Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-06-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] 'Zorba'-Turkey-National Opera

[02] George Bush Sr. - Aegean cruise

[03] Greece - Kostunica - UCK threat

[04] Weather-Tuesday

[05] Greek stocks drift lower in subdued trade

[06] Athens 2004 - Transports - Traffic

[01] 'Zorba'-Turkey-National Opera

Composer Mikis Theodorakis's "Zorba" ballet will be presented by the National Opera at the International Opera and Ballet Festival in Turkey on June 20.

"Zorba" is a symphonic ballet written by Theodorakis in 1987 following an order by the Opera of Verona. He joined and orchestrated various parts of his works which, in his view, could support the story of Nikos Kazantzakis' hero.

The performance is part of the framework of cultural relations between Greece and Turkey.

[02] George Bush Sr. - Aegean cruise

Former US president George Bush and his wife Barbara are in Greece this week for an Aegean cruise.

The Bushes and their entourage arrived at the new Athens airport Sunday evening before boarding the 122-metre luxury motorship ?Alexandra, owned by veteran shipping mogul and Bush family friend Yannis Latsis.

The yachts first stop was the Cyclades holiday island of Mykonos, where the ex-president jogged and joked with trailing reporters, saying hes ?in training for the 2004 Olympics?.

George and Barbara Bush have been frequent visitors to the Greek isles since leaving the White House in 1992.

[03] Greece - Kostunica - UCK threat

A government spokesman on Monday dismissed the prospect of any Albanian terrorist activity in Greeces northwest province of Epirus, saying he disagreed with recent statements to that effect by Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Athens doesnt share the Yugoslav presidents view that NW Epirus will be the next spot where Albanian extremists will strike.

?Were not facing such an issue,? Reppas added.

Meanwhile, in later statements following a meeting with PM Costas Simitis, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou emphasised that the international community has vigorously condemned the activities of Albanian extremists in neighbouring FYROM and elsewhere, while stressing that nary an incident or even a faint indication of such has been reported in Greece.

[04] Weather-Tuesday

Light cloud is forecast on Tuesday in most parts of Greece, with the possibility of local showers in the north. Winds will be westerly light to moderate. Temperature will range from 12 to 27C in the north, 14 to 32C in the rest of the mainland, and 17-29C on the islands. Light cloud with the possibility of showers in Athens, with temperatures 16-32C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures 14-26C.

[05] Greek stocks drift lower in subdued trade

Equity prices ended lower on the first trading session of the week, with turnover recording a new record-low for the year, on the Athens Stock Exchange.

Traders said the market has found short-term support at the 2,830-2,820 level and noted that investors continued to ignore the fact that the Greek bourse's valuations were fairly attractive.

The general index ended 0.57 percent lower at 2,843.40 points, off the day's lows of 2,835.77 points. Turnover was a low 81.64 million euros, or 27.82 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,652.96 points, off 0.75 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 0.13 percent to 327.85 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 910.52 points, up 0.49 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 271.85 points, up 0.33 percent.

[06] Athens 2004 - Transports - Traffic

A drastic reduction in Athens notorious traffic congestion through the use of bus-only lanes on major thoroughfares is one of the goals announced by the government prior to the 2004 Olympics, the relevant minister said at a one-day seminar here on Monday focusing on the issue of ?Olympic Transports?.

The event was co-organised by the Athens 2004 organisers (ATHOC) and the Greek Society of Traffic Engineers.

According to Transport Minister Christos Verelis, some 45 kilometres of bus-only lanes will be added in the greater Athens area by 2004, while over the two-month period of July and August 2004 some 100 kilometres will given over exclusively to buses, trolleys and coaches.

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