Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-07-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Stephanopoulos - Luxembourg

[02] New Spata airport named best tourist establishment in Europe

[03] French embassy in Greece to hold event honouring Greek D-Day veterans

[04] Greek Literature - Review

[05] Kazakhstan-President-Greece

[06] Mobile Phones-Tender

[07] Health Service-Strike

[08] Aspis Bank-SCGB-Alliance

[09] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Wednesday

[10] Greek stocks plunge to new three-year lows

[01] Stephanopoulos - Luxembourg

Le president de la Republique, Costis Stephanopoulos, en visite officielle de trois jours au Luxembourg, a observe que "le droit international n'est pas toujours applique de la meme facon dans toutes les circonstances", precisant meme que "bien souvent il n'est pas du tout applique car les interets internationaux, qui ont la possibilite de les contourner, ont la priorite". "Les principes du droit international sont, dans de nombreux cas, appliques de maniere selective et selon les interets, les sympathies et les preferences", a-t-il ajoute dans un discours prononce a la mairie de Luxembourg.

M. Stephanopoulos est arrive mardi en fin de matinee a Luxembourg ou il a rencontre le Grand-Duc Henri et par la suite s'est entretenu avec le premier ministre, Jean-Claude Juncker et le vice-premier ministre et ministre des AE, Lydie Polfer, des questions europeennes et balkaniques.

Le chef de l'Etat grec a assiste au dejeuner offert en son honneur par le Grand-Duc Henri et dans l'apres-midi a depose une gerbe au Monument aux morts de la seconde guerre mondiale

M. Stephanopoulos a encore evoque la poursuite de la crise en FYROM, soulignant que les problemes qui en resultent ont des retombees sur la Grece et exprime l'espoir que "la logique et la sagesse prevaudront ainsi que les principes du droit international".

Il s'est encore declare en faveur de l'elargissement de l'UE a tous les pays de l'Europe qui le desirent et qui y ont droit tout en mettant l'accent sur la necessite de reformes au sein de l'UE pour que cet elargissement soit un succes.

Dans la soiree, M. Stephanopoulos a assiste au diner officiel offert par le Grand-Duc du Luxembourg et, dans un bref discours a cette occasion, a fait part de son inquietude au sujet de la poursuite de la crise dans les Balkans et notamment en FYROM.

Les affrontements sanglants des dernieres annees dans les Balkans inquietent profondement la Grece, a affirme M. Stephanopoulos ajoutant que "la cessation des violences, la recherche d'un reglement politique a la crise, le maintien de l'integrite territoriale et le respect de la souverainete du pays sont des conditions fondamentales pour la stabilite dans l'Europe du sud-est".

De son cote, le Grand-Duc Henri a souligne que "la Grece est chargee d'une mission unique en raison de sa position geopolitique". "Etant au carrefour du sud-ouest et du sud-est de l'Europe, au centre des Balkans et de la Mediterranee, qui serait plus que la Grece a meme de comprendre les sensibilites et les visions de ces regions, et de devenir leur pacificateur face a ses partenaires de l'UE", s'est notamment interroge le Grand-Duc Henri.

Concluant son discours, M. Stephanopoulos a reaffirme que Athenes desire l'amelioration de ses relations avec Ankara et exprime l'espoir que la candidature turque a l'UE facilitera l'adaptation de la Turquie aux normes europeennes (dans les questions concernant les institutions democratiques, les droits de l'Homme et les relations entre les Etats) et par consequent contribuera a la normalisation complete des relations greco-turques et du probleme chypriote.

[02] New Spata airport named best tourist establishment in Europe

Celebrating its 100 days in operation, the new Athens airport at Spata, ?Eleftherios Venizelos? recently won the title as the best ?tourist? airport in Europe.

An independent study of 15 European airports, the results of which were made public last week, placed the new Athens airport on top of the list as the leading tourist establishment in Europe.

Special remarks were made as to the impeccable check-in service at the Greek airport as well as the overall organization of the airport, the expertise of the personnel, the unique shops and eating establishments and the airport's cleanliness.

Commenting on the results, General Manager of the International Airport of Athens SA, Dr. Matthias Mitscherlich told reporters on Tuesday that all handling at the new airport is promising despite the meager problems that arose in the first few days of operation.

He added that because of this encouraging development, the airport is gaining the confidence of travelers every day. ?We are proud,? said Mitscherlich ?for the positive feedback we have received on the effort we have made to satisfy our clients, the various airline companies as well as all travelers, in such a short time since we first began operations.?

[03] French embassy in Greece to hold event honouring Greek D-Day veterans

The French embassy in Athens will honor Greek D-Day veterans on Saturday July 14, France's national day, who landed along with allied forces in Normandy, in the prelude to the end of World War II.

French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert will honour the Greek veterans, on the anniversary of France's national day. Ripert, in the name of the French people, will honor with commemorative medallions the Greek men that helped make that day possible, leading to the liberation of France and the continent from Nazi occupation.

In his message to the event, that will take place at the French School of Archaeology in Athens, Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos noted that this is the first time France honours, in this special way, the Greek veterans of that historic landing in Normandy, an operation of great "importance for the outcome of World War II".

On June 6, 1944, three Greek warships - Tombazis, Kriezis and St. Spyridon - participated in the landing of the allied forces in Normandy. Many hundreds of Greek soldiers and four commandeered merchant ships, together with the forces of another 17 nations, participated in the greatest naval operation in history.

"Many hundreds of Greek sailors, as crews of those ships, participated along with the forces of other nations in the greatest naval operation in history, which allowed for the liberation of Europe and the final victory of the allies," Stephanopoulos's message read.

French President Jacques Chirac, in his message, noted that "no one forgets that Greece participated in that amazing military operation. At the side of the forces of another 13 nations, with two warships and many hundreds of soldiers, Greece contributed to the final victory against fascism and proved, often with the sacrifice of its men, its willingness to defend the values of peace, freedom and dignity".

Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos will be present at the event and will address the gathering, while Cpt. Grigoris Pavlakis, a survivor of that day, will voice his memories.

Pavlakis will relate the story of Kriezis' commander at the time, late admiral Dimitris Kiosses and Tombazis' commander at the time, late admiral George Panagiotopoulos as well as the story of his brothers in arms, most of whom are no longer alive.

The old sailor will remember Churchill's statement to the troops which stressed in that inimitable voice and tone "Today, in the early hours naval forces of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, Poland, Norway, Holland and Greece landed in Europe. Operation are proceeding according to plan".

All nine survivors still alive today will be present at the event, which will precede the celebration of France's national day. Along with the nine men, the relatives of those that fell on that fateful day will be honoured for their ultimate sacrifice.

[04] Greek Literature - Review

The Greek English language periodical ?Ithaca Books from Greece, which concerns itself with Greek literary works that cater to the English speaking community, is these days on its own ?search for Ithaca? with the release of a new edition.

The new volume focuses on the double-identity or indefinable syndrome in literature, which the writers of the publication, namely Artemis Leondi, Vasilis Lambropoulos and Vaggelis Kalotihos, claim does not only concern the science community.

The publication also features a special interview with Mario Viti, who speaks about his re-released scholarly demise ?History of Modern Greek Literature". In a separate segment playwrite Iakovos Kambanelis transports readers, through his own palys, to contemporary Greek theater works.

For its production, the new publication required the expertise of a score of university professors, novelists, literary critics and journalists.

[05] Kazakhstan-President-Greece

The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev will make an official visit to Greece, together with his wife, on July 16-18, at the invitation of President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

[06] Mobile Phones-Tender

Four bidders will take part in a government tender for second and third generation mobile phone licences, due to be held on Wednesday.

The companies are Cosmote, Infoquest, Panafon and Stet Hellas.

According to sources, Infoquest will bid for the one second generation licence on the auction block, and the other three firms for the third generation permits.

[07] Health Service-Strike

Staff of the Social Security Foundation (IKA) confirmed an earlier decision to begin rolling 24-hour strikes on Thursday in a call for recruitment in the state health sector.

The Federation of Staff Associations said in a statement on Tuesday that 3,509 positions in IKA were vacant and should be filled.

Workers are also seeking an allowance of 60,000 drachmas, the statement said.

[08] Aspis Bank-SCGB-Alliance

Aspis Bank announced on Tuesday that it had signed an alliance memorandum with Standard Chartered Grindlays Bank (SCGB)under the terms of which it will acquire SCGB's two branches and business in Greece.

In return, London-based Standard Chartered Bank, SCGB's parent, will gain a minority holding in private sector Aspis Bank, the Greek bank said in a statement.

In addition, the two banks will study opportunities to widen their alliance under the contract, whose final version is due to be signed in the current quarter, the statement added.

[09] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Wednesday

Sunny weather is forecast in most parts of the country on Wednesday, turning to showers or storms from evening in the northeast and possibly on mainland Greece. Winds northerly, moderate to strong, turning very strong in the Aegean. In the north and west, temperatures will range from 19C to 33C; on the rest of the mainland from 22C to 36C; and in the Aegean islands from 24C to 34C. Sunshine in Athens with temperatures between 24C and 36C. Scattered cloud, turning to a shower or storm in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 21C to 32C.

[10] Greek stocks plunge to new three-year lows

Equity prices plunge to new three-year lows on the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday, although a wave of buying by institutional investors and banks, late at the session, managed to push prices off their day's lows.

The general index ended 1.49 percent lower at 2,507.18 points, after falling as much as 3.0 percent early in the session. Turnover was an improved 43.5 billion drachmas.

Blue chip stocks remained under heavy pressure, with the banks index falling 2.87 percent, and the holdings index ending 2.83 percent lower. Textiles and Telecoms, however, managed to claw small gains (0.83 percent and 0.18 percent respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 2.10 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 1.22 percent and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP index eased 1.29 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 219 to 100 with another 40 issues unchanged.

Traders said market sentiment was undermined on Tuesday by rumours of a partial government reshuffle, with changes in the finance posts and the stock market.

A report by Merrill Lynch, indicating that the stock market's crisis would negatively affect Greek banks' results and recommending its customers to limit their positions in National Bank, Commercial Bank and Alpha Bank with a forecast for a 10-25 percent further decline of their share prices, was another factor undermining sentiment on the Greek bourse.

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