Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Press reports: First Greek officers in FYROM on Friday

[02] Prime minister returns from vacation, will hold meetings with government, party cadres

[03] Bulgarian PM's reply to Greek counterpart's congratulations

[04] Highest administrative court rules for gender equality on social security issues

[05] Health ministry consultants for psychiatrics in Greece

[06] Greek radio programs in New York under threat of termination

[07] Greek stocks move cautiously higher on ASE

[08] Fires under control in Attica, Amaliada and Zakynthos

[09] House President holds talks with British High Commissioner

[10] Greece's UN human rights representative calls for respect of fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots

[01] Press reports: First Greek officers in FYROM on Friday

Athens, 17/08/2001 (ANA)

A vanguard of 400 British soldiers is expected to arrive in FYROM over weekend, possibly as early as Friday, to prepare for the build-up of a military force � initially pegged at 3,500 troops -- needed for the operation, code-named "Essential Harvest".

In an accord signed on Monday, so-called �National Liberation Army� rebels agreed to surrender their weapons in exchange for more constitutionally guaranteed rights. The Skopje government also announced a limited amnesty available to all rebels, sans war criminals or those who refuse to disarm.

Under the plan, the NATO force will establish weapons-collection points around the small, land-locked Balkan country to Greece�s north.

[02] Prime minister returns from vacation, will hold meetings with government, party cadres

Athens, 17/08/2001 (ANA)

On Monday the premier is expected to meet with ruling PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis and discuss party related issues regarding the upcoming PASOK party congress. During the week Simitis is expected to also meet with the economy and finance ministers, in light of his State of the State address in Thessaloniki during the International Trade Fair in early September.

[03] Bulgarian PM's reply to Greek counterpart's congratulations

Athens, 17/08/2001 (ANA)

�I am particularly glad that we share common ideas and philosophy regarding the development of our region. Let me assure you that I deeply appreciate the support offered by your nation for Bulgaria�s Euro-Atlantic orientation, something that we are counting on in the future in our course towards fulfilling the priorities of our foreign policy,� Saxe-Coburgotski, the former king Simeon II, said in his letter to Simitis.

The Greek press and mass media ministry released the letter.

[04] Highest administrative court rules for gender equality on social security issues

Athens, 17/08/2001 (ANA)

The court, Greece's Council of State (CoS) ruled that a decree, which was jointly drafted by the merchant marine ministry, the national economy ministry, the labor ministry and the development ministry, was constitutional.

The decree called for the incorporation of European Union directives calling for the equal treatment of men and women by professional and social security systems, which will result in equal financial burden and remuneration by the funds.

[05] Health ministry consultants for psychiatrics in Greece

Athens, 17/08/2001 (ANA)

During their stay, they will also visit psychiatric hospitals in Attica, such as the Dromokaitio hospital, the Child Psychiatry hospital and the system's non-hospital facilities.

[06] Greek radio programs in New York under threat of termination

NEW YORK 17/08/2001 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

The inspector recommended changes regarding the ownership status of the WNYE 91.5 FM municipal station, from which the two programs are broadcast. Both programs are particularly popular among the Greek American community of New York and greater areas,

The Federation of Greek Associations of Greater New York called on all Greeks and Cypriots to send letters of protest so as to safeguard the Greek radio programs "which contribute to the cultural pluralism of our society�.

Also taking part in the campaign to preserve the programs are the Arbishopric, the Greek and Cypriot consulates and the Association of Hellenes Abroad.

Last week, in view of the meeting on August 22 of the Educational Council, which will decide on the future of WNYE, a meeting was held at the New York Greek Press Office of all the producers of national programs, which broadcast on the frequency.

[07] Greek stocks move cautiously higher on ASE

Athens, 17/08/2001 (ANA)

The Greek market ignored falls in other European stock markets helped by renewed buying interest in blue chip stocks, particularly in banks with National Bank (+2.29%), Piraeus Bank (+2.77%) and Eurobank (+1.24%) leading the advance.

Telecom stocks, however, fell on early profit taking, after Tuesday's sharp gains.

Traders noted, however, that a declining turnover was limiting the market's upward prospects.

The general index ended 0.60 percent higher at 2,706.71 points, with turnover a 104.661 million euros, or 36 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,510.86 points, up 0.92 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 1.02 percent to 309.31 points, and the Small Cap index increased 0.92 percent to 900.62 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks rose 0.45 %

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 226 to 88 with another 45 issues unchanged.

Xifias, Multirama, SPI, Tsoukaridis, Mathios, Unibrain, Alysida, Eurodrip, Petzetakis and AAA scored the biggest percentage gains, while VIS, Spider, Inform Lykos, Xylemporia, AXON, ETEBAbank, ETMA, Fieratex, Connection and Desmos suffered the heaviest losses.

Hellenic Telecoms (10.597 million euros), National Bank (5.558 mln), Danielidis Clinic (4.083 mln), Giannousis (3.611 million) and Alpha Bank (3.013 million euros) were the most heavily traded stocks.

Prices nose up in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished higher in moderate trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.30 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 50 basis points. Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 725 million euros. Buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

Equity futures slump in thin trade: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange ended at a discount on Thursday, despite healthy sentiment on the main market.

Changing hands were 5,991 contracts on turnover of 41.5 million euros.

[08] Fires under control in Attica, Amaliada and Zakynthos

Athens, 17/08/2001 (ANA)

The fire had broken out in low-growing vegetation near the Athens-Lamia national highway, next to the Athens-bound lanes. It had been put out by a force of 15 firemen and five fire-engines.

Also under control according to the fire department were fires in forest and agricultural land reported shortly after midnight in Kapetaneika, Amaliada and Kampi on the Ionian island of Zakynthos. These were put out by forces comprised of 35 firemen with fire-engines, with assistance from fire-fighting planes.

No damage estimates were available for any of the three fires, nor had their causes been established at the time of the report.

Forest fires on Aegina and the Peloponnese contained: Forest fires on the island of Aegina and at the northern Peloponnese were contained by firefighters on Thursday after-noon.

A forest fire on Aegina that broke out around 3 p.m. was contained by 5 p.m. as 30 firefighters using 20 vehicles, two aircraft and a helicopter combated the flames near the Konto region of the island.

A fire-fighting force similar in strength to the one on Aegina contained another forest fire that broke out about the same time near the Stavrodromi region of the northern Peloponnese.

[09] House President holds talks with British High Commissioner

NICOSIA, 17/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking after his meeting with House President Demetris Christofias, to bid him farewell, Clay said he shall be following the UN process on Cyprus adding that "the augurs are good", while on his part

Christofias referred to Cyprus' readiness to engage in substantive talks, based on international law and UN principles, to settle the Cyprus question.

Clay, who leaves Cyprus in September to take up a post in Kenya, said that he "shall be following this UN process as it develops and hoping that Cyprus is coming to the end of this seeming interminable search for settlement of the Cyprus problem."

"Nobody wants to talk of optimism or pessimism but determination is still our watchword," he added.

[10] Greece's UN human rights representative calls for respect of fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots

NICOSIA, 17/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking recently before the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in Geneva, Daes referred to the mass violations of human rights in Cyprus by Turkey underlining the importance of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, on 10 May, 2001, in the Fourth Interstate Application of Cyprus against Turkey, by which Ankara was found guilty of continuous gross human rights violations in Cyprus, as a result of the occupation of the island's northern part, since Turkey invaded it in 1974.

In her statement before the Sub-Commission, Daes said that since 1974 when Turkey invaded Cyprus, about 54,000 Turkish Cypriots have immigrated "in search of a better life abroad", while about 115,000 settlers from mainland Turkey "have been illegally brought" to the occupied area of Cyprus.

"In my view this constitutes a flagrant violation of the human rights law and the international humanitarian law and in particular of the Fourth of 1949 Geneva Convention".

She said that uprooting 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees from their homes and properties, as a result of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus, constitutes "a serious international crime amount to ethnic cleansing".

Furthermore Greece's Representative to the UN Human Rights Commission pointed out the continuous destruction of the culture heritage in the occupied area of Cyprus by Turkey.

"The systematic pillage and destruction continue unabated. This is a clear expression of religious intolerance" she added.

Referring to the ECHR's ruling on the case of Loizidou Vs Turkey, she said "Turkey still refuses to comply with the Court's ruling which is final and to compensate Mrs. Loizidou, according to the aforesaid judgment".

The European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkey to pay some 900,000 US dollars in damages to the Greek Cypriot tourist guide Titina Loizidou for loss of use of her property in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974. It said Loizidou must be regarded as the legal owner of her property and should be allowed access to peacefully enjoy it.

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