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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-07 (fwd)Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>August 7, 2001CONTENTS
[01] Greek bonds end 4.0-191 basis points up in July vs. JuneAthens, 07/08/2001 (ANA)Greek bonds were between 4.0 and 191 basis points higher at the end of July from the previous month, tracking robust sentiment in markets abroad, the Bank of Greece said on Monday.The outlook was healthy for Greek paper, due to a domestic growth rate higher than the European Union average combined with progress in fiscal restructuring; and due to market expectations that interest rates will fall further, the central bank said in a statement. The greatest gainers in July were long-term issues, which showed gains of between 127 and 191 basis points. The benchmark 10-year bond was 27 basis points up at the end of July with yield dropping to 5.37 percent from 5.54 in June, consequently reducing the cost of borrowing, the statement said. The paper's spread with the corresponding German bund was 49 basis points in July from 46 basis points a month earlier. Turnover in July fell to 19.211 billion euros from 21.127 billion euros in June, a normal decline for the quieter summer months, the Bank of Greece added. [02] New police chief sworn inAthens, 07/08/2001 (ANA)A new chief for Greek Police (EL.AS) was sworn-in on Monday almost a week after a botched stakeout operation in central Athens to arrest a notorious escaped convict ended in fiasco.Fotis Nasiakos, a veteran high-ranking police official and one-time commander of the anti-terrorism squad, took over from Ioannis Georgakopoulos, who stated during a brief ceremony that his resignation stemmed from reasons of moral responsibility, whereas other officers were responsible for planning and carrying out the botched operation. On his part, the new chief promised to work towards a more reliable and effective police force as well as improvements prior to the Athens 2004 Games. Finally, Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis said the EL.AS' new leadership must gear towards ensuring security for the upcoming 2004 Games and fighting crime. [03] Med-ship to visit Nisyros during Patriarch's visitAthens, 07/08/2001 (ANA)The traveling shipboard clinic 'Dolphin of Life and Hope' is to arrive at the eastern Aegean island of Nisyros on Monday on the occasion of a visit there by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.On August 8, the med-ship will visit the island of Halki, on August 9 it will call at Astypalaia and on August 10 it will be at Symi. The 'Dolphin' clinic is manned by a number of specialist doctors, who offer medical services to the inhabitants of remote island areas. [04] Greece records biggest increase in int'l passenger air transport in EUAthens, 07/08/2001 (ANA)Greece recorded the biggest annual increase in international passenger air transport in 1999, up 13.7 percent, in the European Union with Britain remaining the biggest international air transport center in Europe, Eurostat said on Monday.The EU's executive statistics agency said that international passengers to and from Greece totalled 22.4 million in 1999, an increase of 13.7 percent from the previous year, of which 17.8 million were transported within the EU-15 member states (up 15.7 percent) and the remaining 4.6 million were transported outside the EU borders (an increase of 6.8 percent). International passengers totalled 374.8 million in the European Union, of which 183.6 million were transported within the EU and the other 191.2 million outside its borders. Britain accounted for 133.5 million passengers, reaffirming its lead in the air transport market in Europe. London Heathrow reported 54.8 million passengers in 1999, followed by the Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam airports. The Athens airport ranked 21st in the EU, with seven million passengers, of which 4.4 million were transported within the EU and 2.7 million outside its borders. Heraklion airport in Crete was Greece's second largest airport, based on international passenger numbers, ranking 31st in Europe with 4.0 million passengers in 1999. Air traffic between Greece and Britain recorded the biggest number of passengers, ranking 8th in Europe, while air traffic between Greece and Germany ranked 9th. Air transport between Britain and Spain was the largest in Europe. Air traffic between Helsinki and Hania, Crete, recorded the 10th biggest annual increase in 1999, with 42 percent. [05] Contracts signed for Attica beach leasesAthens, 07/08/2001 (ANA)Hellenic Tourism Real Estate SA on Monday signed a preliminary contract with a consortium of domestic companies that won an international tender to lease beaches with leisure facilities in Alimos and Vouliagmeni, south of Athens.Attikes Aktes, the consortium that will operate the beaches, comprises Attikat, Terina, Ithaki and Achinos, Hellenic said in a statement. Hellenic Tourism Real Estate is a subsidiary of the Greek National Tourism Organization, which has a strategy of leasing or selling its assets. A preliminary contract has also been signed for leases on beaches in Voula and Varkiza, south of Athens, with another winner in the tender - a consortium comprising Vernicos Yachts, EFG Eurobank Properties, Everest, Ev Zin and V+0 Communications Resources. [06] Greek stocks succumb to profit taking on ASEAthens, 07/08/2001 (ANA)Equity prices ended lower on Monday hit by a wave of mild profit taking on the Athens Stock Exchange, a normal reaction of the market following recent gains.The Greek bourse ended higher in the 12 out of the last 15 sessions. Traders said activity focused in the small and medium-sized capitalization stocks and noted that investors remained sidelined awaiting fresh incentives. The general index ended 0.53 percent lower at 2,791.42 points, near its day's lows of 2,784.58 points, with turnover a low 133.69 million euros, or 45.35 billion drachmas. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,570.68 points, off 0.52 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 0.21 percent to 320.70 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 921.53 points, up 0.04 percent. The parallel market for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 271.30 points, off 0.13 percent. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 180 to 146 with another 29 issues unchanged. Equity futures trading at discount: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange ended at discount on Monday with players keeping to the sidelines in lower turnover. Changing hands were 5,151 contracts on turnover of 33.2 billion drachmas. [07] Xinhua news agency, ANA discuss cooperation during OlympicsAthens, 07/08/2001 (ANA)The Athens News Agency (ANA) and China's Xinhua News Agency agreed to strengthen ties and cooperate in view of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, during a visit to the ANA by a three-member delegation from Xinhua on Monday.ANA general director Andreas Christodoulides briefed Xinhua Vice President Zhang Baoshun and his colleagues on the ANA's preparations for the Olympics. Christodoulides said that the ANA has for the past year been in contact and exchanged has views with its Australian counterpart, while the ANA's IT department director would be traveling to Australia in September to be briefed in detail on technical aspects of covering the Sydney Games. Christodoulidis said the ANA had also organized a seminar for Balkan news agencies at the beginning of the year on covering major sports events and the Olympic Games, while another was being planned for Mediterranean news agencies in 2002. Baoshun requested that a Xinhua reporter be allowed to work at the ANA in the months leading up to the Games, to which Christodoulides assented. The Xinhua delegation is in Greece at the invitation of the Greek Press and Media ministry and departs for Beijing on Tuesday. [08] Nicosia to examine Syrian proposal to supply Cyprus with natural gasNICOSIA, 07/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)Cyprus and Syria will work for the remaining of this year with a view to conclude a bilateral agreement to determine the continental shelf and to delimitate the exclusive economic zone of each country, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Nicos Rolandis has said, adding that Damascus is positive about the matter and Nicosia will examine a Syrian proposal to supply Cyprus with natural gas.Speaking after a meeting here with Syrian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dr. Mohamad Maher Jamal, Rolandis said no decisions were taken at Monday's talks and described bilateral ties as "excellent" whereas Jamal, through an interpreter, said oil and gas related issues were on Monday's agenda. "We had an exchange of views on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, which in Syria will be handled by the foreign minister and in Cyprus by a ministerial committee, appointed by the cabinet," Rolandis said after the talks. He said "we hope to resolve this question by the end of the year, on the basis of the principles of international law and have an agreement in place." He explained that though Syria has not signed the Law of the Sea Convention of 1982, it is willing to use the Convention's basic provisions to conclude a bilateral agreement with Nicosia. "I must say that the response we had from Syria was rather positive and is friendly-disposed towards it and my colleague told me he would try to conclude a deal by the end of the year, which will determine the sea area, between Syria and Cyprus, that belongs to each country," Rolandis said. There are 54 nautical miles between Cyprus and Syria and Syria has extended its territorial waters to 35 nautical miles, he added. The minister said at the meeting Jamal put forward a proposal to supply Cyprus with natural gas, a project that needs the construction of a pipeline at an estimated cost of 200-250 million dollars. Rolandis explained that technical experts will have to look into the various aspects of this project, ensure there is sufficient supply of natural gas and see how things can proceed, adding that Cyprus has other options available with regard to gas supplies. The Syrian minister said he discussed bilateral relations, the supply of natural gas and oil products and said talks will continue. Earlier on Monday, Jamal was received by President Glafcos Clerides. He leaves on Tuesday. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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