Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-12-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek GDP rose 5 per cent in 3rd quarter of 2003, NSS reports

[02] Gov't mulls multi-management plan for post-Olympics use of facilities

[03] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR

[04] Gov't spokesman: Simitis is PASOK's candidate for PM in next elections

[05] Taxi strike ends in compromise with the government

[06] Action Aid launches 'Coin to indifference' campaign for children in

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, sleet and snow on Wednesday

[08] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop in profit taking

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

[01] Greek GDP rose 5 per cent in 3rd quarter of 2003, NSS reports

Greece's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 5 per cent in the third quarter of 2003 against the same period a year earlier, according to a report released by the Greek National Statistics Service (NSS) on Tuesday.

This follows successive year-on-year GDP rises of 4.3 per cent and 4.5 per cent in the first and second quarters of 2003, respectively.

Investments in the third quarter increased by 12.1 per cent against the corresponding period in 2002, contributing to a 2.5 per cent increase in overall demand, the NSS added.

It also reported a 3.8 per cent rise in final consumption spending in the same period against the third quarter of 2002.

[02] Gov't mulls multi-management plan for post-Olympics use of facilities

The government said on Tuesday that it was studing a multi-management approach to sports installations after their use in the Athens 2004 Olympics in a plan to help spur growth.

Involved in the plan would be central government, local government and sports federations. The private sector would take part mainly in commercial applications for sports installations, working alongside state bodies.

Announcing the approach were Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the president of Olympic Real Estate, Kostas Kartalis.

[03] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR

Two formations of Turkish warplanes infringed on Athens' Flight Information Region (FIR) an equal number of times on Tuesday between Chios and Samos, in the eastern Aegean, press reports said.

The six Turkish aircraft were recognised and intercepted by Greek jets, while in one case the interception process developed into a mock engagement.

It was reported that one of the Turkish warplanes was armed.

[04] Gov't spokesman: Simitis is PASOK's candidate for PM in next elections

The government spokesman on Tuesday reiterated during his regular press briefing that Prime Minister Costas Simitis will be ruling PASOKs candidate for the premiership in the next general elections.

The response comes amid press speculation over the past week referring to various ?succession scenarios? involving ruling PASOKs leadership ahead of the elections expected in late April or early May.

Asked if pressure was being exerted on Simitis by his Cabinet to clarify his position regarding the issue of ?succession?, spokesman Christos Protopapas told reporters that he does not discern any pressure at all, and that the premier confers regularly with his ministers regarding on-the-agenda items.

[05] Taxi strike ends in compromise with the government

Taxi drivers on Tuesday ended a six-day strike after intervention in the dispute by the secretary of ruling PASOK party, Mihalis Chrysochoidis that led to a compromise in a lasting dispute with the government over installation of electronic cash registers in vehicles.

According to union sources, Chrysochoidis contacted the secretary general of the finance ministry, who then communicated with the minister in order to find a solution to the walkout.

The finance ministry has reportedly agreed to extend the installation deadline to the end of April from January 1, 2004 with orders for the cash registers to be placed by December 31, a month later than the original deadline, which has already passed.

In addition, the receipts taxi drivers will issue in 2004 are not liable for the payment of 8.0 per cent value added tax, which is to be introduced on January 1, 2005.

[06] Action Aid launches 'Coin to indifference' campaign for children in need

Action Aid Hellas has launched a new campaign entitled ''Coin to indifference'' which aims at gathering money for the needs of children in developing countries and the granting of basic education to illeterate children in Africa and Latin America.

The representative of the organisation in Greece, Alexandra Mitsotakis, in a press conference in Athens on Tuesday, called on the Greek citizens to give a ''Coin to indiffernce'', thus responding positively to the Christmas campaign organised by Action Aid Hellas with the support of Telestet.

Mitsotakis stressed that education is a fundamental right for all the children of the world and a prerequisite for the elimination of poverty in developing countries.

During the Christmas period and until January 5, there will be in every Telestet shop small paper piggy banks with the message of the campaign.

Action Aid and Telestet urge everyone intereted to take a piggy bank and fill it with coins and later return it to the shop.

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, sleet and snow on Wednesday

Cloud, sleet and rain are forecast in most parts of the country, with snow expected to fall in the east. Gale force winds in the Aegean. Temperatures will remain low, with a minimum of -1C and maximum of 5C in Athens; and in Thessaloniki, -3C to 2C.Sleet or snow are expected in Attica.

[08] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop in profit taking

The Athens bourse finished lower on Tuesday in profit taking throughout the session, with the general index failing to hold key support at 2,200 points, traders said.

The general share index shed 1.03 percent to end at 2,179.12 points. Turnover was 187.1 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.99 per cent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 1.39 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with losses of 2.18 percent.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 292 to 29 with 36 issues remaining unchanged.

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.243

Pound sterling 0.711

Danish kroner 7.502

Swedish kroner 9.112

Japanese yen 133.8

Swiss franc 1.565

Norwegian kroner 8.287

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.640

Australian dollar 1.670

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