Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-09-04

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Chrysohoidis-US-Greece-Law enforcement

[02] Vartholomeos-Symposium-Turkey

[03] Foreign Minister - exclusive interview

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday

[05] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

[06] Intracom-Internet portal

[07] Greece-industrial production figures

[08] ASE-close

[01] Chrysohoidis-US-Greece-Law enforcement

Greek Public Order Minister Michalis Crysohoidis will depart for the United States on Wednesday to hold talks with US Attorney General Janet Reno on issues of organised crime and bilateral cooperation.

The minister is expected to sign a memorandum of cooperation between Greece and the US on issues of terrorism and cooperation between the two countries.

He will head a delegation of Greek police officials.

[02] Vartholomeos-Symposium-Turkey

Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Vartholomeos will officiate in religious services in the churches of Aivali and Moschonisos, which reopen after 78 years.

The churches have remained closed since the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey in 1922 and Vartholomeos will be the first patriarch to officiate liturgy services in the two temples, at the sidelines of a symposium on the architecture of churches and monasteries in the region, as well as educational issues.

The dates for the services were set for Sept. 16 and 17, while the Sept. 16-19 symposium will included lecturers from Greece and Turkey.

The events became possible following efforts by the former prefect of Mytilini, Alekos Mathiadelis, who secured the permission in 1997 and 1998.

[03] Foreign Minister - exclusive interview

It is in Greece's interest, and also its aim, that the Balkans, Cyprus and Turkey become part of the "European family" on the same terms and conditions as all other countries, Foreign Minister George Papandreou said on Monday during an exclusive interview with the ANA.

The minister also said that Athens was concerned over the situation in the Balkans and about the effectiveness of the European Union's policies.

With respect to Balkan countries, Papandreou asked that these abandon any designs for changes to borders, while he also urged the international community to honour the promises for financial assistance it has made to them. Stressing that Greece suffered more from the consequences of Balkan instability than any other EU country, he said it had an immediate stake in promoting democracy and economic development in the region and that this was the message he intended to get across in his upcoming visits to Balkan countries.

At another point in the interview, Papandreou referred to the issue of German war reparations and a recent Supreme Court order confiscating German state property in Greece (the Goethe institute, the German Archaeological School, etc) until compensation is made to the victims of German atrocities in World War II and their families.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday

Indicative rates released by the central bank for the next working day.

Tuesdays rates (buying)

Euro 334.850

U.S. dollar 371.683

German mark 171.206

[05] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

Scattered cloud is forecast throughout the country on Tuesday, turning to showers and storms in western, central mainland and northern Greece. Limited visibility is expected early in the morning. Winds variable, moderate to strong, turning very strong in the Ionian Sea. Temperatures in the north and west will range from 15C to 29C; on the rest of the mainland from 18C to 33C; and in the Aegean from 23C to 31C. Partly cloudy in Athens,with showers likely from evening. Temperatures between 24C and 33C. Cloud turning to showers and storms in Thessaloniki, with temperatures ranging from 16C to 30C.

[06] Intracom-Internet portal

Intracom Group launched its drive towards the information technology sector with the announcement of an investment on the internet, worth 2.5 billion drachmas, through its new company Flash Multimedia.

Intracom's chairman, Socrates Kokkalis, presenting the new company said its strategy followed the orientation of other internet companies with interest on electronic commerce and advertising, while it also developed an information distribution network through the mobile communication.

Flash Multimedia launched its portal flash.gr on the internet address www.flash.gr. The company's owners are Intrasoft, with a 40 percent equity stake, Flash 9.61 radio station, with a 30 percent stake, Intrapar Holdings, with a 20 percent stake, and Sportnews with a 10 percent stake.

Panos Koliopanos, the company's general manager, said that Flash Multimedia has already signed a deal with Panafon to offer WAP services and to prepare for the GPRS applications system on mobile telephony.

It also plans to sign a deal with a commercial bank to offer financial services through the internet, to offer credit card services and launch electronic shops.

Intracom's chairman, Socrates Kokkalis, answering to reporters' questions about the stock market said that the Greek market's rally last year exceeded all predictions. He urged for an end to a political row over the market to restore confidence among small investors and predicted that with economic growth rates up to 5.0 percent, the future would be positive.

[07] Greece-industrial production figures

Greece's industrial production composite index, including mining, manufacturing, electricity-natural gas and water, rose 6.6 percent in June from the same month last year, National Statistics Service said on Monday.

The NSS said that the mining production index rose 10.8 percent, the manufacturing index increased by 5.4 percent and the electricity-natural gas-water index rose 9.5 percent.

[08] ASE-close

Equity prices continued moving higher for the third consecutive session on the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday pushing the general index above the 3,600 level.

Dealers said the market has split in two, with investment interest focusing on blue chip stocks, like Hellenic Telecoms, Alpha Bank, Commercial Bank and Panafon, while smaller capitalisation stocks came under strong pressure as investors took profits.

Turnover fell to 70.04 billion drachmas, a sign that buying momentum was running out of steam.

The general index ended 1.48 percent higher at 3,655.26 points, off teh day's highs of 3,658.77 points, but sharply off the day's lows of 3,554.40.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.93 percent to 2,080.56 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.26 percent to 491.91 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 594.39 points, off 1.67 percent.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article