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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-09-18Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>September 18, 2002CONTENTS
[01] Greek current account deficit down in June, up in H1Athens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Greece's current account deficit fell by 195 million euros in June 2002, compared with June 2001, to 544 million euros, reflecting a substantial increase in the services surplus, the Bank of Greece said on Tuesday.The central bank, in its monthly report, said that the country's trade deficit increased slightly by 52 million euros, due to the widening of the non-oil trade deficit, while the net fuel import bill decreased in comparison with June 2001. As far as the services balance is concerned, the increase in net travel and transport receipts caused the surplus to rise by 469 million euro. By contrast, the transfers surplus narrowed in June, mainly because of the reduction in net EU transfers. Finally, the income account deficit increased by 78 million euro, owing to the rise in net payments for interest, dividends and profits. During the first half of 2002, the current account deficit increased by 391 million euro, compared with that in the corresponding 2001 period, and stood at 4,388 million euro. This development is due on the one hand to the widening of the trade deficit and the income account deficit and on the other hand to the narrowing of the transfers surplus. These negative developments were partly offset by the substantial rise in the services surplus. The non-oil trade deficit increased by 180 million euro during the first half of 2002, because export receipts fell by 254 million euro, whereas the import bill decreased by 74 million euro. Net oil imports rose by 77 million euro over the period under review. At the same time, the increase (of 589 million euro) in net receipts from travel and ''other'' services offset the fall in net transport receipts, resulting in an increase of 354 million euro in the services surplus. The report noted that as from May 2002, statistical data on travel receipts and payments were derived according to a new methodology. This methodology is based on a sample survey (''border survey''), hence data may not be fully comparable with those of previous periods. The income account deficit increased mainly because of the rise in net payments for interest, dividends and profits. Finally, the transfers surplus decreased by 372 million euro, although net EU transfers, which constitute the main item of the category, decreased by only 20 million euro compared with the first half of 2001. Direct and portfolio investment recorded net inflows of 98 million and 959 million euros, respectively. Direct investment inflows, in particular, included an amount of about 55 million euros for the acquisition of a further equity stake in Commercial Bank by Credit Agricole. In the first half of 2002, direct and other investment recorded net outflows of 174 million and 193 million euros, respectively. Non-residents' investments showed a small positive movement, given that the significant inflow in June 2002 more than offset the outflow during the previous months of the year. The Bank of Greece said that the country's reserve assets stood at 8.2 billion euros at the end-June 2002. [02] Gov't spokesman says Iraq issue developments positiveAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Government spokesman Christos Protopappas, referring on Tuesday to the Iraqi government's unconditional acceptance of the UN inspectors' return, spoke of positive developments on the issue of Iraq.He said the acceptance of unconditional control and the UN assuming relevant responsibility constitute two positive developments, adding that despite this one cannot foresee all the developments to follow. Protopappas also referred to objections and reservations which had been expressed by the Greek government over the possibility of a new war against Iraq. [03] EU: Cyprus will be treated like any other candidateBRUSSELS 18/09/2002 (ANA-V.Demiris/CNA)Cyprus will be afforded the same treatment as any other applicant country for European Union accession, a spokesman for the EU Commission assured on Tuesday.The Commission, he said, relies on the EU Helsinki conclusions which say that a political settlement would facilitate accession but it is not a precondition for it. Jean Christophe Filori, spokesman for EU enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen, made statements to this effect, in response to a Reuters dispatch from Brussels, quoting an anonymous EU diplomat saying that the EU might omit Cyprus next month from a long awaited list of candidate countries deemed ready to join for fear of upsetting the UN-led peace talks. "Cyprus will have the same treatment as all other candidates countries," Filori said, noting that "the position of the Commission will be clear (on Cyprus) as it will for the other applicant countries." Filori said "the Commission relies on the Helsinki conclusions, according to which a political settlement would facilitate accession but it is not a precondition for it, but all relevant factors will be taken into consideration." Cyprus is one of the front-runner candidate countries for EU membership and expects the December summit to invite the Republic to join. Gov't spokesman says EU enlargement should begin from Cyprus: Government spokesman Christos Protopappas said on Tuesday European Union enlargement should begin from Cyprus and the government will insist on this to the end. He was referring to press reports which, invoking diplomatic sources, said some EU partners will raise reservations over Cyprus' EU entry. Protopappas refrained from answering to a question on whether Greece will use a veto in the event reservations are raised over the entry of Cyprus, but reiterated that Greece will insist to the end on the accession of Cyprus which, as he said, is entitled to accession based on criteria already set. Commenting on a document submitted by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides for a Cyprus settlement, Protopappas said the document is neither acceptable to the Greek government nor to the government of Cyprus, adding that this position was conveyed by Foreign Minister George Papandreou to his U.S. counterpart Colin Powell. Cyprus government satisfied with Greek FM's positions: The Cyprus government on Tuesday expressed satisfaction for the way in which Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou ''put forward Cyprus and defended the interests of the Republic'' in New York, according to a CNA dispatch from Nicosia. Cyprus Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said Papandreou's meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell was especially significant because it covered an important aspect, that of the Turkish threats against Cyprus should the island join the European Union prior to a political settlement. Asked if Washington has requested Nicosia to tone down the National Guard's annual military exercise, ''Nikiforos'' (the victory bearer), Papapetrou said he would not comment in public on defense matters. ''What I can say is that such issues cannot take place unilaterally. The Greek Cypriot side cannot show self-restraint unilaterally. This message must be conveyed to all directions'', the spokesman added. Cyprus is one of the front-runner candidate countries for EU membership and expects the December summit to invite the Republic to join. The EU has repeatedly said it would prefer to see a reunited Cyprus becoming a member, but also said that a political settlement is not a precondition for accession. Turkey maintains that the EU decision to accept Cyprus without a solution ''has made an agreed settleme and Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, met at the United Nations on Tuesday and reviewed the situation in Cyprus with regard to its accession course and the UN peace process, according to a Cyprus News Agency (CNA) dispatch from New York. In statements to CNA, the Cypriot minister said ''we will not be affected by anonymous comments and interpretations which go against all the promises ministers, prime ministers and others who take decisions in the EU have made about Cyprus.'' He was commenting on statements by an anonymous EU diplomat quoted by Reuters on Tuesday as saying that the EU should think seriously about letting Cyprus in the next wave of enlargement for fear of disrupting the ongoing peace effort. Kasoulides pointed out that comments of this kind will not stop Cyprus' accession course to the EU. The minister described his meeting with Yiannitsis as ''very useful'', adding that more discussions of this type will take place until the Copenhagen European Council, in mid December. ''We are approaching the last and most delicate phase of Cyprus' accession to the EU and I believe that the issue will be finalized in Copenhagen'', the Greek minister said. He described as difficult the current phase of the Cyprus problem with little chance of making any progress due to Turkey's stance. Yiannitsis said the foreign ministries of Greece and Cyprus will be closely monitoring the situation to tackle any problems that may arise with resolve. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President Clerides and Denktash have been engaged in direct talks since January this year, with a view to reach a comprehensive settlement. It is one of the front-runner candidate countries for EU membership and expects the December summit to invite the Republic to join. The EU has repeatedly said it would prefer to see a reunited Cyprus becoming a member, but also said that a political settlement is not a precondition for accession. [04] Cyprus FM: new Denktash proposal makes no progress on fundamentalsNEW YORK 18/09/2002 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)The Turkish-Cypriot side had taken an even tougher stance on fundamental issues in its vigorously promoted draft solution for the Cyprus problem, Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides told the Greek press during a press conference in New York, where he is participating in the General Debate of the 57th UN General Assembly.Speaking late on Monday evening, Kasoulides said that Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had not conformed to the recommendations made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and that the new proposal submitted by Denktash made only 'decorative' improvements on issues that did not help overcome the impasse. Regarding the ongoing effort, he said that Annan would have more than one meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash in New York on October 3-4, though it was not yet clear whether there would be a joint meeting with both leaders. He also said that the UN Secretary General intended to intervene personally and discuss key issues in the Cyprus problem. According to the Cypriot foreign minister, the period until November 3 - when Turkey would hold general elections - would show if adequate groundwork had been done and whether the Turkish side was willing to begin serious talks on a comprehensive solution, which the UN Secretary General wanted to submit immediately after the Turkish polls. ''The window of opportunity is obviously shrinking and the time between November and December 12 is very short. Our view is that the Secretary General has the right to submit ideas for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the mandate given to him by the Security Council. It is up to him to choose the right time for any intervention he makes so that it is effective,'' Kasoulides noted. The lack of progress on the Cyprus issue would not cause problems for Cyprus at the EU Summit in Copenhagen on December 12, Kasoulides said. ''The decision will be for Cyprus' accession,'' he assured reporters. Based on his contacts with his European counterparts and EU officials, he added, the feeling in Europe was that the Greek-Cypriot side had done all it could for a solution on the Cyprus issue. He noted, however, that Greece and Cyprus intended to work closely on all possible contingency plans and alternative scenarios that might arise at the Copenhagen summit, both in the regular meeting that he had with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and during meetings he would be having with Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis and Greek diplomats in New York. He clarified that the possible problems envisaged did not concern a final 'yes' or 'no' to the Cyprus republic's accession but other views that might be raised concerning the Cyprus issue. ''We are absolutely certain that Cyprus will be included in the 10 countries that the European Commission will recommend are in a position to conclude their negotiations and become members of the EU,'' he stressed. ''We expect that all the problems concerning funding, budgets etc will have been resolved in the meantime and nothing will be remain outstanding to be resolved in Copenhagen,'' he added. The non-resolution of the Cyprus problem might be incorporated in Brussels resolutions, however, in the form of conditions attached to Cyprus' accession or the precise wording that would be used by the EU regarding the continuation of negotiations, Kasoulides said, though clarifying that this was unlikely. [05] PM Simitis to attend EU-Asia summit in Copenhagen on issue of terrorismBRUSSELS 18/09/2002 (ANA - G. Zitouniati)The combatting of terrorism will be the main topic of discussion at the EU-Asia summit which will be held in Copenhagen from September 22-24. Taking part in the summit will be 25 heads of state and government, including Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.Denmark's European Affairs Minister Bertel Haarder, whose country currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, said on Tuesday that the leaders of the two continents will analyze the deeper causes of terrorism - one year after the September 11 attacks in New York - as well as means to avert certain peoples who live under wretched conditions to resort to armed violence. The European leaders will express their concern over the appearance of many terrorist groups in Asia who have their sights on the West. According to the Danish minister, this dialogue will conclude in a joint statement for EU-Asia cooperation in effectively confronting international terrorism. During their stay in the Danish capital, the 25 leaders will also intensify their efforts for the promotion of commerce, investments and economic cooperation. [06] FM arrives in Thrace on two-day visitAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Foreign Minister George Papandreou started a two-day visit to the northern region of Thrace on Tuesday, making his first stopover at the settlement of Megalos Dereios where he was warmly welcomed by local residents.Papandreou said in an address that respect for democratic rights and equal rights before the law is the principle consolidating the feeling of peaceful coexistence between different cultures. ''I believe that those considering that pluralism of cultures is not an advantage but a threat are making a mistaken analysis,'' Papandreou said, adding that regions having pluralism of cultures open new horizons to creation and horizons for considerable investments. Papandreou delivered a political speech in the city of Alexandroupolis on Tuesday night, while he is due to visit the prefectures of Rodopi and Xanthi on Wednesday. [07] Katiforis says Greece's EU presidency will help Convention for Europe's FutureVIENNA 18/09/2002 (ANA- D. Dimitrakoudis)The conviction that Greece's EU presidency in the first half of 2003 will naturally help the Convention for Europe's Future and contribute to the promotion of solutions to issues that arise, was expressed by the representative of the Greek government at the Convention, George Katiforis, on Tuesday.In statements here to the ANA, Katiforis, who is the Vice-President of the Parliamentary Group of the European Socialist Party and head of PASOK's Parliamentary Group at the European Parliament, said that there was a possibility that the Convention could be concluded during Greece's EU presidency. Katiforis, who at an event held on Monday night at the Union of Austrian Industrialists presented the objectives and course of the convention, noted in his statements that the Convention is becoming increasingly demanding, the issues are increasing in number, the pace of its operation is becoming more intense and is beginning to deal with substantially more difficult matters, those of constitutional issues, the majorities and the balance of forces between the various organs. Taking part in the event at the Union of Austrian Industrialists, which was organized by the Austrian Society on European Policy and the Greek Press and Mass Media Ministry, were hundreds of personalities from the political, diplomatic and economic sectors. [08] First woman 'N17' suspect re-arrestedAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Authorities have re-arrested the first woman officially implicated with the �November 17� urban terrorist only hours after an appellate court council intervened in a judicial dispute that initially freed her after two days in custody, thus siding with a prosecutor�s recommendation that she be jailed pending trial.Angeliki Sotiropoulou, 40, was arrested in downtown Athens in the early afternoon on Tuesday at a pre-arranged location following her attorney�s consultation with police, according to reports. The appellate council had earlier ruled that Sotiropoulou should be jailed, countering a decision by the examining magistrate overseeing the unprecedented �N17� investigation, appeals court prosecutor Leonidas Zervobeakos. The appeals court council concluded that evidence against Sotiropoulou gave rise to �enough indications of guilt� to justify keeping her in custody. The self-described homemaker and mother of one was released late Saturday night after two days in custody. Sotiropoulou, the long-time companion of one �N17� top suspect and the ex-wife of another, Dimitris Koufodinas and Savvas Xiros, respectively, was charged with three felony counts after police said her fingerprints were lifted off fixed and movable objects in two �N17� hideouts. Reports also state that witnesses placed her near the two central Athens safe houses. Charges against her include possession of explosives and manufacturing explosives for use by a terrorist organization. She had dined at a nearby fast food outlet with her teenage son and her ex-husband�s Spanish girlfriend prior surrendering to authorities. [09] Jailers to screen 'N17' suspects' calls after 2 jailhouse interviews givenAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Prison authorities on Tuesday said they have restricted phone privileges for 16 jailed �November 17� suspects after one of the men, alleged top assassin and bomber Savvas Xiros, gave two widely broadcast jailhouse telephone interviews over the past few days.Officials at Korydallos penitentiary, where the �N17� suspects are being held, also said Xiros made calls to people besides relatives and defense attorneys. The 42-year-old sometime church mural painter and handyman provided authorities with their greatest breakthrough in 27 years of �N17� terror when a botched bomb attack left him badly injured at the port of Piraeus in late June. Two of Savvas Xiros� brothers, Christodoulos and Vassilis, are also being held on numerous terrorism charges pending trial. As of Wednesday, calls by �N17� prisoners will be screened through the main prison switchboard, while only numbers that have been submitted in writing and subsequently approved will be dialed. No calls were allowed on Tuesday. Gov�t spokesman: Meanwhile, the government spokesman on Tuesday reiterated that �everyone�s reaction is needed when an individual assumes responsibility for his participation in a terrorist group and acts, and then also threatens judicial officials�. �The goal isn�t just to convict the guilty, but to demystify terrorism,� he said. In answer to another question during his regular press briefing, Protopapas said the jailed �N17� suspects are neither �revolutionaries nor social fighters, but murderers and bandits; ones that, however, will have the opportunity to say in court what they want, just as they did during the preliminary (police and judicial) inquiry,� he stressed. [10] PM attends 'Help at Home' eventAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)A basic part in the ''Help at Home'' program, primarily concerning elderly people and aiming at securing necessary services for a dignified life, was presented at the Zappeion Mansion in Athens on Tuesday in the presence of Prime Minister Costas Simitis.It concerns 247 new multiform cars delivered to many municipalities in the presence of Simitis to support the program to facilitate elderly people to stay at their homes and the state to treat them without obliging them to resort to institutions. The plan is mainly directed at people living alone who are unable to look after themselves and are facing financial difficulties, as well as persons suffering from disabilities. Delivering the first five cars to the mayors of five municipalities, Simitis said ''Help at Home'' is part of a policy spectrum for elderly people, whose focal point is support for the family. The program concerns the procurement of 500 cars by the end of November to serve 800 local administration organizations, while the target by the end of 2003 is to serve a thousand such organizations. [11] Prosecutor closes Mayo case; no impropriety citedAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)A prosecutor on Tuesday essentially �shelved� the controversial �Mayo� case, named after an off-shore Liberia-registered firm that certain press reports and ruling PASOK�s secretary claimed funneled illegal campaign contributions to rival New Democracy in the early 1990s.Assistant appellate level prosecutor Evanthia Spyropoulou accepted a first instance colleague�s recommendation that the case does not entail further investigation, as �no responsibilities were ascertained�. Similar charges citing illegal financing of ruling PASOK were also dropped. �This development vindicates ND and serves a slap in the face to those who haven�t tired all these years in attempting to systematically poison public life; an attempt to bring it to their level,� ND spokesman Thodoris Roussopoulos said, adding: �Mr. (PASOK secretary Costas) Laliotis and, above all, Mr. (PM Costas) Simitis should as of today, in fact, apologize.� Conversely, Laliotis later stated: �We should all have faith Greek justice and its officers, even if we disagree with its decisions; but the judicial officials must also understand that in a democratic system, and in a well-governed republic, those that judge are judged.� [12] PM Simitis meets Piraeus mayoral candidateAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday met with Piraeus mayoral candidate Manolis Beteniotis.The meeting, held at the Maximos Mansion, lasted for about 45 minutes. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Beteniotis said that his talks with the prime minister concerned the major infrastructure projects which must be made for the development of Piraeus, such as the creation of an international conference and exhibition center. [13] Special Supreme Court publicizes German compensation verdictAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)The Special Supreme Court issued its verdict on Tuesday night on compensation lawsuits filed by victims of the German occupation of Greece during World War II, ruling that such lawsuits cannot be addressed by Greek courts.The decision, taken with a 6-5 majority vote, is contrary to the decision taken by the Supreme Court plenum which had ruled that Greek courts can try compensation lawsuits against a foreign state. Following the decision taken by the Special Supreme Court, the case will be referred again to the Supreme Court's first department for consideration. [14] Development minister says no ceiling on fuel pricesAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)The Greek government acknowledges the problem of price increases, especially in the fresh produce market, and seeks - through a dialogue with all interested parties - drastic solutions that will make the market more transparent, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Tuesday.Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis ahead of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that recent price increases in fresh produce and private services were "unjustified" and that they were having a negative impact on inflation. Tsohatzopoulos said that the government aimed to contain inflation to 3.0 percent by the end of the year, from 3.3 percent currently. The Greek minister dismissed talk that the government was considering to impose a ceiling on fuel prices, saying: "Prices are not controlled with orders or decisions, but through a competitive market operation." He also denied that the government was planning to reduce a fuel tax on industries. [15] Minister promises immediate legal action against price gougersAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Wholesale merchants and producers caught charging unjustifiably high prices for fresh produce would immediately be sent before a public prosecutor to be charged, Deputy Development Minister Christos Theodorou said on Tuesday, during a surprise visit to a street market in Pangrati at the head of a team of inspectors.The minister found that prices for fruits and vegetables had remained roughly at Monday's levels and ordered wide-ranging checks by financial crimes squad teams. [16] Tourist arrivals from Canada up 16-20 percent this yearAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Tourist arrivals from Canada rose by 16-20 percent this year, Greek National Tourist Organization�s chairman, Yiannis Patelis said.Speaking to reporters in Montreal, after completing a five-day visit to Canada, Mr. Patelis said that Greece was the second most favorable tourist destination for Canadians after France. Canadian tourist businessmen called for an increase in Olympic Airways' flights to Canada and discussed leasing of Air Canada's landing rights to another airline company. Canadians are beginning, starting this year, a pilot program for winter tourism in Greece. [17] Consumer group cites sales drop in fruit & veg boycottAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)A consumer watchdog said on Tuesday that retail sales of fruit and vegetables had fallen by up to 70 percent on the second day of a boycott it called to protest against steep price hikes in the market.In addition, wholesale turnover dropped by 40 percent in the Athens central fruit and vegetable market, the Consumer Institute (INKA) said in a statement. The watchdog had asked the public to refrain from buying fruit and vegetables from September 16 to September 19 in a protest against steep price hikes. On Monday, the first day of the boycott, sales of fruit and vegetables fell by 70 percent. The number of shoppers purchasing the produce dropped by 40-60 percent, and purchases were cut to a minimum, bringing a 70 percent drop in turnover. Items bought were mainly one that had begun to show a decline in prices, which accounted for about 60 percent of fruit and vegetables, INKA said. Despite a falling trend in fruit and vegetable prices on Tuesday, tomatoes remained highly priced. On a weekly basis tomatoes had risen by about 10 percent, and on an annual basis by 63.5 percent. Lettuce has increased in price by 59.01 percent annually, Golden Delicious apples by 36.3 percent, and grapes by 19.26 percent. [18] Foreign investments in Greece up 43% in 2001, UNCTAD saysAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Direct foreign investments in Greece raised by 43 percent in 2001 to 1.56 billion US dollars from 1.089 billion dollars a year earlier, UNCTAD said in a report released on Tuesday.A key reason for the increase was Greece's entry into the euro zone, which drew interest from businesses abroad, UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2002 said. At the same time, Greece ranked 125th out of 140 on the FDI Performance Index, which indicates a country's success in attracting foreign investments. But it took 35th position in the FDI Potential Index, which ranks potential in drawing investments from abroad, leading Portugal by one place and lagging Cyprus by one, the report's Greek chapter said. [19] Minister discusses sea transport with ETF secretary generalAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis discussed sea transport issues with European Transport Federation (ETF) staff secretary general Doro Zinke on Tuesday.The issues will be addressed during Greece's European Union presidency in the first half of 2003, while other matters discussed were the deregulation of port services, issues regarding the improvement of EU shipping, maritime security and the taking of measures to protect sea transport and ports from terrorist acts. Anomeritis outlined Greek positions, which fully satisfy ETF positions, while the federation's delegation said it only expects positive developments from the Greek presidency. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Panhellenic Maritime Federation (PNO). [20] Industrialists seek faster deregulation to help lower inflationAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)The Association of Greek Industry (SEB) on Tuesday called for a swifter deregulation of markets in order to help lower inflation by boosting competition.Supplementary government measures to contain rising prices were not the way to tackle inflation, SEB's president, Odysseas Kyriakopoulos, told a news briefing. He added that more action by the government's fair competition commission would also help. Kyriakopoulos said that industry had aided the government's battle against inflation by implementing wholesale price increases since the start of the year that were sharply lower than the consumer price index. Current market price rises were mainly to be found in the services sector and in the sales network, but not necessarily in supermarkets, he added. [21] ASE marks three-year decline on TuesdayAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)The Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday completed three consecutive years of decline, after soaring to an all-time high of 6,355 points in September 17, 1999, to end up more than 70 percent lower.The general index fell 0.39 percent to end at 1,933,18 points, unable to benefit from a recovery in European markets, leading analysts and investors to fear or further weakness in the Greek bourse. Hellenic Telecommunications Organization�s share price fell 1.97 percent to end below 12 euros per share, dragging the rest of the market's blue chips lower. The Construction, Telecommunications and Holding sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.84 percent, 1.53 percent and 1.51 percent, respectively), while the Textile, Investment and Retail sectors scored gains (0.94 percent, 0.28 percent and 0.04 percent). The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.64 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.67 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 0.14 percent. Turnover a low 70.7 million euros. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 203 to 113 with another 43 issues unchanged. The most heavily traded stocks in value were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Commercial Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece, and Titan. Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 117.8 mln euros Tuesday Equity Index Futures: Stock Futures: Day's Market Turnover: 117.8 mln euros Bond Market Close: Buyers outstrip sellers on Tuesday Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond [22] ATHOC chief, DM discuss Olympic security issuesAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)The crucial issue of security for the 2004 Athens Olympics dominated a meeting here on Tuesday between organizers and the Greek defense ministry�s political leadership, as military units are expected to closely participate in the massive security operation envisioned for the upcoming Games.Following a meeting with Athens 2004 organizing committee (ATHOC) president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki in the Greek capital, Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said Greece�s armed forces will assist police in guarding sports and housing facilities, as well as in stepped up patrols of land and sea borders. He added that in wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, particular emphasis will be placed on airborne patrols by the Hellenic Air Force. Moreover, a new headquarters will be set up to liaise between the armed forces and Greek Police (EL.AS). Finally he said several military facilities will be transferred to ATHOC following their ongoing renovation and upgrading, mostly camps that will host certain 2004-related staff. [23] Line 3 of Metro project ready before Olympic GamesAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Tunneling to extend the Athens Metro from the defense ministry to Stavros at Agia Paraskevi has reached the location where a station will be created at the national mint on Messogeion Avenue two days ahead of schedule.Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou reiterated on Tuesday that this extension will be opened to the public in June, 2004. She said this extension will be linked to the suburban railway network and, consequently, the Metro will reach Eleftherios Venizelos airport. In addition, it has been decided that three additional Metro stations will be created gradually over this period at the national mint, Holargos and Agia Paraskevi. Papandreou said line 3 of the Metro leading to the airport will be ready before the Olympic Games (due to be held in the summer of 2004) and pointed out that the project is huge while the funds have been secured. [24] Greece and Turkey agree to set up joint natural disasters teamNEW YORK 18/09/2002 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Sukru Sina Gurel on Tuesday signed an agreement to create a Greek-Turkish team for dealing with natural disasters that will be at the disposal of the United Nations.The agreement also activates a related cooperation memorandum with the UN, which a presiding UN official described as a model for other UN member-states. Papandreou said the agreement was an extension of others signed between Athens and Ankara following a series of destructive earthquakes that smote both Turkey and Greece in 1999 and helped bring the Greek and Turkish people closer together, and that it reaffirmed the will of the two sides to continue to cooperate. [25] Draft EU-Turkey agreement targets drug precursorsAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)Turkey and the European Union will soon be signing a cooperation agreement aiming to better police chemicals and precursors used to make illegal drugs and psychotropic substances, which is now in the final stages of being approved.The proposed agreement calls for stepped up controls of precursor substances exported from the EU to Turkey, which are often reimported into the Community as heroin and other narcotics. It also calls for greater cooperation on an administrative level to prevent these substances being 'diverted' and used in the illegal drug trade. Under the agreement, EU member-states and Turkey will exchange information on the circulation of chemicals such as ephedrine, isosafrol, piperonal, safrol, pseudo-ephedrine, ergotamine, toluol and others. The agreement is based on a 1988 UN resolution for fighting the illegal trade in drugs and the Commission was instructed to begin negotiations for an agreement with Turkey on this issue by an EU ministers' council on April 5, 2001. Following negotiations, the text of an agreement has now been submitted to an EU council to be signed. [26] Culture minister extends friendship message from FanarISTANBUL 18/09/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos visited Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos at the Fanar on Tuesday and extended a message of friendship and common European prospect to the Turkish political world and Turkish citizens.Speaking to reporters afterwards, Venizelos said ''we are a short while from Cyprus' accession to the EU'', adding that ''we want to believe that Cyprus' accession to the EU will function as a bridge for the European prospect of Turkey as well. It is not an aggressive move against Turkey but a very big opportunity for the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus and the entire Turkish economy and society which should take this opportunity.'' Earlier, Venizelos had an extensive discussion with the Patriarch and discussed, as he said, ''developments in the European Union as well in light of the European Constitution.'' [27] Patriarch Vartholomeos receives culture ministers of Serbia, Romania & BulgariaISTANBUL 18/09/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)The culture ministers of Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Tuesday.The culture ministers of Romania, Ravzan Theodorescu, of Serbia, Lecic Branislav, and of Bulgaria, Bozhidar Abrashev, met in succession with by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos with whom they discussed the latest developments in the Balkans and issues concerning the cultural heritage of the region. The three culture ministers are in Istanbul to participate in UNESCO's conference for the protection of the intangible cultural heritage. [28] President Stephanopoulos inaugurates book festivalAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)President Kostis Stephanopoulos inaugurated the 31st Book Festival at the Pedion tou Areos Park in Athens on Tuesday in which over 45,000 titles are exhibited.''What a shame that the Greeks come first in television viewing and last in reading, according to a report by the European Union's statistical service,'' President Stephanopoulos commented during the inauguration. President Stephanopoulos, who inaugurated the festival for the eighth consecutive year, said ''the 500 libraries in our country are not functioning satisfactorily because they lack specialized librarians.'' The festival will last until September 29. [29] Sports minister warns against soccer championship's suspensionAthens, 18/09/2002 (ANA)The Union of Professional Soccer Clubs (EPAE) decided on Tuesday to suspend Greece's national soccer championships as of September 29, while Deputy Sports Minister George Lianis warned that if EPAE implemented the decision the law would be enforced immediately.''If we have fait accomplis, the law will be enforced immediately. We have given an increase to professional soccer from 8 percent to 12 percent, which corresponds to one billion drachmas,'' Lianis said at a press conference. He added that there is no standoff between the state and professional soccer clubs and that he is willing to discuss other issues with them. EPAE decided to proceed with lockout, beginning from the fifth game of the current season if a formula to partially finance many cash-strapped teams isn�t worked out with the government. Owners want the state-run football pools (OPAP) to funnel cash their way in return for placing Greek teams on its soccer betting pools. The crisis in Greek football comes after one of two local digital TV subscriber networks announced its closure recently, leaving eight first division teams without television revenue. ''The EPAE decision took us by surprise. We shall fully harmonize ourselves with public sentiment on the strict implementation of laws. Article 102, paragraph 9 of the law refers to the withholding of the amount of subsidies for professional soccer clubs for as long as their abstention lasts and fines ranging between 50-150 million drachmas. We have acted with the generosity due to professional soccer clubs,'' Lianis added. [30] Joint Greek-Turkish bid for Euro 2008 discussed in IstanbulISTANBUL 18/09/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)A high-profile bid by the Greek and Turkish soccer federations to jointly host the 2008 European Cup was the focus of Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos� contacts here on Monday with UEFA vice-president and honorary Turkish soccer federation president Senes Erzik.�This bid sends a very significant political message, a message of Greek-Turkish friendship; cooperation between the two federations and between the two peoples,� he told reporters after the meeting. Erzik, who also serves on FIFA�s executive committee, said he briefed the Greek minister on the situation in Turkey and other European countries vis-a-vis television revenue and broadcast rights for football matches. Ten out of 16 Greek first division teams were left without TV broadcast contract last week after one of two digital subscriber networks in the country folded. Venizelos continued his contacts Istanbul on Monday after arriving over the weekend to attend an UNESCO-sponsored meeting of some 80 culture ministers from around the world. [31] Spokesman dismisses reports about Cyprus' EU entryNICOSIA 18/09/2002 (CNA/ANA)The Cyprus government dismissed on Tuesday as ''totally unfounded'' reports to the effect that the European Union might leave Cyprus out of a list of candidate countries that will be invited by the December EU summit to join the Union.Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said on Tuesday that all indications give exactly the opposite message. ''This report is totally unfounded. All the information we have, all the indications we have show exactly the opposite, namely that Cyprus will be among the first wave of candidate countries to be invited to join,'' Papapetrou said. He pointed out that there is nothing that can reverse this course. The spokesman was commenting on statements by an anonymous EU diplomat quoted by Reuters who said that the EU should think seriously about letting Cyprus in the next wave of enlargement for fear of disrupting the ongoing peace effort. A second dispatch from Reuters on the same story quoted the diplomat as saying that the Commission was sure to recommend that Cyprus will be technically ready in December to wind up accession talks and to join the bloc. [32] German deputy supports Cyprus' EU entryBONN 18/09/2002 (CNA/ANA)The efforts to solve the Cyprus question as well as Cyprus' EU accession course are two issues that have to progress independently, German MP of the ruling Social Democratic Party SPD, Ulrich Kleber, has told CNA.Kleber expressed the view that the EU should accept Cyprus in the European family even if there is no settlement of the Cyprus problem and no reunification of the island. ''Cyprus' EU accession course should continue with or without a solution of the Cyprus problem'', Kleber said. He called upon the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities as well as the governments of Greece and Turkey to contribute to a settlement of the Cyprus problem, by making some ''compromises'', as he put it. Referring to Turkey's European aspirations, the German deputy noted that Turkey should speed up its reforms. He favored the start of membership talks with Turkey when the country fulfills the Copenhagen criteria. On his part, Dr Stefan Eisel, Christian Democratic CDU party candidate for the German federal parliament elections to be held next Sunday, told CNA that Turkey's EU accession is very much linked with the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. ''Turkey has to comprehend that an EU accession is not only economical, but also political'', Eisel said and added that Turkey cannot, for the moment, start accession negotiations with the EU. ''Being part of the EU means to respect its institutions and the European Court'', the CDU candidate said, expressing doubts as to whether Turkey will respect European Court decisions. Citing an example of Ankara's stance, Eisel referred to Turkey's denial to solve via international courts the Greco-Turkish disputes over the Aegean Sea. [33] Greek Cypriot side responds to Denktash's documentNICOSIA 18/09/2002 (CNA/ANA)Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou has said that the Greek Cypriot side on Tuesday gave its response to the document submitted last week at the UN-led talks on the Cyprus problem by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on all aspects of the question.Papapetrou said that during Tuesday's meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash, the issue of ''the executive and legislative powers of the central state'' were discussed and that deliberations on this issue would continue on Thursday, while next week talks will focus on territory. ''A detailed response was given in writing and some points were explained'', Papapetrou said, adding that the agenda of the talks until September 26 was set out on Tuesday. President Clerides and Denktash will be flying to New York after this round of talks, to meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on October 3 and 4. Asked if de Soto gave the impression Tuesday that he would be submitting any non-papers at the talks, Papapetrou replied in the negative. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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