Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-05-27

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM briefed on civil protection planning for fires

[02] PM meets with Greek members of 2007 Nobel Peace Prize recipient IPCC

[03] EU General Affairs Council discusses Balkans, Turkey, June summit

[04] Defense minister attends EU ministers' council

[05] Greek military chief begins official visit to Turkey

[06] PM Karamanlis briefed by European, Greek Ombudsmen

[07] European Ombudsman Diamantouros briefs Coalition leader Tsipras

[08] Gov't on higher education, DT

[09] Parliament president meets PM, President of Republic

[10] PASOK slams weekend statements by FYROM archbishop

[11] PASOK to organise event on World Environment Day

[12] Health Minister Avramopoulos holds talks with Moscow mayor

[13] Paul Sarbanes honored by Greek state with highest decoration

[14] Sarbanes addresses Athens event

[15] French President Nicolas Sarkozy to address Greek Parliament plenum

[16] Deputy FM promotes foreign investments at London event

[17] Gov't invites ocean-shipping companies to list in ASE

[18] Meeting on sunflower furor held at development ministry

[19] Hellenic Food Authority on products containing sunflower oil

[20] Inspectors seize 80 tons of sunflower oil in Piraeus

[21] PASOK leader Papandreou meets Bank Union Federation directorate

[22] MIG says after tax profits up 268 pct in Q1

[23] SingularLogic reports sharply improved Q1 results

[24] Greek trade deficit fell 7.1 pct in Q1

[25] Heracles Cement says EBITDA down in Q1

[26] Greek stocks end lower in record low turnover

[27] ADEX closing report

[28] Greek bond market closing report

[29] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[30] Deputy foreign minister visits Calabria's Griko communities

[31] Anglican Communion delegation visiting Ecumenical Patriarchate

[32] Four illegals unwittingly violate Mt. Athos ban on women

[33] House President: Solution must serve G/C and T/C and not Turkey's interests

[34] T/c politician calls on people to contribute to efforts for a Cyprus settlement Politics

[01] PM briefed on civil protection planning for fires

"Last year's tragic experience cannot and must not be repeated," the minister stressed afterwards in statements to reporters, referring to the devastating fires that swept the country in 2007, claiming dozens of lives in their wake and depriving thousands of their homes and livelihood, while incinerated vast tracts of forest and wild land..

Pavlopoulos noted that the merger of the interior and public order ministries, which are also in charge of the fire department, allowed for more efficient planning in terms of protection against fires. He said that the preparations underway and closer cooperation with other countries would prevent a repetition of last year's tragic phenomena.

The minister noted that a recent meeting with his French counterpart had set in motion a proposal made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in July 2006, when Sarkozy was a foreign minister, for gradually establishing a civil protection policy on a European level.

Bilateral cooperation with France on this issue has already begun, with other Mediterranean countries expected to join, Pavlopoulos said.

The meeting with the premier also focused on progress of a special operational plan for public administration being carried out in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to cut back bureaucracy and complete e-government.

Pavlopoulos noted that the participation of the OECD in this effort gave Greece access to the experience of the organization and Europe generally on issues linked to the protection of citizens in terms of reducing the cost of bureaucracy, especially with regard to the Greek economy.

[02] PM meets with Greek members of 2007 Nobel Peace Prize recipient IPCC

Karamanlis congratulated the Nobel co-recipients, noting that, with their scientific work on the problem of climate change, they contributed to raising public awareness but also to sensitizing and mobilizing everyone in order to reverse a course that would lead to catastrophe.

The stakes were so important that no one has the right to be complacent, Karamanlis said.

"The truth is that, in the past, we pushed the environment beyond its limits, and now we need to exceed ourselves and restore the balance we have upset," the premier said.

Greece, he stressed, was actively present in the international effort that has been undertaken, has ratified the Kyoto Protocol, and is a contributor to the ambitious EU program on climate change.

Karamanlis pledged that the commitments undertaken by Greece will be "fulfilled to the utmost".

"All of us together, the supra-national organizations, the states and governments, the active citizens' organizations, the scientific community, can meet this major challenge and prove in action that development and environment can co-exist for the common good, for a better tomorrow for us all," the premier said.

Atmospheric physicist Dr. Christos Zerefos, president of the Athens National Observatory and IPCC member, told reporters after the meeting that the recognition of the work of the Greek co-recipients of the IPCC's Nobel Peace Prize belonged to all the Greeks, and particularly the Greek scientific community.

Replying to questions, Zerefos said that the prime minister expressed interest in climate change issues in general, and on the role played by the Greek scientists in the success that led to the Nobel Prize, and on the future.

[03] EU General Affairs Council discusses Balkans, Turkey, June summit

The European Union's General Affairs Council convened here on Monday and discussed the EU's policy in the Balkans and the Mediterranean, relations with Turkey and preparations for the June summit.

Speaking to reporters and referring to Turkey, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said she was extremely satisfied with the text on the joint position of the "27", that will be presented at the EU-Turkey Association Council on Tuesday.

The minister said that with their joint position the "27" make it clear to Ankara that it must work in the direction of building relations of good neighborliness and the peaceful settlement of differences with neighboring countries.

She also said she was pleased with references made on Cyprus, on relations between politics and the military in Turkey, on problems created by Turkish policy on fishing issues and on the need to secure high level security with regard to nuclear energy.

Bakoyannis further expressed the wish that "domestic developments in Turkey will not decrease its desire and will to work to achieve its accession to the EU."

Asked about reactions by the opposition in Athens to the ongoing visit to Turkey by National Defence General Staff chief Dimitris Grapsas, she attributed them to party pettiness.

Focusing on developments in the Western Balkans, Bakoyannis once again expressed support for Serbia's European prospects that "remains a key country in developing harmonious relations between the peoples in the region."

As regards Kosovo, the minister said that the EU is in constant contact with the UN and the aim is to find a suitable process and the suitable timetable through which the existing UN force in the region will be replaced by a European one.

"We are at a delicate stage in discussions since June 15 is approaching when the Constitution of Kosovo will be implemented," she said.

Also asked to comment on recent statements by the Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Nikola Gruevski on a "Macedonian minority" in Greece, the foreign minister said that she would not follow him on his election rhetoric, but underlined that his statements confirm the correctness of Greek arguments.

Bakoyannis expressed the wish that the government that will result from the elections in FYROM will show a political will similar to that of Athens to enable a mutually acceptable solution to be found on the issue of FYROM's name.

The minister mentioned that the Council prepared the issues that will be discussed at the summit in June, starting with the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Also to be discussed will be issues concerning justice and internal affairs, the EU's policy in the Mediterranean and the increase in food prices.

On the question of developments in the Middle East, Bakoyannis stressed that the progress being achieved is not satisfactory and added that the EU's objective is achieving a peace agreement by the end of the year.

In another development, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis met on the sidelines of Monday's Council with his French counterpart Jean Pierre Jouyet for talks on issues of EU priority in light of the upcoming French presidency. The issues included enlargement and the handling of illegal immigration in Europe.

[04] Defense minister attends EU ministers' council

Attending a Council of EU defense ministers' on Monday, Greece's Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis said the Community should enhance the strategic framework being developed in the field of research and technology as part of the European Defense Agency (EDA).

Commenting on the council meeting, he said that it focused particularly on the EU's Altea operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as security and stability in South eastern Europe with emphasis on the western Balkans following recent developments in Kosovo.

The meeting also discussed strategic cooperation on global stability and security between the EU and other international bodies, such as the United Nations, NATO, the African Union and others.

[05] Greek military chief begins official visit to Turkey

The chief of Greece armed forces general staff, Lt.-Gen. Dimitris Grapsas began an official visit to Ankara on Monday at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Ya_ar Büyükanit.

In his opening comments, Lt.-Gen. Grapsas referred to the joint efforts by Greek statesman Eleftherios Venizelos and the father of the modern Turkish state, Kemal Ataturk, to establish peace between the two peoples.

"For this reason, it is our duty to walk down the same path today ... If we want to vindicate history and if we truly love our peoples as much as we say we do, we must accomplish this," the Greek military chief said.

In his reply, Gen. Büyükanit noted that "Venizelos and Ataturk, in a short period of time, ensured peace."

He reminded of his official visits to Greece as head of the land forces as well as Turkey's chief of the armed forces, while expressing his satisfaction for the reciprocal visit by his Greek counterpart.

[06] PM Karamanlis briefed by European, Greek Ombudsmen

Diamandouros told reporters after the meeting that there were specific rights emanating from European citizenship, adding that he would also brief the political party leaders and the ministers on those rights.

After talks earlier with interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Diamandouros said they agreed to follow-up their meeting so as to ensure a broader discussion and briefing of the public administration and the judicial authorities.

The EU Ombudsman added that he would visit Greece again, with the purpose of making it clear that the European law comprised an inalienable part of internal lawful order.

"Consequently, we discussed how the European Ombudsman and the Greek Ombudsman can contribute in that direction," he added.

Asked whether the "monopoly" in specific professions should be 'broken', Diamandouros said this matter had not been discussed, adding that he does not interfere in matters concerning policy or policy decisions.

To a question, however, on whether the citizens have the right to acquire access to professions that are 'closed', Diamdouros replied: "I consider that they should have that right, but this is a matter of policy decisions that the government must make and the parliament decide".

Kaminis, in turn, said that the Greek Ombudsman defends the rights of the Greeks vis-à-vis Greek public administration, whereas the European Ombudsman defends the rights of the European citizens, and therefore the rights of the citizens vis-a-vis the EU bodies.

Replying to a relevant question, Kaminis said that the social security funds, with the introduction of informatics, have improved, while regarding the issue of pensions, in which he said there had been large delays in the past, the situation appeared to have improved.

[07] European Ombudsman Diamantouros briefs Coalition leader Tsipras

Diamantouros said that a briefing and a discussion at member-states' judicial authority and public administration level is also taking place in this direction, to make it clear that European law constitutes an inseparable part of domestic and national law and order.

The Coalition leader underlined the party's disagreement with the attack which, as he said, "is being sustained by Independent Authorities, even by government members", and the need for even greater cooperation with the Ombudsman on issues concerning "violations of social and political rights in the country".

[08] Gov't on higher education, DT

Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos reminded, however, that legislative measures, such as last year's higher education reforms, fall under the scope of normal Parliament approval.

Asked about press reports, as republished from Germany, regarding an investigation into the illegal access of personal information belonging to Deutsche Telekom (DT) customers, Roussopoulos emphasized that the Greek government has fully guaranteed national interests in a very recent and high-profile deal to transfer the state telephony's (OTE) management to DT.

Finally, Athens again declined to comment on the latest more-or-less provocative quip by a Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) leader, saying no reaction is forthcoming amid the current pre-election season in the neighboring state.

A reporter asked a question regarding a statement attributed to FYROM PM Nikola Gruevski, who purportedly said his country will "enter NATO as Macedonia", using the short-version of the name at the heart of Greece's objections.

[09] Parliament president meets PM, President of Republic

In statements after his meeting with Karamanlis, Sioufas stressed that Tuesday's vote was "a supreme moment for Parliamentarianism and the country's Constitutional charter". He also underlined, after the meeting with Papoulias, that it was his obligation to inform the president on all aspects of Tuesday's vote, which would decide which articles of the Constitution would be revised.

[10] PASOK slams weekend statements by FYROM archbishop

"We are still waiting for condemnation [of the statements], albeit tardily, from the political leadership in Skopje, or else we can assume that Skopje's political leadership is leading the country to a peculiar kind of hostage situation and making it a prisoner of an illogical, confused and historically unfounded irredentism from which the entire region of the Balkans will suffer, but also the country's own course toward European structures," Papaconstantinou said.

PASOK said that stance in Skopje confirmed the party's position for "one name, for all uses, with a geographic determinant and not double names".

The main opposition's stance backed that voiced earlier by the government, which also called on Skopje to condemn the archbishop's "unacceptable comments".

Speaking on Saturday, while officiating a memorial service held in Rome at the tomb of St. Cyril and in the presence of FYROM's prime minister Nikola Gruevski and a FYROM government delegation, the head of the tiny Balkan state's Orthodox Church Archbishop Stefanos referred to the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, the capital of the Greek province of Macedonia, and claimed that the 'Macedonian language' spoken there had been persecuted into non-existence and "rendered ashes and dust".

"In the region where they once spoke as you and we, today it is forbidden not only that this language be spoken, but its very existence itself. Unfortunately, everything 'Macedonian' is persecuted and displaced, while the name of our country and church, and the truth itself, is disputed," the archbishop said.

[11] PASOK to organise event on World Environment Day

"This event comes at a time when our country's environmental performance has reached its nadir. All the same, our aim is not to do this by griping and 'terrorizing' but through proposals and solutions," said the party's head for environmental issues Spyros Kouvelis during a press conference on Monday.

The planned event will include a photography exhibition, DVD screenings, live demonstrations of electricity production from renewable energy sources, the reading of a children's story on the environment written by Evgenios Trivizas and a discussion, ending at 20:30 with a speech by PASOK leader George Papandreou.

Also participating in the events are the environmental organizations WWF Hellas and Greenpeace and representatives of the Greek Scientific Union for Wind Power and the Association of Photovoltaics Companies.

[12] Health Minister Avramopoulos holds talks with Moscow mayor

Visiting Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos and Moscow Mayor and head of the local government Yuri Luzhkov decided on Monday to conclude a bilateral agreement on the activation of the Greek pharmaceutical industry in the health services sector in Moscow and in Russia in general.

"Greece is opening to this hospitable for us and interesting investments scene in Russia and in the sector of pharmaceuticals as well," Health Minister and former Athens mayor Avramopoulos said at the end of talks with the "good friend from the past" Yuri Luzhkov, stressing that the bilateral, inter-state agreement that is being promoted "will really provide new possibilities for the Greek pharmaceutical industry, and in general for officials from the Greek health sector."

Avramopoulos also pointed to the current conjuncture since Moscow's market has great needs, and that has about 15 million inhabitants, while the reforming of Russia's health system is also under way.

Luzhkov described as a "priority of the industry in the city of Moscow" cooperation with Greek pharmaceutical companies, noting that "we are discussing an increase in the quantities of pharmaceuticals that the city is being supplied with and joint production programmes in Greece and in Moscow."

The mayor termed the discussion that took place during consultations with the Greek delegation interesting, announcing in advance Tuesday's "big roundtable, where business issues will be discussed."

The Moscow mayor called on Greek businessmen to pay greater attention to Russia, a "very lucrative country from the point of view of investments," referring in particular to the sectors of the importation of food products that are not produced in Russia, to cooperation in the tourism sector and to "advanced industrial sectors of Greece, that can meet the needs of our country."

[13] Paul Sarbanes honored by Greek state with highest decoration

Several Greeks and foreign nationals, including several academics, were also honored during an event at the presidential mansion in Athens.

[14] Sarbanes addresses Athens event

"For four decades, with moderate positions in favor of peace, with a deep sense of contributing to the social whole and with knowledge of American foreign policy, Paul Sarbanes entered the House of Representatives and later the Senate," the institute's general director, professor Constantine Arvantitopoulos said.

In his address, Paul Sarbanes expressed his gratitude to the Constantine Karamanlis Institute for Democracy and to former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis who was present at the event.

Sarbanes also thanked President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, who honored him with the Grand Cross of the Regiment of the Phoenix, Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas who awarded him the Pericles medal, while he stressed that late statesman Constantine Karamanlis was "a source of inspiration for himself."

Sarbanes spoke in particular of the ancient Greek ideals, observing that "for ancient Greece the ideas were more important than the practices."

[15] French President Nicolas Sarkozy to address Greek Parliament plenum

Briefing the Parliamentary deputies, Sioufas said that President Sarkozy himself had expressed the desire to address the Parliament plenum, that was accepted by President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Speaking by telephone with the leaders of the Parliamentary parties, Sioufas ascertained the agreement of PASOK leader George Papandreou, Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alekos Alavanos and Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party leader George Karatzaferis, while KKE Secretary General Aleka Papariga expressed reservations.

[16] Deputy FM promotes foreign investments at London event

Deputy foreign minister Petros Doukas was the guest of honor at a reception in London hosted by the Hellenic Bankers Association-UK, attended by senior-ranking officials of London's major investment firms.

Discussions with the Greek minister focused on Greece's foreign policy and economy, and prospects for promoting more investments in Greece.

With respect to foreign investments in Greece, Doukas said that a change of the institutional framework was being advanced in Greece so as to create a "business-friendly" environment, to render the country a magnet for foreign investments.

In that framework, he continued, the ability is being given to shipping companies and foreign companies wishing to activate themselves in the wider region of the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, to establish themselves in Greece as offshore companies.

Chairman of the Association's Executive Committee, Michail Zekkos, stressed that the London investors were an important tool of development of the Greek economy, adding that the Hellenic Bankers Association of the UK was reaffirming its role as a link between the financial center of London and the Greek political, economic and business community.

The Hellenic Bankers Association-UK was formed in 1994 in order to promote a closer co-operation among Bankers and Financial Professionals, of Hellenic origin, based in the United Kingdom.

[17] Gov't invites ocean-shipping companies to list in ASE

The Greek minister, addressing a working lunch, stressed that the listing of healthy ocean shipping enterprises in the Athens Stock Exchange would offer an internationalized boost to the Greek capital market and noted that the government believed it was to the benefit of the shipping community, the national economy and banks to list healthy ocean shipping companies in the Athens bourse and not in foreign markets.

He cited five reasons for listing in the Athens Stock Exchange:

-modern Greek shipping companies have little in common with shipping firms of the past, -higher security levels in the shipping industry, -higher investor confidence towards shipping companies,

-Greek shipping accounts for 17 pct of the world fleet, 20 pct of the bulk ship fleet and 23 pct of tanker fleet worldwide and,

-efforts made by both the stock market and the Merchant Marine ministry to create the necessary conditions, procedures and preconditions to attract ocean-shipping companies in the market.

The Greek minister added that the first messages of this procedure were positive and expressed his optimism that Greek-interest shipping companies based in London, UK, would relocate to Greece.

The president of the Athens Stock Exchange, Spyros Kapralos, said the Greek market was ready to welcome Greek shipping companies. "It is an exceptional time, a period when all market factors agreed we must attract ocean-shipping companies in the Greek capital market," Kapralos said, adding that shipping companies could enjoy the same favourable tax status even after their listing in the Athens bourse.

Kapralos said foreign investors showed increased confidence in the Greek capital market, holding more than 50 pct of the market's capitalization and accounting for more than 65 pct of daily transactions. Net capital inflow in the Greek market exceeded 15 billion euros in the last three years, he said.

[18] Meeting on sunflower furor held at development ministry

It was also decided during the meeting that in the event that tainted sunflower oil shipments were found, the responsibility for monitoring and management would be assumed by Vlachos and Economou.

Vlachos and the inspection teams would make surprise and regular checks to ascertain implementation and observance of the price regulation imposed last week on cooking and table oil prices, which set maximum retail prices. All instances of violation of the regulation will entail fines and other administrative sanctions set out under Greek legislation.

Folias also met with the president of the Association of Greek Food Industries (SEBT) Evangelos Kalousis and the chairman of the National Confederation of Greek Merchants (ESEE) Dimtris Armenakis. He called on Kalousis to brief him on the results of inspections by the food industries regarding food products containing sunflower oil.

He also told Kalousis that all food industries that standardize food oils or use sunflower oil in the production of food products must immediately inform EFT, and include a full analysis of the composition of those products.

At the same time, food industries must place immediate priority on adopting systems of self-inspection and train personnel in food safety and hygiene.

Further, the food industries are required to inform EFET of any product withdrawal from the market, and the reasons for the withdrawal.

[19] Hellenic Food Authority on products containing sunflower oil

EFET had called on companies to send corresponding samples to the State General Chemistry Service as well to enable necessary analyses to take place to ascertain possible cases of contamination.

Meanwhile, checks are being intensified for the creation of a joint auditors group to examine all relevant products containing sunflower oil in excess of 10 percent as of Monday and until the end of the year, and in the event that quantities of contaminated sunflower oil are detected the responsibility for monitoring and managing these quantities will be jointly assumed by Deputy Development Minister G. Vlachos and the Consumer secretary general I. Economou.

[20] Inspectors seize 80 tons of sunflower oil in Piraeus

The company in question, "SONS STAVROU AMBAZI O.E. is located at Neo Faliro, at Rendi. After inspections by the Piraeus Prefecture's Consumer Protection Department, 80 tons of sunflower oil were found.

This quantity, which was found in 10-litre cartons and in tanks, were seized and samples have been taken for analyses to be made by the State General Chemistry Laboratory.

[21] PASOK leader Papandreou meets Bank Union Federation directorate

Papandreou said that PASOK supports a basic democratic right of working people and accused the government of "trying to abolish collective negotiating", rejecting at the same time that it is simply a move by businessmen.

The PASOK leader added that it is "a political decision and the philosophy of the New Democracy party government to weaken working people's organized expression."

OTOE President Stavros Koukos said that working people "are determined to reach extremes to defend the right of collective negotiations," while calling on the PASOK leader to assume initiatives in society and in Parliament and to highlight these undemocratic, as he termed them, acts.

[22] MIG says after tax profits up 268 pct in Q1

Commenting on the results, MIG's vice-chairman Andreas Vgenopoulos, expressed his satisfaction that against a negative economic conjucture, the banks achieved a "very significant profitability making a positive exception among most other similar enterprises worldwide".

Vgenopoulos said MIG would achieve increased profitability allowing the bank to continue a generous dividend policy.

[23] SingularLogic reports sharply improved Q1 results

Consolidated pre-tax earnings jumped to 3.0 million euros in the January-March period, from a loss of 1.1 million euros last year, while after tax profits jumped to 1.1 million euros.

[24] Greek trade deficit fell 7.1 pct in Q1

The value of import-arrivals totaled 12.299 billion euros in the first three months of 2008, from 13.306 billion euros last year, for a decline of 7.6 percent, while the value of export-deliveries fell 8.4 pct to 3.932 billion euros from 4.295 billion in 2008.

The country's trade deficit fell 7.0 pct in March to 2.869 billion euros.

[25] Heracles Cement says EBITDA down in Q1

Pre-tax, intertest and amortization earnings (EBITDA), however, fell to 23.1 million euros in the January-March period, from 37.7 million euros last year, and net after tax profits dropped to 1.3 million euros from 18.7 million euros in 2007.

[26] Greek stocks end lower in record low turnover

The FTSE 20 index fell 1.35 percent, the FTSE 40 index eased 0.77 percent and the FTSE 80 index ended 0.71 pct lower. Most sectors moved lower with the Telecommunications (2.41 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while Food/Beverage (2.29 pct) and Financial Services (0.64 pct) scored gains.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 160 to 72 with another 42 issues unchanged. Viosol (8.33 pct), Rilken (7.29 pct) were top gainers, while Q&R (8.11 pct), Karelias (8.03 pct), Atlantic (6.74 pct) and Alsinco (6.49 pct) were top losers.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -1.60%

Industrials: -1.90%

Commercial: -0.79%

Construction: -0.74%

Media: -1.35%

Oil & Gas: -0.92%

Personal & Household: +0.15%

Raw Materials: -2.75%

Travel & Leisure: +0.65%

Technology: -1.82%

Telecoms: -2.41%

Banks: -2.04%

Food & Beverages: +2.29%

Health: -0.23%

Utilities: -1.60%

Chemicals: -0.68%

Financial Services: +0.64%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, OTE, Alpha Bank and Marfin Investment Group.

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank: 20.90

ATEbank: 2.64

Public Power Corp (PPC): 25.70

HBC Coca Cola: 28.30

Hellenic Petroleum: 10.24

National Bank of Greece: 31.54

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 17.52

Intralot: 11.62

OPAP: 26.20

OTE: 17.18

Piraeus Bank: 20.26

Bank of Cyprus: 8.14

Marfin Popular Bank: 5.08

[27] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the Big Cap index totaled 2.511 contracts worth 26.343 million euros, with 29,080 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was 34 contracts worth 813,987 euros with 218 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 4,334 contracts worth 4.967 million euros, with investment interest focusing on ATEbank's contracts (984), followed by Marfin Popular Bank (487), National Bank (253), Alpha Bank (413), Mytilineos (218) and MIG (252).

[28] Greek bond market closing report

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were mixed. National Bank's overnight rate was 4.07 pct, the two-day rate 4.07 pct, the one-week rate 4.25 pct, the one-month rate 4.40 pct, the three-month rate 4.88 pct, the six-month rate 4.94 pct and the 12-month rate 5.07 pct.

[29] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

U.S. dollar 1.588

Pound sterling 0.802

Danish kroner 7.519

Swedish kroner 9.383

Japanese yen 164.27

Swiss franc 1.628

Norwegian kroner 7.952

Canadian dollar 1.571

Australian dollar 1.655

General News

[30] Deputy foreign minister visits Calabria's Griko communities

The Greek state will be even more supportive of the Griko or Grecanic communities of southern Italy in the future, helping preserve two Greek dialects that have survived through the centuries to the present day, Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis promised on Monday during a visit to the Griko villages in Calabria and Puglia.

During a brief but highly active visit, the minister but also Italian authorities expressed a desire to make bilateral relations even closer and pave the way for more systematic legislative changes in education and culture.

Efforts to revive Griko - an oral language resembling modern Greek that survived through the centuries but has now been restricted mainly to older local inhabitants in the villages speaking the dialect - began in the 1990s with the assistance of funds from the Community's Interreg programme. The programme also includes some local dialects in Greece, such as in Epirus or the Ionian islands.

Part of the programme also provides for collaboration between universities in Italy and Greece through postgraduate scholarships to study the traditions of Grecanic-speaking Puglia and the teaching of modern Greek in local schools.

[31] Anglican Communion delegation visiting Ecumenical Patriarchate

A three-member Anglican Communion delegation held informal talks at the Phanar with the corresponding Ecumenical Patriarchate Committee on current issues of concern to the two Churches.

The Synod's head secretariat announced that the Anglican delegation was composed of bishop Mark Dyer, co-chairman, on the Anglican part, the International Joint Committee on Theologian Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion, Canon Gregory Cameron, undersecretary of the Anglican Communion's Ecumenical Affairs Bureau and Canon Jonathan Goodall, secretary to the archbishop of Canterbury on Ecumenical Issues.

The Metropolitan of Dioklia Kallistos was the Orthodox co-chairman at the talks. The Anglican representatives were received by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.

According to a relevant announcement, "each side briefed the other on recent developments within it and on the course of its Theologian Dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, as well as on its participation in the programmes of the World Council of Churches."

[32] Four illegals unwittingly violate Mt. Athos ban on women

Mount Athos occupies one of the three 'legs' that make up the Halkidiki peninsula in Macedonia, northern Greece.

According to the Central Macedonia Police inspector Stergios Apostolidis, monks discovered two of the foreign women at the monastery's harbour on Sunday afternoon and alerted local police. A subsequent search by police and coast guard officers led to the discovery the remaining three illegals, who had spent the night on a nearby beach when they saw the police arrive.

They told police that they were dropped off at the monastery by two Ukrainian immigrant smugglers that had picked them up from Turkey. The five immigrants, aged between 27 and 41, had each paid 4,000 euros to be taken across. They also claim that the Ukrainian smugglers had left them there without informing them that they were on Mount Athos and that there was a ban on women entering the entire peninsula.

The five illegal migrants are in good health and are being detained at the Polygyros police stations, while the police at Mount Athos capital of Karya, assisted by the local coast guard, are continuing to search the sea around the peninsula in order to find more immigrants that may possibly still be in the area.

Cyprus Affairs

[33] House President: Solution must serve G/C and T/C and not Turkey's interests

Cyprus House and DIKO party President Marios Karoyan has submitted to the President of the Republic thoughts and proposals with a view to strengthen the Greek Cypriot negotiating position as regards the Cyprus problem and create the circumstances so as the basis of the Greek Cypriot side's positions to enjoy a bigger acceptance on behalf of the international community.

Speaking after a meeting with President Demetris Christofias, during which he was briefed on the latest developments of the Cyprus efforts and the meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, DIKO President noted that there are positive elements in the joint statement, issued after that meeting, adding there are also some points which are described as a "constructive ambiguity" causing reasonable concerns.

The "biggest danger there is", according to the House President, from the Turkish side, "which all this period gave us samples of a fruitless, implacable policy" to utilize these ambiguities to promote its own strategic interests with the assistance of the "powerful" states.

"What is important is how we use these facts and how we assert our rights and how we strengthen our negotiating position so as, when there is progress at the level of the Working Groups and Technical Committees to allow to the two leaders at a given time to start full fledged negotiations", the House President said.

He further noted that DIKO does not question the president's political will or intentions, adding that there are also certain issues that could be raised in the joint statement but this "does not mean that we bargain our positions".

''The solution must be viable one, that can last and serve Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and not Turkey's strategic interests'', the House President said.

The leaders of the two communities, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met 23 May and reviewed results achieved pursuant to the 21 March agreement.

After the March 21 meeting, a number of working groups and technical committees have been set up with the task to deal with various aspects of the Cyprus problem and prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two leaders, in an effort to reach a political settlement that would reunite the country. Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

[34] T/c politician calls on people to contribute to efforts for a Cyprus settlement

General Secretary of Turkish Cypriot United Cyprus party Izet Izcan called on today the people of Cyprus to close their eyes and ears to positions which lead to disaster and to pessimistic scenarios and contribute in a positive way to the establishment of peace on the island.

In statements after a meeting of the United Cyprus party delegation with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, Izcan reaffirmed that his party will to it's outmost to overcome any obstacles and expressed the will of his party is for all the Cypriots to win.

Speaking through an interpreter, Izcan said that the delegation had a useful meeting with Christofias, who briefed them and exchanged views with them on the current phase of the Cyprus question.

Izcan said the meeting showed that they share a common understanding on the issue of the Cyprus settlement.

He noted that his party supports that a Cyprus settlement must secure a single sovereignty and a single international identity, and must safeguard the political equality of the two communities, as outlined in the UN Security Council decisions.

Referring to the meeting between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat held on May 23 he said that through this meeting and the joint communique issued after it, a positive step was made as regards the territorial integrity of Cyprus and the political equality of the two communities as provided in the UN resolutions.

The leaders of the two communities, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met 23 May and reviewed results achieved pursuant to the 21 March agreement.

The joint communique read out after the meeting by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun notes, inter alia, that the two leaders ''reaffirmed their commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions'' and that ''this partnership will have a Federal Government with a single international personality, as well as a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will be of equal status.''

Izcan said that the work of the technical committees and the working groups goes on and while some are making progress, some others are facing difficulties. He noted that "we need to have positive results both at the technical committees and the working groups with the positive contribution of both leaders," adding that all people who want a settlement must do whatever they can towards this direction.

He said that he will also have a meeting on Thursday with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana-mpa.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article