Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-11-06
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 06/11/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- October inflation falls to 4.7%
- Athens comments on S-300 furore
- Holbrooke expected in Athens soon
- Girl jailed over minor offence
- Earthquake rattles Thessaloniki
- Stock exchange ends week up 4.9%
- Weather
- Foreign Exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
October inflation falls to 4.7%
Year-on-year inflation fell sharply to 4.7 per cent in October from 5.2 per
cent the previous month, the National Statistics Service (NSS) announced on
Friday, predicting a further drop in November due to the price reduction of
heating oil. In view of the October inflation figure, it now appears that
the government's target of 4.5 per cent by the end of December is
attainable. The figure might be even lower at the end of the year if the
tax cuts on car purchases announced by the government earlier this week
have immediate effect in the automobile market.
Athens comments on S-300 furore
The Cyprus problem is one of invasion and occupation by foreign forces, not
one relating to the installation of a missile system, the Greek government
said on Friday. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the comment when
replying to reporters' questions on press reports claiming that Russian-
made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles scheduled to be installed on Cyprus might
eventually be deployed on Crete. Nicosia's plans to install the defensive
missile system have been criticised by the United States and several
European Union countries which say it will lead to greater tension in the
region.
Holbrooke expected in Athens soon
Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy, is expected to visit Athens and
Ankara soon, U.S. Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns said on Friday. Burns,
speaking in Thessaloniki after meeting with the Thessaloniki Prefect, did
not say exactly when the visit would take place. He added that U.S.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had also expressed a desire to visit
the region and that efforts were under way to scheduled her trip. Albright
was scheduled to visit Greece in May this year but a heavy work schedule
led to the cancellation of the trip.
Girl jailed over minor offence
There was an outcry on Friday following reports that a 14-year-old girl had
been incarcerated for five days after police discovered a seven-year-old
conviction for theft against her. The Thessaloniki General Police
Directorate confirmed on Friday that Ibeki Ahmetoglou, 14, had been
detained after police found a court decision sentencing her to a juvenile
detention centre on one count of theft. Ahmetoglou was seven at the time of
the offence. It was the second embarrassing incident in as many weeks for
the Thessaloniki police: on October 23, a police officer shot and killed a
Serbian schoolboy visiting Greece while trying to arrest one of his friends
for pickpocketing.
Earthquake rattles Thessaloniki
An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale was recorded by Thessaloniki
University shortly before midnight Thursday but there were no reports of
material damage or injuries. The epicentre of the tremor, recorded at 23.52
local time, was 30 kilometres east of the island of Lesbos in western
Turkey.
Stock exchange ends week up 4.9%
Greek equities ended the last trading session of a very positive week
slightly higher on the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index ended 0.06
percent higher to 2,255.74 points for a net gain of 4.29 percent on the
week. Traders said the market had already banked on a sharp drop in October
inflation and was awaiting Bank of Greece's moves on interest rates next
week. Trading was heavy with turnover at 57.3 billion drachmas. Volume was
12,864,000 shares. Lambrakis Press Organisation was the most heavily traded
stock rising 25.7 percent in its maiden appearance on the market. Ideal,
Hellenic Telecoms and Teletypos also recorded heavy volumes.
WEATHER
Fine weather with scattered cloud is forecast throughout Greece today with
the possibility of rain in the northwest in the afternoon. Morning fog in
mainland Greece. Winds, southwesterly, light to moderate, turning strong in
the Ionian Sea. Few clouds in Athens with temperatures between 13-24C.
Overcast in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 12-22C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Friday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 277.829
British pound 460.804 Japanese yen (100) 236.354
French franc 49.836 German mark 167.127
Italian lira (100) 16.894 Irish Punt 416.243
Belgian franc 8.102 Finnish mark 55.004
Dutch guilder 148.220 Danish kr. 43.959
Austrian sch. 23.750 Spanish peseta 1.966
Swedish kr. 35.684 Norwegian kr. 37.571
Swiss franc 203.752 Port. Escudo 1.630
Aus. dollar 175.921 Can. dollar 183.004
Cyprus pound 562.861
(M.P.)
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