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Thursday, 21 November 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-05-14Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] 3 arrests in desecration of Jewish cemetery in Thessaloniki (LEAD)(ANA-MPA) -- Three suspects, two men and a woman, 21, 18 and 17, were arrested in the early morning hours on Friday as suspects in the desecration of a Jewish cemetery in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, hours earlier on Thursday evening.The trio was picked up by a police patrol after being spotted acting suspiciously outside the cemetery. A knife was found in the possession of one of the suspects, and according to police, the likelihood of their being associated with extremist groups is being investigated. Anti-Semitic graffiti was sprayed on gravestones and on the cemetery's wall, while a can with flammable liquid was found inside the cemetery but there were no signs of arson, police said. Stern condemnation Earlier, the Central Jewish Council of Greece (KIS) and the Jewish community of Thessaloniki condemned the desecration of the northern port city's Jewish cemetery. "Three suspects have been questioned by police, and we are convinced that the state will condemn this heinous act and take all necessary measures to bring the culprits to justice. Phenomena of anti-Semitism and similar views must be eradicated, guaranteeing the people's right to exercise their religious beliefs," according to a statement issued by the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki. (ANA-MPA) [02] Samaras-Erdogan meeting(ANA-MPA) -- Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras on Friday said his same-day talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were "useful, interesting and very friendly," after meeting the Turkish premier in Athens.It was the first meeting between Samaras and Erdogan, lasting approximately 50 minutes. According to Samaras, talks focused on a programme of "major reforms being carried out within Turkey and the need for cooperation and good neighbour relations with Greece". (ANA-MPA) ND's leader said he underlined the need for a mutual relationship of trust in order to bring about a new era in Greek-Turkish relations and named two conditions for establishing such a trust: "I explained that we believe it must be based, firstly, on the fact that we consider the issue of the continental shelf the only bilateral problem with Turkey and, secondly, that there must be a stable solution to the Cyprus issue, based on UN resolutions and the European acquis," Samaras said. (ANA-MPA) They also touched on matters relating to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul and the School of Theology on Halki, the particularly annoying problem of illegal migration and Turkey's European orientation. Samaras accepted Erdogan's invitation to visit Turkey in the near future, noting that the visit will be combined with an address he is to deliver on Turkey's relations with Greece and the European Union. (ANA-MPA) [03] Stocks drop 3.41% on Fri.Stocks plunged in the last trading session of a negative week at the Athens Stock Exchange, in line with sharp losses in other European markets and a significant decline in the euro, as fiscal problems in the Eurozoneās regional members resurfaced again.The composite index of the market fell 3.41 pct to end at 1,658.29 points, with turnover at 113.3 million euros. The FTSE 20 index dropped 4.10 pct, the FTSE 40 index ended 2.07 pct down and the FTSE 80 index ended 2.0 pct off. The Food sector (0.51 pct) was the only one to move higher, while Telecommunications (7.22 pct) and Financial Services (5.63 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 126 to 46 with another 50 issues unchanged. Klonatex (16.67 pct), Alsinco (9.72 pct) and Nexans (8.93 pct) were top gainers, while Neorio (20 pct), Hellenic Fish Farming (12.5 pct) and Tegopoulos (11.76 pct) were top losers. [04] ASE members: Cut hours, fees(ANA-MPA) -- The membersā union of the Athens Stock Exchange (SMEHA) on Friday called for a two-hour cut in trading hours at the market and requested lower charges by Hellenic Exchanges, the operator of Greeceās capital markets.In a letter sent to I. Georganas, chairman of Hellenic Exchanges, and Spyros Kapralos, the president of ASE, SMEHA said it was imperative to cut trading hours by two hours each day as a way to boost transactions and recommended that the market should begin operations two hours later. (ANA-MPA) SMEHA also said that adverse economic conditions prevailing in the country should cause market authorities to cut fixed charges on ASEās members by 50 pct. (ANA-MPA) SMEHA said that certain charges are excessively unfair and should be abolished immediately. (ANA-MPA) Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |