Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-06-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek economy to grow at 3.8 pct this year, 4.0 pct in 2003

[02] IOC mostly satisfied with Olympic progress; budget cuts possible

[03] Missing Phantom jet found on Mount Dirfys, crew of two presumed dead

[04] New method of copying artifacts, creating exact replicas presented

[05] Journalists conference to begin in Samothraki on Friday

[06] Journalists conference to begin in Samothraki on Friday

[07] Greek stocks end 1.12 percent higher

[01] Greek economy to grow at 3.8 pct this year, 4.0 pct in 2003

Greek economy will grow at a rate of 3.8 percent this year and 4.0 percent in 2003, investments will rise by 9.5 percent and even higher over the same period, while the unemployment rate will fall to 10.0 percent this year and to 9.2 percent of the workforce in 2003, the Economy and Finance Ministry said on Thursday.

In its semi-annual report on ''Current developments and prospects of the Greek and international economies'', the ministry said that high growth rates of the Greek economy were attributed largely to a decline in interest rates that led to a significant increase in business loans.

The report noted that ''the growth rate of private sector's borrowing in 2000, 2001 and in the first four months of 2002 was moving at around 23-29 percent.''

Borrowing growth rates were 9.6 percent in 2000 and 7.9 percent in 2001, although it fell to 5.4 percent in the first four months of 2002.

The report said that due to an expected stronger euro parity against the US dollar (at around 0.95-1.0) in the next 12 months, Greek manufacturing products' competitiveness was expected to be negatively affected.

[02] IOC mostly satisfied with Olympic progress; budget cuts possible

A handful of delayed venues and a focus on transportation snags were the primary concerns aired here on Thursday by the International Olympic Committees (IOC) top executive in charge of overseeing the upcoming Athens 2004 Olympics Games, although Denis Oswald was quick to point out that the IOC is generally satisfied with ongoing preparations.

Speaking to reporters at the end of another inspection visit to the Greek capital and following intensive contacts with Athens 2004 organisers (ATHOC) and the government, Oswald reiterated the IOCs leitmotif for the upcoming Games, namely, that there are absolutely no margins for delay in any area of preparations.

On her part, in an eye-raising statement, high-profile ATHOC head Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki emphasised that ATHOC has even foreseen of a possible reduction in the Games budget of between 190 million to 300 million euros.

Oswald, meanwhile, specifically cited a handful of delayed projects at the seaside Hellenikon site adjacent to the old Athens airport as well as a ?new problem? in the form of finding another venue to host the final stages of the football (soccer) competition.

[03] Missing Phantom jet found on Mount Dirfys, crew of two presumed dead

The search for a missing fighter jet that disappeared during a training mission on Thursday morning ended in the late afternoon hours as wreckage was found on Mount Dirfys on the island of Evia, while the aircraft's crew of two were missing and presumed dead.

The plane was initially spotted by a U.S. airforce C-130 aircraft, that was participating in the search and rescue mission, on Mount Dirfys at an altitude of 1,700 meters and later men of the civilian search and rescue team reached the site.

A committee of experts that arrived at the site reached the initial conclusion that thick and low clouds on the mountain played a major role in the accident, Airforce General Staff sources said.

The F4 'Phantom' jet disappeared from radar screens at 8:40, while flying near the 'Skatzoura' location on the island of Skyros. It had taken off with another F4 from Larisa in order to take part in a training exercise simulating a raid on Tanagra airport, in which another 10 military aircraft participated.

[04] New method of copying artifacts, creating exact replicas presented

Thessaloniki's Aristotelian University scientists achieved the creation of high quality copies of ancient artifacts with the use of laser beams, without the intervention of the human touch.

Two such copies were presented during an event of the European initiative Eureka. The two pieces are copper statues of the Hellenistic era, which were presented as gifts to the ministers of energy and the environment from 27 European countries, who were participating in the Eureka events.

The scientists revealed their technique, saying that they used laser beams to ''draw'' the artifacts in a computer with exact precision and then they made a mold with a computer guided lathe, which then produced the exact copies.

In this way the experts said that they can make the necessary copies of artifacts without damaging the originals.

[05] Journalists conference to begin in Samothraki on Friday

The 10th Panhellenic Journalists Conference will begin on the island of Samothraki on Friday with the participation of 400 journalists. The conference will focus on the issue of ''The new scene in the mass media-Europe and the mass media'' and will be inaugurated by Press Minister Christos Protopapas.

The first day will be devoted to the new scene being shaped in the mass media, the quality of news and ethics. The second day will focus on an extensive discussion on Europe and the mass media.

[06] Journalists conference to begin in Samothraki on Friday

The 10th Panhellenic Journalists Conference will begin on the island of Samothraki on Friday with the participation of 400 journalists. The conference will focus on the issue of ''The new scene in the mass media-Europe and the mass media'' and will be inaugurated by Press Minister Christos Protopapas.

The first day will be devoted to the new scene being shaped in the mass media, the quality of news and ethics. The second day will focus on an extensive discussion on Europe and the mass media.

[07] Greek stocks end 1.12 percent higher

Greek stocks followed other European shares higher on Thursday, reflecting strong buying interest for blue chip stocks, such as National Bank, Commercial Bank, Alpha Bank, Hellenic Telecommunications, Athens Water and Hellenic Petroleum.

The general index rose 1.12 percent to end at 2,229.81 points, with turnover a moderate 76.9 million euros.

The Insurance sector was the only one to suffer losses (down 0.23 percent). The Textile, Food-Beverage and Bank sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (2.06 percent, 1.83 percent and 1.82 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.50 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.95 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 1.02 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 233 to 75 with another 49 issues unchanged.

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