Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-08-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Finance ministry reports 7.5% rise in budget revenues last month

[02] Bourse rises sharply in hefty trading

[03] Bond yields rise in low-volume trade

[04] Olympic Aviation pilots' union warn of strike

[05] --- Deputy Labour Minister Fivos Ioannidis was quoted in a

[01] Finance ministry reports 7.5% rise in budget revenues last month

In the seven-month period from January to July, the regular budget's revenues rose 11.43 per cent compared with the same period last year, surpassing a budget target for a 5.83 per cent annual growth.

The finance ministry expects that this year's budget surplus could reach 350 billion drachmas.

Finance Undersecretary George Drys said a major hike in revenues in the first seven months of 1999 reflected the imposition of a 0.3 per cent tax on securities transactions in the stock market and the market's rally to record levels this year.

He added that tax revenues from securities totalled 66.882 billion drachmas, up from 18.262 billion last year, an increase of 266 per cent.

Athens News Agency

[02] Bourse rises sharply in hefty trading

The general index ended 1.54 per cent higher at 4,511.97 points to stand only 17 points off its record closing of 4,528.97 points.

Dealers said the bourse continued to ignore worrying signs in international markets over expectations of a new rise in US interest rates and higher oil prices.

The Bank, Insurance and Investment sectors succumbed to profit-taking ending 0.28, 0.66 and 2.89 per cent lower respectively. Other sector indices ended as follows: Leasing (+6.76 pct), Construction (+7.78 pct), Industrials (+3.27 pct), Miscellaneous ( +1.97 pct) and Holding (+2.88 pct).

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks surged 4.59 per cent while the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chips and heavy traded stocks ended 0.31 percent up at 2,519.09 points. Turnover was 230,550 billion drachmas with 34,426,316 shares ch anging hands. Hellenic Telecoms, Papastratos and Themeliodomi were the most heavily traded stocks while Papastratos, Themeliodomi, Hellenic Telecoms and Intracom led the day's turnover.

A total of 95 shares ended at the day's 8 per cent limit up, a record number. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 244 to 49 with another three issues unchanged.

National Bank of Greece ended at 21,100 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 21, 080, Ergobank at 30,100, Commercial Bank at 31,290, Titan Cement at 30,500, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,750, Intracom at 22,955, Minoan Lines at 6,020, Panafon at 7,690 and Hellenic T elecoms at 6,240.

Athens News Agency

[03] Bond yields rise in low-volume trade

Bank dealers said foreign institutionals were staying away from the Greek market and that prices were likely to continue falling as the Bank of Greece maintained its intervention rates unchanged. They also noted that due to the low volume of transactio ns, one or two large orders could further widen the spread, particularly as the finance ministry had already covered a large part of borrowing requirements and did not wish to lock large sums in high rates.

The central bank intervened by selling 430 million euro to prop up a sliding drachma, which ended at 327 against the European common currency from 326.21 on Friday, and at 305.85 against the US dollar from 303.96.

Athens News Agency

[04] Olympic Aviation pilots' union warn of strike

Pilots' representatives claimed that recently appointed OA managing director Rod Lynch P a top executive with British Air subsidiary Speedwing, which assumed debt-ridden OA's management last month P does not have the right to suspend the plan or halt th e procurement of new jets for Olympic Aviation.

Final decisions by Olympic Aviation's pilots, who fly exclusively to destinations within Greece, will be decided on during an assembly today.

[05] --- Deputy Labour Minister Fivos Ioannidis was quoted in a

The interview was published in the Athens daily "Exousia".

He added that the current age limit of 65 will continue to be in force, while any changes will conceivably affect new workers. Athens News Agency Measures for heatwave in force The national emergency assistance centre (EKAB) and hospitals since yesterday have been on full alert to handle emergencies that may be caused by high temperatures anticipated to continue into Thursday.

Paramedics, who can be reached by dialing 166, have been on alert to provide over-the-phone information to eldery citizens seeking advice regarding the use of their medication.

"The heatwave impact has not been not felt yet," EKAB officials said yesterday, adding that they treated 44 heat-related incidents by noon yesterday. (Continued on page 2)

Local government and EKAB staff postponed pre-scheduled work stoppages due to the expected heatwave, while the Athens municipality will activate a telephone centre so that anyone seeking health-related information may call at (01) 34.27.513-16.

The health ministry issued a warning for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children and chronic disease patients to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, exposure to the sun and the consumption of alcohol, recommending regular showers, light clothi ng and meals as well as increased liquid intake, particularly water.

EKAB medics warned vacationers against sunbathing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to prevent sunstroke.

The National Tourism Organisation (EOT) beach on the Saronic, Varkiza, Vouliagmeni, Voula and Alimos will remain open up until midnight through Sunday and entrance after 8 p.m. will be free of charge.

Finally, the Greek Labor Centre (EKA) issued a release requesting reduced hours during the heatwave since "particularly difficult conditions are anticipated in many worksites either due to lack of proper air conditioning or due to the nature of work." Athens News Agency Footballers' union requests game postponements due to heatwave

The union of professional footballers (PSAP) yesterday sent a letter to the Greek Soccer Federation (EPO) seeking a postponement of all cup games scheduled for this week because of an expected heatwave.

In the letter, PSAP points out that there were already a number of heat- related problems in games played over the weekend, when temperatures reached approximately 38C. According to weather forecasts, temperatures are expected to rise steadily during the week, reaching 42C and above in some areas of the country by tomorrow.

PSAP said that requiring athletes to play in such conditions placed them at risk. Athens powerhouse AEK is scheduled to play the first leg of a Champions League qualifier against AIK Stockholm in the Greek capital tomorrow, a day that will also witness the last total solar eclipse of the millennium. Athens News Agency

Reports cite Tsohatzopoulos visit to US National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos will visit the United States in late September at the invitation of his US counterpart William Cohen, who recently visited Athens, sources said yesterday.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos' visit is estimated to coincide with a NATO defence ministers' conference, scheduled for Canada on Sept. 22. According to reports, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will visit Boston and California. Athens News Agency Peace rally in Thessaloniki A peace rally and protest against nuclear weapons was held in Thessaloniki yesterday in light of 54th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

The rally began near the city's White Tower and ended at the nearby US consulate.

Protesters demanded the removal of NATO forces from the Balkans and also called for the destruction of what they claimed were nuclear weapons stored at the Araxos airbase in the northwest Peloponnese.

The Thessaloniki-based "Committee for International Detente and Peace" (EDYETH) organised the rally. Athens News Agency EOT subsidy for Visegrad tourists using overland routes The National Tourism Organisation (EOT) yesterday announced the inclusion of Yugoslavia's road network in a subsidy programme for central Europe tourists travelling in groups overland to northern Greece.

To date, routes through Bulgaria and the Adriatic were subsidised by EOT for tourists hailing from Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. A subsidy of 6,000 drachmas per tourist transported by means of mass transit through travel agencies wil l be allocated.

The programme will be in force from Aug. 15 to Oct. 31. Athens News Agency

Escaped Romanian convict captured An escaped Romanian convict was arrested yesterday in a southern Athens suburb during a police raid on an illegal gambling house. Police said 11 persons were arrested in the operation.

Romanian national Emil Bartu, who had escaped from a Halkida prison five years ago in March 1994, where he was serving time for theft, was among the detainees.

According to reports, Bartu was found in possession of a fake residency and work permit (green card), forged on one of several blank cards stolen in mid-May from a Manpower Employment Agency (OAED) bureau in Athens.

Police said they also confiscated 775,000 drachmas. Athens News Agency Bank of Greece

The Bank of Greece yesterday announced that Greek citizens will be allowed to export up to 10,000 euros or their equivelant without any official justification.

The announcement noted that the export of currency up to 2,000 euros for professional-business expeditures will also be allowed without bureaucratic procedures or justification.

Finally, private citizens and companies will not be required to fill out paperwork for the transfer of capital abroad. Athens News Agency Athens Foreign Exchange Bank of Greece closing rates of August 9,1999

Banknotes           Buying Selling
US Dollar           303.403 310.438
Can.Dollar          201.674 206.350
Australian Dlr      197.458 202.036
Pound Sterling      487.171 498.466
Irish Punt          411.882 421.432
Pound Cyprus        560.480 573.475
Pound Malta         706.955 736.411
Turkish pound (100)   0.063 0.066
French franc         49.452 50.599
Swiss franc         202.671 207.370
Belgian franc         8.041 8.228
German Mark         165.854 169.700
Finnish Mark         54.557 55.822
Dutch Guilder       147.199 150.612
Danish Kr.           43.583 44.593
Swedish Kr.          36.920 37.776
Norwegian Kr.        39.170 40.078
Austrian Sh.         23.574 24.120
Italian lira (100)   16.753 17.141
Yen (100)           262.781 268.874
Spanish Peseta        1.949 1.994
Port. Escudo          1.618 1.655

Foreign Exchange                     Buying Selling
New York            303.403 310.438
Montreal            201.674 206.350
Sydney              197.458 202.036
London              487.171 498.466
Dublin              411.882 421.432
Nicosia             560.480 573.475
Paris                49.452 50.599
Zurich              202.671 207.370
Brussels              8.041 8.228
Frankfurt           165.854 169.700
Helsinki             54.557 55.822
Amsterdam           147.199 150.612
Copenhagen           43.583 44.593
Stockholm            36.920 37.776
Oslo                 39.170 40.078
Vienna               23.574 24.120
Milan                16.753 17.141
Tokyo               262.781 268.874
Madrid                1.949 1.994
Lisbon                1.618 1.655

As you are aware, technological developments in the mass media sector are rapid. Today, all the news services are offered online. The "electronic newspaper" supplements, and in many cases replaces, the printed newspaper. Contact via e-mail also affords the ability for direct communication.

These developments, as many others, have also influenced our own work here at Athens News Agency (ANA), which is adapting all its services to the new technology. In the framework of these changes, the "Daily Bulletin" will P as of Jan. 2, 2000 P be conv erted from a printed to an electronic medium for our subscribers.

With this change, our subscribers will: a) receive our news items online, at the moment the news is breaking. b) receive the next day's "Daily Bulletin" on their screens at midnight, with the ability to print it out if they wish or simply view on screen. c) receive the "Bulletin" either via the paid ANA services on the Internet, or via e-mail sent to a subscriber's e-mail address. d) also have the ability, for a small surcharge, to utilise the ANA's English-language data bank, which contains all the news items appearing in the "Daily Bulletin" since 1992.

We believe that these changes, which correspond with the new function of the international and national news agencies, will satisfy subscribers' needs for immediate and credible information. In order to subscribe to this service, you must have a PC and a modem, or an e-mail address.

All who wish to continue receiving our services must prepare for these changes which, as stated, will commence on Jan. 2, 2000.

Takis Mantis, the director of ANA's informatics and telecommunications department, is at your disposal for any technical information on tel: 64.00.560 and 64.00.038.

I sincerely hope all our subscribers will adapt to these necessary technological changes. May we wish you a pleasant summer holiday. Andreas Christodoulides

ANA General Director Athens News Agency

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY ON THE INTERNET Now you can find the Athens News Agency's news service on the Internet with a brief review of the main news items, in Greek or English, twice a day (at 11:00am. and updated at 4:30pm approximately).

Log in to our Internet address: http://www.ana.gr and keep abreast with the latest news from Greece. Athens News Agency

To Readers of the Daily Bulletin The Athens News Agency (ANA) provides a same-day, around-the-clock-news service in English to keep subscribers up to date on the issues that shape Greece's political and economic scene. The ANA Special English Service offers diplomats and journalists the latest news through on line (PC & Modem) on the country's foreign and domestic policies, its political parties, trade unions and pressure groups, the economy, industry and transport, and visits by officials from abroad.

For further information, please call Chris Eliou, Director of the Special English Service on 6400560 , Ext.613.

You may order subscriptions from George Tsambras, Management and Sales Department, on 6400580, fax 6400024. Athens News Agency Advertising in the Daily Bulletin

The ANA will from now on welcomes professional half-page or full-page advertisments in its daily English and French Bulletin.

Advertisements will be accepted from embassies, banks, commercial and maritime companies, chambers of commerce, advertising companies, airlines, organisations, professional associations, educational and research institutions in Greece and abroad as well as international bodies.

Also, for a small fee, the above groups may channel their Press Releases (PRs), announcements or photographs - in Greek, English or French - to the ANA's more than 100 media subscribers throughout Greece and Cyprus via the recently introduced ANA on-line

PR's service.

For details on and arrangements for the advertising and/or PRs on-line service, please contact the ANA Management and Sales Department, tel: 6400580 , fax: 6400024. Athens News Agency/END

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