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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-01-03Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Greece officially enters EMU, adopts Euro currencyAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Greece is from Tuesday a full and equal member of EMU, the euro is the country's official currency with the drachma developing into an accounting division of the single European currency, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said on Tuesday.He said that the economy and finance ministries, the Bank of Greece and the Athens Stock Exchange have been fully prepared to meet this historic change. Papantoniou said that the government's next task was to achieve social convergence and noted that with the economy growing at an annual rate of 5.0 percent the government would have significant funds to spend on health, welfare and education. "This is an historic day for the country because we leave behind foreign exchange risks, we enjoying economic stability and we enter a period of rapid economic growth resulting to higher incomes, more jobs and improved business climate," he said. Papantoniou said that the Bank of Greece participated for the first time to an euro currency auction held by the European Central Bank. The Athens Stock Exchange will resume its operation again on Wednesday, following a four-day holiday, and will be the first domestic market to operate in the euro currency. Papantoniou reminded that the euro currency will circulate officially from January 1, 2002 and that it would fully replace the Greek drachma from March 1, 2002. He said that Greece would participate in Euro-group meetings. [02] PM Simitis indicates new wave of changes to enable Greece to meet EMU-era challengesAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis, in a statement to the Athens newspaper 'Eleftherotypia' on Tuesday, announced the launching of a new wave of changes to enable Greece to meet new challenges posed by the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) era.Simitis said the country is on the threshold of a development "takeoff", adding that development cannot take place at the expense of society. He further said special emphasis will be placed on tackling unemployment and stressed the need for a speedup in structural changes and interventions in the public and the wider public sector, encouragement and support for the private sector, the finalization of settlements on the viability of the insurance system by the end of 2001 and the rational utilization of funds contained in the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF). [03] German EU commissioner to actively participate in Cyprus talksBERLIN, 03/01/2001 (ANA - P. Stangos)European Union Commissioner on enlargement Guenter Verheugen on Tuesday reiterated his intention to participate in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, during the next round of proximity talks in Geneva.He added that he will participate in cooperation with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, expressing his belief that that there can be "change" in conditions surrounding the problem. Officials of Verheugen's office said that they believed Turkish Cypriot community leader Rauf Denktash would participate in the next round, despite his statements to the contrary, adding that Turkey would be lead to a more constructive stance, for economic reasons. [04] ASE ready to usher euro eraAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)The Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) is ready to usher transactions in euro, ASE President Panagiotis Alexakis said on Tuesday, following the tests run throughout the day on all systems. He added that ASE would open for the first day of the euro and the year on Wednesday and prices of stocks will be expressed in euro alone.The Athens Derivatives Exchange and all ASE member-companies participated in the test run of the system, which was concluded successfully. The prices of listed company shares will be expressed in euro and up to two decimals, as all exchanges will be based on the euro and during the transitional period - until the full introduction of the euro - drachmas will be converted to euros before any transaction is made. ASE subdivided stocks in three categories, based on their current prices expressed in euro, beginning with 0,01 to 2,99 euros; 3 to 59,99 euro and from 60 euro and up. Brokers will have to express the prices of transactions in both currencies during the transition period. The transition was much easier for the derivatives market as the prices of contracts will not change, rather only the base points will change from 2000 drachmas to 5 euro for the FTSE 20 and from 4000 drachmas to 10 euro for the FTSE 40. Meanwhile all existing contracts at the derivates market will be converted in euro values, based on 10,000 euros per every contract of the FTSE 20 and 4,000 euros for every contract of the FTSE-mid 40. Finally the New Year also ushered an extension of the trading day in both the ASE and the derivatives market floors. The ASE will open its floor to trading at 10 am and close at 2:30 p.m. and the derivatives market will open at 9:45 am and close at 3:30 p.m. [05] Greece's first euro day, as the common currency gains on the dollarAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Greece on Tuesday begun its euro-zone era as the Greek drachma became subordinate to the euro, thus the Bank of Greece, the country's central bank, quoted fixing rates for currency against the euro, supplied by the European Central Bank (ECB), for 29 other currencies.Until the total elimination of the drachma the bank will publish parity rates of both drachmas and euro based on the ECB rates and as they translate in drachmas, based on the rate of one euro per 340.75 drachmas. Thus on Tuesday the first trading day of the year the fixing rate of the euro was set by ECB session at 0.9423 dollars, compared to 0.9305 on Friday. [06] First day of Greek bond trading in euroAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Bond prices in the secondary market on Tuesday have begun their euro-life in heavy trade, as Greece entered the eurozone.The yield of the Greek euro bond closed at 5.371 per cent and the spread over German bunds was 59 basis points. Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 185 billion drachmas from 70 billion drachmas in the session before. [07] Greek banks ready for euro, loan surcharge droppedAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)A special bank transaction surcharge that for years was tacked on to loans and paid by borrowers was officially abolished on Tuesday, the first day of Greece's entry into the "euro zone".The surcharge's abolition was included in a recently passed tax bill in Parliament. Meanwhile, both state-run and private banks in Greece kept their doors closed to the public on Tuesday in order to check computerized systems in light of the euro's circulation in electronic form. According to reports, bank officials said everything "went smoothly" in the trial runs. As of Wednesday, banks in Greece will list all accounts, loans, mutual funds, insurance policies, leasing etc. in both drachmas and euros. The euro-drachma parity has been set at 1 euro equaling 340.75 drachmas. [08] Greece olive oil producing cities join international unionAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Greece's olive oil producing cities on Tuesday announced the creation of an Olive Oil Producing Network (DEPE) to improve promotion of the country's olive oil product abroad.DEPE will represent Greece to an Euro-Mediterranean Olive Oil Producing Cities' Federation (FEMO), including representatives from local authorities and chambers from Italy, Spain, France and Tunisia. The decision to set-up a Greek network was taken following talks between George Karabatos, president of Messinia Chamber, and Enriquo Luppi, chairman of FEMO. DEPE will have 161 members, representing 21 prefects, 86 municipalities and 31 chambers and independent experts from the country's olive oil producing cities. [09] EU tentatively approves of Greek cross-border programsAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)The national economy ministry on Tuesday announced that the European Union has tentatively approved several cross-border cooperation programs with four countries - Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Cyprus and Albania.The total EU-funded budget for cross-border cooperation with the four country totals approximately 500 million euros, expected to be allocated the Union's Interreg program. Specifically, Interreg-financed cross-border cooperation between Greece and Cyprus is expected to total around 70 million euros. [10] Ag ministry issues BSE-related prohibitionAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Greece's agriculture ministry on Tuesday issued a circular prohibiting the sale of beef procured from livestock more than 30 months old, with the exception of animals tested for "mad cow" disease and found negative.The measure comes in light of recent decisions by the European Union's farm ministers to combat instances of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), which scientists blame for causing many cases of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans throughout Europe. Stockbreeders who own untested livestock over 30 months old will be eligible for compensation once the animals have been destroyed, a ministry press release noted. [11] Taxi, long-distance bus fares riseAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Overnight taxi fares and long-distance bus ticket prices rose as of January 1 to enable taxi and KTEL bus owners to meet rising fuel costs, in fulfillment of an earlier promise by the Finance Ministry.The taxi overnight rate, in effect from midnight to 5:00 a.m., rose by 20 dr. per kilometer from 130 to 150 dr. per kilometer, while the prices of KTEL tickets rose by five (5) percent. Daytime taxi rates will also increase by four dr. per kilometer as of February 1, from 76 to 80 dr. per kilometer. Rate hikes are also expected to be announced at the end of January by the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, in order to adjust with the EU average rates. [12] Labor minister's son murdered near Mexico CityAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Greek labor minister Tassos Giannitsis was en route to Mexico City on Tuesday afternoon in order to retrieve the body of his murdered son.According to the latest information from the Greek embassy in the Mexican capital, Constantine Giannitsis fell victim to a robbery on Saturday outside a cathedral in the town of Taxco, a two hours drive from Mexico City. He reportedly died while he was being transported to a local hospital. Constantine Giannitsis was on his way to the Pacific resort of Acapulco with a friend for a one-day trip. No arrests had been announced as of press time. In earlier statements, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis contacted the elder Giannitsis and his wife to express his condolences over the death of the minister's 27-year-old son. Constantine Giannitsis, a post-graduate student at a US university, had traveled to Mexico with friends for a holiday. [13] Police surround house containing three Mexican minors considered suspects in Yiannitsis murder caseMexico City 03/01/2001 (ANA)The Greek embassy in Mexico received reports late on Tuesday from the Mexican authorities that police have surrounded a house in the city of Tasco, containing three Mexican minors believed to be suspects in the murder of Costas Giannitsis, son of Greek Labor Minister Tassos Giannitsis.According to the reports, police are certain the three minors fatally wounded Costas Giannitsis and left him outside the city's church. Police also believe the arrest of the three culprits is a matter of time. Meanwhile, a police investigation and a statement by Dimitris Tsimbis, a friend of the victim who had accompanied him on his brief visit to Mexico, have been completed in the city of Iguala, the region's administrative center, where Giannitsis' body is being kept, while the Greek embassy's delegation probing the issue will return to Mexico City. [14] Four Turkish drug traffickers caught with 513 kg of heroin to testify on WednesdayAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)Four Turkish drug traffickers arrested in Athens several days ago with 513 kilos of heroin were brought before an investigator on Tuesday, but requested and were given until Wednesday to prepare their testimonies.They had been arrested in downtown Athens in possession of the quantity of heroin they had brought from Turkey and intended to sell in Western Europe and which they had carefully concealed in a tourist coach. They are Erhad Ginik, 47, Musin Antukom, 50, Atini Karadeniz, 26, and Onur Diser, 43. The drug traffickers were tracked down and arrested following cooperation between Greek, US and Turkish authorities. [15] High Commissioner says Britain working towards UN-led proximity talks on CyprusNICOSIA, 03/01/2001(CNA/ANA)British High Commissioner to Cyprus, Edward Clay, said on Tuesday that his country was working with determination towards UN-led proximity talks on the Cyprus problem, taking place in late January. Clay announced that next Thursday, Britain's Special Representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay would be visiting the island.He said Sir David would be staying in Cyprus for two days, during which he would be received by President Glafcos Clerides and would meet leaders or representatives of political parties, and "if possible, with Turkish Cypriots". Five rounds of proximity talks, separate meetings of the UN with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, have been held since December 1999. The UN has invited the two leaders to a sixth round of talks in late January. The talks aim at reaching a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said he would not attend a sixth round of UN-led proximity talks. [16] Government says Britain should find ways to secure release of abducted Greek CypriotNICOSIA, 03/01/2001(CNA/ANA)The Cyprus government continues to consider Britain should try and find ways to secure the release of a Greek Cypriot, abducted from one of two British military bases on the island by Turkish occupation troops who continues to be illegally detained by the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.Britain has said it continues to coordinate efforts in the case of Panicos Tziakourmas with the government and the UN, and believes there are options available, which can be considered with regard to any future move. The UN declares its continuous readiness to facilitate visits to Tziakourmas by his wife and family members and to see that he receives the medical care he needs because he is a diabetic. Tziakourmas was abducted on 13 December 2000 as he sat in his car waiting to collect Turkish Cypriot workmen to drive them to their place of work, as he always did for a long time. He collected the workers within the British base of Dhekelia, on the south east, which borders the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. The illegal Turkish Cypriot regime claimed they found drugs in his possession, a claim which contradicts the findings of a Bases police investigation that found no evidence to substantiate claims that Tziakourmas was in possession of any drug. An illegal court "ordered" his detention until a so-called trial at the end of February. "The British are concerned about this case and are making a lot of moves on the diplomatic and political fronts but we continue to regard them responsible and they should try and find ways to secure his immediate release," Cyprus Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said here today. British High Commissioner Edward Clay said today his main concern "is Mr. Tziakourmas' well being and that of his family and we make our efforts with those key objective in mind" but cautioned against further comment on the matter. A spokesman for the British High Commission said on Tuesday morning Clay met with the Administrator of the Bases Air vice Marshall Bill Rimmer and on Wednesday he is to see Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides to discuss the situation. "Now we have to take stock of what is going on but it would be wrong to advertise what we are doing," spokesman Jonathan Allen told CNA. He reiterated the close cooperation with the government and the UN on the matter and said there are "options available to us and we are considering what we may or may not do but at the moment we evaluate the situation." Speaking to CNA, Senior Adviser with the UN in Nicosia Wlodzimierz Cibor said the UN continues "to facilitate visits by the wife and family and the next visit is scheduled for this coming Thursday." He said following a letter by Cyprus' permanent representative to the UN addressed to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the UN "are going to investigate ways and means of ensuring that he is immediately released". Replying to questions about Tziakourmas' health (who is a diabetic), Cibor said the results of a thorough test have shown that everything is within normal limits except his glucose level, which is up. [17] AHEPA president sends letter to AlbrightAthens, 03/01/2001 (ANA)In a letter to US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, President of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) John Economy demands the immediate release of Greek Cypriot Panicos Tziakourmas who has been abducted and is being illegally detained in the Turkish-occupied areas of the Republic.Economy adds that "the abduction of Tziakourmas comes on the heels of what appears to be a postponement of the sixth round of proximity talks" held between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities under the auspices of the United Nations, "due to the unacceptable demands of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash" for the recognition of his puppet regime. "The kidnapping of Tziakourmas does not bode well for any progress in finding a just and peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue", Economy notes and asks Secretary Albright "on behalf of the Greek and Cypriot American communities that pressure be exerted on Turkey, whose government is ultimately responsible for the actions of its subordinate local administration in the occupied area of Cyprus, to promptly resolve this issue". He also points out that the Greek and Cypriot American communities "do not condone terrorist acts, such as hostage taking". [18] Government spokesman comments on possible presence of nuclear weapons at British BasesNICOSIA, 03/01/2001 (CNA/ANA)Cyprus government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said on Tuesday that the Republic of Cyprus was in a position to confirm information about the possible presence of nuclear weapons in the British Bases in Cyprus.Papapetrou also expressed the government's concern that the Bases were storing nuclear bombs during the Cold War. He said, "the Bases and Britain assure us that there are no nuclear weapons today, but the Republic of Cyprus is able to confirm that information and as far as we know, as we are in a position to verify this, there are no nuclear weapons today". Papapetrou noted that the assurances given last year that there were no nuclear weapons on the island were not in writing. Information about the nuclear bombs was included in the Chicago-based Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, in its January-February 2001 edition, and was quoted in the "Sunday Times". The spokesman reiterated that the people of Cyprus and the government were concerned over the fact that in the past nuclear weapons were being kept in the British Bases. "Cyprus is not at all pleased when nuclear weapons are 'hosted' either in Cyprus itself or in our region", he said. Replying to questions, Papapetrou said the government did not intend to measure radioactivity in any area. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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