Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-02-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Pantelis Kazakos-Murders-Life Imprisonment

[02] Soccer-Friendly-Greece-Russia 3-3

[03] Athens Water Board-2000 Results

[04] Greece - Croatia - EU

[05] 35 Illegal immigrants - Giaros

[06] EBO-Subsidiary-2000 Results

[07] Weather Forecast-Thursday

[08] Greece - Belgium - defence ministers meeting

[09] ASE-close

[01] Pantelis Kazakos-Murders-Life Imprisonment

An Athens court convicted Pantelis Kazakos, 25, to life imprisonment on two counts on Wednesday night for shooting and killing two foreigners, who were unknown to him, and injuring seven others and after reaching its verdict with a majority vote. The shootings had taken place in downtown Athens between October 19-22, 1999.

The court found Kazakos guilty of two intentional homicides and seven attempted homicides with a four-to-three vote. The woman presiding judge and two women from the jury voted that the defendant had diminished capacity.

The court also deprived Kazakos of his civil rights for life and fined him 300,000 drachmas, while the other defendant, Apostolos Apostolou, was acquitted of simple complicity in one of the seven attempted homicides. However, he was found guilty of possessing drugs and ammunition (a small quantity of a drug substance and bullets from a firearm had been found in his home) and sentenced to eight months imprisonment with a three-year suspension.

The conviction was heard with satisfaction by victims present in the courtroom, while Kazakos remained indifferent as he had been throughout the entire duration of the trial.

A retrial will be taking place in a few months time and the court will either have to uphold Wednesday's verdict or decide otherwise.

[02] Soccer-Friendly-Greece-Russia 3-3

Greece and Russia drew 3-3 in an international friendly soccer match played at Theodoros Vardinoyiannis stadium in Irakleio, Crete, on Wednesday night.

Haristeas scored twice for Greece in the 2nd and 32nd minutes, while Bassinas scored the third goal with a penalty in injury time. Buznikin scored for Russia in the 34th and 70th minutes and Kokhov in the 46th.

[03] Athens Water Board-2000 Results

The Athens and Piraeus Water Board (EYDAP) on Wednesday reported that its net pre-tax profit rose by 67.5 percent in 2000 from the previous year to total 35.5 billion drachmas.

Earnings before tax, interest and depreciation totalled 41.4 billion drachmas, marking a 15 percent increase from 1999, EYDAP said in a statement.

Turnover in 2000 was 87.5 billion drachmas in 2000, up 12.1 percent, the statement added.

[04] Greece - Croatia - EU

Croatias European Union prospects as well as bilateral relations were on the agenda on Wednesday during a meeting between a high-level Croatian government delegation and Greek ministers.

After a relevant meeting, Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Elisabeth Papazoi expressed a hope that implementation of a stability pact for an association agreement between the EU and Croatia is achieved within the next three months, along with ?60 million in EU financing through the CARDS programme.

On her part, Croatian Deputy FM Vesna Kurelec thanked Athens for its backing towards Zagrebs attempts to approach Euro-Atlantic institutions.

[05] 35 Illegal immigrants - Giaros

Greek authorities announced on Wednesday that they had picked up 35 illegal immigrants, mainly Kurds and Iraqis, on the Aegean island of Giaros, who had been set ashore by the leisure craft "Capetan Mihalis".

The crew of the vessel, 50-year-old Antonis Karamanos and 48-year-old Spyros Kargiakis, were arrested shortly after leaving the immigrants on Giaros late on Tuesday night.

The 35 migrants, including five women and 12 children, were taken to hospital on the island of Syros for medical examinations, where three of them were admitted with high fevers.

The rest are being held at a primary school in the village of Galissa.

They haven't said where they were picked up by the Greek boat but the Coast Guard succeeded in arresting G. Maniatis, 35, and Syrian national Alal Belal, also 35, who attempted to pick up the group in mid-sea and take them to Kythnos before being intercepted. The two were to appear before the Syros public prosecutor on Wednesday.

Finally, Patras port authorities on Wednesday reported discovering four Iraqi illegal immigrants hidden inside a caravan headed for Italy, which was being towed by a Polish national.

[06] EBO-Subsidiary-2000 Results

A subsidiary of Hellenic Arms Industry (EBO) that manufactures protective clothing for the military on Wednesday estimated that its sales in 2000 rose by 94 percent to one billion drachmas from 515 million drachmas a year earlier.

The EBO subsidiary, Ilektromihaniki Kymis, is located on the island of Evia and produces protective suits for chemical warfare, bullet-proof helmets for the Greek armed forces, and a new type of bullet-proof jacket, the parent company said in a statement.

[07] Weather Forecast-Thursday

Scattered cloud and showers are forecast throughout the country on Thursday, with storms mainly in the west. Winds will be variable, moderate to strong, turning gale force in the Ionian. In the north, temperatures will range from 4C to 14C; on the rest of the mainland and the Ionian from 7C to 16C; and in the Aegean islands from 9C to 17C. Overcast in Athens and possibly showerery in the afternoon with temperatures between 8C and 16C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 6C to 14C.

[08] Greece - Belgium - defence ministers meeting

Preparing the European Union's military infrastructure so that a European army will be operational by 2003 was the focus of talks between Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and his Belgian counterpart Andre Flahaut in Athens on Wednesday.

[09] ASE-close

Equity prices remained under pressure to end lower on Wednesday for the second consecutive session this week on the Athens Stock Exchange, with blue chip stocks like Hellenic Telecoms and Panafon leading the decline.

The general index ended 0.79 percent lower at 3,129.06 points, off the day's lows helped by a recovery of the banks sector.

Turnover was a low 206.92 million euros. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.84 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 1.30 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks fell 0.47 percent.

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