Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-08-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Fires- Ioannina - Interior Minister

[02] Defence minister - ESP - Mediterranean

[03] Environment - Panhellenic cycling tour

[04] Soccer-Champions League-Draw

[05] Athens 2004 Olympics - IOC

[06] Weather Forecast-Saturday

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates-Monday

[08] Stock Market-Close

[09] Fires-seven dead

[10] Yugoslav embassy-car-torched

[01] Fires- Ioannina - Interior Minister

Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou conceded on Friday that the extensive state mobilisation in battling the numerous fires raging around the country was not sufficient. The gravity of the situation was made even more apparent by the death of seven elderly people in a fire in a village in north-western Greece on Thursday.

Speaking after a meeting at the Fire Brigade Headquarters where she described the situation as critical, she called for the help of citizens as well as outside help.

"There is an extensive mobilisation of forces, but this is not enough. We ask for the participation of all citizens in this critical moment for our country. We naturally requested help from other countries, but unfortunately they are unable to help as almost all of southern Europe is facing the same problems with fires as we are," Papandreou said.

Only Israel responded to Greece's call for help. Two fire-fighting helicopters and a C-130 transport plane with 60 men were expected to arrive in the southern town of Kalamata on Friday night.

[02] Defence minister - ESP - Mediterranean

DUBLIN (ANA) - The eastern Mediterranean is becoming one of the increasingly important barometres in international politics, and there is a clear shift in the centre of gravity of European external policy from central to southeastern Europe, Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Thursday.

"A new strategic view of the region is emerging due to complex challenges. The Mediterranean basin and Europe now appear more than ever interlocked in political, economic and security considerations," he said in a speech at Trinity College on the new security architecture in the rapidly changing international environment.

[03] Environment - Panhellenic cycling tour

The first "Panhellenic Cycling Tour for the Environment and Life" - an initiative organised by a network of Greek environmental groups to promote simple solutions to the serious ecological problems faced worldwide- will kick off on Saturday in Alexandroupolis at 10 a.m.

It is open to all amateur cyclists who will pass through many Greek towns and cities before reaching Ancient Olympia in the Peloponnese on September 10.

The tour also hopes to promote the bicycle as an ideal means of travel that promotes health, contact with the environment and each other, and highlight its usefuleness in decongesting traffic-choked cities.

[04] Soccer-Champions League-Draw

The draw for the first group phase of the European Soccer Champions League in Monte Carlo on Friday placed Greece's Olympiakos Piraeus and Panathinaikos Athens in Group C and Group E respectively.

Olympiakos' group includes Valencia (Spain), Olympique Lyon (France) and Heerenveen (Netherlands).

Panathinaikos' group includes Juventus (Italy), Deportivo Coruna (Spain) and Hamburg SV (Germany).

Both Greek teams will play their first matches with their Spanish adversaries.

Olympiakos will play away to Valencia on Tuesday, September 12, and Panathinaikos will host Deportivo Coruna on Wednesday, September 13.

[05] Athens 2004 Olympics - IOC

Visiting International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegates said they were withdrawing the IOC's "yellow card" to Greece on Friday, saying that it had gained momentum and was back on track for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. They warned, however, that this was no time to idle.

"We must not add pages to the calendar. Time is passing swiftly," said IOC coordinating commission president Jacques Rogge, who headed the delegation, adding that organisers faced a "marathon that must be run at sprinting speed."

Rogge expressed satisfaction with the progress made overall, noting in particular the personal interest shown by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, though he objected to the deadline for five projects undertaken by the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works ministry, saying these would have to be brought forward.

[06] Weather Forecast-Saturday

Sunny weather is forecast in many parts of the country on Saturday with scattered cloud in the east and north that may turn to rain or storms.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates-Monday

Following are indicative rates released by the central bank for the next working day.

Mondays rates (buying)

Euro 334.790

U.S. dollar 371.355

German mark 171.176

[08] Stock Market-Close

Stocks fell sharply on the Athens Stock Exchange in higher turnover on Friday, sinking further below a key support level at 3,700 points.

The general index shed 1.24 percent to finish at 3,631.01 points. Turnover was 123.607 billion drachmas.

[09] Fires-seven dead

Wildfires raging through the northern Greek province of Ioannina, close to the Albanian border, have so far claimed the lives of seven people, authorities on Friday said, while unconfirmed information said there were still two more people missing.

The blaze in the Ioannina prefecture started on Albanian territory and crossed the border, spreading out of control.

Hundreds of firefighters assisted by planes and helicopters are struggling to contain over 30 fires that broke out throughout the country, which, fueled by a combination of heat and high winds, have destroyed vast areas of forests and farmland.

[10] Yugoslav embassy-car-torched

Unidentified arsonists set fire to a vehicle of the Yugoslav embassy in Athens early on Friday morning, police said.

A group self-dubbed Anarchist Struggle in anonymous telephone calls to "FLASH" radio station and to Athens daily "ELEFTHEROTYPIA" claimed resposnibility for the attack on the diplomatic vehicle which was parked at Goudi disctrict in Athens.

There were no reports of injuries.

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