Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-02-05

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Solution appears for Olympic preparations' funding 'gap'

[02] FM addresses letter to European Parliament president on EU

[03] EU Troika to meet with Ukrainian leadership in Kiev

[04] Greece, Turkey sign tourism protocol

[05] Public sector wages to rise by avg 3.5 pct in 2003

[06] International seminar on Byzantine ecclesiastical music to be held in

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

[08] Weather Forecast: Rain, snow on Thursday

[09] Greek stocks plunge to five-year lows

[01] Solution appears for Olympic preparations' funding 'gap'

A highly anticipated meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, the head of the Athens 2004 Olympics organising committee (ATHOC), was concluded here on Wednesday morning, following a one-day postponement and amid widespread media speculation in the wake of Monday's deliberations over who will cover a 750-million-euro ?difference? in various 2004-related budgets.

According to government sources shortly after the meeting, there is absolutely no issue of high-profile Angelopoulos-Daskalaki resigning one of the purported scenarios reported by some local media outlets over the past few days whereas the same sources said a compromise has been worked out for the 750 million euros needed to ensure that all projects and Olympic preparations, including overlays, are completed on time.

In later comments, the government spokesman cited PM Simitis remarks, namely, that a high-ranking three-member committee will review the budget for ?remaining Olympic constructions, in tandem with remaining and necessary infrastructure and other overlays??

According to spokesman Christos Protopapas, Simitis said ATHOC will propose ?realistic solutions and will contribute, as much as it can, to covering a portion of necessary expenditures.?

In response to a press question, Protopapas said it was ?obvious that this statement covers Ms. Gianna Angelopoulos as well?.

[02] FM addresses letter to European Parliament president on EU commissioners

BRUSSELS (ANA - V. Demiris) - Foreign Minister and Council President George Papandreou, in a letter to European Parliament President Pat Cox, stressed the need for a special European Parliament plenum being convened on May 1, 2004, when the accession treaty for the EU's 10 new member states will take effect, on the appointment of EU commissioners from the ''10.''

The list of candidate commissioners from the new member-states will become known on March 1, 2004, to enable necessary hearings from the European Parliament to start.

The holding of a special European Parliament plenum meeting on May 1, 2004, is expected to draw reaction from the parliamentary groups of the European Socialist Party and the United Left which do not want this event linked to May Day.

[03] EU Troika to meet with Ukrainian leadership in Kiev

The EU Troika, led by the current Greek EU presidency, will meet with Ukrainian leadership in Kiev on Friday, the foreign ministry announced here on Wednesday.

According to a press release, developments in the Ukraine as well as within the Union are on the agenda, and specifically in terms of the latter, an evaluation of the political situation and economic reforms in the former Soviet state.

Regarding the EU side, a working plan for implementation of a common strategy vis-a-vis the Ukraine and bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism will also be discussed.

International issues on the agenda will expectedly include the Middle East and the ongoing Iraq crisis, as well as the regional situation involving Moldova and the Transdnistria region, on the Ukraine's southwest border.

Finally, the situation in the western Balkans, an important area for Athens, is on the agenda of talks as well.

[04] Greece, Turkey sign tourism protocol

Greece and Turkey signed a tourism protocol in Athens on Wednesday during a visit by the neighbouring country's tourism minister.

Signed by Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Turkish Tourism Minister G. Aksit, the protocol focuses on the promotion in Europe of the two countries as tourism venues.

In addition, joint tourism plans will be evolved to destinations including the US, China and Russia, Tsohatzopoulos told reporters after the meeting.

In addition, attempts will also be made to achieve the free movement of tourists between the two countries through a flexible application of the Schengen Treaty, he added.

Also to be discussed by a newly created bilateral tourism committee are the creation of a ferry route that would link the Turkish port of Izmir to the Aegean islands, Thessaloniki and Piraeus; and another to connect Imvros and Limnos.

[05] Public sector wages to rise by avg 3.5 pct in 2003

Wages in the public sector are to rise by an average 3.5 percent in 2003 and pensions by 4.0-4.5 percent under the government's incomes policy, Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said on Wednesday.

The increases mean that cash for the public sector payroll in the year's budget will rise by 4.2 percent, and for pensions by 4.5 percent, Christodoulakis told a news conference.

Taking into account a drop in witholding tax that came into effect on January 1, the wage increase for 2003 totals 4.53 percent, in some cases topping 6.0 percent, he said.

In addition, the public sector minimum wage would increase by at least 2.5 percent under incomes policy for 2003, the minister added.

[06] International seminar on Byzantine ecclesiastical music to be held in Vienna

VIENNA (ANA/D. Dimitrakoudis) - A three-day international seminar on the history and theory of Byzantine ecclesiastical music will be held in Vienna from February 10-12.

The seminar, organised by the Institute of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies of the Austrian capital's university, aims at projecting Byzantine music and tradition.

The sessions of the international seminar will be opened on Monday by Greek Ambassador to Austria Christos Alexandris and followed by a concert given by the Byzantine Choir of Vienna.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.099

Pound sterling 0.665

Danish kroner 7.495

Swedish kroner 9.322

Japanese yen 131.3

Swiss franc 1.478

Norwegian kroner 7.624

Cyprus pound 0.584

Canadian dollar 1.665

Australian dollar 1.857

[08] Weather Forecast: Rain, snow on Thursday

Rain is forecast in all parts of the country, with storms in the eastern Aegean and Dodecanese islands. Snow will fall on high ground in the north and in low-lying areas of the centre. Winds variable, strong to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from -4 to 5C; on the rest of the mainland and Ionian from -1C to 11C; and in the islands from 6C to 13C. Temperatures in Athens between 7C and 11C; and in Thessaloniki from 0C to 5C.It may snow on mountains around the capital and in the northern suburbs.

[09] Greek stocks plunge to five-year lows

Greek stocks plunged to new five-year lows on Wednesday hit by worries over domestic economic developments and fears of a possible war in Iraq.

The general index ended 0.59 percent lower at 1,657.43 points, with turnover a low 69.7 million euros.

The Telecommunications sector was the only one to score gains (0.14 percent), while all other sectors suffered losses.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.47 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 1.0 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 1.72 percent. The wider FTSE/ASE 140 index ended 0.68 percent off.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 263 to 51 with another 40 issues unchanged.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article