Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-06-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM reports progess in aligning with EU

[02] Summer exhibition of Petit Palais museum tapestries in Athens

[03] 49th Rally Acropolis gets underway

[04] Air traffic controllers to strike June 19

[05] Second phase of EU EQUAL initiative to begin in July

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[07] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Friday

[08] Athens 2004 organisers unveil events schedule

[09] Greek stocks end 0.62 percent lower on Thursday

[01] PM reports progess in aligning with EU

High growth rates, competitiveness, social justice and solidarity; this is the course followed successfully by Greece in its effort to achieve real ecoomic and social convergence with the European Union, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, after a four-hour cabinet meeting to discuss economic convergence, Mr Simitis said that economic figures confirmed the government's policy successes.

''Greece has made many successes in the last few year, clear for all to see around us. But the figures are that prove our country's significant improvement compared with EU standards, figures that measured its wealth and dynamism,'' Simitis told reporters.

Economic growth rates in the last six years were significantly higher compared with EU average growth rates. ''Greece recorded the second highest growth rate in the EU in 2001, pushing Greek per capita income to more than 70 percent of the EU average from 64 percent a few years ago. Labour productivity also jumped to 84.5 percent last year from 74 percent in 1993, recording the second largest growth after Ireland,'' he said.

Mr Simitis said that the average salary in Greece rose to 80 percent of the EU average, inflation has fallen significantly, budget deficits were turned into surpluses and the country's public debt was steadily shrinking. ''This is a growth that allowed Greece's social sector to strengthen and to converge closer to our EU partners,'' Simitis noted.

Greece spends around 25 percent of its Gross Domestic Product on social solidarity programmes, the highest rate in southern Europe, based on 1999 figures. ''This is a policy that makes us different from other conservative governments...We spend more on health care, education and new technologies despite the fact that also have the biggest defence spending in the EU,'' he said.

Greece was also winning the battle against unemployment in the last couple of year, Simitis said. He expressed the hope that the unemployment rate would fall below 10 percent soon.

''Problems still persist and we still need a lot to do...Our main priority is to further strengthen Greek economy and the society to enhance social justice and solidarity. We want to create a more strong society, we build a strong Greece based on a strong economy and a strong society,'' Simitis stressed.

[02] Summer exhibition of Petit Palais museum tapestries in Athens

An exhibition of French tapestries on loan from the Petit Palais museum in Paris will be inaugurated in Athens on Thursday at the Stathatos Mansion by culture ministry general secretary Lina Mendoni.

Entitled ''Weaving the Greek myths,'' the exhibition features eight large tapestries covering a total area of 100 square metres that were inspired by ancient history and based on original designs by French and Flemish artists.

In addition to the exhibits, there will also be a video-display on the art of tapestry-making.

The exhibition is on loan while repair and restoration works that will end in October are being carried out at the Petit Palais. It was organised jointly by the French Institute, the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Goulandris Foundation and the Petit Palais and will run in Athens until August 31.

[03] 49th Rally Acropolis gets underway

The 49th Rally Acropolis began in front of the Zappeion Mansion on Thursday night in the presence of Deputy Sports Minister Yiannis Kourakis, Sports Secretary General Nikos Exarchos, many other dignitaries and crowds of people.

A total of 89 crews are participating, 29 of which are Greek. However five of them (including one Greek) were rejected for delaying in having their cars pass through technical control.

Colin McRae, the winner in past years, is optimistic of winning this year as well. He said ''it will be of decisive importance for me if I achieve a victory either at the Acropolis or in Kenya. However, I hope I will manage.''

[04] Air traffic controllers to strike June 19

Air traffic controllers are to stage a 24-hour strike on June 19 in several European countries, including Greece, that is expected to bring airports to a halt.

On strike areair traffic controllers in France, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Hungary in concerted action against the privatisation of aviation services under a plan entitled Single European Skies.

Workers at the headquarters of Eurocontrol, the continent-wide air traffic control agency, are also expected to strike.

[05] Second phase of EU EQUAL initiative to begin in July

The second and most important phase in implementing the European Union EQUAL initiative will begin in early July with the coordinated effort of 24 agencies and representatives of foreign communities in the country.

The programme's main aim is handling phenomena of racism and xenophobia and, consequently, the creation of preconditions for the shaping of a multicultural society at EU level.

In this context, the organisation Development Solidarity for Equality and Social Cohesion has been created in Greece, which has undertaken the application of the task ''Forum for Social Cohesion'' which is aimed at solving the problems of immigrants and refugees, primarily in the Attica region, and their smooth incorporation in the labour market and society.

The programme is budgeted at 1.7 million euros and will last for three years, while the Athens News Agency (ANA) has undertaken a coordinating role.

Addressing a conference on the occasion of the beginning of the programme's second phase, ANA general director Andreas Christodoulides referred to the significance of the programme's implementation for the smooth inclusion of immigrants and refugees in society.

Each of the 24 agencies participating in the programme will undertake the implementation of specific work and activities, including the operation of structures for supporting immigrants and refugees.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro

U.S. dollar 0.949

Pound sterling 0.645

Danish kroner 7.495

Swedish kroner 9.214

Japanese yen 119.1

Swiss franc 1.488

Norwegian kroner 7.472

Cyprus pound 0.584

Canadian dollar 1.460

Australian dollar 1.670

[07] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Friday

Sunshine is forecast in all parts of the country, with a little scattered cloud. Winds north-northeasterly, light to very strong, turning gale force in the central and southern Aegean. On the northern mainland, temperatures will range from 16C to 31C; in the Ionian and on the rest of the mainland from 17C to 33C; and in the Aegean islands from 19C to 29C. Sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 20C and 32C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 18C to 30C.

[08] Athens 2004 organisers unveil events schedule

The mens cycling competition will kick-off the Athens 2004 Olympics, Greek organisers announced here on Thursday in presenting the entire events schedule, as far as the dates are concerned, for the much anticipated Games.

Besides cycling, which replaces the traditional Olympic opening event of archery, the diving competitions, beach volleyball in the evening, basketball, several mens and womens sailing events as well as gymnastics will inaugurate the first day of the Athens Games 108 years after the modern Olympics were revived in the same ancient city.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Athens 2004 organising committees (ATHOC) Nea Ionia district headquarters, organisers said specific start times for the events now remain to be set. Among others, the start time for the Marathon race customarily the last event of the summer Olympics must be finalised. ATHOC has proposed a 5 p.m. start time (15.00 GMT), with the final decision now resting with the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

ATHOC executives also said ticket sales for the extended ?Olympic Family? would commence in roughly two months.

Tennis, baseball, mens water polo and the ?Mistral? sailing competition will kick-off the second day of the Athens Olympics.

[09] Greek stocks end 0.62 percent lower on Thursday

Greek stocks continued moving lower on Thursday, this time hit by losses in Hellenic Telecommunication Organisation's share price (down 3.08 percent) on worries over the price of an 8.0 percent equity sale to institutional investors by the Greek telecoms company.

The general index fell 0.62 percent to end at 2,277.55 points, with turnover a low 76.5 million euros.

The Telecommunications, Insurance and Food-Beverage sectros suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.80 percent, 1.79 percent and 1.17 percent, respectively), while the Investment, Metals and Holding sectors scored the biggest percentage gains (0.78 percent, 0.46 percent and 0.30 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.72 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.38 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 0.30 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 178 to 112 with another 62 issues unchanged.

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