor has the issue been raised even informally," he said.

According to reports, the Italian and German interior ministers have reportedly agreed on the creation of a European police force which will cooperate with national police structures in handling individuals whose actions pose a threat to public order.

[03] ND cadres say DM's statements on military service a rehash of past announcements

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

"In past days statements by the defense minister on issues concerning military service, facilities for pupils and students, etc, are intensifying constantly, statements which in their majority constitute a rehash of past announcements," they said.

They added that, as is already known, ND has submitted, with its program, to the Greek people a full proposal for the armed forces' reorganization and modernization.

"The national defense sector is extremely sensitive to be placed at the service of pre-congress expediencies," they said.

In a statement on Monday, Tsohatzopoulos had reminded of the already existing measure of reduced military service for students entering universities and technical institutes who do not exercise their right to postpone their military service.

[04] Free Citizens Movement leader says country's political life characterized by morass and inertia

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

Avramopoulos, who was speaking to reporters in Agios Nikolaos on the first day of his four-day tour of Crete, said the one who is suffering most and who is experiencing the consequences of an impersonal policy exercised all this time is the citizen himself.

"Our country has a democracy which is functioning but is not producing. It has institutions which need strengthening and I like to believe that, evading the morass and inertia, we shall renew the citizen's will to participate in public affairs because without his presence, his speech, his criticism and his dynamic position in politics, nothing can happen," he said.

Avramopoulos added that the political landscape is cloudy and that politics are moving in an election atmosphere, which also has unfavorable repercussions for society and the economy.

[05] HDW-Ferrostaal preferred buyer of Skaramanga shipyards

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

The text of the deal, which has yet to be officially publicized, is expected to single out the German company's offer, which according to officials, closely matched the criteria of the tender.

At the same time it calls on HDW-Ferrostaal to begin a series of negotiations with the Greek consortium in charge of the sale (comprised by 51 percent by ETBA and Workers Association 49 percent) so that the offer can be improved.

The decision by the consulting firm, has especially pleased the Workers Association of Skaramanga, which has already expressed its preference for the German company.

The two bids that were submitted on July 16, derived from the German shipyards (1.5 billion Dr and 3 billion Dr for the increase of the Greek shipyards share capital) and from the Elefsina shipyards (6 billion Dr. and 11 billion Dr. for the increase in share capital).

[06] Four new helipads for Greek isles announced

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

All four projected helipads will be able to operate day and night for helicopters of up to 18 meters -- 30 meters for the facility on Ithaca.

In a related development, the transport ministry also clarified that the Athens-Leros air link will be included in the so-called "unprofitable" domestic routes, as it meets relevant European Union criteria. Leros is in the northern Dodecannese, south of Patmos.

The ministry announced on Monday that an international tender will be proclaimed for unprofitable domestic routes now serviced by state-run Olympic Airways and its subsidiary Olympic Aviation, with both private Greek and EU air carriers eligible.

A new framework for such domestic air routes in Greece will be implemented as of late 2001.

[07] Deficiencies reported on stretch of Egnatia

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

The stretch of highway -- to be constructed across the breadth of northern Greece from Igoumenitsa to the border with Turkey -- was identified between the Aghios Andreas (Iraklitsa) to Karvali section.

Lack of specially designated on-off ramps for emergency vehicles was also cited.

[08] Alpha Investments announces share buyback program

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

George Provopoulos, Alpha Investments' chairman, said the program would be implemented according to market conditions.

He said that the decision was based on the fact that Alpha Investments' market value was trading at a 12 percent discount compared with its internal value.

[09] Commercial Bank reports 24 percent increase in pre-tax profits

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

The bank said it expects after tax and minorities profits to increase by 29 percent to 43.8 billion drachmas in the January-June period.

Net interest income increased at an annual rate of 16.9 percent to 96.8 billion drachmas, while net commission income fell by 9.1 percent to 21.5 billion drachmas, reflecting lower commissions on foreign exchange deposits and securities' trading.

The Group's net commission income fell 26 percent over the same period.

Financial trading income totalled 15.5 percent in the first six months of the year, up from 9.6 billion in 2000, reflecting a change in its market operations with the use of repos instead of synthetic swaps.

Commercial Bank said its operating spending rose 6.3 percent to 68.9 billion drachmas.

Assets totalled 5.4 trillion drachmas at the end of the first half of 2001, up 9.0 percent from last year, while group assets totalled 5.6 trillion drachmas, an increase of 8.9 percent over the same period.

Loans totalled 2.5 trillion drachmas, up 24.9 percent in the 12-month period and up 10.0 percent in the January-June period, reflecting increased lending to the manufacturing sector and mortgages (up 25.5 and 40 percent, respectively, on an annual basis).

Consumer loans rose 13.1 percent (annualized), exceeding last year's growth rate of 9.6 percent.

Provisions rose 19.6 percent to 75.6 billion drachmas, accounting for 3.0 percent of total lending.

The bank's bond portfolio's value fell 0.5 percent to 1.5 trillion drachmas, while the loans to assets ratio rose to 45.9 percent in the first half of 2001, from 40.0 percent last year.

Savings and repos totalled 4.1 trillion drachmas, up 15.3 percent. Commercial Bank said its equity capital totalled 629.5 billion drachmas up 6.4 percent from last year.

[10] Mutual fund assets steady in July, most returns in the red

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

Total assets in July were 16.80 percent lower than at the start of the year, the union said in its monthly report on mutual funds.

In terms of return on investment, the month's greatest losers were players in domestic equity funds, who saw an average 20 percent of their original investment evaporate against the beginning of 2001.

Next came investors in composite funds, who lost an average of 10.6 percent of their starting cash in the same period.

Bucking the trend were domestic money market and fixed income mutual funds, which stayed in the black, although at lower levels than originally forecast, the report said.

[11] Greek stocks plunge on profit disappointment

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

Analysts said the market would now test the 2,650 support level in the short-term.

Shares in the Publishing, Textiles, IT and Banks sectors suffered the heaviest losses, while decliners overwhelmingly led advancers by 346 to nine with one share unchanged.

The general index ended 4.37 percent lower at 2,669.54 points, near its day's lows of 2,664.11 points. Turnover was a low 142.23 million euros, or 48.46 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,501 points, off 4.44 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 5.21 percent to 303.99 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 875.11 points, off 5.04 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 258.00 points, down 4.90 percent.

Alysida, Papafilis, Vardas, Q&R, Spider, ANEK Lines, PC Systems and Creta Farm scored the biggest percentage points, while Danielidis, Eskimo, Microland, Korasidis, Kordellou Bros, Olympic Catering, AAA, ETEBAbank, CAP Cosmetics and Efklides suffered the heaviest losses.

Hellenic Telecoms, National Bank, Vovos, Alpha Bank and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Bond prices nose up in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished slightly higher in moderate to heavy trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.37 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 48 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 884 million euros.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

Equity futures slump in brisk trade: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange ended at discount in heavy trade on Tuesday, tracking a plunge in the stock market.

Changing hands were 7,649 contracts on turnover of 52.2 billion drachmas.

[12] Charges filed over mass slaying of Sparta bird colony

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

Local inhabitants woke up on Monday to find the Osios Nikonos park littered with the corpses of thousands of birds known to locals as 'spentzouria', that have lived since time immemorial in the plane trees around Sparta.

Authorities presume that the birds were poisoned by someone using contaminated wheat.

In collaboration with the police and Veterinary Directorate, some of the dead birds have been sent to Athens for toxicology tests to determine the exact cause of death. In the meantime, the town hall has pressed charges against 'person or persons unknown'.

[13] 2004 Marathon to be conducted on classic route

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

Addressing a press conference in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where the Eighth World Track and Field Championships are taking place, Kapralos said that "the marathon is the event which distinguishes the Games."

"The marathon of Athens can only begin from Marathona (eastern Attica) and end at the Panathenian Stadium (in Athens), on the classic course, which will be reminiscent to athletes long after the games have ended, because it is the event that will make the Athens Games singular," he said.

He said the issue of another route has not been proposed and expressed the optimism that such an issue would not even arise, not even by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) nor by the World Federation and especially not by domestic factors.

Asked about the period in which the marathon will be conducted, Kapralos noted that such a decision has yet to be undertaken since all random repercussions towards athletes are still under scrutiny as well as the projection of the event.

[14] XINHUA delegation meets with Athens 2004 committee

Athens, 08/08/2001 (ANA)

Special Advisor to the Athens Games Ioannis Spanoudakis congratulated the Chinese delegation for winning the right to stage the 2008 Games in Beijing, and said that "the Olympic Games is a large celebration of humanity."

On the part of the Chinese delegation, Baoshun noted that his country aspires to work closely with Athens officials so that both nations can achieve a "close and constructive working relationship so that Chinese public opinion can be continuously informed on the Athens 2004 Olympic Games."

[15] Cyprus is making progress in its bid to amend legislation in line with EU laws

NICOSIA, 08/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Vassiliou said 95 per cent of legislation, already passed by the House, is being implemented, noting that Cyprus has already closed provisionally 23 out of 29 chapters and pointing out that 50 per cent of the acquis communautaire relates to fisheries, the environment, both of which Cyprus have closed, and agriculture, which is expected to close provisionally next year.

"We have to reform our tax system, VAT has to go up to 15 per cent (from the current 10 per cent), indirect taxation must increase and the disparity between offshore units and companies operating in Cyprus must be abolished,"

Vassiliou said, after consecutive meetings on Tuesday with President Glafcos Clerides and Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Costas Themistocleous.

Vassiliou said income tax must be reduced, the ceiling for the tax-free income must be raised and other social measures must be introduced.

He said this month there will be a three-day meeting of experts from abroad to discuss tax reforms after which the political parties will be consulted with a view to prepare a package deal to be submitted to the House of Representatives in October, after the House summer recess.

The Chief Negotiator said the chapter on agriculture is likely to be the last to close, being the most difficult not only for Cyprus but also for other candidate countries.

He said at his meeting with Themistocleous they discussed forestry, animal husbandry and agricultural production, areas that need special attention and said the ministry needs more personnel to meet increasing workload related to EU harmonization needs.

"We are edging towards the end of our accession course but we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us," Minister Themistocleous said.

Cyprus started membership talks in 1998 and is currently ahead of other candidate countries. It hopes to conclude the talks by the end of next year.

[16] President Clerides holds talks with US Ambassador

NICOSIA, 08/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking after meeting President Glafcos Clerides, Bandler said he has just returned from Washington and wished to meet President Clerides before the latter left for his summer vacation, adding that they had "a very good talk of the Cyprus question" and of bilateral issues.

Replying to a question on the perspectives of a resumption of the UN-led talks, he said the US "strongly supports the UN-led talks process", pointing out that "this is really the only route to make progress for a Cyprus settlement."

Invited to comment on whether Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash would participate in the talks with "an open mind", Bandler said "we hope everyone goes with an open mind."

The United Nations were trying to bring the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides back to the negotiating table, which Denktash abandoned last year after five rounds of UN-led proximity talks.

Denktash, backed by Ankara, declared the talks dead and demanded recognition of his self-styled regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus before he returns to the dialogue.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory, forcibly uprooting some 200,000

Greek Cypriots, making one third of the island's population, from their homes and properties.

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