Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-09-18

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 18/09/1999 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Greek-Cyprus Defence ministers reconfirm defence policies
• Venizelos on Thessanloniki's industrial development
• Fifth 'Athens Summit' honours four pre-eminent int'l personalities
• Majko discusses ethnic Greeks' problems in Gjirokaster
• Culture ministry retrieves stolen wreath
• Equities end historic week on high note
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece and Cyprus reconfirmed their joint defence policy on Saturday, during discussions between Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and his Cypriot counterart Sokratis Hasikou, in Athens.

The two ministers focused on the further support of the existing security and defence policies and the European prospect of Cyprus, which is one of the candidate European Union members-states, while they also discussed cooperation in military training and equipment.

Venizelos on Thessanloniki's industrial development

Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Saturday, speaking in a conference entitled "Development in Thessaloniki stressed the importance of industrial development in northern Greece with the creation of two new high technology units, a chemical and a film production one.

Fifth 'Athens Summit' honours four pre-eminent int'l personalities

The UN special representative for Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, world-acclaimed actor Peter Ustinov and well-known film directors Jules Dassin and Bernardo Bertolucci were honoured last night by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos during an event in Athens.

The four individuals were awarded prizes for their contribution towards enhancing human values throughout the world, during the opening ceremony of the 5th "Athens Summit".

Apart from Italy's Bertolucci, who cited health reasons for his absence, the other three were present at the ceremony organised by the summit's sponsors P ( the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), the Athens Economics University (ASOEE) and the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE). The entire event focused on economic priorities at the threshold of the 21st century.

Majko discusses ethnic Greeks' problems in Gjirokaster

Albanian Prime Minister Panteli Majko yesterday visited the southern Albanian town to discuss the problems of the ethnic Greek minority in the region.

The visit followed Prime Minister Costas Simitis' recent visit to Albani a, when relevant issues were discussed.

Mr. Majko said Tirana over the past two years has treated the ethnic Greek minority with "realism", which is founded on cooperation and not just statements based on international agreements.

Culture ministry retrieves stolen wreath

Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi on Friday announced the return of a priceless golden wreath stolen from a regional museum earlier this year, the second time this week that stolen Greek artefacts have been returned. Papazoi said the Hellenistic-era wreath was now in the hands of the authorities on the island of Evia. The wreath was stolen on June 25 this year from the island's Halkida Archaeological Museum. According to police, the wreath was stolen by a 23-year-old unemployed man who had hidden the object in his home in Politika on the island while he negotiated with prospective buyers. On Tuesday, Papazoi announced that U.S. authorities had found most of the artefacts stolen from one of Greece's most important archaeological museums almost a decade ago and were preparing to return them.

Equities end historic week on high note

Equity prices ended an historic week to new records on the Athens Stock Exchange led by strong gains in the banks sector, although some late profit taking slowed an initial rally. The general index ended 0.53 percent higher at 6,355.04 points, sharply off the day's highs of 6,484.38 points. It was its 53rd record closing this year and the sixth in a row. Turnover was a massive 550 billion drachmas. The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 1.69 percent off, while the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.65 percent to 3,270.85 points.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Monday's rates (buying)
U.S. dollar          310.962
Pound sterling       503.638
Japanese yen (100)   289.902
French franc          49.354
German mark          165.525
Italian lira (100)    16.720
Irish Punt           411.064
Belgian franc          8.025
Finnish mark          54.449
Dutch guilder        146.906
Danish kr.            43.547
Austrian sch.         23.527
Spanish peseta         1.945
Swedish kr.           37.412
Norwegian kr.         39.313
Swiss franc          201.927
Port. Escudo           1.615
Can. dollar          210.899
Aus. dollar          201.817
Cyprus pound         560.976
Euro                 323.739

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