Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-01-12

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

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 12/01/1999 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Protocol on SE Europe peace force signed
• SE Europe defence ministers concerned over Kosovo
• Athens hopes new Turkish government will bring stability
• Greece comments on European Commission woes
• Rhodes hosts Balkan sports ministers meeting
• Minor earthquake hits northern Greece
• Woman killed by irate cuckold
• Greek equities end narrowly mixed
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

A supplementary protocol to the treaty setting up a multinational peacekeeping force in southeast Europe was signed at a meeting here on Tuesday. The protocol determines a number of issues which had remained unresolved, including the location of the command headquarters and the presidency of the force's political and military committee. It was signed by the defence ministers of Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Italy, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Slovenia, Romania's chief of staff, and the US and Turkish ambassadors in Athens. Slovenia and the US are participating in the multinational force as observers.

SE Europe defence ministers concerned over Kosovo

The defence ministers at today's meeting expressed concern about developments in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo, while all expressed support for a peaceful settlement of the problem through negotiations between the opposing sides. Tsohatzopoulos called on the international community to exert pressure now, rather than later, aimed at finding a peaceful political solution granting autonomy to the Albanian-speaking population of the province "within the limits of Yugoslavia". He added that the demand of the ethnic Albanians for self-administration was a just one. Both Tsohatzopoulos and his Bulgarian counterpart, Georgi Ananiev clarified that the SE Europe multinational force was not ready to intervene immediately in the Kosovo crisis.

Athens hopes new Turkish government will bring stability

Athens on Tuesday said it hoped the new Turkish government would achieve political stability and normality. "This will help Turkey in its European vocation, as well as in becoming a credible interlocutor," government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou said. Nikolaou added that Greece's desire was that any Turkish government respect international treaties and contribute to conditions of good neighbourliness and peace in the region. Veteran politician Bulent Ecevit became prime minister on Monday at the head of a minority government after six weeks of political crisis. He was expected to read his government's programme to parliament on Tuesday.

Greece comments on European Commission woes

Greece on Tuesday said it supported transparency in all European Union dealings as a "matter of principle". "The Greek government has been steadily in favour of transparency in European issues," government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou said. Recent claims of graft and mismanagement at the Commission prompted Commission President Jacques Santer to promise "zero" tolerance for any cases of fraud. Nikolaou said the government was adopting a wait and see attitude to the actions of the European Parliament, which has threatened to dismiss the entire European Commission when it votes on the issue on Thursday.

Rhodes hosts Balkan sports ministers meeting

Rhodes hosts a meeting of Balkan sports ministers and experts on January 15- 17 with the aim of drawing more active participation from the surrounding region ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Sports ministers from Albania, Bulgaria, Former Yugoslav Republic of Maceodnia, Federal Yugoslavia, Romania and Turkey are expected to attend the conference. Speakers include Stratis Stratigis, president of the Athens 2004 Organising Committee.

Minor earthquake hits northern Greece

An earthquake registering 4.1 on the Richter scale was recorded at 9.35 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Seismologists said the quake's epicentre was 25 kilometres north of the northern Greek town of Konitsa, on Albanian territory. No damage or injury has been reported.

Woman killed by irate cuckold

A woman was killed when she tried to defend her husband from the ire of a cuckolded farmer in the village of Constantina, in the northern Greek prefecture of Pella. Police said Kyriaki Mouratidou, 46, was killed instantly when farmer Dimitrios Katsonis, also 46, shot at her as he tried to find Mouratidou's husband, Ioannis. Katsonis believed Ioannis Mouratidou was having an affair with his wife. Mouratidou was hiding in the storeroom of his bakery when his wife was shot. Katsonis shot at Mouratidou twice, seriously injuring him, before he fled.

Greek equities end narrowly mixed

Greek equities recovered early big losses to end Tuesday's session narrowly mixed on the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index ended 0.01 percent off to 2,983.34 points after starting the day 1.80 percent down. Turnover was heavy at 85.7 billion drachmas. Sector indices were mixed. Banks fell 0.72 percent, Leasing rose 3.04 percent, Insurance ended 1.09 percent up, Investment increased 0.43 percent, Construction ended 2.16 percent higher, Industrials rose 1.19 eprcent, Miscellaneous ended 2.42 percent up and Holding fell 1.33 percent. The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.64 percent higher, while the FTSE/ASE 20 index fell 0.59 percent to 1,881.25.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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