Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-11-09
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 09/11/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Speculation over S-300 missiles continues
- Cyprus says no change in missile plans
- Cabinet meets on budget on Wednesday
- Simitis begins visit to Poland
- Australia hands over ancient Greek artefacts
- Four jailed over illegal immigration
- German training ship docks in Piraeus
- Greek equities begin week lower
- Church service for sleepy Kavala youths
- Weather
- Foreign Exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Speculation over S-300 missiles continues
Speculation in the Greek press continued on Monday over whether Russian-
made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles ordered by Nicosia would eventually be
installed in Cyprus or elsewhere. According to recent press reports, the
Greek and Cypriot governments have been considering Crete as a possible
alternative installation site for the defensive missiles. Nicosia's plans
to install the defensive missile system have been criticised by the United
States and its European Union partners which say it would lead to greater
tension in the region. Turkey has openly threatened to prevent the
installation.
Cyprus says no change in missile plans
An ANA despatch from Nicosia later quoted Cyprus' Social Party (EDEK)
leader Vassos Lyssarides saying that Clerides would not be raising the S-
300 issue at the National Council meeting on Friday because there had been
no change which would justify discussion of the matter by the political
leadership. Lyssarides was speaking after a meeting this morning with
Clerides which the EDEK president had requested.
Cabinet meets on budget on Wednesday
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will chair a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday,
called to discuss the 1999 state budget. The 1999 budget is expected to be
submitted to Parliament shortly and before the constitutional deadline of
November 30. Press reports say it may be submitted on Wednesday.
Simitis begins visit to Poland
Prime Minister Costas Simitis left on Monday on a two-day official visit to
Warsaw, at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Jerzy Buzek. During his
stay, Simitis will have talks with Buzek on bilateral and international
issues. He will also meet with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and
have talks with the speakers of Poland's house of representatives and
senate and political party leaders.
Australia hands over ancient Greek artefacts
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos will be returning to Athens from his
trip to Australia with four priceless 5th century B.C. artefacts in his
luggage, returned to Greece by alert Australian police. The four items -
two small amphorae and two plates - were smuggled into Australia but
detected and confiscated by Australian authorities. Victorian State Premier
Jeff Kennett handed over the items to Venizelos, in Melbourne for the
opening of the Greek Archaeological Museum, on Monday, an ANA dispatch from
the Australian city reported.
Four jailed over illegal immigration
An Herklion court on Monday sentenced four Turks to ten years' imprisonment
and a fine of 5 million drachmas each after finding them guilty of landing
57 illegal immigrants on the southern shore of Crete. The four were named
as Mustafa Zohar (skipper), Hadar Abdolkarim, Samir Baska and Mustafa Aze.
They smuggled the illegal immigrants to Greece on the Albanian-flagged
vessel "Amir Osim".
German training ship docks in Piraeus
The German training ship "Gorch Fock" begins a five-day port visit to
Piraeus on Friday, with a 230-member crew including 150 naval cadets, under
Captain John Scchamong. The three-masted barque will host several official
functions on board during its visit, while it will also be open to the
public November 14-16 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The crew will also be hosting
special tours of the ship for children from two orphanages in Piraeus and
several schools.
Greek equities begin week lower
Greek equities ended Monday's session slightly lower on the Athens Stock
Exchange after an unsuccessful fourth attempt to break the 2,300 level. The
general index ended 0.23 percent off to 2,250.59 points, dramatically
reversing an early 1.80 percent advance. Trading was heavy with turnover at
44.5 billion drachmas. Volume was 11,560,000 shares. Traders said the
market remained cautious ahead of Bank of Greece's moves on monetary
policy. Sector indices were mixed. Banks fell 0.45 percent, Insurance eased
0.52 percent, Investment rose 0.79 percent, Leasing dropped 0.18 percent,
Industrials rose 0.37 percent, Construction ended 0.91 percent off,
Miscellaneous eased 0.79 percent and Holding fell 0.31 percent.
Church service for sleepy Kavala youths
The diocese of Kavala has instituted a later daily church mass for the
winter, to get around complaints from the city's youth that they had
difficulty getting up in time for the regular early service. The diocese of
Filippon-Neapolis said it will hold a 10.30 p.m. service, on the completion
of its early morning service at the city's Church of the Apostle Paul. The
move is in response to complaints from the city's youth that the morning
service is held too early for them to attend. The new mass will be held
throughout the course of the winter and will last 75 minutes.
WEATHER
Mild weather is forecast for western Greece, eastern Macedonia and Thrace
and the northern Aegean today. Local clouds in the rest of the country with
possible rain. Athens will be cloudy with chances of rain in the northern
suburbs and temperatures between 11-17C. Same in Thessaloniki with
temperatures from 6-13C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Monday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 277.105
British pound 460.566 Japanese yen (100) 234.410
French franc 49.788 German mark 167.028
Italian lira (100) 16.884 Irish Punt 415.152
Belgian franc 8.092 Finnish mark 54.957
Dutch guilder 148.071 Danish kr. 43.926
Austrian sch. 23.744 Spanish peseta 1.964
Swedish kr. 35.730 Norwegian kr. 37.672
Swiss franc 202.730 Port. Escudo 1.628
Aus. dollar 174.443 Can. dollar 180.980
Cyprus pound 563.734
(M.P.)
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