Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-12-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Northern butchers seek fame in Guinness Book of Records

[02] Banker sees three banks eventually holding 80% of market

[03] UNICEF holds children's world peace parties in Athens

[04] Athens Olympics organiser rejects talk of budget deficit

[05] Police launch probe into death of Iraqi migrant

[06] Warm welcome for EU's decision to admit Cyprus

[07] Minister backs simultaneous national, European polls in 2004

[08] Greek clout in EU to increase after enlargement, gov't says

[09] Parliament opens debate on 2003 budget on Wednesday (ADDS minister)

[10] Government to receive Olympic Truce signatures Monday

[11] Parliament opens debate on 2003 budget on Wednesday

[12] PM has support for Cyprus line at EU summit, poll shows

[13] Thessaloniki taxis on strike Monday

[14] Weather Forecast: Cloudy, showery on Monday

[15] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Northern butchers seek fame in Guinness Book of Records

Ten butchers in the northeastern town of Xanthi are seeking an entry in the Guinness Book of Records with 350 kilos of pork stretched into a 50-metre roll.

Currently on display in the marketplace, the giant roll of meat will be sliced and distributed to 80 poor families on Christmas eve.

[02] Banker sees three banks eventually holding 80% of market

The deputy governor of blue-chip National Bank of Greece, Apostolos Tamvakakis said on Sunday that he saw three banks eventually controlling 80 percent of the domestic retail market.

Speaking at the Money Show trade fair in Thessaloniki, Tamvakakis urged for greater concentration of the banking sector.

''Of course, strategic moves should not be undertaken in order to make an impression, but only if there is an appropriate economic base for the arrangement and a clear-cut business evaluation,'' he added.

[03] UNICEF holds children's world peace parties in Athens

UNICEF in Athens is holding Christmas parties for children of all nationalities in Athens this month in a move to promote cooperation and peaceful coexistence.

One party was held on Sunday and another is scheduled for Thursday.

Donations for a fund set up by UNICEF to help childen with AIDS can be made at the National Bank of Greece, account number 169/480020-64.

[04] Athens Olympics organiser rejects talk of budget deficit

The head of the Athens 2004 Olympics organising committee, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki denied talk that the budget for the event was showing a deficit.

''Management (of funds) is checked by a council of auditors and by an internal control mechanism,'' Daskalaki told the Sunday Kathimerini newspaper in an interview.

The committee's president said that she was personally in a position to confirm there would be no deviation from the budget.

[05] Police launch probe into death of Iraqi migrant

Police have launched an enquiry into the death of an 18-year-old illegal Iraqi migrantfound in a pool of blood in the port city of Patras.

Arrested was an Athens truck driver who claimed that he had found the youth hiding in his truck, and struck him, police said on Sunday.

The youth leapt out of the trailer, hitting his head, said the truck driver, who drove away and was arrested in port later on Saturday, the day of the incident.

Police said the youth, who bore no external wounds, was dead on arrival in hospital after passers-by called an ambulance.

An post-mortem is to be conducted on Monday.

[06] Warm welcome for EU's decision to admit Cyprus

Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on Sunday welcomed the European Union's decision last week to admit Cyprus into the 15-nation bloc, also saying that work lay ahead to find a solution to the island republic's political problem.

''Cyprus' entry into the EU was a strategic goal in an endeavour to achieve a political solution to the Cyprus problem. As of tomorrow, therefore, much work remains for all, so that the right climate can be created to contribute to a solution,'' Tsohatzopoulos told reporters during a visit to Thessaloniki.

In Athens, Press Minister Christos Protopappas called Cyprus' entry into the EU a major success for the nation.

''This success was due to many years of methodical work by the Greek government, and to great efforts made by Cypriots themselves,'' Protopappas told the Sunday Eleftherotypia newspaper in an interview.

''Cyprus is now stronger and safer within the unified European family,'' he added.

Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis said in a statement that Cyprus' EU entry was a historic event.

Membership would also bring economic benefits to the Republic of Cyprus, and, especially, to the Turkish-occupied sector of the island, contributing to stability and security in the region.

In Australia, ethnic Greeks welcomed the news of Cyprus' entry, including a large community group in Melbourne.

[07] Minister backs simultaneous national, European polls in 2004

Press Minister Christos Protopappas said he believed it would be useful to hold national and European elections simultaneously in 2004.

Protopappas, who is also government spokesman, told the Eleftherotypia on Sunday newspaper in an interview that the key to success in elections for the ruling PASOK party lay in renewal.

At the same time, no plans were afoot to change the party's leader.

''There is no question of a change of leadership (for PASOK) before the next elections because (prime minister) Costas Simitis is our major weapon,'' he added.

[08] Greek clout in EU to increase after enlargement, gov't says

Greece's influence in the European Union will increase following enlargement of the 15-nation bloc, Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said.

''In the new 25-country format, Greece will become a medium-sized to large country, with greater influence on operations and the decision-making process,'' the minister told the Vima on Sunday newspaper in an interview.

''Coupled with Cyprus' entry into the EU, the Greek factor will become more of a force to be reckoned with, both economically and institutionally,'' he said.

[09] Parliament opens debate on 2003 budget on Wednesday (ADDS minister)

Parliament begins a debate on the budget for 2003 on Wednesday, house officials said.

The debate will culminate in a roll-call vote by midnight on Sunday.

Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis told the Vima on Sunday newspaper that the highlights of the budget were the government's tax and social insurance overhaul.

Christodoulakis said in an interview that the budget also aimed to support farmers' income and agricultural production; back small and medium-sized enterprises; and boost economic alignment of the regions.

[10] Government to receive Olympic Truce signatures Monday

Foreign Minister George Papandreou is to receive signatures on Monday in support of an Olympic Truce for the Athens 2002 games.

Due to sign in Athens are the European Union's education and culture commissioner, Viviane Reding; and the president of the Red Cross' international committee, Jakob Kellenberger, Papandreou's office said in statements on Sunday.

[11] Parliament opens debate on 2003 budget on Wednesday

Parliament begins a debate on the budget for 2003 on Wednesday, house officials said.

The debate will culminate in a roll-call vote by midnight on Sunday.

[12] PM has support for Cyprus line at EU summit, poll shows

Prime Minister Costas Simitis has public support for the way he handled Cyprus' entry into the European Union at a summit of the 15-nation bloc in Copenhagen last week, according to an opinion poll released on Sunday.

Commissioned by the Sunday Vima newspaper, the poll was conducted in Athens, Cyprus, Istanbul, London and the Turkish-occupied territories in Cyprus by Kapa Research on Friday evening after approval of Cyprus' EU entry had been announced.

The telephone survey in three languages showed that 61.8 percent of respondents in Athens saw Simitis' handling as very positive; 85.6 percent in Cyprus; 56.5 percent in Istanbul; 57.1 percent in the Turkish-occupied territories; and 16.1 percent in London.

In Athens, 66.1 percent of people polled had the same opinion of Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides' handling of the matter; 82.8 percent in Cyprus; 10.1 percent in Istanbul; 22.9 percent in the occupied territories; and 14.2 percent in London, according to the poll's findings.

In reply to the same question on the head of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, support was 10.3 percent in Athens; 13.8 percent in Nicosia; 76.8 percent in Istanbul; 74.1 percent in the occupied territories; and 16.7 percent in London.

Again in response to the same question, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash received support from 28.6 percent of respondents in the occupied sector of Cyprus against 50.7 percent of people polled in Istanbul.

Finally, 12.3 percent of respondents in Athens viewed US president Bush's handling as positive; 4.6 percent in Nicosia; 52.2 percent in Istanbul; and 60 percent in the occupied territories, the survey showed.

[13] Thessaloniki taxis on strike Monday

Thessaloniki taxi owners are to stage a 24-hour strike beginning at 0500 hours on Monday.

The drivers want bus lanes opened to taxis in order to speed up transportation for the travelling public, their union said in a statement on Sunday.

[14] Weather Forecast: Cloudy, showery on Monday

Cloudy and showery weather is forecast in most parts of the country with storms in the west and snow on high ground. Snow is also expected in low lying areas of Macedonia. Winds variable, moderate to strong, turning very strong in the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from -02C to 07C; in the Ionian and on the rest of the mainland from 02C to 11C; and in the Aegean islands from 07C to 14C. Temperatures in Athens between 06C and 11C; and in Thessaloniki from 03C to 07C.

[15] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.030

Pound sterling 0.649

Danish kroner 7.485

Swedish kroner 9.193

Japanese yen 125.4

Swiss franc 1.488

Norwegian kroner 7.388

Cyprus pound 0.577

Canadian dollar 1.601

Australian dollar 1.819

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