Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-07-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cabinet meeting focuses on terrorism investigation

[02] Greece expects greater role for UN chief in Cyprus talks

[03] 7.7 million euros for the upgrade of five border check point

[04] 2004 Olympic Games mascots to begin promotion campaign

[05] Journalists federation comments on terrorism and ethics

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[07] Friday weather - Sunny all over the country

[08] Greek stocks continue moving lower

[01] Cabinet meeting focuses on terrorism investigation

Prime Minister Costas Simitis opened Thursday's cabinet meeting with a briefing on developments in the fight against terrorism and praised the work done by the Greek police in the ongoing investigation of the terrorist group ''November 17'', government spokesman Christos Protopapas said.

The prime minister stressed, however, that great care and much police work was now needed in order to fully exploit the evidence and find proof against those responsible, using procedures that were absolutely legal and reliable.

Simitis also noted that certain parties appeared to be trying to denigrate the successes and efficiency of the authorities and cast doubts as to whether the chief culprits would be brought to justice.

''I want to reply to them that we will catch all those responsible and that there will be full publicity. At the present juncture, however, what is needed is seriousness, restraint and identification.''

He also stressed that the laws would be fully implemented and everything would be done by the book, while expressing his support for the work of Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis.

Chrysohoidis then briefed the cabinet on the course of the investigations, stressing that the fight against terrorism would continue until the phenomenon had been eradicated and the terrorists had been brought to justice.

[02] Greece expects greater role for UN chief in Cyprus talks

Greece expected the positive role of the United Nations Secretary-General in direct talks on the Cyprus issue to be reinforced, foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said on Thursday.

He said the intervention and observations made by the Security Council chief were positive for the development of the ongoing process.

Asked to comment on the latest developments in Turkey and the resignation of Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, the spokesman said that Athens was watching the situation closely and expressed hope that the neighbouring country would soon emerge from the crisis and regain political stability.

Regarding channels of communication between the two countries, Beglitis said that this was based on political principles and that he was certain this would not be affected by domestic developments.

[03] 7.7 million euros for the upgrade of five border check point

The state owned Hellenic Tourist Real Estate Company on Thursday presented the proposals of architects for the aesthetic upgrade of the country's border entrance check points, ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The company presented the three finalists of a relevant tender, which involves five border check points and will cost some 7.7 million euros.

[04] 2004 Olympic Games mascots to begin promotion campaign

Phoebus and Athena, the mascots of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, will begin a campaign to promote the Games, discovering the 35 events to be held in Athens in August 2004.

The mascots, originating from ancient Greece, will be making a full tour of all events included in the Olympic programme and examining them with humour and laughter.

Phoebus and Athena, two symbols of the Olympic Ideal, will promote the human factor and remind us that the focal point and heart of the Olympic Games is and will always remain the human being.

[05] Journalists federation comments on terrorism and ethics

The board of the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists Unions (POESY) convened on Thursday to discuss the coverage of events related to terrorism in the country and in an announcement expressed absolute opposition to ''irresponsible talk of scenarios leading to the slandering of people and the smearing of reputations.''

POESY calls on journalists to meet requirements for reliable and substantive information for citizens in accordance with longstanding principles of ethics.

At the same time it explicitly condemns ''the regrettable phenomena of inconsiderately broadcasting information with the purpose of creating 'suspects' and 'culprits' for the making of a climate of informing in Greek society.''

Furthermore, it was added in the announcement that those playing other roles not belonging to them have nothing to do with journalism and its principles and that Greek journalism has its own contribution to the democratic struggles of the people.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro until Friday

U.S. dollar 0.991

Pound sterling 0.643

Danish kroner 7.487

Swedish kroner 9.349

Japanese yen 116.3

Swiss franc 1.479

Norwegian kroner 7.343

Cyprus pound 0.582

Canadian dollar 1.512

Australian dollar 1.780.

[07] Friday weather - Sunny all over the country

Sunny throughout Greece on Friday with a chance of scattered cloud later in the day in the Macedonia and Thrace. Northerly winds, moderate to strong on the Aegean. Temperatures in northern Greece between 19C to 37C, on the rest of the mainland 21C to 35C, and on the islands 22C to 32C. Scattered cloud in Athens with a possibility of rain and temperatures ranging between 22C to 34C. The same for Thessaloniki with temperatures from 22C to 34C.

[08] Greek stocks continue moving lower

Greek stocks continued moving lower on Thursday following losses in international markets with the general index falling to an intra-session record low for the year at 2,135 points.

The index ended 0.88 percent lower at 2,143.21 points, with turnover a low 61.2 million euros.

The Telecommunications sector was the only one to score gains (up 0.15 percent), while the Bank, Construction and Textile sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.94 percent, 1.80 percent and 1.56 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.23 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.14 percent down and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.87 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 244 to 62 with another 47 issues unchanged.

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