Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-06-14

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 14/06/1999 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• New Democracy leads ruling party in Euro-poll
• Greece's 25 new European Parliament MPs
• Government: business as usual
• Greek troops to leave for Kosovo Wednesday
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Main opposition New Democracy maintained a steady lead of about 3.0 percent over ruling party PASOK in counting for yesterday's European Parliament elections With 99.69 percent of the vote counted (18,469 of 18,525 polling stations), PASOK had 32.06% (9 seats), New Democracy 36.0% (9), Communist Party 8.67% (3), Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.17% (2) and Democratic Social Movement 6.87% (2). Falling short of the 3.0 percent threshold, Political Spring lost its two seats, polling only 2.28 percent. New party The Liberals polled 1.62 percent in its first electoral contest. The interior ministry will announce official and final results at 6 p.m. local time.

Greece's 25 new European Parliament MPs

Elected to the 626-seat Europarliament are: From New Democracy: Marietta Yannakou-Koutsikou, Christos Zacharakis, Antonis Trakatellis, Yannis Marinos, George Dimitrakopoulos, Constantine Hadzidakis, Christos Folias, Rodi Kratsa, and Yannis Averof. From PASOK: Dimitris Tsatsos, Yannis Souladakis, George Katiforis, Yannis Koukiadis, Petros Efthymiou, Anna Karamanou, Alecos Baltas, Melpomeni Miliori and Manolis Mastorakis. From the KKE: Stratis Korakas, Yannis Theonas and Kostas Alyssandrakis. From the Coalition: Alekos Alavanos and Kostas Papayannakis. From DHKKI: Dimitris Koulourianos and Manolis Bakopoulos.

Government: business as usual

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas on Monday denied reports Prime Minister Costas Simitis would call early elections or announce a reshuffle in the government after the ruling party came second to the conservative opposition in European Parliament elections. "The results of the European Parliament elections for the ruling party were positive," Reppas said. "Greeks voted for political stability in the country. Reppas told reporters that there was no question whatsoever of the prime minister resigning. "The election result has not changed the political stage, as the leaderships of the opposition parties intend," he said. "(National) elections will be held in 2000."

Greek troops to leave for Kosovo Wednesday

Greek troops destined to join the peacekeeping force for Kosovo will leave on their mission on Wednesday, a defence ministry source said on Monday. The 501 motorised infantry battalion in Giannitsa, northern Greece will be the first part of the Greek brigade to go to Kosovo. 501 is made up of 450 volunteer commissioned officers and professional soldiers and 50 reservists. It includes M113 armored personnel carriers, and VPL battle support vehicles. Many of its members have served in the Greek contingents of the peace forces in Bosnia and Albania. The battalion is expected to be deployed in southern Kosovo, in the U.S. sector and based in Gnilane.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Monday's rates (buying)
U.S. dollar          306.647
Pound sterling       492.330
Japanese yen (100)   258.525
French franc          49.020
German mark          164.404
Italian lira (100)    16.606
Irish Punt           408.280
Belgian franc          7.971
Luxembourg franc       7.971
Finnish mark          54.080
Dutch guilder        145.911
Danish kr.            43.277
Austrian sch.         23.368
Spanish peseta         1.932
Swedish kr.           36.133
Norwegian kr.         39.228
Swiss franc          201.178
Port. Escudo           1.604
Can. dollar          210.006
Aus. dollar          203.558
Cyprus pound         556.750
Euro                 321.547

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