Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-01-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] First work day with euros in market goes smoothly

[02] Banks to work an hour more to facilitate currency conversion

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

[04] Weather Forecast: Snow and rain on Friday

[05] Gov't spokesman comments on premiers visit to Washington D.C

[06] Greek gov't spokesman responds to publication on Turkish FIR

[07] 246 immigrants reach landfall in Crete, after difficult rescue

[08] Greek stocks end off highs on ASE

[01] First work day with euros in market goes smoothly

The first work day with euros being used in the market went smoothly on Thursday when shops opened after a two-day holiday. Greeks adjusted themselves to the new conditions and fears of serious problems did not come true.

Development ministry and economic crime squad officials made surprise checks in the market throughout the day to examine prices and receipts.

However, certain increases have been observed in the market, primarily in the services sector. Deputy Development Minister Christos Theodorou said during his visit to shops in downtown Athens that reports have been made which are being probed and urged consumers to notify the relevant authorities when they ascertain violations.

Theodorou said that the acceptance of the new currency was more than impressive and particularly by elderly citizens.

[02] Banks to work an hour more to facilitate currency conversion

The Federation of Greek Bank Employee Unions (OTOE) on Thursday announced the extension of bank working hours by one hour a day and only for work concerning the conversion of drachmas into euros, following a special agreement reached with bank administrations.

Working hours for banks during the parallel circulation period (until February 28, 2002) will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Mondays to Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. on Fridays.

OTOE in an announcement called on bank customers not to insist for other services during the overtime period of transactions, facilitating people visiting banks to convert drachmas into euros and employees carrying out their duties properly.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

Euro foreign exchange reference rates

(Amount of currency per 1 euro)

U.S. dollar 0.9036

Pound sterling 0.6254

Danish kroner 7.438

Swedish kroner 9.2337

Japanese yen 119.02

Swiss franc 1.4856

Norwegian kroner 8.0105

Cyprus pound 0.57554

Canadian dollar 1.4422

Australian dollar 1.752

[04] Weather Forecast: Snow and rain on Friday

Rain and snow throughout the country on Friday. Winds northerly, northeasterly, of gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from -14C to -3C; on the rest of the mainland from -7C to 2C; and in the islands from -2C to 9C. Rain and snow in Athens with temperatures between -1C to 2C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from -6C to -2C.

[05] Gov't spokesman comments on premiers visit to Washington D.C

The Greek government is placing special attention on Prime Minister Costas Simitis' visit to the United States and his meeting with US President George Bush, Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas said.

He noted that the prime minister's agenda for the meeting with the US president includes: the establishment of an international security system; the establishment of a general plan for the confrontation of crisis situations in sensitive regions; the need for the resolution of the Cyprus problem in the framework of the United Nations' resolutions; the current developments in the course of the European Union after the circulation of the euro; and the Euro-American and Greek-American relations.

Within this framework, Protopapas said that Simitis and Bush may discuss the Euro Force issue as well, while he added that Simitis did not intent to discuss the issue of the Olympic Games in Athens.

The government spokesman also said that Simitis will meet with Archbishop of America Dimitrios, will visit the site of the Twin Towers in New York and will meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

[06] Greek gov't spokesman responds to publication on Turkish FIR

The Turkish Notam regarding flight-paths of Greek civilian aircraft on their way from the Eastern Aegean Rhodes Island to Cyprus that was issued on Oct. 24 concerns the granting a permission to fly within the Turkish airspace and has nothing to do with the borders between the two countries, Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas said on Thursday.

Responding to report on the Notam that appeared on an Athens daily, Protopapas said the Notam had nothing to do with the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) or the so called gray zones.

He noted that in 1998 Turkey had once again issued a similar Notam, which was dealt with and the issue was resolved via talks between the two sides. He added that the current Notam will also be dealt with in the same way in due time.

Protopapas stressed that Turkey justified its action, to issue the Notam, calling on the air-navigation problems that arose in the Sept. 11 aftermath, as aircraft flying in the Athens FIR on their way to Cyprus enter for a brief period the Istanbul FIR.

The government spokesman also said that special attention should not be paid to this incident, to a great extent than that it diserves.

Responding to questions regarding Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou's statements that Greek-Turkish relations are turbulent, he said that the minister spoke of the recent multiple violations of Greek airspace by Turkish planes.

[07] 246 immigrants reach landfall in Crete, after difficult rescue operation

A small vessel transporting 246 illegal immigrants and manned by two crew members reached landfall in Ierapetra, Crete on Thursday, ending a two-day rescue operation in which civilian and naval forces participated non-stop.

The Turkish flagged "Aydin Kaptan" and its two-crewmembers attempted to smuggle 246 mostly Iraqi Kurds in the European Union, but as the weather conditions became difficult it began to sink and it sent out a distress signal that was picked up by Turkish authorities.

The distress signal went out on Tuesday afternoon and a search was launched initially by Greek coast guard vessels, an all-weather rescue helicopter and five merchant ships participated.

At first, rescuers focused on children and women, as the Turkish flagged "Aydin Kaptan" rolled on dangerously high seas.

Later that same day, the Spanish naval vessel SPS Extremadura that is currently assigned to NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL) and the UK naval survey ship HMS Beagle joined rescue efforts in response to a request for assistance from the Greek rescue ships and helicopter.

The SNFL is in the eastern Mediterranean conducting Operation Active Endeavour, NATO's maritime contribution to the fight against terrorism.

Crew members from the Beagle, which was first to arrive in the area, boarded the Aydin Kaptan on Tuesday and repaired a hole in its hull, as well as restoring power to one engine. The SPS Extremadura arrived on the scene at 2:20 on Wednesday, took command of the rescue and replaced the Beagle's crew on the Aydin Kaptan.

While later in the day Dutch oiler HNLMS Amsterdam, also participating in the NATO exercise arrived at the scene providing wind cover for the small vessel.

The vessel is now in Ierapetra harbour on Crete, where it was confiscated by the Greek coast guard.

Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis thanked all those that were involved in the difficult mission, which was conducted in extreme weather conditions.

[08] Greek stocks end off highs on ASE

Equity prices continued moving higher for the second consecutive session in 2002, although a wave of profit taking pushed prices off their day's highs on Thursday.

The general index ended 0.32 percent up at 2,635.75 points, with turnover a low Dr 44.6 billion or 131 million euros.

The Telecoms, Construction and Investment sectors scored the biggest percentage gains (1.63 percent, 1.10 percent and 0.73 percent, respectively), while the Insurance and Wholesale sectors suffered the heaviest losses. The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 0.65 percent off.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.26 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.05 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 0.60 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 188 to 118 with another 48 issues unchanged.

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