Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-01-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek govt to present ''popular'' state bills this month

[02] ATHOC head calls Games a 'challenge for entire country'

[03] ''N 17'' actions ''criminal'' & not ''political'', appellate court

[04] Taxi strike on Wednesday in Athens, Piraeus

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[06] Weather Forecast: Cloud & rain expected on Friday

[07] Greek stocks welcome 2003 with hefty gains

[01] Greek govt to present ''popular'' state bills this month

The Greek government is expected to present a new series of interest-baring state bills offering higher returns compared with deposit interest rates this month, Deputy Finance Minister George Floridis said on Thursday.

In a radio interview, Mr Floridis, however, declined to unveil specific dates but stressed that announcements would be made soon by Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis.

[02] ATHOC head calls Games a 'challenge for entire country'

Athens 2004 Organising Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki called the hosting of the upcoming Games as a ?challenge for the entire country?.

Angelopoulos-Daskalaki was quoted in an interview published in the latest edition of the Greek-language edition of ?Foreign Policy?.

She also underlined the enormous significance the Games will have for Greeces growth as well as its image towards the outside world, citing the thousands of media professionals in Athens for the Olympics and billions of television viewers around the world -- ?who will see a modern and effective Greece?.

Asked about her cooperation with the various government ministries and services, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki called it ?superb?, while adding that her personal cooperation with Prime Minister Costas Simitis ?exceptional?.

The premier offered her the top post at ATHOC during a difficult turning point for the Games preparation.

[03] ''N 17'' actions ''criminal'' & not ''political'', appellate court council says

The Athens appellate court judges council on Thursday issued a ruling that the actions of the murderous ''November 17'' terrorist group fall under the category of the criminal code and they are not political crimes.

The judges ruled that terrorist actions involved innocent victims and caused the death of people unable to defend themselves.

Also the crimes did not fall under the category covered by the statue of limitations, as the participation in a criminal organization is a continual crime.

As for the infamous ''N17'' in particular, the judges said that the members of the group were discovered and arrested due to the explosion of the bomb alleged terrorist Savvas Xiros attempted to place in Piraeus end of June 2002.

Finally, the judges said that the founding members of the group were alleged terrorists Alexandros Giotopoulos, Nikos Papanastasiou, Yiannis and Pavlos Serifis and a woman codenamed ''Anna'' who is still at large.

[04] Taxi strike on Wednesday in Athens, Piraeus

Taxis will be on strike on Wednesday and Thursday in the greater Athens area, by decision of the union of taxi owners, as the Parliament will be discussing the new legislation for taxicabs.

Taxi owners in the Attica prefecture are demanding changes in the bill tabled in Parliament and access to the bus lanes, in which only buses are presently allowed.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.053

Pound sterling 0.657

Danish kroner 7.486

Swedish kroner 9.200

Japanese yen 125.4

Swiss franc 1.464

Norwegian kroner 7.325

Cyprus pound 0.578

Canadian dollar 1.655

Australian dollar 1.870

[06] Weather Forecast: Cloud & rain expected on Friday

Cloud is forecast for most parts of the country on Friday, while in the west there may be local rains later in the day. Winds westerly-southwesterly, strong turning gale force in the southern Aegean. In the north and center, temperatures will range from 2C to 12C; in the west from 6C to 16C; and in the rest of the country from 9C to 17C. Cloudy in Athens with temperatures between 09C and 16C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 07C to 12C.

[07] Greek stocks welcome 2003 with hefty gains

Greek stocks soared in the first trading session of 2003 reflecting investors' hopes of better days ahead after three years of dismal performances in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The general index rose 1.64 percent to end at 1,777.09 points, with turnover a low 44.7 million euros.

All sector indices scored gains, with the Publication (9.89 percent), Textile (6.59 percent), IT Solutions (5.30 percent) and IT 4.82 percent) sectors leading gains. Banks (0.73 percent) and Investments (0.30 percent) recorded the smallest percentage gains of the day.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.12 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index jumped 2.77 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index soared 4.67 percent. The new FTSE/ASE 140 index rose 1.77 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 293 to 32 with another 23 issues unchanged.

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