Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-11-20

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece strongly condemns terror attacks in Istanbul

[02] PM presents PASOK party's 'policy orientation framework'

[03] Rogge reiterates confidence in Greek organisers' preparations

[04] Stepped up security ordered in wake of Istanbul attacks

[05] Conference on Olympic Truce to take place in Amman

[06] Weather Forecast: Warm and sunny on Friday

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

[08] Greek stocks fall on renewed geopolitical worries

[01] Greece strongly condemns terror attacks in Istanbul

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Thursday strongly condemned the recent spate of terror attacks in Istanbul, including the two blasts that rocked the city earlier the same day, saying that ''blind violence'' of this sort only propagated more violence and led to a vicious circle.

In statements regarding bomb blasts on Thursday that left dozens dead and hundreds injured, Simitis expressed his sorrow over the event and the victims.

''Blind violence arises from blind politics. Blind politics does not solve problems but leads to dead ends. Blind violence triggers violence and we thus move in a vicious circle,'' Simitis said.

''Those responsible for these actions must understand that they do not lead anywhere,'' he concluded.

In a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Simitis extended his condolences to the Turkish nation and the families of those killed during the bomb attacks.

The attacks were also condemned by Foreign Minister George Papandreou, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis and other political parties.

[02] PM presents PASOK party's 'policy orientation framework'

Prime Minister Costas Simitis presented his ruling PASOK party's ''policy orientation framework'' covering the 2004-2008 period at the Zappeion Mansion on Thursday.

He raised the question whether Greek citizens will live in conditions of greater security, development and prosperity with PASOK or provide the right wing with the opportunity to stop the smooth course of progress of a decade with an authoritarian policy, improvisations and experiments.

Simitis said PASOK's targets for the next four years are a society of prosperity for all, a society of participation and justice for all, convergence with Europe and solutions for the major national issues.

The prime minister said the effort, after PASOK wins the next elections, is ''for us to complete with confidence the greatest political undertaking experienced by Greece and the Greek people.''

Simitis referred to the work accomplished by PASOK governments, terming it very important, adding that great successes were achieved over the same period which ''lead to the admission that Greece which has closed the historic cycle of the post-junta era has entered the new era with vigour'' which is characterised by the achievement of ''new national self-confidence.''

[03] Rogge reiterates confidence in Greek organisers' preparations

MELBOURNE (ANA) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge on Thursday reiterated from Sydney that the upcoming 2004 Olympics in Athens will be excellent as long as Greek organisers continue preparations at the current rate.

He spoke during a press conference organised by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

Asked about security for next years Olympics, an ever-timely subject especially in light of recent attacks in neighbouring Turkey, Rogge cited what he called a very positive report on security preparations issued in the aftermath of this months visit to Athens by the director of Americas FBI.

Finally, he also stressed that the security director for the Sydney 2000 Games, Peter Ryan, is also amongst the top security advisers for the Athens Games.

[04] Stepped up security ordered in wake of Istanbul attacks

A Greek police spokesman officially confirmed earlier press reports on Thursday of stepped up security measures around various buildings housing US, British and Israeli interests around the greater Athens area, all in the wake of another twin bombing attack in Istanbul hours earlier.

The same police official reiterated that there was no indication or reasons to fear similar strikes in Greece, although precautionary measures were in place.

[05] Conference on Olympic Truce to take place in Amman

Overseas Hellenism Secretary General Pavlos Geroulanos and the director of the International Olympic Truce Centre in Athens Stavros Lambrinidis will leave for Amman, Jordan, on Friday to inaugurate a conference on promoting the Olympic Truce, organised by young expatriates' organisations from the Middle East and Egypt.

The purpose of the event is to promote the signing of the Olympic Truce Proclamation among young people in the region. The initiative was launched by Greek youth representatives during Geroulanos' recent visit to the Middle East and it is backed by the Greek foreign ministry.

[06] Weather Forecast: Warm and sunny on Friday

Sunshine is forecast in all parts of the country with early morning mist in parts of the mainland. Winds variable, light. Temperatures are to remain high for the time of year, with a minimum of 12C and maximum of 23C in Athens; and in Thessaloniki, 7C to 20C.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.200

Pound sterling 0.705

Danish kroner 7.497

Swedish kroner 9.045

Japanese yen 130.7

Swiss franc 1.560

Norwegian kroner 8.238

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.564

Australian dollar 1.659

[08] Greek stocks fall on renewed geopolitical worries

Greek stocks ended substantially lower on Thursday hit by renewed geopolitical worries after a new wave of terrorist attacks in Turkey.

Small- and medium-size capitalisation stocks were badly hit, while blue chip stocks showed greater resistance.

The general index fell 1.15 percent to end at 2,106.11 points, with turnover a heavy 131.3 million euros.

The Investment sector was the only one to score gains (up 0.05 percent), while the Insurance (3.02 percent), Publications (2.70 percent), IT Solutions (2.40 percent), Metals (2.37 percent) and Holdings (2.19 percent) sector suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.02 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index dropped 1.57 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 2.23 percent down. The wider FTSE/ASE 140 index fell 1.23 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 293 to 34 with another 30 issues remaining unchanged.

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