Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-02-08

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM condemns 'phenomena of misinformation' in newscasts

[02] ATHOC publishes first issue of its magazine "Athens.04"

[03] Worldwide events for Greek author and poet Nikos Kazantzakis

[04] Greek troops to depart for Afghanistan next week

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[06] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Saturday

[07] PM: We are determined to stamp out illegal gambling, corruption

[08] Greek stocks extend losing streak for sixth session

[01] PM condemns 'phenomena of misinformation' in newscasts

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday condemned what he called ?misinformation from newscasts staged to sensationalise?, while he referred to ongoing mobilisations by Greek farmers as politically inspired, in statements on Friday during an address to the ruling PASOK youth wings 5th conference in Athens.

Regarding the recent furor over illegal ?video slot machines? and an avalanche of subsequent news programmes focusing on corruption in the public sector, Simitis said:

?You heard over the past few days that there is a political problem; that there is a likelihood of (early) elections; that our political system is facing problems. We gave a clear answer: Our democracy is strong; our system is strong and is in position to deal with any problem. Some people underestimate the Greek peoples intelligence; they believe that with newscasts staged to sensationalise they can lead things elsewhere.

?We have phenomena of misinformation. The people, however, have the ability to see the truth,? he said.

[02] ATHOC publishes first issue of its magazine "Athens.04"

"Athens.04" the magazine of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC) circulated on Friday its first issue hosting an article by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and an interview by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Dr. Jacques Rogge.

The publication includes news concerning the Olympic movement, interviews and news of the preparations for the Athens Games in 2004.

In his article, which the Athens News Agency released exclusively a few days ago, Simitis underlined the immense importance of organizing the Games in Athens, stressing that the Olympic Games began already, as Greece is at the center of international attention and notes that the consent and cooperation of all political forces is needed.

Rogge in his interview stressed that IOC's priority is the security during the Games.

[03] Worldwide events for Greek author and poet Nikos Kazantzakis

In the framework of the effort to promote the works and thoughts of the world known Greek author and poet Nikos Kazantzakis, the International Society of Friends of Kazantzakis has announced a list of events as well as its priorities for 2002.

The Society has programmed events in Denmark and Norway this weekend and in Romania, France and Australia on February 16-17.

Its priorities include the holding of regional events aimed at promoting the works of Kazantzakis. These regional events will be held in Toledo, Spain on May 4-5, in Caracas, Venezuela on September 14-15, in Johannesburg, South Africa on October 5-6, Odessa, Ukraine October 12-13 and Sydney, Australia on November 24.

At the same time the Society is to organise competitions at Greek-language schools in Belgium and in Paris in April, as well as music and poetry evenings.

Greek metzo-soprano Myrto Georgiadou will give recitals in autumn and spring in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Cyprus, Slovakia, England and France, singing songs of Kazantzakis-Kalomoiris and Kazantzakis-Hatzidakis.

Finally, the Society aims at organising for the first time events in China on March 20, Lithuania on April 6, Jordan on May 12, Iceland on July 15, the United States on April 9 and October 25 and in Saudi Arabia on November 7.

The Society of Friends of Kazantzakis was founded in Geneva on December 14, 1988.

[04] Greek troops to depart for Afghanistan next week

Greek troops are to depart from a Nea Santa Kilkis army base in Thessaloniki prefecture for Afghanistan next week, to take up stations in an area controlled by NATO forces just outside Kabul.

The force of 132 troops awaits orders to depart after Monday and will be transported to Afghanistan in a C-130 transport plane.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro until Monday

U.S. dollar 0.881

Pound sterling 0.623

Danish kroner 7.487

Swedish kroner 9.334

Japanese yen 118.4

Swiss franc 1.484

Norwegian kroner 7.894

Cyprus pound 0.580

Canadian dollar 1.406

Australian dollar 1.726

[06] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Saturday

Scattered cloud is forecast throughout the country, probably turning to rain in parts of Crete. Winds east-northeasterly, light to moderate, turning strong at sea in the south. In the north, temperatures will range from 2C to 17C; on the rest of the mainland from 5C to 19C; and in the islands from 9C to 17C. Light cloud over Athens, with temperatures between 7C and 17C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 5C to 15C.

[07] PM: We are determined to stamp out illegal gambling, corruption

The government was determined to stamp out corruption and illegal activities in the electronic gambling sector, Prime Minister Costas Simitis underlined on Friday in Parliament.

The prime minister was responding to a question tabled by Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos on the need to take measures against the phenomenon of illegal video-slot 'fruit' machines.

Simitis also denied that the government's policy on gambling sought to increase tax revenues (by some 58.6 million euros a year) and said that the policy in Greece was similar to that in most European countries.

Responding to a demand by Constantopoulos for a total ban on gambling, the prime minister said that this would drive gambling underground and lead to illegal and uncontrollable situations.

In the medium term, Simitis said, the phenomenon would be dealt with through stricter controls, with the possibility of permanently removing operating licences for transgressors, while leaving open the possibility of a total ban in the more distant future.

[08] Greek stocks extend losing streak for sixth session

Equity prices remained under pressures for the sixth consecutive session on the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday, hit by lack of domestic demand and a negative climate in international markets.

The general index ended 0.77 percent lower at 2,527.34 points, reflecting a 3.07 percent plunge in the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation's share price, with turnover a low Dr 49.8 billion, or 146.2 million euros.

The Telecoms, Holdings and Investment sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (2.15 percent, 1.53 percent and 1.14 percent, respectively), while the Insurance, Food-Beverage and Cement sectors scored gains.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.70 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.54 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.47 percent lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 222 to 88 with another 48 issues unchanged.

The general index ended the week with a net loss of 2.63 percent.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article