Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-08-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Car insurance regulations harmonised with EU directives

[02] Flight delays drop at Athens airport in second quarter

[03] FM discusses counterterrorism efforts with US envoy

[04] Turkey's EU prospects, Cyprus issue dominate top gov't meeting

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[06] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks down in second day of profit-taking

[07] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Saturday

[01] Car insurance regulations harmonised with EU directives

EU drivers that are involved in accidents in EU member-states in which they are not permanently resident will henceforth be able to claim compensation in their country of residence, according to a presidential decree signed on Friday by Deputy Development Minister Christos Theodorou.

The decree harmonises Greek legislation with community directives regarding vehicle insurance and helps injured parties seek compensation through processes with which they are familiar.

In order for the new measures to work, insurance companies will henceforth have to appoint a representative to handle claims and the payment of compensation in each member-state.

In addition, EU countries will have to set up information centres recording all vehicles registered in the EU and their insurance coverage so that injured parties have all the necessary information at their disposal.

[02] Flight delays drop at Athens airport in second quarter

Flight delays at the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport near Athens fell in the second quarter of 2002, the Union of European Airlines said in a report released on Friday.

The report, which was based on data from the union's 28 members, showed that 79.6 percent of flights left the airport on time in the second quarter against 77.9 percent in the first quarter.

Of the remaining 20.4 percent of flights, the average delay was 39.8 minutes, lower than than in the previous quarter.

Of the delays, either the airport itself or air traffic controlwere responsible for 4.3 percent of the total, ranking the airport among the top eight of 27 surveyed, the report added.

[03] FM discusses counterterrorism efforts with US envoy

Foreign Minister George Papandreou met US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller on Friday to discuss foreign policy issues and developments regarding the fight against terrorism.

No statements were made after the meeting.

Commenting afterwards, government spokesman Christos Protopapas told reporters that the minister had urged the US ambassador to phrase his public statements on dismantling terrorism more carefully so as not to create mistaken impressions, avoiding the use of the plural.

''The effort to dismantle 'November 17' and other terrorist organisations is a Greek affair,'' Protopapas stressed.

During the meeting, the US ambassador had recognised that the counter-terrorist effort was a matter for the Greek authorities, just as Greece recognised the contribution made by the US, Protopapas added.

''In any event, we believe in good cooperation,'' he said.

Miller had been criticised by Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis during a meeting of PASOK's Executive Bureau on Thursday over the tone of his statements regarding the ongoing investigation to uncover terrorism in Greece.

[04] Turkey's EU prospects, Cyprus issue dominate top gov't meeting

An overview of Athens' foreign policy dominated Fridays lengthy meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis -- with Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus problem along with the island republics EU accession course, and EU-Turkey relations on the agenda.

Other talks centred on issues related to the future of Europe, as Greece is scheduled to assume the rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2003.

After the four-and-a-half-hour meeting, the foreign minister said the Greek government will continue its policy of dialogue and rapprochement with neighbouring Turkey, before also stressing what he called Athens ?solid stance? in favour of Turkeys European course.

However, in echoing standing Greek foreign policy, he also emphasised that such support for closer EU-Turkey ties lies entirely within the framework of decisions and conditions as set out by the EUs various summits, especially the Helsinki summit.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro until Monday released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 0.977

Pound sterling 0.643

Danish kroner 7.484

Swedish kroner 9.273

Japanese yen 117.2

Swiss franc 1.484

Norwegian kroner 7.465

Cyprus pound 0.578

Canadian dollar 1.522

Australian dollar 1.798

[06] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks down in second day of profit-taking

The Athens bourse finished lower on Friday, with players raking in short-term profits for a second day from five previous sessions, which had brought a 3.44 percent rise in prices, traders said.

The general share index shed 0.68 percent to end at 2,176.19 points, up 0.73 percent on the week. Turnover was 104.6 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.94 percent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.09 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities 0.20 percent up.

Of 360 stocks traded, declines led advances at 234 to 160 with 66 issues remaining unchanged.

[07] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Saturday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, with showers and storms in the north, centre and high ground in the Peloponnese, mainly from late afternoon. Winds variable, light to moderate, turning strong in the southern Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 17C to 31C; on the rest of the mainland from 19C to 33C; and in the islands from 21C to 32C. Temperatures in Athens between 21C and 33C; and in Thessaloniki between 19C and 31C.

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