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Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-08-27Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>NEWS IN ENGLISHATHENS, GREECE, 27/08/1999 (ANA)MAIN HEADLINES
NEWS IN DETAILEU presidency briefed on Greek initiative backing aid to TurkeyForeign Minister George Papandreou yesterday addressed a letter to his Finnish counterpart Tarja Halonen, informing her of a Greek initiative to press for Commission support to quake-stricken Turkey. Finland currently holds the six-month European Union rotating presidency. Earlier in the day, Mr. Papandreou briefed the Finnish minister over the Greek proposal, set to be presented at the Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting, scheduled for Sept. 4 in Finland. According to reports, Mr. Papandreou also contacted Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem over the proposal. The same reports noted that Mr. Cem thanked Mr. Papandreou for Greece's help to date in confronting the Aug. 17 disaster. Gov't: No change in financial protocol veto The Greek government reiterated yesterday that its policy concerning the long-standing veto of a European Union financial protocol to Turkey had not changed. Athens insists that Ankara must first improve its human rights record and abandon its often aggressive stance towards Greece before it considers lifting its veto of the EU funds allocated to Turkey. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stressed, however, that Athens would help to ensure that the EU supports Turkey financially. He added that the country would also continue to contribute humanitarian aid, medical supplies and rescue teams to its quake-stricken neighbour. Asked by reporters what the government's stance on the aid issue would be at the Council of Ministers meeting, Mr. Reppas replied that each foreign minister would undoubtedly have something to propose, "as will Greece's foreign minister, too." "Our position will be shaped after Foreign Minister George Papandreou has completed his round of talks with opposition party leaders," Mr. Reppas added. Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis said that regarding EU accession, Turkey could not be an exception and that there were no reasons for special treatment. Mr. Kranidiotis, quoted in a survey published by German daily "Die Woche", stressed that "Greece's assistance to the Turkish people is necessary and goes without saying," adding that "the earthquake and the assistance should not be linked to the issue o f the solution of problems between the two countries. Those should be resolved based on international law and agreements, while the Cyprus problem must be resolved on the basis of UN resolutions and decisions. "Turkey should focus on overcoming its internal weaknesses and problems and abandon its expansionist designs on Cyprus and the Aegean." Finally, in relation to Turkey's EU accession prospects, Mr. Kranidiotis insisted on "the same conditions applying to all states that wish to join the European institutions." Greek navy chief in Turkey Hellenic Navy Chief of Staff Vice-Adm. Georgios Ioannidis was applauded in Ankara yesterday during a ceremony where he presented a commemorative plaque to his outgoing Turkish counterpart, Adm. Sa lim Dervisoglu. The Greek naval chief will remain in Turkey as an official guest until Aug. 29. More aid on way to Turkey Aegean Minister Stavros Benos yesterday announced that his ministry will coordinate efforts of local governments and non-gevernmental organisations of the Aegean archipelago in providing aid to Turkey. Finally, the regional administration of eastern Macedonia and Thrace has begun to collect aid for Turkey. According to officials, Turkish authorities have already contacted and provided a list of needs for the regional administration closest to Turkey. Greek-Albanian economic cooperation committee to convene in October A Greek-Albanian economic cooperation committee will convene in Athens in October, the national economy ministry announced yesterday. The announcement marks a further step in the improvement of bilateral relations following Prime Minister Costas Simitis' one-day visit to Tirana on Tuesday, during which two cooperation protocols were signed. The ministry said the convening of the economic cooperation committee had been agreed by both countries. Within the framework of bilateral talks, the ministry added, it had been decided to create new border crossings linking Konitsa and Premeti. Greece will also provide Albania with 1.5 million US dollars in aid to help shore up the neighbouring country's budget. Other decisions announced by the ministry include the speeding up of the rate of absorption of a Greek loan to Albania, regarding which Athens has agreed to finance the equipping of the Tirana maternity hospital at a cost of 1.5 billion drachmas. Some 200 Greek undertakings currently have operations in Albania, representing invested capital of $100 million. In terms of number and size of investments in Albania, Greece ranks second. Papazoi: 'Cultural Olympics' to be held in ancient Olympia Culture Minister Elisabeth Papazoi reiterated yesterday from Thessaloniki that ancient Olympia will host the "Cultural Olympics". Ms Papazoi, on a two-day visit in the northern Greek city, said the organisation of the first Cultural Olympics, as well as those to follow, will be undertaken by Greece with the support of UNESCO and the International Olympics Committee. She added that Culture Olympic offices will also be established in Thessaloniki. Finally, Ms Papazoi said progress has been made in the negotiations for the purchase of the Kostaki collection of Russian avant-garde art, which will be housed in the Thessaloniki Contemporary Art Museum. New Archbishop of America Dimitrios to be enthroned on Sept. 18 Newly elected Archbishop of America Dimitrios will be enthroned on Sept. 18 at a ceremony at the Patriarchate of Constantinople, located in the Fanar district of Istanbul. Former Archbishop Iakovos will officiate at the relevant event. Dimitrios stressed that he will attempt to instill a climate of cooperation, unity and peace among the Greek Orthodox faithful of America. Regarding his relationship with former Archbishop Spyridon, he termed it excellent. Letters by Greek personalities discovered in Vienna A researcher here has discovered several previously unknown letters by Greek personalities dating back to the early 19th century, before the Greek War of Independence. During recent research in Johannes Wolfgang Goethe's collection of 2,000 letters and handwritten documents, Vienna University Prof. Polychronis Enepekidis discovered the letters written by several Greek scholars. The collection included letters by Adamantios Korai, Ioannis Kapodistrias, Andreas Mustoxidis and Ugo Foskolos; it also included Goethe's traslations of Greek folk songs into German. N. Greek business upbeat on euro zone entry, Balkan reconstruction Businesses in northern Greece are looking forward to the country's entry into the European Union's euro zone and believe that both the national and regional economy will aid Balkan reconstruction, a leading industrialist said yesterday. At the same time, businesses in the region feared that an extended pre- election period harboured the risk of a slowdown in economic progress, said Vassilis Takas, president of the Northern Greek Industrialists Association (SBBE). Mr. Takas was speaking after separate meetings in Athens of SBBE's leaders with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis. "We relayed to the premier concern felt by business that there will apparently be a lasting pre-election period that may lead to some easing of economic policy and a slowdown in the pace of public sector restructuring and private investments," Mr. Takas told reporters. He quoted the premier as saying during their meeting that policy would remain intact, economic targets would be attained and real economic and social convergence with Europe achieved. SBBE recommended to Mr. Simitis steps it believed should be taken to help make Thessaloniki the financial centre of the Balkans. The city should be the venue for management of the national Balkan reconstruction plan, under the aegis of the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry. In addition, the national economy and foreign ministries needed to delegate some of their jurisdiction over economic policy for the Balkans to the northern ministry, SBBE said. Representations should be opened in the northern port city of the World Bank, the Balkan SECI initiative's Business Advisory Council, and the Institute of South East European Telecommunications. The establishment of an international financial services centre and stock market for smaller cap stocks in Thessaloniki should be accelerated, and incentives provided for investments in northern Greece. Hellenic Petroleum shows H1 profit jump Hellenic Petroleum, which is listed on the Athens bourse, yesterday reported consolidated first half profits of 26.1 billion drachmas before tax, up 56 percent on the same period of 1998. The parent company posted net pre-tax profits of 21.6 billion drachmas, marking a 70 percent rise from the first half of last year, Hellenic Petroleum said in a statement. Group investments in the first half totalled 27.2 billion drachmas against 9.9 billion drachmas in the same period of 1998, up nearly 300 percent. Investments in 1999 are expected to total 80 billion drachmas, up from 47.8 billion drachmas a year earlier. Stocks slump on profit taking A wave of profit taking halted the market's record rally and pushed equity prices sharply lower on the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday. The general index ended 1.94 percent lower at 5,122.57 points, reversing an early jump to new intra-day highs. Turnover was 312.430 billion drachmas with 111,377,218 shares changing hands. Traders noted that it was the first major correction in the market in the last 17 sessions during which the general index jumped from 4,300 points to 5,200 points. Analysts said the market needed a correction and described the decline as a healthy r eaction by the market. The Construction sector remained at the focus of interest with five shares ending at the day's 8.0 percent limit up. Sector indices ended as follows: Banks (-3.66 pct), Leasing (-0.36 pct), Insurance (-1.48 pct), Investment (-2.05 pct), Construction (+3.46 pct), Industrials (-0.37 pct), Miscellaneous (+2.01 pct) and Holding (-2.41 pct). The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 1.40 percent higher, while the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 3.20 percent down at 2,827.46 points. A total of 33 shares ended at the day's 8.0 percent limit up, while another four ended at the day's limit down. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 154 to 133 with another 10 issues unchanged. Egnatia Bank and Duty Free Shops were the most heavily traded stocks while Egnatia, National Bank, Piraeus Bank and Duty Free Shops led the day's turnover. Everest's share price shot up 99 percent in the first day of trading in the market. National Bank of Greece ended at 23,700 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 24, 240, Commercial Bank at 29,500, Titan Cement at 35,540, Hellenic Petroleum at 3,175, Intracom at 24,010, Minoan Lines at 7,300, Panafon at 8,880 and Hellenic Telecoms at 6,570. Lambrakis to buy into Microland The Lambrakis Journalism Organisation is to acquire a holding in the Microland computer retailer, the two firms said in a statement yesterday. Lambrakis will gain 15 percent of Microland, whose main shareholder remains Altec. The share transaction will be effected in September. Microland has one of the largest Greek and Balkan networks of retail outlets for computers and digital technology. It plans to open another 80 stores. Vehicle registrations rise in July New vehicle registrations totalled 40,749 in July, up from 32,919 in the same month of last year, the National Statistics Service said yesterday. Private cars accounted for 30,270 of new registrations while the other 10, 479 were motorcycles. The Attica region accounted for a major part of new car registrations at 17,655 of the total, up from 13,799 in July 1998. WEATHERFair weather will prevail in most parts of Greece today with the possibility of sporadic rain in the northwest in the afternoon. Winds northerly, light to strong in the Aegean. Scattered cloud in Athens with temperatures between 20-31C. Possibility of showers in the mountainous regions of Thessaloniki with temperatures from 19-29C.FOREIGN EXCHANGEFriday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 309.722 Pound sterling 492.449 Japanese yen (100) 278.841 French franc 49.406 German mark 165.698 Italian lira (100) 16.737 Irish Punt 411.493 Belgian franc 8.034 Finnish mark 54.505 Dutch guilder 147.059 Danish kr. 43.604 Austrian sch. 23.551 Spanish peseta 1.947 Swedish kr. 37.166 Norwegian kr. 38.859 Swiss franc 202.204 Port. Escudo 1.617 Can. dollar 206.574 Aus. dollar 195.608 Cyprus pound 559.885 Euro 324.076(C.E.) Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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