Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-03-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek government formally seeks NATO help for Olympics security

[02] Heightened anti-terrorism measures at ports throughout Greece

[03] FM receives courtesy calls from ambassadors of Ireland, Russia and the

[04] New Olympic Games general secretary appointed

[05] President Stephanopoulos sends condolences to King of Spain over train

[06] New Greek Commissioner to attend Brussels meeting next week

[07] Greece's first private sector, gas-fired power plant to be built

[08] Spanish nationals gather in front of Embassy of Spain to express

[09] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, showers on Saturday

[10] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

[11] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks nose up

[01] Greek government formally seeks NATO help for Olympics security

The Greek government has formally asked NATO to help with security arrangements for the Olympic Games taking place in Athens in August, foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said on Friday.

''Completing a process that was already underway, the government on Friday asked the Atlantic Alliance to assist in the security for the Olympic Games, chiefly in the areas of air surveillance, joint patrolling of the sea and protection from chemical, biological and nuclear incidents,'' he said.

[02] Heightened anti-terrorism measures at ports throughout Greece

Heightened anti-terrorism measures have been ordered at all ports throughout the country and all areas under the jurisdiction of merchant marine ministry services on Friday by the head of the Coast Guard, Vice-Admiral Christos Delimihalis.

The emergency security measures were judged necessary following the bomb attacks in Madrid, in which at least 193 people lost their lives and a further 1,400 were injured.

They were decided on during a lengthy meeting between Delimihalis and the new Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis, who asked to be fully briefed on the security measures in ports and areas in the jurisdiction of the coast guard during the Olympic Games.

[03] FM receives courtesy calls from ambassadors of Ireland, Russia and the US

Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis received courtesy calls from the ambassadors of Ireland, Russia and the United States, Margarita Hennessy, Andrei Vdovin and Thomas Miller respectively on Friday.

Speaking after his meeting with Molyviatis, Miller said the issue of Cyprus and the security of the Athens Olympic Games were discussed and expressed the confidence of his government in Greece's handling of the issues.

''Mr. Molyviatis and I have known each other for some time and we shall have excellent cooperation, as we also had with the previous government. We shall work to minimise the possibilities of unsafe Games,'' Miller said, adding that ''the security of the Games is Greece's affair and we shall help with whatever is asked of us.''

Commenting on the Madrid train massacre, Miller recommended patience until it is confirmed who are really responsible.

[04] New Olympic Games general secretary appointed

Spyros Capralos was named the new Olympic Games General Secretary on Friday, replacing Costas Kartalis who resigned after New Democracy came into power following the March 7 general elections.

Capralos, who until today was Executive Director of the Athens 2004 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (ATHOC) was Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' personal choice.

[05] President Stephanopoulos sends condolences to King of Spain over train attack

President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos on Friday sent a message of condolences to Spain's King Juan Carlos over Thursday's multiple-bomb attack on the railroad network in Madrid, expressing abhorrence over the attacks, which killed at least 290 people and injured another 1,400.

''With genuine grief, indignation and abhorrence over the abominable terrorist action that caused so many victims in your country, I extend you the heartfelt condolences of the Greek people and myself, personally,'' the President said in his telegram.

[06] New Greek Commissioner to attend Brussels meeting next week

BRUSSELS (ANA/V. Demiris) New Greek European Commissioner Stavros Dimas is expected to make his first appearance at a meeting of the entire European Commission next Tuesday, a Commission spokesman said on Friday.

In addition to Dimas, who takes over from former Greek Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou for the remainder of the mandate of the present Commission, the weekly meeting will be joined for the first time by the commissioners of the 10 new member-states.

[07] Greece's first private sector, gas-fired power plant to be built

An agreement has been signed for construction of the country's first private-sector gas-fired electricity plant, which will be used for the Athens Olympics.

The 147 MW plant in Viotia will be build by Iron Thermoilektriki, a subsidiary of the GEK-Terna engineering group following signature of the agreement with DESMIE SA.

The unit will help to cover auxilliary power needs during the Athens Olympics in August, and augment the main system at peak times after the games.

[08] Spanish nationals gather in front of Embassy of Spain to express solidarity

Scores of Spanish nationals living in Athens as well as Greeks with pro-Spanish sentimentsassembled in front of the Embassy of Spain in the Greek capital on Friday evening to express their sympathy and solidarity with the people of Spain and to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack on Madrid's rail network early Thursday morning which killed at least 198 people and wounded about 1,400, of whom some are listed in critical condition.

The crowd of sympathisers arrived at the embassy at 7.30 p.m. where Spanish AmbassadorEduardo Junca Bonet told them:''We are here today to express our support to the families of the victims, to the wounded and to all the Spanish people. We want democracy, we want the Spanish Constitution, we say no to terrorism, no to another similar strike.''

All who gathered on Friday at the Embassy of Spain left at its entrance flowers, messages of support and solidarity as well as texts against terrorism and in support of peace.

[09] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, showers on Saturday

Light cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, with showers likely in the east and south. Winds variable, moderate to strong, turning gale force in the Aegean. Temperatures in Athens 7C to 14C and in Thessaloniki from 4C to 10C.

[10] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.233

Pound sterling 0.686

Danish kroner 7.511

Swedish kroner 9.311

Japanese yen 137.2

Swiss franc 1.581

Norwegian kroner 8.628

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.643

Australian dollar 1.688

[11] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks nose up

The Athens bourse finished higher on Friday in the wake of a slump in the previous session on adverse sentiment triggered by a terrorist attack, traders said.

The general share index gained 0.44 per cent to end at 2,419.93 points. Turnover was 132.4 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.32 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.44 per cent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities rose lost 0.63 per cent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 169 to 101 with 85 issues remaining unchanged.

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