Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-10-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] New Nimetz proposal on FYROM 'one-sided,' Greece says

[02] Veterinary officials say no instances of bird flu reported in Greece; precautions, sampling ordered

[03] PM confers with head of ND Europarliamentarians

[04] PASOK leader Papandreou meets with President Papoulias

[05] Main opposition calls on gov't to submit new 2006 budget

[06] EU Parliamentary European Affairs Committees discusses control of EU institutional bodies' decisions

[07] Greek-Bulgarian Friendship and Cooperation Committee president visits Sofia

[08] GEN chief to visit Croatia on Tuesday

[09] Pavlopoulos outlines government policy at conference on immigration

[10] KKE Secretary General congratulates Portuguese Communist Party over local election success

[11] Theodorakis arrives in Cyprus for three-day visit

[12] Turkish forces' withdrawal part of Cyprus solution, Theodorakis says

[13] Government press briefing cancelled due to picket by ministry staff

[14] Hellenic Aid to head relief effort to Pakistan

[15] New deputy FinMin Bezas sworn in, holds first meetings

[16] Alogoskoufis in Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg

[17] Industrialists of northern Greece propose investment of 75 percent of oil and natural gas pipeline revenues in development of Thrace

[18] Boosting already robust Greece-Serbia/Montenegro trade, investment ties on the agenda this month

[19] Public Power Corporation president assumes initiative on employees' strike action

[20] Cretan foods on display in Cologne

[21] Attica hoteliers expect better tourism season next year

[22] Foreign investors net buyers in ASE in September

[23] President to inaugurate symposium on 20th anniversary of the founding of 'Cultural Capitals

[24] Deputy Culture Minister Petros Tatoulis holds talks with Egyptian counterpart

[25] Education minister says Centre of Byzantine Studies will be founded in Mystras

[26] Hellenic Foundation for Culture to celebrate 10th anniversary

[27] 5 out of 6 participants in 2003 Thessaloniki EU summit violence sentenced

[28] Mental institutions in Hania and Corfu will close, health minister says

[29] Preparatory legal committee set up for dealing with revision of the Auditing Council

[30] Spokesman: Europe will oppose Turkey trying to avoid her obligations

[31] Cyprus hosts ministerial meeting on environment and public health

[32] Former President admitted to private clinic

[01] New Nimetz proposal on FYROM 'one-sided,' Greece says

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

The ministry said that the new proposal effectively embraces the views of one side - that of FYROM - "a stance which does not fall within the concept of mediation," the statement read.

The purpose of mediation is for a compromise to be reached based on mutually acceptable proposals, the ministry said.

"Greece will continue working within the context of the UN procedure in order to find a mutually acceptable solution, because it believes that only through such a solution will bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries and two peoples be reinforced. It is the only way that stability in the region can be supported; the only way in which progress in the neighboring country's Euro-Atlantic pursuits will be facilitated," the ministry stated further.

In its statement, the ministry stressed that the Greek government will continue to exercise its right, in accordance with the bilateral agreement of 1995, to block FYROM's membership in any international organization if the latter attempts to join by using any name other than the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."

On his part, FYROM Prime Minister Vlado Buchkovski praised the new Nimetz proposal during a televised announcement, according to an ANA dispatch from Skopje. Buckovski called the proposal a good basis for negotiations and said that his country wants to maintain good neighborly relations with Greece.

Greece objects to the use of the name 'Macedonia' by its northern neighbor on the grounds that it might encourage expansionist policies against Greece.

Greeks are also incensed by the attempts of FYROM Slavs to "usurp" the famous Macedonian king of antiquity Alexander the Great, from whom they claim descent.

The name issue has been a point of contention between the two countries for the past 15 years.

SYN calls for nat'l foreign policy council to convene over FYROM name issue: Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) has called for the National Council on Foreign Policy to convene in order to discuss the pending FYROM name issue, in a letter it sent to Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis on Monday.

According to the letter, SYN learned through press reports that UN Special Envoy Matthew Nimetz has submitted new proposals regarding the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) name issue on which Greece and FYROM have yet to reach an agreement.

"Of course we don't know the contents of the proposals but we are concerned over the possibility of reaching a new impasse," SYN stated.

"We think it's necessary for all parties to be apprised of the situation and to be able to exchange views on the issue, which we think, should have been done before the government responds to the proposals. For these reasons, we ask that an emergency meeting of the National Council on Foreign Policy be called immediately," SYN said.

[02] Veterinary officials say no instances of bird flu reported in Greece; precautions, sampling ordered

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis said 200,000 packages and 250,000 kilos of a special antibiotic powder recommended for bird flu have been ordered, as well as other medications used to fight the disease.

Government officials said a WHO-recommended batch of vaccinations aimed at preventing the mutation of the bird flu virus and its transmission to humans is due to arrive in Athens next week.

Kaklamanis, a former chief of radiology at a public hospital in Athens, noted that Greece was one of the few countries to have a draft national action plan for any flu pandemic, which will be finalized in mid-November by the ministries involved, while the EU will also deal with the issue during an informal meeting of EU health ministers in London on Oct. 20.

The minister underlined, meanwhile, that the ordinary flu vaccine provided no protection from bird or avian flu and that no vaccine for specific flu currently exists. He stressed that there was no need for anyone apart from the usual vulnerable groups to get flu vaccinations

Northern Greece veterinary services on alert: Prefectural health officials across northern Greece were on high alert Monday in the wake of a recent confirmation of bird flu cases -- the first ever in the wider region -- in neighboring Turkey and Romania.

However, officials at Thessaloniki prefecture's veterinary service emphasized that no instances of the flu have been detected in poultry or any other type of fowl or birds in Greece.

Farms and processing plants in the greater Thessaloniki area are being inspected, while blood tests have been ordered on poultry imported into Greece, officials said, adding that hunters' groups have also been asked to monitor the condition of migratory fowl reaching lakes Koroneia and Volvi, both near Thessaloniki.

Further east, and specifically in Evros prefecture, which serves as the only land frontier between Greece and Turkey, authorities stressed that imports of poultry via the customs posts in the border prefecture have been banned.

Additionally, hunters in Evros have been requested to supply 1,000 samples of game so authorities can test the fowl for the bird flu virus, with any suspicious results expected to be sent to special laboratories in the European Union for confirmation. Additionally, authorities in Evros warned local farmers not to cull and subsequently bury poultry without first contacting the prefecture's veterinary services.

A meeting of veterinary officials of the prefectures in the tri-nation Thrace area -- Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria -- is set for Friday in the northeast Greek town of Orestiada to exclusively focus on the issue of bird flu precautions.

Veterinary services went on high alert after the culling of thousands of domestic fowl (mostly Turkeys) near the northwest Turkish town of Balisekir as well as in Romania over the weekend in order to stop the spread of bird flu, as both countries confirmed their first cases of the disease.

Researchers are still examining, however, whether the virus recorded in both countries is the same H5N1 strain that swept poultry populations in Asia since 2003.

EU to debate new measures against bird flu: The European Union's veterinary committee is to meet next week to decide whether or not to take additional measures against avian influenza, Agricultural Development Minister Evangelos Basiakos said on Monday.

The minister repeated that no trace of the highly contagious disease had been found in Greece.

He said that the committee would meet on Wednesday next week, and he would personally raise the issue of new measures at an EU farm ministers' meeting.

In addition, Basiakos reported that he had asked Greek vets who work on livestock certification for the ministry to postpone a strike they have announced due to severity of the situation.

The vets are reported to have responded favorably to his proposal.

[03] PM confers with head of ND Europarliamentarians

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Varvitsiotis told reporters after the meeting that they had discussed matters pertaining to the Europarliament.

Asked to comment on the FYROM name issue, Varvitsiotis said that the matter was being handled by foreign minister Petros Molyviatis in a satisfactory manner.

To another question on the resignation last week of deputy national economy and finance minister Adam Regouzas, Varvitsiotis said that the resignation had shown respectability and ethos.

Karamanlis was also due to meet separately later with interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos and the new economy and finance deputy minister Antonis Bezas.

[04] PASOK leader Papandreou meets with President Papoulias

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

After the meeting, Papandreou told reporters he had considered such a meeting necessary in order to share with the President the concern expressed by the Greek citizens on the course of Greece's national issues, the economy, the high prices and unemployment, the country's developmental course, the fiscal problems, and their "concern over the manner of exercise of power, the ethos of the present government".

Papandreou said he felt it was his duty to convey to the President "what I hear from the Greek citizens".

The PASOK leader also informed Papoulias of his upcoming visit to Turkey. He said the President told him that following the October 3 formal commencement of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU, there would be many changes in Turkish society and cited Papoulias that "it will be a time of difficult adjustment".

[05] Main opposition calls on gov't to submit new 2006 budget

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Rejecting the budget currently in parliament's committee stage, PASOK's political council termed the document "a scrap of paper" that had been turned down by the European Union.

The party also claimed that the budget envisaged a decline in real income for the first time in 12 years; a freeze on investment to 1997 levels; a decline in spending on health and education as a percentage of gross domestic product; and a fabricated drop in joblessness.

PASOK said that the government's economic policy was collapsing, and the government itself was rife with corruption.

[06] EU Parliamentary European Affairs Committees discusses control of EU institutional bodies' decisions

LONDON, 11/10/2005 (ANA/P. Dimitropoulos)

The UK government's Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, in the framework of discussions held on Monday on joint foreign policy and the European Constitution, said that there is no meaning in discussing the issue of the European Constitutional treaty until the end of the British presidency, invoking a relevant statement by the European Council that the current period is a period of reflection.

Greek deputies raised a number of issues in their addresses with Hadjigakis pointing out that after the freezing of the Constitutional Treaty the freezing of the EU's fiscal prospects followed.

He also raised the question how is it possible for there to be a strong Europe with a European economy lacking a strong cohesion policy.

PASOK Deputy Nasos Alevras requested the tabling in national Parliaments, for control of texts, of political agreements before they are ratified by the EU's Councils of Ministers.

[07] Greek-Bulgarian Friendship and Cooperation Committee president visits Sofia

SOFIA, 11/10/2005 (ANA/B. Borisov)

"For the Prime Minister of Greece Costas Karamanlis, as well as for the New Democracy party government and the Greek Parliament, it was a vow of honor for us to be the first to say that Bulgaria is in Europe," he said at a joint press conference with the Bulgarian minister.

Dailakis was replying to a question by the Athens News Agency (ANA) on the most possible date for the ratification of the Accession Treaty of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU, with the prospect of the official ratification taking place by the end of the month, at least according to the desire of the Greek side, as he explained.

In another development, Dailakis replied to a question by the ANA on the importance of the new "Iliden-Exochi crossborder corridor, saying that it "opens a gateway of friendship, development and progress."

This new corridor, which will link the Bulgarian city of Goce Delchev to the Greek city of Drama, is expected to be officially inaugurated on October 29, Dailakis said in reply to relevant questions by the press, following his meeting with Georgi Gurukov, vice president of the Parliamentary Group of the leftist "Coalition for Bulgaria."

Earlier in the day, Dailakis and Drama Prefect Constantine Evmiridis had a working luncheon with Bulgarian Regional Development and Town Planning Minister Asen Gagauzov.

According to reports, the new crossborder "Iliden-Exochi" corridor will be inaugurated by the Presidents of Greece and Bulgaria Karolos Papoulias and Georgi Parvanov respectively.

[08] GEN chief to visit Croatia on Tuesday

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

The two general staff chiefs will discuss joint participation in the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION), and the training of Croatian navy personnel at Greek naval training centers.

They will also visit naval units at several Croatian ports, a GEN announcement said.

[09] Pavlopoulos outlines government policy at conference on immigration

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Pavlopoulos said that Europe had been caught off-guard and unprepared by the sudden rise in immigration some years ago, so that it was seen as a problem rather than a natural phenomenon.

"Immigration is not a problem, it is a bonus through which societies are enriched by the contributions of people. It is a means of fertilizing cultures," he added.

Outlining government policies and priorities for immigrants, meanwhile, he stressed the need to respect the rights and identity of immigrants and to incorporate them in society.

He said this process should begin through volunteerism and the integration of immigrants into Greek society on the best of terms, letting them know that they can contribute and can become Greeks if they so wish.

The conference was also addressed by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church, who stressed that the Church was both willing and able to contribute to the integration of immigrants into Greek society, regardless of their national or religious origins.

According to other speakers at the conference, there is currently one immigrant for every 35 people on the planet. In Greece, about 13 per cent of the workforce is made up of immigrants and one in six school students is also an immigrant.

[10] KKE Secretary General congratulates Portuguese Communist Party over local election success

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Papariga added that "the increase in positions, votes and percentages of the tickets of the United Democratic Coalition constitutes a strong confirmation of the positions of the Portugues Communist Party in local administration and Portuguese society. It underlines the upward course of the Portuguese Communist Party and of its prestige among the people and rewards its consistent struggle to defend the rights of working people."

[11] Theodorakis arrives in Cyprus for three-day visit

NICOSIA, 11/10/2005 (ANA - A. Viketos)

Theodorakis will also meet the Cyprus House of Representatives speaker, the Cypriot defense minister and the chief of the National Guard, while the mayor of Nicosia will present him with the key to the city.

On Tuesday night, Cyprus' AKEL party has organized a large concert in Theodorakis' honor, with the participation of the New Moscow Opera, the 'Mikis Theodorakis' Popular Orchestra and singers Giorgos Dalaras, Maria Farandouri and Petros Pandis.

[12] Turkish forces' withdrawal part of Cyprus solution, Theodorakis says

NICOSIA, 11/10/2005 (ANA/A.Viketos)

"Cyprus must become an island of peace, joy, cooperation and prosperity for both communities," he said.

Regarding Greece's policy on the Cyprus issue, Theodorakis said that over recent years both the former PASOK government of Costas Simitis and the current New Democracy government of Costas Karamanlis succeeded in improving coordination efforts between Athens and Nicosia.

Theodorakis said that particularly in terms of the latest handling of the situation, Greece and Cyprus were in complete agreement in terms of policy.

The Greek composer also referred to past events, recounting his first visit to Cyprus.

In 1964, his famous "Axion Esti" was internationally broadcast for the first time, via Cyprus' state radio station CyBC.

He also wrote the anthem for the National Guard following a request by then Cypriot President Makarios to do so.

Left-wing AKEL party Secretary General and House of Representatives Speaker Demetris Christofias also spoke at the press conference, calling Theodorakis a "visionary, a great friend of Cyprus, a leading artist and an indefatigable fighter for peace, social justice and democracy."

[13] Government press briefing cancelled due to picket by ministry staff

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, who was prevented from entering the press room by the picket, said that the demands made by staff at the general secretariats for information and communications were justified but expressed surprise at the action, since an article settling the issue had already been tabled in a bill on the National Audiovisual Records and would soon become law.

[14] Hellenic Aid to head relief effort to Pakistan

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

A Hellenic Air Force C-130 aircraft will be transporting specialized medical personnel, pharmaceutical supplies, tents and blankets to the affected area.

Other non-government organizations participating in the relief effort are the Hellenic Red Cross, Doctors of the Heart, Medecins du Monde, and the Greek Rescue Team.

[15] New deputy FinMin Bezas sworn in, holds first meetings

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Immediately after the swearing-in ceremony, Bezas, together with the prime minister, went to the Maximos Mansion (government headquarters) for their first working meeting. Bezas made no statement to waiting reporters after the meeting. Earlier, Karamanlis conferred with interior, public administration and decentralization minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who also made no statements after the meeting.

At the national economy and finance ministry later, taking over the post from Adam Regouzas, who resigned last week, Bezas sad he wanted to "win a big wager for the prime minister, who entrusted this position to me, for myself, and for my compatriots in Thesprotia prefecture", of which Bezas is an MP. He expressed appreciation for his briefing by Regouzas, adding that, as an engineer, "I say few words, but try to give immediate solutions".

Bezas said the post he was undertaking was exceptionally crucial for the function of the government, and a great responsibility.

Regouzas called Bezas a man of vision and abilities, and a friend, adding that the new deputy minister would have his full support in his task, and also thanked all the ministry staff for their cooperation during his term in office.

Bezas then held his first working meeting with national economy and finance minister George Alogoskoufis, who described his new deputy as an excellent parliamentarian and capable politician.

"Together, we will continue to work for the streamlining of the economy, and chiefly to remedy problems, such as the inefficiency of the mechanisms for prevention and curtailing of tax evasion," Alogoskoufis said.

The minister noted that combatting tax evasion, which he said was extensive, was a matter of elementary justice in the distribution of the tax burden.

Alogoskoufis also met earlier with Premier Karamanlis, with whom he discussed the course of the Greek economy.

The minister told reporters after the meeting that "we expect a lot" from Bezas "on the issue of tax revenues and reinforcement of the finance ministry mechanisms, which is crucial for the course of the country".

Concerning plans being bulled for the merger and abolition of some 100 public sector organizations, Alogoskoufis said the issue would be examined beginning in 2006, in cooperation with the other relevant ministries, in the framework of the government's policy to contain expenditures and wasteful spending.

[16] Alogoskoufis in Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis will participate in Eurogroup's meeting.

Eurogroup's agenda also includes discussion over improving Eurozone's external representation.

An ECOFIN meeting on Tuesday will discuss ways to promoting transatlantic economic cooperation on the basis of a joint statement drafted by the EU's UK presidency in cooperation with the next presidencies (Austria and Finland).

The text refers to the size and significance of economic relations between EU and the US in relation with an OECD report saying that a further deregulation of bilateral trade could boost per capital GDP by 3-3.5 pct.

The meeting is also expected to discuss competition in specific economic sectors in the EU and financial services.

[17] Industrialists of northern Greece propose investment of 75 percent of oil and natural gas pipeline revenues in development of Thrace

ALEXANDROUPOLIS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Moreover, the administration of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE) calls for the immediate creation of a transit centre in the region, as well as the activation or preservation of special development incentives for the region (such as a 12 percent subsidization of the salary cost and a 3 percent interest subsidization of working capital loans).

These proposals were tabled and unanimously accepted during SBBE's special board meeting in the city of Komotini, which convened in the presence of Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and the regional governor of Macedonia and Thrace Mihalis Angelopoulos.

Industry federations and the region's chambers of commerce participated in the meeting with representatives.

[18] Boosting already robust Greece-Serbia/Montenegro trade, investment ties on the agenda this month

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

The development, outlined during a press conference at the Serbia-Montenegro embassy in the Greek capital, comes amid heightened and thoroughly positive diplomatic activity in the Balkans of late, mostly due to eagerly awaited accession dates by Bulgaria and Romania as well as a recent resumption of entry talks between the Union and Croatia.

In opening the press briefing, Serbia-Montenegro ambassador Liljana Bacedic emphasized that Belgrade has counted on and continues to look towards Athens' support vis-à-vis her country's European prospects. "Greece for Serbia-Montenegro means a formula for democracy and development. Greece plays a dominant role in the Balkans. This support isn't just based on traditionally close ties but on present-day economic interests as well," the SCG envoy said.

According to the temporary president of the of Council, Athens businessman Symeon Tsomokos, Greek direct foreign investments in Serbia-Montenegro have reached the 1.2-billion-euro mark, with direct and indirect investments exceeding 1.4 billion. In terms of trade, Greek exports to the country totaled US$225 million in 2004, while imports from SCG were $125 million during the same year. He added that elections for a board of directors of the new Council will be held at the end of the year, as its charter is currently under review by an Athens first instance court.

Tsomokos said a more flexible structure of a business council was preferred over a more formal chamber of commerce in the initial phase, with the emphasis on briefing governments in both countries as well as on problem-solving.

Several large Greece-based banks -- National, Alpha, Eurobank and Piraeus -- energy firms, as well as a handful of the country's top blue chip firms, telecoms utility OTE, the bottler 3E Coca-Cola, Titan Cement, Delta dairy maker and Intralot, among others, are members of the new council. Most of the council members are also notable investors in Serbia-Montenegro, which returned to the world's favorable economic spotlight recently by posting a 7.5-percent increase in GDP for 2004 and by luring roughly a billion dollars in foreign investment this year.

"We truly believe that Serbia-Montenegro is a major market for Greece, whereas the Greek market is a very interesting one for Serbian firms, especially in tourism," Tsomokos said, adding that a closed-door meeting focusing on bilateral tourism development is scheduled on the morning of the Athens conference with the participation by National Tourism Organization of Serbia director Milica Cubrilo. Another five or six deputy ministers from the Belgrade government are also expected in Athens for the Council's first meeting, whereas a similar briefing will be held in the Serbian capital this Friday.

The 1st Greece-Serbia/Montenegro Business Council's conference will be held on Oct. 21 in Athens, with the Greek government represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis. The Serbia-Montenegro side will be represented by Minister of International Economic Relations Milan Parivodic.

Queried on whether her government is satisfied with Athens' support for Belgrade at various international organizations and fora, ambassador Bacedic noted that Greece remains a friend of Serbia-Montenegro at a time when Belgrade cannot count on too many of the latter.

[19] Public Power Corporation president assumes initiative on employees' strike action

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

Speaking after the meeting, GENOP President Nikos Pilalidis said that an effort will be made to avoid repercussions in power supply for households and that if a problem appears in the network cutbacks will be made for major consumers.

It is reminded that as of Monday, GENOP is implementing strike measures. Namely, abstention from overtime work and work in excess of the specialty of every employee, while it has announced 24-hour rolling strikes from the date on which a bill on the deregulation of the electric power market is tabled in Parliament.

[20] Cretan foods on display in Cologne

COLOGNE, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

The island's participation with over 20 companies in Anuga 2005, which began on Saturday, is the first major attempt to place Cretan products in major markets abroad.

Arranging participation were regional authorities and island's four chambers of commerce along with the Association of Exporters of Crete.

Agricultural Development and Foods Minister, Evangelos Basiakos, visited the exhibition.

"Participation by the Greek companies and trade groups in this internationally prestigious trade fair will contribute to promotion and publicity for the country's quality farm products before a wide audience of consumers and merchants," Basiakos said.

[21] Attica hoteliers expect better tourism season next year

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

A monthly report by the Association of Attica Hotels said that occupancy rates fell to 49.63 percent in five-star hotels in August, compared with a 80.49 pct rate in August last year during the Athens Olympic Games. Occupancy rates fell in four-star hotels (48.97 pct from 79.6 pct), three-star hotels (51.11 pct from 77.4 pct) and two-star hotels (41.27 pct from 71.75 pct).

The association said that August 2004 figures were a record for the country and stressed that Attica hotels would have to wait for several years to enjoy similar occupancy rates.

The association stressed that Attica hotels showed great differences in revenues in August, as a result of intensified competition in the hotel market with the addition of new hotel units.

Preliminary figures for September show improved occupancy rates due to the organizing of two international medical conferences in Athens. The association urged for the urgent need to complete a conference centre in Attica to promote conference tourism in the country.

Attica hoteliers said early messages for next year's tourism season were particularly optimistic and said that a new ambitious advertising campaign by tourism authorities would result to better figures in 2006.

[22] Foreign investors net buyers in ASE in September

ATHENS, 11/10/2005 (ANA)

A monthly report by the Athens Depository, said that capital inflow in the Athens Stock Exchange totalled 3.969 billion euros in September. Foreign investors raised their share in shares in the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks, to 46.10 percent in September and inflows totalling 1.6 billion euros.

Foreign investors slightly reduced their share in the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index to 19.97 pct in September from slightly above 20 percent in August, while they raised their share in the SmallCap 80 index to 24.36 pct from 23.72 pct over the same period, respectively.

Turnover in the Athens Stock Exchange totalled an average daily 267.8 million euros in September from 172.6 mln in August.

Greek stocks move cautiously higher on Monday: Greek stocks ended Monday's session slightly higher reflecting renewed interest for blue chip and medium-capitalization stocks in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The composite index rose 0.20 percent to end at 3,360.42 points, with turnover a low 127 million euros.

Sector indices ended higher with the Holdings (1.52 pct), Textiles (0.64 pct), Telecommunications (0.61 pct) and Industrials (0.43 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day. The Construction (1.45 pct), Publications (1.22 pct), Metals (0.87 pct) and Insurance (0.42 pct) suffered losses.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.25 pct, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.32 pct higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.19 pct.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 173 to 111 with another 47 issues unchanged.

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