Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-02-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece - Romania - Balkans

[02] Digital TV - Gov't

[03] Sports roundup

[04] Simitis-Ecevit

[05] Olympics - Greece

[06] Stock market-close

[07] FYROM - road death

[08] Credit market-January report

[01] Greece - Romania - Balkans

BUCHAREST (ANA- V. Mourtis) - Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived here on Friday for the third inter-Balkan conference of heads of state or government in the framework of regional cooperation.

He is scheduled to hold meetings with his counterparts of Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Romania on Saturday morning, and of Bulgaria in the afternoon.

The conference will culminate with the signing of a Charter for good neighbourly relations, stability, security and cooperation in

SE Europe, which was initialled by the participating countries' foreign ministers last December.

[02] Digital TV - Gov't

The government stated on Friday that the digital transmission of Greek broadcasters¢ signals · currently sent over the airwaves in analog mode -- isn¢t something that¢s projected in the near future.

Press and Mass Media Minister Dimitris Reppas made the statement in reply to a tabled question by Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputy Haralambos Aggourakis, who queried the government over what he called delays in the digital transmission of the state-run network¢s (ERT) programmes.

?The issue is under study by the responsible agencies in Greece, however, it (digital transmission) requires massive outlays with disproportionate results,? Reppas said, adding that only Britain broadcasters, among European states, have completed procedures for the digital transmission of ground-based television signals.

He also referred to the recent announcement of a deal between ERT, the state-run telephone utility (OTE) and several private interests to develop digital satellite packages for subscribers. The minister added that a pilot programme has already commenced, broadcast over the Hotbird-3 satellite platform.

In his question, the Athens-area KKE deputy claimed that the ERT-OTE digitalisation process has been delayed in relation to the platform offered by the ¡NOVA¢ group for subscribers in Greece · a venture that includes the multinational NETMED corporation and the Athens-based broadcaster MEGA television, among others. He also cited a delay in the issuance of a license towards the state broadcaster by the transport ministry.

In response, Reppas said ERT, unlike private firms that are governed by relevant legislation, will immediately receive its license and doesn¢t require sanctioning from the transport ministry or any other state agency.

[03] Sports roundup

One of the Balkans¢ most historic soccer teams, Panathinaikos Athens, has apparently taken the first step to returning to its original playing field, the team¢s home for many decades.

A meeting between officials from Panathinaikos S.A. -- the pro football club -- and the amateur Panathinaikos organisation on Friday resulted in a formula for the soccer team¢s return to the Apostolos Nikolaidis Field in central Athens. The venue is affectionately known to Panathinaikos fans as ?Leoforos Alexandras?, the name of the major avenue in front of the stadium.

[04] Simitis-Ecevit

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is scheduled to meet with his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit during the Balkan summit in Bucharest beginning Saturday, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Friday.

Reppas said Simitis, who left for the Romanian capital on Friday, would be meeting successively with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Prime Minister Ljupco Georgevski, the Romanian prime minister and then with Ecevit.

Shortly before his departure on Saturday evening, he will meet with Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov. A meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta, who was recently in Athens, may also be held, Reppas said.

[05] Olympics - Greece

Greece's government on Friday announced a 200 billion drachma injection into provincial sports infrastructure on Friday, saying that it was part of the run-off effect of the holding of the 2004 Olympic Games in the Greek capital.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the "Greece 2004" programme of public projects and infrastructure was a tangible reminder that the holding of the Olympic Games was not just of benefit to Athens.

"The projects which will be completed in this period up to the day of the holding of the Olympic Games in Greece can be evaluated at 350 billion drachmas - a major amount will be allocated for projects in the Greek provinces," he said.

Reppas was speaking after Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee on the 2004 Olympic Games with the participation of Organising Committee Managing Director Costas Bacouris.

[06] Stock market-close

Equity prices ended Friday's session mixed on the Athens Stock Exchange in subdued trade reflecting lack of fresh incentives and directions in the market.

Dealers said buying focused on blue chip stocks, with shares in the bank and investment sectors scoring gains, while constructions came under pressure.

The general index ended at 5,502.38, up 2.41 points or 0.04 percent, after moving in a narrow range between 5,561 and 5,491 points. Turnover was a low 214.12 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.42 percent to end at 2,931.39 points, while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.74 percent to 938.19.

The parallel market index ended at 1,625.95, off 0.52 percent.

[07] FYROM - road death

The coach of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) national track team was killed in a car accident near the central Greek town of Lamia early on Friday.

Coach Metondi Venofski, 42, was killed when the car he was driving span out of control in rainy weather at around 8 a.m. and overturned. The two passengers in the car, members of the track team, received slight injuries in the accident.

The FYROM team of seven people was en route to Athens to take part in an indoor track event. They had set off by road from Skopje on Thursday evening and were travelling in two cars.

[08] Credit market-January report

Credit conditions improved in January with the number of bouncing checks and bills falling despite a rise in bankruptcies, Bank of Greece figures showed on Friday.

Bouncing checks totalled 9,026, worth 23.37 billion drachmas, down 26.2 and 7.7 percent, respectively, compared with the same month in 1999.

Bouncing bills totalled 27,693, worth 7.8 billion drachmas, a fall of 0.58 and 6.09 percent, respectively.

Bankruptcy applications, however, rose to 81 from 63 last year and the number of bankruptcies increased to 97 from 61.

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