Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece's Kenderis wins gold medal in 200m race at world championships

[02] Paschalides says proposed PASOK charter stands as new instrument for dialogue

[03] Premier departs for brief holiday on Sifnos

[04] New Israeli envoy in Athens sharply criticizes Arafat

[05] Greek inflation unchanged at 3.9 percent in July, yr/yr

[06] Ten groups bid in tender to become GTO's consultants

[07] Coalition of the Left party questions price and procedures in Skaramangas Shipyards sale

[08] Coalition party accuses statistics service of 'manipulating' unemployment figures

[09] No firms about to face action on abuse of share cap rises

[10] Greek stocks end lower in thin trade

[11] Cyprus Church strongly denounces continued destruction of island's cultural and religious heritage

[12] Excavations bring to light several antiquities of the 4th century B.C.

[01] Greece's Kenderis wins gold medal in 200m race at world championships

EDMONTON, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

Conserving his energy in the first lap, Kenderis put on speed in the second and outstripped his rivals with several strides to spare to finish in 20.04 seconds. Second and third place were sorely contested, with three athletes coming in with a time of 20.20 seconds and two sharing the bronze.

Commenting on the winning race, coach Christos Tzekos said it had helped prove that Kenderis' medal in Sydney had not been a fluke and that the athlete was more than a 'one-race wonder'.

"We are beginning to become established as world-class Greek athletes abroad and I think we are no longer doubted," Tzekos said

Prime Minister Costas Simitis sent a congratulatory telegram to Kenderis for his victory.

"Your tireless struggle, methodical preparation and, above all, your self-confidence have given you a well-earned first place," the telegram read.

Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis also sent a message congratulating the athlete, noting that he had once again made the nation feel proud and giving him thanks on behalf of all Greeks.

"His performance in Edmonton and chiefly his great race today have earned Costas Kenderis a place among the top athletes in the world," he added.

In congratulations to Kenderis, Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos said he and his fellow athletes honored athletics and their country through their efforts.

[02] Paschalides says proposed PASOK charter stands as new instrument for dialogue

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

The proposed new charter, which was introduced on Thursday by PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis, calls for changes in three axes: a return to the party's grass roots; a new regional structure as well as a more collective effort to shape PASOK's political direction.

Paschalides said that there was ample time for discussions on possible modifications to the proposed charter, but also solid decision-making as well, ahead of the upcoming PASOK Congress scheduled for October.

"The Congress in October will not be judged under laboratory conditions, but by genuine conditions," he noted.

The new charter is reportedly based on deliberations at a series of recent meetings by the ruling party's charter committee, complete with observations by party leader and Prime Minister Costas Simitis included in the text drawn up by Skandalidis.

The proposal will again be considered by the relevant charter committee at its two upcoming conferences, the first of which is scheduled for August 21 and the second for August 23, and before it is forwarded to PASOK's Central Committee at the end of the month.

The last stage is for a finalized text to be submitted by the Central Committee and tabled at the ruling party's stepped up Congress in October.

In an unrelated development, Paschalides later in the day met with officials from the port authority of Thessaloniki, who briefed the minister on the level of the holiday traffic at the northern Greek port.

On his part, Paschalides announced that some 50,000 passengers have already passed through the port to destinations in the Aegean, and there were encouraging signs that the above number would change by the end of summer.

Following his talks with the port authorities, Paschalides also visited with forest rangers from the Seikh Sou forest who are stationed at the Kedrino Hill.

Regional Fire Department Director Anastasios Mourouvakis, who accompanied the minister on his visit, noted that since the beginning of 2001 some 198 forest fires have been reported, destroying nearly 4,000 acres, while last year 189 forest fires occurred burning about 12,000 acres of land.

[03] Premier departs for brief holiday on Sifnos

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

The Greek premier is scheduled to return to Athens on Aug. 20.

[04] New Israeli envoy in Athens sharply criticizes Arafat

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

According to wire services, a suicide bomber from the militant Hamas group walked up to the counter of a Jerusalem pizzeria and detonated a nail-packed bomb in an apparent revenge attack for a West Bank missile strike which killed two Hamas leaders and six others in late July.

"These attacks, quite simply, are taking place because President (Yasser) Arafat does not want to signal an end to the confrontation, as he had rejected Israel's generous peace offers last summer for a Palestinian state on 97 percent of the West Bank and Gaza," newly appointed Israeli envoy to Athens David Sasson stated in the press release.

The new Israeli ambassador, who also served as his country's first envoy to Greece from 1990 to 1996, accused Arafat of opting for violence, and "releasing hundreds of known terrorists from extremist Palestinian organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who are now carrying out terrorist attacks against Israelis, such as the one yesterday, on a daily basis."

[05] Greek inflation unchanged at 3.9 percent in July, yr/yr

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

The NSS said that substantial declines in food and petrol prices and lower prices by mobile telephony operators in July helped in containing the inflation rate despite a 4.2 percent average increase in electricity bills and higher prices in hotels and fisheries prices.

The NSS said that the consumer price index was affected by an 11.5 percent increase in alcohol drinks and tobacco in July 2001, compared with the same month last year.

[06] Ten groups bid in tender to become GTO's consultants

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

The 10 groups are:

1. KRMG Kyriakou Consultants SA, FPD Savills, Bahas Grammatidis Associates, Q-PLAN SA, TUV Hellas SA, LOT SA, Denco Consultants Engineers Ltd, JBR Hellas Ltd, Domiki Development ABETE, THRSA & IHA,

2. Greek Register SA,

3. TEC Consulting SA, Cypronetwork Consultancy Group & Read SA,

4. Lloyd`s Register SA, †. Gounaropoulos-A. Kostikas & Associates, Fotopo Ltd & Quali Systems Ltd,

5. LDK Consultants Ltd, Strategem Ltd & Letrina SA,

6. €LPHA Real Estate SA, Societe Generale de Surveillance Holding SA (Geneva). Planing Consultants SA, Euroconsultants SA,

7. DQS Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsysten mbh.

8. Burean Veritas, TUV Rheinland/Berlin Branderburg Group, Planet Ernst & Young SA, Kantor SA, Ernst & Young Hellas SA

9. National Quality Assurance Ltd, and

10. TUB Suddentschland.

[07] Coalition of the Left party questions price and procedures in Skaramangas Shipyards sale

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

An announcement by the party speaks of "procedures which are legally full of loopholes and economically unprofitable and choices which do not safeguard the development perspective and jobs."

"The 'automatic pilot' of neo-liberal logic on the sale of public wealth has also led the issue of the Skaramangas Shipyards to government decisions which are hovering politically and morally, and which are non-transparent and indicative of the choice of 'demerit-sale' of big companies for the benefit of private economic interests," the announcement said.

[08] Coalition party accuses statistics service of 'manipulating' unemployment figures

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

In an announcement, the Coalition spoke of a "major moral and political issue" and raised the issue of "political and service responsibilities."

"The prolonged silence by relevant government officials and the substantive confirmation of evidence reported on the falsity of the unemployment indicator pose relentless questions," it said.

The announcement further said that the prestige of ESYE was dealt a severe blow since it appears to be bowing to current political expediencies and subduing its scientific and institutional function to games of communication for the creation of impressions.

[09] No firms about to face action on abuse of share cap rises

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

Responding to a report in a financial newspaper, the bourse said in a statement that it regularly monitored information on the use of proceeds from share capital rises and the timely release of data to investors.

The latest enquiry had yet to be completed, and authorities had no findings to report, the statement added.

[10] Greek stocks end lower in thin trade

Athens, 11/08/2001 (ANA)

Traders said the market was trying to hold above the 2,600 level in the short-term amid lack of market moving news and of trading activity.

Blue chip stocks remained under pressure to record the biggest day losses, while smaller and medium capitalization stocks showed an improved picture.

The general index ended 0.41 percent lower at 2,624.08 points, off the day's lows of 2,612.72 and the day's highs of 2,652.82 points, for a net loss of 6.48 percent in the week.

Turnover was a disappointing 96.03 million euros, or 32.72 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,466.68 points, off 0.66 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.40 percent to 300.18 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 870.57 points, down 0.51 percent.

The parallel market for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 256.44 points, off 0.65 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 198 to 111 with another 42 issues unchanged.

Mouriadis, Vardas, Halyps, Fintexport, Intersat, Hyatt, MLS, Daring, Allatini Ceramics and Fanco scored the biggest percentage gains (between 11.86 and 4.82 percent), while Axon Holdings, Eskimo, Viosol, Vis, Galis, Pairis, Alysida, Karamolegkos and Ergo Investments suffered the heaviest losses (between 11.06 and 4.35 percent).

Hellenic Telecoms (7.66 million euros), Giannousis (3.72 mln), Vovos (3.32 million), Mouriadis (3.14 million) and Hyatt (2.84 million euros) were the most heavily traded stocks.

Bond prices end mixed in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished mixed in moderate to heavy trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.31 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 50 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 801 million euros.

Buy orders accounted for around half of turnover.

Equity futures slip in edgy trade: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange ended at a slight discount on Friday, seeking direction in light, volatile trade.

Changing hands were 4,775 contracts on turnover of 33.6 billion drachmas.

[11] Cyprus Church strongly denounces continued destruction of island's cultural and religious heritage

NICOSIA, 11/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

In a press release, the Holy Synod, the island's supreme religious body, calls on foreign governments and international organizations to take all necessary measures "to end the Turkish outrageous acts, which flagrantly violate the human rights of our people."

The Cyprus Church urges them to protect "our religious and cultural heritage" and force Turkey to comply with international law.

"The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus strongly protests against the continued and systematic plundering of holy sites, cemeteries and other sacred places, historical and ancient monuments and the religious and cultural heritage of Greeks of Cyprus in the occupied territories and against designs to alter the demographic character of the occupied areas by the Ankara-backed Denktash bogus-state".

The Holy Synod specifically refers to the destruction and acts of vandalism against some 500 churches in the occupied areas and their conversion into Muslim mosques, and even stables and restaurants.

The Cyprus government and church have repeatedly protested to UNESCO, the World Council of Churches and many other inter-national and regional organizations against the systematic plundering and destruction of the 9,000-year-old civilization in the areas occupied by Turkish troops.

[12] Excavations bring to light several antiquities of the 4th century B.C.

NICOSIA, 11/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

According to an official press release the 2001 excavation season that has been completed, provided exclusive evidence for the presence of the Palace of Idalion on the northwest slope of the Hill of Ampileri, the west Acropolis of Idalion.

According to this evidence the Palace was erected at the beginning of the Cypro-Archaic period and was reused by the Phoenician occupants of the town in the second half of the 5th and throughout the 4th century B.C.

The excavation, conducted by the Cyprus Department of Antiquities, in the area of the Olive Press at ancient Idalion, south of Nicosia, have brought to light a second building complex consisting of a number of rooms housed the Olive Press of the Palace.

The movable finds of this year's excavations consist of Phoenician inscriptions, coins of Alexander the Great and Pumiathon of Kition, a clay mask of god Bes, a female bust imported from the Aegean and limestone sphinxs. The most important finding is believed to be a thymiatenion consisting of a bowl held by three female figurines both of which are decorated with painted floral motifs and solid red paint.

As this object is particularly important it was included in the Cyprus Museum exhibition in Nicosia.

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