Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-12-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] State Literary Awards

[02] Bank of Piraeus-Winbank-Charity

[03] US Ambassador-Greece-Turkey-Terrorism

[04] Defence Minister-Visit to Air Force Unit

[05] Greek National Soccer Division-Result

[06] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

[07] ASE close

[01] State Literary Awards

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos awarded the State Literary Awards for 2000 in a ceremony at the Old Parliament Building on Monday night.

The top literary award was bestowed to Andreas Frangias for all his work.

[02] Bank of Piraeus-Winbank-Charity

Bank of Piraeus, a private bank listed on the Athens bourse, is offering the public and businesses the opportunity to make donations through the internet via Winbank, its electronic unit.

Called "Win-for Life", the new service on www.winbank.gr is to be launched on Tuesday.

[03] US Ambassador-Greece-Turkey-Terrorism

US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, in an interview with the Alter TV channel on Sunday, said Greece and Turkey are currently more important strategically for NATO than they were 10-15 years ago.

Referring to all that had happened during the NATO exercise codenamed "Destined Glory", Burns said the only appropriate thing the US and NATO could do was to take the side of neither Turkey nor Greece, adding that it was better to resolve such matters in the backstages.

On the question of terrorism, Burns said "we are cooperating excellently" with Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis and that cooperation was "close and productive" with the Greek government on issues concerning the combatting of the phenomenon.

Regarding the procurement of weaponry systems for the Greek armed forces, Burns said the US wants to have "weaponry relations" with its allies, adding that Greece needs modern weapons. He also expressed Washington's satisfaction over the procurement by Greece of the Patriot system two years ago.

[04] Defence Minister-Visit to Air Force Unit

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on Monday visited the newly established Air Force unit created for the confrontation of natural disasters such as earthquakes.

The minister visited the unit, which was set up in November, in the Athens district of Ano Liossia where he observed an exercise for the rescue of people trapped under rubble in the wake of an earthquake.

The KOMAK unit is comprised of two groups of 10 people and three trained dogs.

The first phase of their training, which is taking place in Switzerland, Israel and France, will be concluded in mid-January 2001.

[05] Greek National Soccer Division-Result

OFI Crete drew 3-3 at home with AEK Athens on Monday in a Greek National Division match played on Monday, concluding the 11th round of the league.

Standings, points after 11 rounds:

Olympiakos 29, Panathinaikos 25, Ionikos 21, Iraklis, AEK 20, PAOK 19, Ethnikos Asteras 17, Aris, Xanthi 15, Panionios 12, Panachaiki 10, PAS Ioannina 9, Kalamata, Athinaikos, Paniliakos 7, OFI 6.

[06] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

Scattered cloud is forecast throughout Greece on Tuesday, turning to showers first in the eastern and southern islands and then after nightfall in eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Winds northerly, moderate, turning strong at sea. In the north, temperatures will range from -1C to 12C; in the west from 2C to 15C; and in the rest of the country from 3C to 17C. Light cloud over Athens with temperatures between 7C and 15C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 4C to 12C.

[07] ASE close

The Athens Stock Exchange's general index finished 1.52 percent lower to close at 3,529.69 points, with turnover at approximately 94 billion drachmas.

(detailed report to come)

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