Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-06-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis praises level of Greek-Chinese relations following Beijing

[02] Minister and Council of Europe official discuss human rights

[03] Tokyo-based peace group to march on Israeli embassy

[04] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos to begin private visit to Crete on

[05] National Opera House to perform Rossini's 'Siege of Corinth' at Ancient

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[07] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Tuesday

[08] Greek stocks end 0.79 pct lower on Monday

[01] Simitis praises level of Greek-Chinese relations following Beijing talks

BEIJING (ANA - V. Mourtis) -- Greek Prime Minister called the first day of his official contacts here with the Peoples Republic of Chinas leadership as particularly productive, noting that the Chinese side also expressed its satisfaction with Athens positions on several current international issues.

?We have an interest in retaining good contacts with the leadership and people of China,? Simitis said after his meetings with Chinas President Jiang Zemin and State Council Premier Zhu Rongji, before praising bilateral relations as very good.

He added that EU-China relations are also good, while he stressing that Athens is particularly interested in EU-China relations because the country wants a ?multipolar? world in order to better promote international peace.

Simitis forecast, in fact, that Greeces EU presidency in the first half of 2003 would include a priority of preparing for the all-important EU-China summit in September 2003.

The Greek prime minister stressed that bilateral economic relations are good, although they could be distinctly improved and developed further. He also lauded the signing of an agreement eliminating double taxation, calling negotiations over the matter as a ?difficult task?.

Moreover, he said talks on finally ironing out a bilateral agreement to designate Greece a ?preferred tourist destination? for Chinese nationals are continuing in the Chinese capital at present.

[02] Minister and Council of Europe official discuss human rights

Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis and visiting Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles had a working luncheon on Monday and discussed the state of human rights in the world and the issue of immigration in Europe.

On the issue of immigration in Europe, Robles said that what was necessary, apart from control measures, was an overall policy to handle the issue on European and world level.

Yiannitsis said it was an approach with which the Greek government agreed, adding that the whole issue of immigration would be raised at the upcoming EU summit in Seville.

Referring to the issue of terrorism, Robles expressed hope that its handling will not affect existing progress in the sectors of protecting and safeguarding fundamental principles, with which Yiannitsis agreed, according to a relevant foreign ministry announcement.

[03] Tokyo-based peace group to march on Israeli embassy

About 150 members of a youthful Tokyo-based peace and friendship organisation marched on the Israeli embassy in Athens Monday afternoon to protest what they charged was the forced expulsion of 17 individuals from their group at Ben Gurion airport early Friday morning.

According to organisers from the ?Peace Boat? organisation, the 17-member delegation of mostly Japanese nationals, were prevented from entering Israel and promptly forced to leave the country aboard a flight to Athens. They also complained that Israeli authorities threatened and interrogated members of the group during their two-hour stay at the Tel-Aviv airport.

The 650-strong main group of Peace Boat members arrived in the Greek port of Piraeus aboard the organisations cruiseship on Monday from Port Said, Egypt, with Dubrovnik the next stop on the 3½-month-long journey that began and will end in Tokyo.

Peace Boat spokesman Paul Mason told reporters that the group is demanding an explanation from Israeli authorities of why the 17 Peace Boat-affiliated individuals were denied entry into Israel, along with a formal apology over what he called their shabby treatment at the hands of Israeli airport security. Peace Boat is also seeking compensation for the groups flight costs and a guarantee that they will be permitted entry into the Mideast country in the future.

According to its literature, the Tokyo-based Peace Boat organisation works to promote peace, cultural and educational exchanges, human rights, as well as respect for the environment.

[04] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos to begin private visit to Crete on June 15

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will begin a six-day private visit to Crete on June 15, the Church of Crete announced on Monday.

Vartholomeos is due to arrive at Iraklio airport on the morning of June 15 where he will be greeted by the Holy Prefectural Synod of the Church of Crete and local officials.

Later the same day the Patriarch will receive Crete's Techonologial Educational Institute (TEI) award and a reception will follow.

[05] National Opera House to perform Rossini's 'Siege of Corinth' at Ancient Corinth

The National Opera House of Greece will perform Gioacchino Rossini's ''Siege of Corinth'' at Ancient Corinth from June 21-23.

The director of the National Opera House, Loukas Karytinos, gave journalists a conducted tour of the site where the opera will be performed. The ''Siege of Corinth'' will be performed at a prefabricated iron theatre which has been set up and has 2,500 seats.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro

U.S. dollar 0.938

Pound sterling 0.645

Danish kroner 7.490

Swedish kroner 9.147

Japanese yen 116.6

Swiss franc 1.479

Norwegian kroner 7.498

Cyprus pound 0.583

Canadian dollar 1.440

Australian dollar 1.655

[07] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Tuesday

Sunny weather is forecast in most parts of the country, with scattered cloud in eastern Macedonia, Thrace and islands of the eartern and northern Aegean, where it may rain, especially on high ground. Winds west-northwesterly, light to moderate. On the mainland, temperatures will range from 14C to 31C; and in the islands from 17C to 28C. Sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 18C and 31C. Scattered cloud in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 16C to 29C.

[08] Greek stocks end 0.79 pct lower on Monday

Greek stocks ended Monday's session lower in the Athens Stock Exchange, hit by lack of buying interest and a shrinking turnover in the market.

The general index fell 0.79 percent to end at 2,279.50 points, with turnover at 99.8 million euros, of which 39.3 million euros were pre-agreed block trades.

The Publication and Telecommunications sectors were the only ones to score gains (0.49 percent and 0.08 percent, respectively), while the Holdings, Banks and Investment sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (3.09 percent, 1.92 percent and 1.68 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.31 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.09 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index was unchanged at Friday's closing levels.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 203 to 105 with another 47 issues unchanged.

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