Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-08-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Oswald offers reassuring words for Athens 2004 preparations

[02] ATHOC security advisor cites 'misquotes', statements out-of-context

[03] FM Papandreou condemns attack in Baghdad on UN building

[04] Gov't wants to control spending, boost lower-end incomes with next budget

[05] Faliraki given another 'black eye' as rape charges filed against hotel owner

[06] German tourist drowns

[07] Overseas Cypriots to meet in Cyprus

[08] Tourism Minister: Quality of tourism industry should be upgraded

[01] Oswald offers reassuring words for Athens 2004 preparations

Athens, 20/08/2003 (ANA)

IOC Coordinating Commission head Denis Oswald made the statement during a month that has so far seen five Olympic ‘test events’ completed at venues and on the streets (cycling) of Athens.

Oswald, speaking at ATHOC’s headquarters in the Greek capital, stressed that the Lausanne-based IOC is satisfied with the holding of the “test events” so far. Unforeseen mishaps, such as extremely high winds during a rowing championship and even a food poisoning incident involving Germany’s junior team, got things off to a precarious start, although the second week of events concluded with nary a blemish.

IOC Director of Sports Gilbert Felli stressed, in fact, that organizers should be proud of the way they hosted the “test events” – rowing, archery, canoe/kayak, cycling and equestrian events.

An unprecedented media focus on Athens more-or-less began in earnest this month with the one-year countdown for the Games commencing on Aug. 13, especially regarding concerns over unfinished projects, security and cost overruns.

Despite his upbeat words of praise, Oswald’s leitmotif of “not even a day” to lose was again uttered.

Asked about security, Oswald coyly answered with a question, asking reporters if they believed “what was written”? – an allusion to a series of critical articles recently on Athens’ security preparations.

As far as delayed venues and projects are concerned, namely, the Karaiskaki football stadium, the Athens tram network as well as a massive centrepiece glass/metal dome over the main Olympic Stadium (OAKA), Oswald simply reiterated the very tight deadlines involved. However, he cautioned that surrounding landscaping must be completed as well.

He nevertheless appeared confident that both Karaiskaki and the OAKA dome will be successfully completed on time.

As per the actual test events, he said: ''We are quite satisfied with the conduct of the test events. In general terms we are quite happy with what we have seen.''

''Greeks, when it comes to important things, can make miracles,'' he concluded.

Asked whether he was concerned over a possible power blackout during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, similar to what had happened a few days ago in the United States, Oswald said ''I raised this issue in the meeting I had with Prime Minister Costas Simitis who assured me that already all the necessary action has been taken for this danger to be averted.''

[02] ATHOC security advisor cites 'misquotes', statements out-of-context

Athens, 20/08/2003 (ANA)

Peter Ryan, who also headed up Sydney’s security in 2000, added that other media took several of his comments “out of context” -- comments, he admitted, that should have been stated differently.

In statements to the press on Monday, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and government spokesman Christos Protopapas cited “financial interests” as fuelling the press reports.

In a press release on Tuesday, ATHOC stressed that rumors do not yield any social benefits, adding that the organization has a great responsibility to maintain its cool, while reiterating that security is the “number one” priority for the Games.

Finally, organizers simply reiterated that Greece is spending a whopping 600 million dollars on security and implementing unprecedented international cooperation for such an event.

[03] FM Papandreou condemns attack in Baghdad on UN building

Athens, 20/08/2003 (ANA)

Speaking of behalf of the Greek government and people, in which he expressed warmest condolences to the families of the victims and the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for the death of Brazilian diplomat and UN Special Representative to Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello.

''We strongly condemn the bomb attack at the UN building in Baghdad, which resulted in the death of many innocent people, including UN Special Representative Mr. de Mello. This act is a blow to the role of the UN in the reconstruction and consolidation of peaceful life in Iraq,'' Papandreou said in his message.

According to latest information given to publicity by UN representatives in both New York and Baghdad, more than one hundred people were injured in the attack, when an explosives-trapped cement track blasted outside the UN building, where approximately 300 people work.

Sergio Vieira de Mello, a highly-respected UN official, is believed to have been the target of the attack.

[04] Gov't wants to control spending, boost lower-end incomes with next budget

Athens, 20/08/2003 (ANA)

According to sources, the government will attempt to walk a tightrope of controlling spending while at the same time boosting the income of ''financially weaker groups'', i.e. pensioners, the unemployed etc.

''The government's economic policy in the coming months will primarily focus on development and employment,'' Christodou-lakis said after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday.

The same tone was also set by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos in his statements to a state-run channel on Tuesday, where he stressed that ''voters are not convinced with talk about provisions or even with last-minute provisions''.

''We should have planning for the period 2004-2008, a very crucial period'', Venizelos said.

Athens Bourse: Closing Prices

The Athens Stock Exchange's general index on Tuesday was down 3.29 percent to end at 2,240.38 points, with turnover totaling 244.5 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose marginally 0.03 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0,33 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 0.88 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 217 to 107, with another 46 issues unchanged.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover

at 133.14 mln euros Tuesday

Equity Index Futures: