Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-26

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 26/07/1999 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Greek, Turkish officials sit down to talks
• KYSEA decides two new Navy programmes
• Greek, Cypriot parliament speakers meet
• Illegal immigrants traders get jail time
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Dialogue got underway in Ankara today between senior foreign ministry officials from Greece and Turkey in a bid to smooth over the two neighbouring countries' difficulties. The dialogue, which was agreed on early this month between Greek and Turkish foreign ministers George Papandreou and Ismail Cem, respectively, is being held at the Turkish foreign ministry and will focus on bilateral cooperation in the fields of commerce, environmental protection and tourism. According to an ANA dispatch from Ankara, this morning's discussion will focus on organising the dialogue on matters concerining trade cooperation between the two countries, while similar consultations will take place this afternoon on cooperation in the sectors of tourism and protection of the environment.

KYSEA decides two new Navy programmes

The Government Coucil for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) on Monday approved two armaments programmes for the Hellenic Naval Force. Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the council had approved planned cooperation between the Kiel and Skaramangas shipyards on the construction of three submarines, budgeted at 350 billion drachmas. Also approved was cooperation between the Elefsis and Ficantieri, Italy, shipyards on the construction of an oil tanker, budgeted at 39 billion drachmas. Talks are also winding up over a programme to construct three missile boats by the Elefsis Shipyards, budgeted at 120 billion drachmas. Tsohatzopoulos said that talks were also under way at reducing the price of the procurement of four U.S. KIDD destroyers.

Greek, Cypriot parliament speakers meet

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis on Monday expressed his displeasure at the recent Turkish provocations in the Aegean as a Greek- Turkish dialogue was getting under way in Ankara. Kaklamanis was speaking after a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Spyros Kyprianos, who stopped off in Athens from Rome. He briefed Kaklamanis on his talks during his two- day visit in Italy and on the course of talks for Cyprus' accession to the European Union. Kaklamanis underlined the close cooperation developed between the Greek, Cypriot and Italian chambers on the issue of Cyprus.

Illegal immigrants traders get jail time

Four men found guilty of transporting illegal immigrants were on Monday sentenced to jail terms of seven years and nine months and fines of 7.3 million drachmas each. The four - Fezi Tefik, 23, Athanasios Skinitis, 24, Netzadin Nazoglou, 28, and Mustafa Serpez, 28 - were all arrested early on Friday in Drama. Police found a total of 68 Iraqi illegal immigrants crowded into their truck. They had each paid $500 to the gang for transport from Komotini to Thessaloniki or Athens. Among the group of 68 were 10 ailing and unwell children ranging in age from six months to nine years.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Monday's rates (buying)
U.S. dollar          306.905
Pound sterling       486.179
Japanese yen (100)   263.574
French franc          49.170
German mark          164.911
Italian lira (100)    16.658
Irish Punt           409.540
Belgian franc          7.996
Finnish mark          54.248
Dutch guilder        146.280
Danish kr.            43.340
Austrian sch.         23.440
Spanish peseta         1.938
Swedish kr.           36.676
Norwegian kr.         39.015
Swiss franc          200.905
Port. Escudo           1.609
Can. dollar          203.499
Aus. dollar          198.598
Cyprus pound         558.595
Euro                 322.539

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