Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-07-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM praises Fire Brigade work, says Greece is the EU's safest

[02] Traffic measures, tickets for Aug. test events announced

[03] Gov't seeks to improve Greek aid abroad

[04] Gov't offers to aid in talks between striking fuel truckers, suppliers

[05] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Wednesday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks jump, fuelled by European markets

[01] PM praises Fire Brigade work, says Greece is the EU's safest

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday told Fire Brigade officers in Athens that Greece was one of the safest countries in the European Union and urged them to continue their efforts to maintain that level of safety in view of the Olympic Games 2004 to be hosted in the Greek capital.

Simitis was addressing the personnel of the Fire Brigade Operations Centre in Athens -- better known as ''199'' from the 3-digit emergency call number -- which he visited accompanied by Public Order Minister George Floridis and Fire Chief Panayiotis Fourlas.

[02] Traffic measures, tickets for Aug. test events announced

The government on Tuesday noted that traffic adjustments throughout greater Athens next month during a string of 2004 Olympic Games ?test events? will be the same as when the Athens marathon or annual parades are held in the Greek capital.

Additionally, spectators will be able to view most of the competitions only with free passes issued by the relevant federations hosting the sports events.

The first test event of 2003 will be the World Rowing Junior Championships from Aug. 6 to Aug. 9, which will be held at the new Schinias & Marathonas Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre, east of Athens proper. Archery will follow (Aug. 9-15) at the all-marble Panathinaiko Stadium in downtown Athens, followed by equestrian events (Aug. 15-17); canoe and kayak flatwater racing (Aug. 15-17); the Road European Championships (2003 Espoirs) in cycling (Aug. 15-17); the Mens Beach Volleyball FIVB Challenger (Aug. 19-24), and finally, the Athens Regatta (Aug. 20-28). A triathlon test event is scheduled for Oct. 25.

[03] Gov't seeks to improve Greek aid abroad

The government is working on improving the organisation and management of Greece's international aid to third countries.

Meeting on Tuesday to discuss the plan were Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

''Nowadays, Greece gives much more aid to third countries than it receives from the various bodies. In other words, it is a donor country,'' Christodoulakis told reporters.

The aid focuses on restructuring economies, aiding poor populations, and contributing to a more equitable distribution of income worldwide, he added.

[04] Gov't offers to aid in talks between striking fuel truckers, suppliers

The government said on Tuesday that it was willing to aid in talks between fuel supply firms and striking truckers, who launched a snap, indefinite walkout on Monday.

The strike threatens to seriously disrupt fuel supplies in the tourist season, initially to the islands and then the mainland.

Truckers unions claim that liquid fuel companies have failed to readjust transport rates agreed a fortnight ago.

They had initially announced they would begin an indefinite strike at midnight on Sunday but suspended action when the finance and development ministers intervened, apparently leading to acceptance of the strikers' demands.

[05] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Wednesday

The day will start sunny in all parts of the country, with cloud building up in the centre and north from early evening, which may lead to isolated showers or storms. Winds northerly, light. In the north, temperatures will range from 17C to 32C; on the rest of the mainland from 19C to 36C; and in the Aegean from 22C to 33C. Temperatures in Athens between 24C and 36C; and in Thessaloniki from 22C to 32C.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.155

Pound sterling 0.711

Danish kroner 7.490

Swedish kroner 9.257

Japanese yen 138.3

Swiss franc 1.560

Norwegian kroner 8.314

Cyprus pound 0.592

Canadian dollar 1.600

Australian dollar 1.739

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks jump, fuelled by European markets

The Athens bourse finished higher on Tuesday fuelled by across the buying, in turn triggered by a rise in European markets and a domestic decline in the previous session, traders said.

The general share index gained 1.66 percent to end at 2,095.77 points. Turnover was 150.5 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.77 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 1.96 percent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with gains of 2.31 percent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 274 to 62 with 29 issues remaining unchanged.

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