Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-09-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Security and economic growth take center stage in PM's TIF address

[02] N17 suspect Koufodinas taken before special magistrate

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[04] Weather Forecast: Rain, storms on Saturday

[05] Greek stocks end week 2.92 percent lower

[01] Security and economic growth take center stage in PM's TIF address

Security for Greece and Greek citizens in an insecure international environment was the focus of Prime Minister Costas Simitis' annual state of the nation speech during the inauguration of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, on Friday evening.

''Security'' was the key word Simitis used, as he touched on the course of the country in general, the economy, the Greek family, the Greek citizen and the Greek society, in light of the successful efforts to eradicate terrorism.

''Today democracy eradicates terrorism and solidifies security for society,'' Simitis stressed, adding that terrorism is not ''resistance'', nor ''social revolution'', but a ''form of totalitarianism, an attempt to blackmail democracy and an effort to downrate those that fought for democracy''.

Turning to the economy, Simitis spoke of the international environment, noting that it is turbulent, and underlined that there is a slowdown in the rate of growth, stagnation in new jobs creation and increase in unemployment rates which, due to the recession, increased in the United States and Europe as well.

In this adverse environment, Simitis said, Greece should react based on the principles of caution, claims and decisions, insistence on strong development and readiness for timely reaction.

The premier stressed that the aim of the government for this problem would be to make all the changes, through which security is obtained on the economic, social and national levels.

[02] N17 suspect Koufodinas taken before special magistrate

Former fugitive Dimitris Koufodinas, the last major suspect sought by police in the ''November 17'' case, has been given until Sunday to prepare his plea by Special Examining Magistrate Leonidas Zervobeakas, the appeals court justice assigned to this case.

Koufodinas, who surrendered voluntarily on Thursday when he arrived at police headquarters under his own steam in a taxi, was taken before Zervobeakas at around 13:30 on Friday.

His transfer to the appeals court building took place under heavy security with a large police escort, while a police helicopter began flying overhead several minutes before the convoy set out.

Koufodinas is alleged to be the 'N17' member with the codename 'Loukas' and stands of accused of taking part in 73 hits by the group, including 16 murders and 55 attempted murders.

Koufodinas remained in the examining magistrate's office for about 45 minutes, before being escorted back to police headquarters.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 0.999

Pound sterling 0.637

Danish kroner 7.485

Swedish kroner 9.299

Japanese yen 118.2

Swiss franc 1.470

Norwegian kroner 7.412

Cyprus pound 0.577

Canadian dollar 1.568

Australian dollar 1.836

[04] Weather Forecast: Rain, storms on Saturday

Showers and storms are forecast in all parts of the country, starting in the west and spreading across the country by late afternoon. Winds south-southwesterly, light to moderate. On the mainland, temperatures will range from 15C to 27C; and in the islands also from 18C to 29C. Temperatures in Athens between 19C and 28C; and in Thessaloniki from 17C to 27C.

[05] Greek stocks end week 2.92 percent lower

A recovery in bank shares, led by gains in EFG Eurobank Ergasias, and an advance of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation's share price, pushed the Athens Stock Exchange into positive territory at the end of the week on Friday.

The general index ended 0.14 percent higher at 2,066.84 points, after moving within the 2,050-2,080 support levels throughout the session.

Turnover was a low 82.4 million euros.

The Holding, IT Solution and Retail sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.94 percent, 1.88 percent and 1.53 percent, respectively), while the Bank, Textile and Food-Beverage sectors scored the biggest percentage gains (1.33 percent, 0.59 percent and 0.58 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.54 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.44 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.63 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 188 to 111 with another 58 issues unchanged. The general index ended the week with a net loss of 2.92 percent.

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