Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-06-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] World Premiere-Socrates

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates- Friday

[03] National Theatre's 'Clouds' production to premiere in Ephesus

[04] Greece - Yugoslavia - Milosevic issue

[05] EU Commissioner says Cyprus solution achievable by end 2002

[06] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Friday

[07] Greek stocks end Thursday's session flat

[01] World Premiere-Socrates

A theatrical spectacle dedicated to Greek philosopher Socrates, with Oscar-winning actor Rod Steiger playing the leading role, will be presented in a world premiere in Athens on September 5-6.

The event is titled "Socrates' apology in the dawn of civilisation" and is based on a text by Bernd Kammermeier and Michael Pfrommer, inspired by Socrates' apology, while the harpist Andreas Vollenweider will compose a new music work specifically for the performance.

The event is part of celebrations by the Delphi European Cultural Centre on the occasion of the 2400th anniversary of Socrates' death which proclaimed 2001 "Socrates' Year" and which is under the auspices of the President of the Republic.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates- Friday

Buying rates for Friday

U.S. dollar 397.144

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 560.103

Irish punt 429.202

Belgian franc 008.379

Luxembourg franc 008.379

Dutch guilder 153.389

Italian lira (100) 017.457

Austrian schilling 024.565

Danish kroner 45.390

Swedish kroner 36.771

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 318.428

Swiss franc 222.479

Norwegian kroner 042.874

Cyprus pound 588.504

Canadian dollar 260.931

Australian dollar 203.202

[03] National Theatre's 'Clouds' production to premiere in Ephesus

The fifth production of Aristophanes' "Clouds" by the Greek National Theatre is to begin its summer tour on July 4 as part of the 15th Izmir Festival, at the ancient theatre in Ephesus.

The play will begin performances in Greece at the ancient theatre at Epidavros on July 13-14 and then tour around the country, including performances at the ancient stadium in Delphi on July 21, the ancient theatre of Dion in Katerini on August 18 and the ancient Odeon in Patras on September 5.

Other scheduled performance dates are in Ioannina on July 18, at the Melina Mercouri Rock Theatre on Hymettus on July 25, the Pythagoreion theatre on Samos on August 12, Larisa on August 21, Agios Achilleos in Prespes on August 24, Thessaloniki on August 27 and at the Anoixi community theatre 'Hesiod' on September 8.

[04] Greece - Yugoslavia - Milosevic issue

Greece reiterated its position on Thursday on the contentious issue of Belgrade turning over one-time strongman Slobodan Milosevic to an international war crimes tribunal in The Hague, saying it was ?an internal Yugoslav matter?.

Foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis stressed, during a press briefing here, that the issue affects ?the political forces in Yugoslavia and the democratically elected government of that country, which is handing (the matter) responsibly and realistically?.

[05] EU Commissioner says Cyprus solution achievable by end 2002

BRUSSELS (ANA - V. Demiris) A solution to the Cyprus problem within 2002 was predicted by European Commissioner Guenter Verheugen on Thursday, during a press conference on the enlargement process.

"After contacts that I had this week with (Greek Foreign Minister George) Papandreou and (Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail) Cem within the context of the EU-Turkey Association Council, I am confident that a solution to the Cyprus problem is achievable within the time limits we have set for concluding accession negotiations with the first wave of EU candidate countries at the end of 2002," he said.

The goal, he added, is for the entire island to join the EU, which is the best tool for achieving the eradication of tension and peaceful coexistence of the two communities on a lasting basis.

He went on to say that the EU's positions were clear, that the decisions of the Helsinki summit would be implemented, and that all important factors - such as the course of the Cyprus problem - would be taken into account.

[06] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Friday

Sunshine is forecast in most parts of the country on Friday, although storms may occur on high ground in the north. Winds northerly, light to moderate, turning strong in the southeastern Aegean. On the mainland, temperatures will range from 16C to 36C; in the Ionian from 19C to 34C; and in the Aegean islands from 21C to 30C. Sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 20C and 35C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 19C to 34C.

[07] Greek stocks end Thursday's session flat

Greek stocks ended Thursday's volative session flat on the Athens Stock Exchange as the "last 10 minutes nightmare" syndrome reversed an earlier rally of prices.

Traders said a wave of profit taking in blue chip stocks, mainly banks, during the last minutes of trade evaporated earlier gains in the market.

Alpha Bank ended 2.09 percent lower, after gaining as much as 1.5 percent early in the session. Shares in the food & beverage sector scored the biggest gains, with Coca Cola HBC leading the way with an advance of 4.63 percent.

The general index ended 0.01 percent lower at 2,697.81 points, off the day's highs of 2,728.48 points, with turnover an improved 191.733 million euros, or 65.33 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,553.78 points, off 0.03 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 0.50 percent to 302.15 points, and the Small Cap index ended at 847.64 points, down 0.81 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 255.99 points, off 0.33 percent.

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