Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-02-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis briefs Europarliament; praised by MEPs for Monday summit

[02] Simitis meets with leadership of EU's '13' acceding & candidate

[03] ATHOC's top leadership streamlined ahead of Games

[04] Forum to promote business links between Greece, Turkey

[05] Fifteen Greek soccer, five basketball clubs' licences in danger

[06] Car show opens near Athens

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[08] Weather Forecast: Rain, sleet on Wednesday

[09] Greek stocks move higher on Tuesday

[01] Simitis briefs Europarliament; praised by MEPs for Monday summit

BRUSSELS (ANA G. Zitouniati) -- Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the current European Council president-in-office, briefed MEPs here on Tuesday following the previous days special EU summit on Iraq, and on the occasion of a Europarliament presidents conference, which was open to all Euro-deputies.

On his part, Europarliament President Pat Cox congratulated Simitis on what he called the summits success, which he said had enabled the Union to present a coherent position. Cox said the summit entailed a clear political risk, but its successful outcome had confounded the critics.

''We decided to go ahead because the European Union must be present on the international stage and must overcome its differences'', Simitis said, adding that Saturday's global demonstrations in favour of peace were a reflection of deep anxiety and that it would have been paradoxical for EU leaders not to respond to them.

The Greek premier also outlined the main points of Monday's joint statement by the ?15? Union leaders, who agreed that all means of achieving peace must be fully exhausted, while the UN must continue to play a central role in managing the crisis.

[02] Simitis meets with leadership of EU's '13' acceding & candidate member-states

BRUSSELS (ANA M. Spinthourakis) - Prime Minister Costas Simitis, in his capacity as President of the European Council, on Tuesday led an EU troika meeting with the leaders of the 13 acceding and candidate countries to discuss the Iraq crisis.

President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, and Secretary-General/CFSP High Representative, Javier Solana also participated in the meeting that concluded with the acceptance of the European Union's stance toward the crisis.

''The European Union and the 13 reiterate their determination to ensure a common stance, to avoid new dividing lines and to promote stability and prosperity within and beyond the borders of the new Union. They will continue to work together in their joint endeavour to accomplish these goals,'' a common statement issued after the meeting said.

The leaders of the 13 countries also met with the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox.

[03] ATHOC's top leadership streamlined ahead of Games

Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organising Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki on Tuesday announced what's expected to be the final reshuffling of the organisation, the primary entity behind ongoing preparations to host the upcoming Summer Games.

Among others, ATHOC Executive Director Marton Simitsek was appointed as the chairman of a streamlined Games management council.

Speaking to the organisations executives, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki emphasised that 2003 will be the year of the ?test events?, a milestone for the Games success.

?Unity and collective action are our banner. Divisiveness, cliques, favoritism and preferential treatment is not allowed ... these things do not apply to me; they dont apply to us,? she said.

In the wake of this months see-saw deliberations with the government over extra funding to complete various 2004-related projects on time, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki emphasised every euro budgeted is important.

ATHOC Managing Director Ioannis Spanudakis will retain supervision of the organisations financial sector.

Finally, ATHOC sources emphasised that the latest reshuffling marks the final organisational structure with which Greek organisers will host the 2004 Games.

[04] Forum to promote business links between Greece, Turkey

A three-day forum will be held in the northern port city of Thessaloniki on February 20-22 in order to promote business links between Greek and Turkish enterprises.

The forum will include a seminar and opportunities for executives of businesses to meet in preparation for this year's Partenariat, which is to be held in Istanbul in May.

The event has been arranged by the Association of Northern Greek Industry, the Thessaloniki Chamber of Trade and Industry, and Greece's consulate in Istanbul.

[05] Fifteen Greek soccer, five basketball clubs' licences in danger

Fifteen Greek soccer clubs and five basketball clubs are in danger of having their licenses recalled, although the develoment ministry has not yet announced the timing of such a move, Development Deputy Minister Christos Theodorou said on Tuesday.

Mr Theodorou noted, however, that it was in the government's discretion to take such a decision.

In a written reply to the Greek parliament, the Greek minister stressed that the problem referred to sport clubs, operating as societe anonymes, with their capital less than one-tenth of their paid down equity capital, according to their balance sheets (June 30, 2002).

The soccer clubs included in the list are AEK FC, Aegaleo FC, Akratitos FC, Aris FC, Ioannina FC, Olympiakos FC, PAOK FC, Proodeftiki FC, Apollon Athens FC, Atromitos FC, Olympiakos Volos FC, Panaegialios FC, Paniliakos FC, Panseraikos FC, Halkidona FC, Aghios Nikolaos FC, Trikala FC.

The five basketball clubs are Near East, Olympiakoks, Panionios, Peristeri and Marousi.

[06] Car show opens near Athens

An automobile trade fair opened near Athens on Tuesday, which will remain open to the public until February 24.

On display will be new models and presentations of the latest technology in the automobile sector.

The show is arranged by the Association of Automobile Importers and Representatives at the site of the former eastern air terminal in the coastal suburb of Hellenikon.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.080

Pound sterling 0.676

Danish kroner 7.491

Swedish kroner 9.194

Japanese yen 128.3

Swiss franc 1.481

Norwegian kroner 7.581

Cyprus pound 0.585

Canadian dollar 1.645

Australian dollar 1.828

[08] Weather Forecast: Rain, sleet on Wednesday

Cloud and rain are forecast in all parts of the country, with storms in the Cyclades, Dodecanese and Crete, and snow on high ground. The weather will improve later in the day. Winds north-northeasterly, moderate to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from -5 to 3C; on the rest of the mainland from -3C to 7C; and in the Aegean islands from 6C to 11C. Temperatures in Athens between 3C and 7C; and in Thessaloniki from -1C to 4C.

[09] Greek stocks move higher on Tuesday

Greek stocks rose on Tuesday in the Athens Stock Exchange following a positive trend in international markets.

The general index ended 0.48 percent higher at 1,693.78 points, with turnover a low 52.8 million euros.

The Insurance, Cement and Construction sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (2.40 percent, 1.93 percent and 1.13 percent, respectively), while the Retail and Textile sectors suffered losses (0.84 percent and 0.64 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.52 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.47 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.40 percent higher. The FTSE/ASE 140 index ended 0.47 percent up.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 188 to 101 with another 65 issues unchanged.

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