Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-07-10
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 10/07/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Olympics security a Greek concern, Athens says
- Samos quake recorded
- Sisters arrested in drug haul
- Greece supports Slovenian EU bid
- Robber gets away with 3.5 mln
- Fire breaks out in Peloponnese
- Third telecoms float on Athens, NY bourses
- EFG Eurobank confirms purchase of stake in Ergobank
- Church initiates procedures for return of missing money
- Panathinaikos gets Italian playmaker
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Olympics security a Greek concern, Athens says
Greece is ready to handle all issues related to security at the 2004
Olympic Games in Athens, the government said today, responding to reports
that the United States had asked to take care of security arrangements at
the Games. "We shall not assign these activities since they are a matter
for the Greek authorities," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said,
while adding that "there will of course be co-operation". The spokesman was
commenting on reports that the request had been put to National Defence
Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos during his visit to the US this week.
Samos quake recorded
A 5.0 Richter earthquake in the sea region off the island of Samos last
night appeared not to be related to the killer earthquake that hit southern
Turkey last week, a prominent seismologist said today. Thessaloniki
University seismology professor Manolis Skordilis told the ANA said the
Samos quake was "too small in magnitude to maake us suspect a possible move
of the epicentre of the quake in southeastern Turkey". Skordilis said there
were "many small and larger faults" around Samos.
Sisters arrested in drug haul
Two Moroccan sisters have been arrested and charged with being in
possession of over 3 kilos of heroin, police in the western port city of
Patras said today. Acting on information received, Patras drug squad
officers went to Athens yesterday and arrested Pouria and Laila Nafar, 30
and 28 respectively, after finding them in possession of 3.1 kilos of
heroin. The sisters, who have a cosmetics shop in Athens, were arrested at
their apartment in Kallithea. They were later taken to Patras for
questioning.
Greece supports Slovenian EU bid
Greece today assured Slovenia that it supported its bid to become a member
of the European Union during talks here today between Foreign Undersecretary
Yiannos Kranidiotis and his Slovenian counterpart, Franco Juri. During the
meeting, the two sides noted the excellent level of bilateral relations and
discussed issues which included political and economic ties and the
possibility of military co-operation within the framework of the multinational
Balkan peacekeeping force to be set up. Also discussed were the latest
developments in the Kosovo crisis, the Cyprus problem and Greek-Turkish
relations.
Robber gets away with 3.5 mln
A bank robber escaped on a motorcycle with about 3.5 million drachmas from
a branch of the Agricultural Bank in Zarouchleika near Patras today after
threatening the cashier with a gun. Police have launched a manhunt for the
arrest of the robber.
Fire breaks out in Peloponnese
A large fire broke out today in forest land near the village of Zachloritika,
Aegio in the northern Peloponnese, destroying an area of pine trees and
bushes. Two fire-fighting aircraft and twelve fire-engines from Aegio and
Patras are taking part in efforts to bring the blaze under control.
Third telecoms float on Athens, NY bourses
The government will float 15 percent of Hellenic Telecommunications
Organisation (OTE) in the autumn on the Athens and New York stock exchanges,
National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said yesterday.
Mr. Papantoniou told reporters that OTE would also issue a bond in
international markets and carry out a share capital rise. The three moves
would raise one trillion drachmas for investments and modernisation, he
said. OTE's ownership status would have to be changed to allow the
acquisition by private buyers of up to 45 percent in the state-run telecom
from the current legally ordained 25 percent, Mr. Papantoniou said. OTE has
already carried out two flotations on the Athens Stock Exchange including
private placements. Mr. Papantoniou said no more of OTE's stock would be
sold to private investors after the autumn flotation.
EFG Eurobank confirms purchase of stake in Ergobank
EFG Eurobank yesterday confirmed in a statement that it had bought a stake
in Ergobank, a blue chip listed on the Athens bourse. Purchased were 2.9
million shares from major Ergobank shareholder Lazaros Efremoglou, who will
become a member of EFG Eurobank's board, the statement said. Bankers and
brokers leaked news of the sale on Wednesday but neither bank confirmed or
denied the talk. The purchase was effected yesterday partly through a block
trade on the Athens Stock Exchange and partly through an exchange of shares
in Ergobank and EFG Eurobank, which will also carry out a share capital
increase, the statement said.
Church initiates procedures for return of missing money
A committee of inquiry for the Autocephalus Orthodox Church of Greece
yesterday announced that hundreds of millions of drachmas are missing from
the Church's coffers during the 1989-96 period, and that it had initiated
procedures for the recovery of the m issing amounts. Details were contained
in a report presented to the Holy Synod following its investigation into
cases of financial irregularities. The committee said it would seek the
return of 400 million and 200 million drachmas, respectively, from two lay
staff in the Church administration, and that the probe was continuing to
ascertain possible involvement of clergymen and more lay staff.
Panathinaikos gets Italian playmaker
The Panathinaikos (Athens) basketball club yesterday announced the signing
of Italian playmaker Fernando Gentile. According to reports, Panathinaikos
paid around US$150,000 to secure his release from the Stefanel Milan team,
with the player reportedly signing a one-year contract with the option for
a further year - worth $450,000 the first year and $520,000 the second.
WEATHER
Cloud with occasional storms in eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Temperatures
will range from 13-25C in the north, 17-31C in the Ionian and mainland
regions and 19-28C in the Aegean. Athens, sunny with few clouds and
temperatures between 18-30C. In Thessaloniki, winds will be strong with
temperatures from 17-24C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Thursday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 302.947
British pound 493.718 Japanese yen (100) 215.681
French franc 49.404 German mark 165.629
Italian lira (100) 16.807 Irish Punt 416.640
Belgian franc 8.032 Finnish mark 54.475
Dutch guilder 146.950 Danish kr. 43.475
Austrian sch. 23.547 Spanish peseta 1.953
Swedish kr. 37.430 Norwegian kr. 39.017
Swiss franc 196.461 Port. Escudo 1.619
Aus. dollar 185.064 Can. dollar 205.245
Cyprus pound 562.464
(M.P.)
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