Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-02-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't confirms that EU summit on Iraq officially approved

[02] Europarliament to discuss developments in Iraq, on Wednesday

[03] Gov't: Activating NATO's article IV might set precedent favoring Greece

[04] Communist leader briefs president on party's views on the Iraq crisis

[05] Gov't on Greek-Turkish meeting regarding Cyprus security issues

[06] Cyprus president expects possible UN plan for Cyprus problem

[07] Skopje newspaper reports NATO rift may delay Euroforce mission in

[08] FYROM FM says name of new negotiator to be announced soon

[09] Deputy FM and British counterpart discuss development cooperation initiatives

[10] Justice minister briefs French counterpart on Greek EU presidency's priorities

[11] Health minister meets PM but denies being asked to resign

[12] Foreign ministry announces agenda of EU Troika ministerial meeting with China

[13] IMF report warns of dangers in maintaining high growth rates

[14] Bank of Greece says Iraqi crisis could slow economic growth

[15] Parliament briefed on Greek EU presidency's goals for shipping sector

[16] Gov’t says EU funds' absorption rate satisfactory

[17] Greece to propose adoption of common tourism policy by EU

[18] Conference on the future of employment to be held in February in Athens

[19] EU meetings in Thessaloniki on business future of Europe

[20] ASE follows European markets higher on Tuesday

[21] 2004 preparations on Parliament c'tee agenda; Venizelos briefing

[22] Medicopter crashes on Ikaria en route to patient pick-up

[23] Roman Catholic delegation visits Archbishop Christodoulos

[24] FM Kasoulides says nothing definite about Annan visit

[25] Annan may visit Cyprus by March 2, spokesman says

[01] Gov't confirms that EU summit on Iraq officially approved

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

The summit will take place on Monday in Brussels.

According to the government spokesman on Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will return to Athens next Tuesday. Earlier that day in Brussels, Simitis, in his capacity as the chairman of the unofficial summit, will chair a meeting with EU candidate-states’ leaders.

Regarding the high-profile Franco-German proposal to extend the mission of UN weapons inspectors in the Iraq and even increase their numbers, spokesman Christos Protopapas noted that the Greek government believes that war is “not a one-way street”, while Greece, in its position as the current EU president, should “synthesize all of the member-states’ views. It’s now time for the partners to lucidly outline their stance,” he stressed.

In response to a press question, Protopapas also added that the unofficial nature of Monday’s summit was selected in order avoid “further injury to the EU’s prestige” in case a difference of opinion continues.

Finally, he stressed that the Greek EU presidency has not chosen a policy of that will bring it on a collision course with Washington.

ND supports gov't's call for special EU summit on Iraq issue in Brussels: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis on Tuesday expressed his party's support for the government's initiative to convene a special European Union summit on Monday, so that Europe will not appear fragmented over the crisis in Iraq.

''All Greeks are present in every effort of national importance and we are aiming toward the greatest possible success of the presidency in all sectors and especially concerning a common foreign policy,'' Karamanlis said.

He reiterated his party's stance for a peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis and considered it indispensable that political and diplomatic efforts should be intensified toward that direction in the framework of the United Nations Security Council.

Karamanlis also expressed the belief that there was still time for a peaceful settlement of the crisis, despite assessments that the countdown has began, stressing that even now at the last moment Iraq should cooperate without reservations or subterfuge with the international community toward the peaceful implementation of Security Council resolutions.

[02] Europarliament to discuss developments in Iraq, on Wednesday

STRASBOURG 12/02/2003 (ANA - O. Tsipira)

The proposal for the off the agenda discussion was tabled jointly by the Christian Democrats, the Socialists and the Greens, while Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis will represent the Greek EU presidency.

The attention of the Europarliament is focused on the actions of the Greek presidency, in the hope of achieving to convince the 15 member-states to take a common stance.

''I call on the Greek government and Mr. Solana to do all they can so as to arrive at a common stance on Monday,'' Christian Democrat Europarliament Group President Hans-Ghert Petering said.

He also criticized German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for his non-participating stance in the possible war in Iraq, calling it ''irresponsible, anti-European and anti-American'' resulting in the isolation of Germany.

On his part, Socialist Group President Enrique Baron Crespo spoke of mass protests prepared for Saturday, saying that a ''unified European voice'' stems from them.

In contrast with the Christian-Democrats, Crespo said he hopped that the Europeans can formulate a different stance than that of the United States.

Finally, the leader of the Greens in Europarliament Cohn-Bendit said that a common European stance existed and was expressed by the European people, a stance that was against the war.

[03] Gov't: Activating NATO's article IV might set precedent favoring Greece

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

He was responding to questions on why Athens had not backed the objections to activating article IV raised by Belgium, France and Germany on Monday.

Protopapas noted that, based on the statements of United States officials, there was a threat of war and therefore Turkey was able to invoke a need to activate article IV by saying that it might face problems as a result of the ensuing conflict.

Basically, the Turks claimed that an American attack on Iraq might trigger a retaliatory strike by Baghdad against Turkish territory, among others, Protopapas clarified.

In accordance with the NATO treaty, if one of the heads of state in the Alliance invoked a threat against his country, the process of talks outlined in article IV had to be activated.

The spokesman noted that Athens had repeatedly complained in the past because the specific procedure had not been activated in Greece's favor. Greek support for the process at the present junction ''might create a precedent in favor of Greek positions,'' he added.

He also noted that the Turkish government had officially stated that it was in favor of peace and that Ankara's request toward NATO concerned a defensive process.

Finally, he said Greece would not send ''Patriot'' missiles to Turkey in response to a Turkish request.

[04] Communist leader briefs president on party's views on the Iraq crisis

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

''What is necessary today, in our opinion, is the global political isolation of the United States and all countries which consent to this savage and dirty war. We are not appeased at all by whatever resistances made by France, Germany and other European countries. We are seeing them gradually slipping towards a compromise, which we do not hope for, because indeed if the United States is left alone, maybe it will not be so easy for it to launch this war,'' Papariga said later.

She said the case of peace lies primarily in the hands of the peoples of the world, the peoples of Europe and the Greek people, while streets and squares should be filled with people over the coming days and over the coming period.

''Pressure should be exerted on governments not to slip at the last moment and abandon whatever resistances they have expressed until now,'' she added.

''Above all, we want to express our radical opposition to government policy. The Greek government has shown once again that, when it is presented with a certain dilemma, it is always interested in proving its pro-American position, its position to serve the interests of the United States with facilities ... We demand from the Greek government to observe another position. Unless it does not want, '' Papariga said.

[05] Gov't on Greek-Turkish meeting regarding Cyprus security issues

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

In echoing reports out of the Turkish capital a day earlier, however, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said a specific day and place have not as yet been finalized.

Moreover, he said the contacts fall within the United Nations’ framework, whereas UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected in Athens from Ankara on Feb. 25. He will then depart for Cyprus.

According to an ANA dispatch from Istanbul on Monday quoting the semi-official “Anadolu” news agency, Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said the meetings will take place in either Athens or Ankara, “due to the speed of developments taking place in the region”.

“Turkey wants them (meetings) to take place in Ankara, while Greece wants discussions in Athens because it is now engaged with the EU presidency. If a solution is not forthcoming the heads of the representations will meet to determine a date and place. I don’t think this is a problem,” Yakis was quoted as saying.

[06] Cyprus president expects possible UN plan for Cyprus problem

NICOSIA 12/02/2003 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

The president of Cyprus, however, stressed that the balance of the plan will not change and clarified that the plan expected to be submitted by Annan will not be a new one, in an exclusive interview with the Athens News Agency's General Director Andreas Christodoulides.

Responding to a question on whether an amended plan or a changed plan would be less advantageous, Clerides said that the amended proposals by Annan would not take into account the demand of one side alone.

He added that never in the past did the United Nations follow this tactic that is to fully satisfy one side and ignore the other, thus the plan will have certain balances.

Clerides also responded to a question regarding the effects of the election campaign underway in Cyprus on the functioning of the National Council, saying that this body plays an advisory role and very rarely it has arrived at unanimous decisions, resulting in the burden of the decision to fall on the shoulders of the president.

On a different note, he clarified that the issue of security, which will be discussed between Greece and Turkey, concerns the stationing of forces from the two countries on the island republic, based on the Treaty of Alliance which determines these forces, along with the Cypriot force that existed and their mission is to defend Cyprus from outside threats.

Speaking of Cyprus' accession to the European Union, Clerides said that it has helped in many ways the efforts toward the resolution of the political problem since, in conjunction with Turkey's accession course, it forces Ankara to change its policy and state that its previous policy of ''a non-solution is a solution'' was wrong.

He added that Europe will observe the positions of Justice and Development Party leader Tayyip Erdogan when he becomes prime minister and he knows that in order to move toward Europe he should accomplish several things, among them the resolution of the Cyprus problem.

Clerides also stressed the importance of harmonic relations between Cyprus and Greece, saying that the basis for close cooperation have been set in place and that they will develop, while in the event that he is not reelected the further development will depend upon the issues that remain unresolved.

He underlined, however, that the close cooperation made everybody realize that the two states know what they want and how to achieve it, a fact that improved their image toward third parties.

Clerides also spoke of the support he enjoyed from the majority of the island republic's youth and justified it saying that he succeeded in placing Cyprus in the European Union, a fact that opened up prospects and set the foundations for the co-existence of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

''They began to realize that it is not with division, with borders, with armies that you create the future of your land, but with the peaceful co-existence and the peaceful effort for progress,'' Clerides said.

Finally, Clerides refused to make any predictions on the outcome of this Sunday's presidential elections.

[07] Skopje newspaper reports NATO rift may delay Euroforce mission in

FYROM SKOPJE 12/02/2003 (ANA - N. Fragopoulos)

According to ''Dnevnik'', the US will block the launch of the ''Euroforce'' mission in retaliation after France, Germany and Belgium on Monday blocked a US demand for NATO reinforcement of Turkey's defense in light of a prospective war on Iraq.

''Following this development, the US will not hesitate to employ all means available to them in order to delay, or even block, NATO approval for the replacement of the NATO contingent by the European force'', the paper cited the source as saying, adding that such prospect would delay the ''Euroforce's'' first mission in FYROM.

Preparations for the first 450-troop-strong ''Euroforce'' contingent in FYROM are approaching final stages. It is expected that the European force will assume duties in the region in late March to replace the NATO contingent that has been stationed in FYROM since August 2001, after clashes that had earlier erupted between ethnic Albanian rebels and FYROM security forces came to an end.

[08] FYROM FM says name of new negotiator to be announced soon

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

Mitreva said consultations with the country's President Boris Trajkovski (who takes decisions with the government on foreign policy and defense issues) on the person to represent FYROM in talks on the name are in their final stage.

FYROM's new representative will replace the current one, Ivan Tosevski, who held talks on the name issue in past years with Greece's Ambassador at the UN Ilias Gounaris under the auspices of Mathew Nimetz, the UN secretary general's special representative.

Disagreement had appeared recently regarding FYROM's new negotiator on the name issue, since the president's environment had let it be understood that it could be Ljubomir Frtizkovski, an informal adviser of Trajkovski, who, however, according to the press in Skopje, probably does not have Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski's approval.

On the question of the FYROM government's stance on the name issue, Mitreva said the use of her country's constitutional name in international communication is an issue of paramount significance, adding that their could be negotiations with Greece on finding a ''dignified solution'' to be used in bilateral relations.

[09] Deputy FM and British counterpart discuss development cooperation initiatives

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

Emphasis was placed during the talks on priorities concerning immigration and growth and the implementation of Barcelona-Monterrey decisions on eradicating poverty and the increase in official development aid.

The prospect of the activation of the EU's 10 new member-states in the development cooperation and aid sector was also discussed.

Issues to be examined at the informal Council of Development Ministers in Alexandroupoli in June were discussed, particularly the role of Europe of the 25 in development, as well as procedural matters, regarding development cooperation, arising from the new form of the General Affairs and Foreign relations Council.

[10] Justice minister briefs French counterpart on Greek EU presidency's priorities

PARIS 12/02/2003 (ANA)

These issues will be discussed during the meeting of the justice ministers' council on Feb. 27 and 28 in Brussels and in March in the city of Veroia, North central Greece.

The Greek minister arrived in Paris beginning a tour of European capitals to brief his counterparts on these issues, in his capacity as the EU's presiding minister.

On Wednesday, the Greek minister will participate in the plenum assembly of the Europarliament in Strasbourg, to brief Eurodeputies on the results of the work of the council of ministers during 2002 on justice issues and to respond to their questions.

On Thursday he will arrive in Rome to meet with his Italian counterpart Roberto Castelli and next Monday he will meet with Swedish Justice Minister Thomas Bodstrom in Stockholm.

[11] Health minister meets PM but denies being asked to resign

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

Though the meeting took place on the morning following yet another crash by an ambulance service helicopter on the island of Ikaria, it had been scheduled some time previously in order to prepare for a meeting of the cabinet to discuss health and welfare issues.

Stefanis confirmed that his talks with the premier had covered the latest medicopter crash and hinted as he departed from the prime minister's office that the system for patient airlifts would be re-examined from scratch and new measures would be taken. It was also announced that the health minister will stay away from the inauguration of a university hospital in Alexandroupolis on Wednesday, though it was not made clear whether his absence was due to the bad weather conditions in the area or the latest incidents in EKAB.

Earlier on Tuesday, Stefanis was booed and heckled when he tried to address a conference of the Panhellenic Hospital Workers Union by healthcare workers enraged at the yet another possibly fatal accident in the ambulance helicopter service.

A massive search and rescue operation was still in progress on Tuesday to locate the helicopter's four-member crew, comprised of a pilot, co-pilot, doctor and paramedic.

The government's grief at the incident was expressed by government spokesman Christos Protopapas during Tuesday's regular press briefing, while he announced that the prime minister had also cancelled his scheduled visit to Alexandroupolis on Wednesday.

Asked whether all the necessary checks had been carried out on the downed chopper, Protopapas said that the pilot was very experienced and that the helicopter had been equipped with floats.

Protopapas stressed that all the causes of the accident would be investigated and that, apart from an expert fact-finding mission by an independent authority, the health minister had ordered an investigation to find out whether security procedures had been properly adhered to.

The spokesman noted that the helicopters at EKAB's disposal were those used by missions of the type carried out by EKAB. Regarding the previous accidents involving EKAB helicopters, he said the first report had already been submitted and the second would be announced very soon.

This was the third crash during a night-time flight involving the same type of Augusta helicopters used by EKAB, following the crash of a medicopter off Sounio in January 2001 and one last summer on Anafi. Both the previous two crashes claimed the lives of everyone on board, including patients, doctors and paramedics.

The latest downed medicopter had taken off late Monday night from the Aegean island of Lesvos to pick up a 70-year-old woman from Ikaria and transport her to a hospital on the nearby island of Samos.

Ikaria airport's control tower lost contact with the helicopter before it landed, however, and it went off the radar shortly after midnight as it was flying approximately two kilometers from the airport.

Health minister heckled by healthcare workers after medicopter crash: Health Minister Costas Stefanis found himself booed and heckled when he took the stand to address the 10th Conference of the Panhellenic Hospital Workers Federation on Tuesday, as gathered delegates expressed their outrage at yet another accident involving an EKAB ambulance service helicopter that went down with four of their colleagues the night before.

A massive search and rescue operation was still in progress on Tuesday to locate the helicopter's four-member crew, comprised of a pilot, co-pilot, doctor and paramedic.

This was the third crash during a night-time flight involving the same type of Augusta helicopters used by EKAB, following the crash of a medicopter off Sounio in January 2001 and one last summer on Anafi. Both the previous two crashes claimed the lives of everyone on board, including patients, doctors and paramedics.

As the minister launched into his speech after several false starts, he caused an even louder outcry when he tried to express his sorrow over the accident, describing it as a tragic incident that the authorities would have to investigate in depth, so as to discover the causes of not just this accident but also the previous ones.

Workers responded by hauling out banners and chanting anti-privatization slogans and protests against more deaths in the health sector, finally forcing the minister to depart.

In statements to reporters afterwards, Stefanis said the ministry would continue to provide coverage to residents on remote islands and stressed that no incident would be left uncovered because of the new accident.

Asked if ambulance helicopters would continue to fly during the night, Stefanis said that this was an issue that was currently being examined.

Until a final decision was made, he added, difficult cases on islands would be handled through telemedicine and by transferring doctors to these islands.

The minister also stressed that after the two previous accidents involving EKAB helicopters, all EKAB craft had been equipped with more up-to-date navigational systems but that this had not been enough to avert a new accident.

Earlier on Tuesday, search crews had located the wreckage of the helicopter, which had crashed on the island of Ikaria shortly after midnight.

The medicopter had taken off late Monday night from the Aegean island of Lesvos to pick up a 70-year-old woman suffering from gastro-intestinal bleeding from Ikaria and transport her to a hospital on the nearby island of Samos.

Ikaria airport's control tower lost contact with the helicopter before it landed, however, and it went off the radar shortly after midnight as it was flying approximately two kilometers from the airport.

Taking part in the search were a Super Puma all-weather helicopter, a C-130 military transport plane, police, firefighters and local volunteers, who were scouring the vicinity near the airport where some wreckage was spotted.

The patient, Olympia Kotsoni, who told ANA she was devastated over the medicopter's crash, was later transported by a Coast Guard patrol boat in high seas to the nearby island of Samos, where she was hospitalized.

[12] Foreign ministry announces agenda of EU Troika ministerial meeting with China

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

The other issues on the agenda are the Korean peninsula, the fight against terrorism, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, human rights, non proliferation, arms control and disarmament, including ICOC, Afghanistan, India/Pakistan and AOB-Burma/Myanmar.

[13] IMF report warns of dangers in maintaining high growth rates

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

The report, presented by Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, however, warned of "dangers in maintaining a current economic growth, with fiscal restructuring slowing at a time when the country's public debt remains high and its current accounts' deficit has widened to one of the biggest shortfalls in the industrialized world, burdening the country's external borrowing".

The IMF's report also noted that "a structural reform program is still far from its completion," and urged the Greek government to speed up structural and fiscal changes in the economy, or risk a slowdown in economic growth.

The report also stressed the risk of reviewing downwards estimates of high growth rates in the next two years. These risks included a possible war in Iraq with a subsequent rise in oil prices and higher inflation, its impact on tourism and a possible further appreciation of the euro currency that could affect eurozone's competitiveness.

The IMF recommended that the Greek government should act swiftly to contain inflation through lower pay rises, taking measures to ensure a bigger fall in the budget's structural deficit, by cutting the country's fiscal deficit by 0.75 percentage points of GDP annually by the year 2006.

The IMF said that the 2003 budget deficit fell slightly with the help of increased tax revenues and a reduction of spending in a state investments program.

It also urged for cut backs in all basic spending of the public sector to achieve a necessary fiscal adjustment, by reducing hirings and adopting part-time employment in the public sector, reducing relatively high military spending, more efficient funding of state agencies, a redistribution of funds in the healthcare system and a new intervention in the country's social security system. IMF's projections said that pension spending in Greece, as a percentage of GDP, would almost double in the next decades, "by far the biggest increase in the EU and not a viable prospect".

The IMF also urged for measures to simplify investment procedures, strengthening a regulatory framework to achieve a more efficient control of markets, reforming the country's labor market, a gradual withdrawal of the state from all commercial activities and a further deregulation of domestic markets.

Main opposition welcomes IMF report on Greek economy: The main opposition New Democracy party on Tuesday welcomed a report by the International Monetary Fund on the Greek economy released earlier in the day.

''The IMF's assertions have yet again confirmed New Democracy's views,'' the party's economic spokesman, George Alogoskoufis, said in a statement.

''Furthermore, they confirm that the government is sacrificing the economy to the altar of pre-election expediency,'' the statement said.

Alogoskoufis claimed that the report, along with recommendations from the European Union on the country's updated stability and growth program, were ''a debacle''.

[14] Bank of Greece says Iraqi crisis could slow economic growth

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Mr Nikos Garganas, said the central bank estimated a slight slowdown of economic growth rate in Greece this year and expressed his worries over any likely impact on Greek tourism, the biggest contributor of added value to the economy.

The Greek central banker said that according to forecasts by international organizations, the price of oil could rise up to 40 dollars per barrel.

Mr Garganas attributed a fall in the inflation rate in January to an unusual increase in the consumer price index last year, while he also stressed the contribution of structural economic reforms in containing inflation.

The central banker urged the Greek government to speed up procedures for the deregulation of domestic markets.

[15] Parliament briefed on Greek EU presidency's goals for shipping sector

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

Anomeritis said the Greek shipping register combined tax and other incentives and that the Greek public wanted this to be supported. He said the government's goal was to modernize the Greek fleet with new ships, while noting that the average age of Greek-flagged vessels had dropped to its lowest-ever level at 15.5 years, down from 27 years ten years ago.

For the European fleet, he said the Greek presidency might well have achieved a settlement in the issue of quicker 'retirement' for European vessels before June, making European shipping more competitive and more environmentally-friendly.

Other shipping-related issues to be tackled by the Greek presidency will be deregulation of port services, training issues, or the defense of European shipping interests against convenience flags.

On illegal immigration, he said the government's policy focused on deterrence and rescue while a bill that would be tabled in Parliament next week would convert people-smuggling from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Anomeritis also said the government was holding successive meetings on how to arm against the possibility of a big surge in illegal immigration as the result of a war in Iraq.

[16] Gov’t says EU funds' absorption rate satisfactory

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

Mr Pahtas noted that the program has developed its own dynamic course that was categorically dismissing all accusation that the government was in risk of losing EU funds.

The Greek minister said that the challenge now for the government was not absorbing the money but to improve works and to avoid excess costs.

[17] Greece to propose adoption of common tourism policy by EU

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

The minister was addressing a conference of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises.

Greece is the EU's rotating president for the first half of the year.

Main opposition complains that gov't has no tourism policy: The leader of the main opposition New Democracy party, Costas Karamanlis, claimed on Tuesday that the government had no tourism policy.

"The government has consistently failed to realize that tourism can make the largest contribution to growth rates, which the country wants in order to attain economic and social convergence," Karamanlis told a conference of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises.

[18] Conference on the future of employment to be held in February in Athens

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

The conference, which is organized with the support of the European Commission, will focus on the new trends of labor organization and will review all aspects associated with employment, an issue linked to serious problems facing millions of workers throughout Europe and the world.

Representatives of EU State and private organizations, universities, the Commission and the Europarliament, as well as Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and Greek Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas, will attend the conference, which will be addressed by founder and president of Washington's Institution of Financial Tendencies Jeremy Rifkin.

For more information interested parties can call 210.8196750 or 210.5295151.

[19] EU meetings in Thessaloniki on business future of Europe

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

On the agenda are a green paper on business released recently by the EU's executive Commission, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos told a news conference on Tuesday.

Debate will focus on finding the best practices and political measures to boost business in Europe, Tsohatzopoulos said.

The minister also announced that the EU presidency would also hold a ministers' meeting in Thessaloniki a day later that will look at business activity in connection with small and medium sized enterprises.

[20] ASE follows European markets higher on Tuesday

Athens, 12/02/2003 (ANA)

The index rose 0.97 percent to end at 1,688.76 points, with turnover a low 46.5 million euros.

The Textile, Retail and Wholesale sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (3.39 percent, 3.24 percent and 2.43 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.04 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.74 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 1.70 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 246 to 62 with another 48 issues unchanged.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 79.0 mln euros Tuesday

Equity Index Futures: