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Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-04-14Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>NEWS IN ENGLISHATHENS, GREECE, 14/04/1999 (ANA)MAIN HEADLINES
NEWS IN DETAILSimitis to attend European Union summit on Kosovo crisis todayPrime Minister Costas Simitis will chair a meeting of the defence and foreign ministers on Wednesday morning to examine issues related to this week's European Union and NATO summits. He leaves later in the day for Brussels to represent Greece at an informal meeting of the EU summit to discuss the ongoing Kosovo crisis. On Thursday he will go to Sofia, for an official visit at the invitation of Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov. Simitis returns to Athens on Friday. He leaves for New York on Sunday to take part in the NATO summit marking the 50th anniversary of the Alliance. Kaklamanis draws parallel between Kosovo and Cyprus Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday stressed that the possibility of Kosovo being partitioned was disastrous. In a radio interview and referring to the issue of Cyprus, he noted: "this will not be a solution. Hellenism is experiencing this in Cyprus. The same forces which pretend to intervene for human rights and refugees, killing civilians and aggravating the flight wave even more, the same ones for 25 years are implementing (in Cyprus) what they will present as a solution to Kosovo: partitioning." Referring to Athens' position, Mr. Kaklamanis said "I am absolutely satisfied at the moment because I see that there is unity and unanimity inside the country and the political leadership, in its entirety, is facing the issue with responsibility." Mr. Kaklamanis expressed the hope that at today's summit of European leaders "certain initiatives will materialise which will express a different strategy, the strategy of Europe and not the strategy relentless bombings which have led to deadlock are expressing so far, the strategy of the US." Gov't: No issue of Greek-Turkish dialogue Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday the country was very far from the possibility of a Greek-Turkish dialogue. Mr. Reppas, who was replying to relevant questions, added that a meeting has not been set between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, but noted that such a meeting is possible on the sidelines of the NATO summit. He also said that contrary to what was the case with (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia President Kiro) Gligorov, a meeting has not been requested with the Greek PM on the part of Turkey and neither has the Greek side requested whatever meeting with the Turkish leadership. On the question of the armed forces' armaments programme, Mr. Reppas said the government is adhering to its programming, the programme will proceed as normal and no concern is justified. Next KYSEA meeting expected to focus on armaments programme Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a meeting yesterday in preparation of the next Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) session, expected to take decisions on the air force's armaments procurement programme. The meeting was also attended by the civil and military leaderships of the national defence and national economy ministries. The latest developments in Kosovo were also discussed. National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said tentative initiatives are looming for a political solution to the Kosovo problem. PASOK new executive bureau discusses Kosovo, Euroelections The ruling PASOK party's new executive bureau met last night under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and party president Costas Simitis and discussed the Kosovo crisis, forthcoming EU elections and the delegation of responsibilities to executive bureau members. The EB meeting was the first since its election after the fifth PASOK congress last month. PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis told journalists that the executive bureau supported the government's handlings of the Kosovo crisis. Mr. Skandalidis said that the EB approved the political framework for the party's campaign in the Euro-elections. Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday rejected once again any possibility of double elections taking place in June, namely, national elections together with Euroelections scheduled for June 13. Mr. Reppas said there was no such issue in the works, adding that the government is not considering this possibility. Synaspismos sharply criticises NATO, gov't over continued bombings Coalition of Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos yesterday said the position taken by NATO members-states' foreign ministers to continue with the bombing of Yugoslavia was "provocative and brutal". Mr. Constantopoulos also critisised the Greek government for being an "accomplice" and for using "hypocritical double-speak". He also announced initiatives by Synaspismos, including a visit to Skopje tomorrow and Friday, as well as a European peace conference set for Athens at the end of the month. More arrests along border Police in Ioannina said they arrested a total of 521 Albanian nationals attempting to enter Greece illegally over the four-day Easter weekend. Police said the high number of arrests was due to the mistaken assumption by the would-be illegals that border controls would be more lax over the holiday period. The 521 individuals will all be returned to Albanian territory through the Kakavia border post. Delegation of Greek youth groups visit Belgrade Political youth representatives from Greece met in Belgrade yesterday with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the country's National Youth Council. The Greek delegation voiced its opposition to the NATO bombings and criticised Washington and the European Union for their stance toward Yugoslavia, while they also conveyed the conviction of their political groups toward a peaceful solution, a guarante e for Yugoslavia's territorial integrity and respect for the rights of Kosovo's Albanian community. Mr. Milosevic pointed out that "the future belongs with the forces of peace and the policies of equality and understanding among states and people", while he added that "the new generation should be able to live in freedom and peace..." The youth representatives noted that this was the first time various politicial youth organisations, despite political differences, unanimously agreed on the condemnation of the NATO bombings. Greek aid to Albania, FYROM A total of 226 tons of humanitarian aid has been transported to Tirana and Skopje with Hellenic Air Force C-130 aircraft from March 31 until today. Another 20 tons of humanitarian aid were transported to Tirana at noon yesterday. Several tons worth of humanitarian aid - foodstuffs, medicines and first aid items - will be sent by several northern Greece municipalities on Serbian trucks to Belgrade next week. In addition to the humanitarian aid, efforts are made with the assist ance of the health ministry to obtain the appropriate permit for transferring to Serbia the blood plasma voluntarily colleted by the municipalities. Stocks jump on late reaction to ECB rate cut Equity prices yesterday ended sharply higher in the first trading session after a four-day Easter break. The general index ended 2.72 percent up at 3,720.16 points, only 54.13 points off its record close of March 19 before the start of NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia and resulting volatility. The Athens bourse has fluctuated widely in a range of 3,100-3,700 points since the crisis began in Kosovo. Traders said the market yesterday welcomed a 50-basis-point cut in short- term rates by the European Central Bank last week and a record rally in European stock markets. Analysts said the cut in the euro rate paved the way for the Bank of Greece to lower its intervention rate soon. Turnover was 128.5 billion drachmas and volume 20,481,834 shares. Sector indices scored gains. Banks jumped 3.55 percent, Leasing soared 3.67 percent, Insurance fell 0.89 percent, Investment rose 2.79 percent, Construction surged 5.40 percent, Industrials were 2.24 percent up, Miscellaneous jumped 5.21 percent and Holding rose 1.48 percent. The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 5.14 percent up while the FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 3.01 percent to 2,345.99. National Bank of Greece ended at 22,650 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 23, 990, Ergobank at 26,989, Ionian Bank at 19,400, Titan Cement at 24,400, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,525, Intracom at 20,950, Minoan Lines at 7,700, Panafon at 8,350 and Hellenic Telecoms at 7,000. Markets edgy on reports of Serb incursion into Albania Benchmark ten-year-bond prices yesterday finished around 20-70 basis points higher in heavy trade with gains apparently curbed by talk of a Yugoslav incursion into Albanian territory. The new 10-year bond was around 102.20-103.90. Electronic trade totalled 130 billion drachmas. The drachma was came under pressure on talk of the Serb incursion. At the central bank's daily fix, the euro ended at 323.900 drachmas from 324.580 in the last trading session before Orthodox Easter. In afternoon trade following the fix, it was trading around 325 drachmas. The possible entry of Albania into the war led the euro to drop against the US dollar in international markets. EFG Eurobank begins trade on Athens bourse today EFG Eurobank, a member of the Latsis Group, is to make its trading debut on the Athens Stock Exchange today at 19,790 drachmas. The shares belong to the new EFG Eurobank that was created from a merger between the former unlisted bank and Bank of Athens, which was already listed. More than 620,000 investors took part in EFG Eurobank's heavily subscribed rights issue. Each was allocated 10 shares. The bank's shareholders have already agreed to hold a new share capital rise of 110.4 billion drachmas. Container trade at port of Piraeus rose in 1998 Container movement through the port of Piraeus rose by 36.42 percent in 1998 against the previous year, the Piraeus Port Authority said in a statement yesterday. A total of 933,096 TEU moved in 1998 against 683,969 a year earlier, the statement said. Container trade in the first three months of 1999 was flat against the same period last year, it said. The Economist to hold a conference on globalisation The Economist international finance magazine is holding a conference on "Globalisation: A challenge for Greece and Europe" in Athens on April 28- 30. Speakers include New Democracy Party president Costas Karamanlis, Coalition of Left president Nikos Constantopoulos, Democratic Social Movement president Dimitrios Tsovolas and Political Spring president Antonis Samaras. Also scheduled to speak are National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos. Foreign speakers include European Commission vice-president Sir Leon Brittan and US ambassador to Greece Nicolas Burns. Two new state-run lotteries expected to premiere Two new state-run lotteries, "Olympic Lottery" and "KINO", are soon expected to begin operation following proper licencing. Profits from "Olympic Lottery", a slot machine-like game of chance to be played at sites approved by the Greek Soccer Pools (OPAP), will be distributed to the culture ministry and the General Secretariat for Athletics, while the 2004 Olympic Games organ ising committee is projected to receive 70 billion drachmas from the venture. Profits from KINO, similar to Lotto, will head directly to state coffers. WEATHERCloud with sunny spells and scattered showers are expected in most parts of Greece today. Winds variable, moderate to strong. Mostly fair in Athens with temperatures ranging between 11-21C. Partly cloudy in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 8-19C.FOREIGN EXCHANGEWednesday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 297.521 Pound sterling 480.267 Japanese yen (100) 247.097 French franc 48.983 German mark 164.282 Italian lira (100) 16.594 Irish Punt 407.978 Belgian franc 7.965 Luxembourg franc 7.965 Finnish mark 54.040 Dutch guilder 145.803 Danish kr. 43.239 Austrian sch. 23.351 Spanish peseta 1.931 Swedish kr. 35.845 Norwegian kr. 38.400 Swiss franc 200.270 Port. Escudo 1.603 Aus. dollar 189.249 Can. dollar 199.332 Cyprus pound 556.512 Euro 321.309(C.E.) Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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