Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-08

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 08/07/1999 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• CPI inflation slows to 2.1 percent in June
• Greece says will ask Belgrade for Australians' release
• Laliotis denies Olympics portfolio in pipeline
• Market police seize rotten meat
• Albanian couple led children begging ring
• Equity prices come under pressure
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Consumer price inflation slowed to 2.1 percent year-on-year in June, down from 2.4 percent the previous month, the National Statistics Service (ESYE) announced on Thursday. ESYE secretary-general Nikos Karavitis said the inflation trend would depend on the impact of rising fuel prices in international markets. Developments in the domestic market, however, were satisfactory particularly in fruit and vegetables prices. The consumer price index showed an average rise of 3.8 percent in June still far from a target of 2.3-2.2 percent for the end of the year.

Greece says will ask Belgrade for Australians' release

The head of the Greek parliament on Thursday said he would intercede with his Yugoslav counterpart for an early release of two Australian aid workers imprisoned as spies in the Yugoslavia. Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis was speaking after meeting with the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Neil Andrew. Andrew, who is due to meet Foreign Minister George Papandreou later in the day, thanked Greece for its continuing efforts to have the two men released. Steve Pratt and Peter Wallace, part of Care Australia's refugee relief programme in Yugoslavia, were convicted of spying after they were detained on Yugoslavia's border with Croatia on March 31. Australia branded the charges as preposterous.

Laliotis denies Olympics portfolio in pipeline

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis today denied press reports of an impending government reshuffle in which he would be named 'Minister for the Olympic Games'. "I repeat once again, as I have done many times in the past, that the scenaria referring to the Olympic Games, the 2004 Organising Committee and myself do not interest me and do not concern me," Laliotis said. Local newspapers said that Stratis Stratigis' resignation as president of the Athens 2004 organising committee earlier this week had laid the groundwork for a sweeping cabinet reshuffle and the introduction of a "Ministry for the Olympic Games", which Laliotis would head.

Market police seize rotten meat

Market police and public health inspectors seized 458 kilos of meat unsuitable for consumption at a supermarket of the Continent chain in Nea Liosia, Athens, it was announced today. A market police announcement said 300 kilos of fresh beef, 124 kilos of pork, 20 kilos of chicken, seven kilos of beef liber and seven kilos of turkey were seized from the Continent supermarket's cold storage and packaging department during an inspection on Tuesday and subsequently destroyed. The announcement said that the meat seized had an "unpleasant odor" and "altered" color. A case file was also drafted against the supermarket's management and sent to the prosecutor.

Albanian couple led children begging ring

An Albanian woman and her Albanian boyfriend have been arrested by Athens security police for exploitation of minors, police said today. They said Kuitim Kekaki, 45, and her boyfriend Halit Suleimani, 54, were arrested on charges of forcing the woman's two physically disabled teenage children and other children from Albania to beg on street corners in Athens.

Equity prices come under pressure

Equity prices remained under pressure for the third consecutive session on the Athens Stock Exchange with the market unable to hold above the 4,300 historic levels. Traders said banks were hit by strong profit-taking reflecting gloomy prospects over developments in a battle for acquiring Ergobank. The general index ended 0.94 percent lower at 4,245.34 points, off the day's lows. Turnover was 185.718 billion drachmas with 33,710,610 shares changing hands.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Thursday's rates (buying)
U.S. dollar          315.228
Pound sterling       491.516
Japanese yen (100)   258.218
French franc          49.201
German mark          165.013
Italian lira (100)    16.668
Irish Punt           409.792
Belgian franc          8.000
Finnish mark          54.280
Dutch guilder        146.452
Danish kr.            43.398
Austrian sch.         23.454
Spanish peseta         1.939
Swedish kr.           37.125
Norwegian kr.         39.902
Swiss franc          201.262
Port. Escudo           1.610
Can. dollar          214.332
Aus. dollar          209.228
Cyprus pound         560.044
Euro                 322.737

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