Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-01-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Drachma/ERM Revaluation-New Lead

[02] Tsohatzopoulos-Defence

[03] Armed Forces-Reform

[04] Prosecutor-Street Violence

[05] Drachma-ERM Revaluation

[01] Drachma/ERM Revaluation-New Lead

The European Union's monetary committee on Saturday gave the drachma a new central parity of 340.750 to the euro in the exchange rate mechanism (ERM), representing a revaluation of 3.5%.

[02] Tsohatzopoulos-Defence

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Saturday that Greece would have an integrated anti-aircraft system from 2001, boosting overall defence and security.

The S-300 missile system installed in the island of Crete would be fully integrated into the country's defence system in a few months. The missiles would cover 40% of the distance between Crete and Cyprus, Tsohatzopoulos said.

In addition, the whole of national airspace would be covered by Patriot missiles from 2001, he told a news conference in the Cretan town of Ierapetra.

[03] Armed Forces-Reform

A government plan to overhaul the armed forces that includes expansion of the standing army and reduction of military service is at the final stage of preparation before going to parliament, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Saturday.

Speaking during a tour of Crete, Tsohatzopoulos noted that the new standing army would have 15,000 personnel and that a phased cut in the length of compulsory military service would begin in two years.

[04] Prosecutor-Street Violence

An Athens public prosecutor on Saturday brought charges against eleven youths in connection with street violence that erupted after a demonstration by secondary school pupils and teachers.

Five of the youths were charged with felonies including violation of the law on explosives and arson during the violence on Friday in which police used tear gas to disperse masked attackers hurling rocks and molotov bombs. Two vehicles were torched.

[05] Drachma-ERM Revaluation

The European Union's monetary committee is expected to set a new central parity for the drachma versus the euro in the exchange rate mechanism at a Brussels meeting due to begin at 1530 local time on Saturday, international news agencies said.

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