Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 64.5 mln euros Monday

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FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Closing rates of August 4 2003

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For. Exchange Buying Selling

US Dollar 1,139 1,113

[08] Greece proposes joint exhibition of the Parthenon Marbles

Athens 05/08/2003 (ANA)

''Within the framework of common cultural traditions and close cultural ties between the two countries, we propose the establishment of a joint exhibition of the Parthenon Marbles'', the minister said, adding ''The Marbles can in that way be in Athens for the 2004 Olympic Games through cooperation between the British Museum and the New Acropolis Museum.''

''A positive British response to the Greek proposal would be both a cultural and a political initiative of ecumenical dimensions'', the minister concluded.

The marble sculptures, originally part of a frieze that decorated the ancient temple of the Parthenon on the Athens Acropolis, were removed in the 19th century by Lord Elgin and are now on display at the British Museum in London. Greece has campaigned for their return for the last two decades but the British Museum refuses, claiming that the marbles were legally obtained and are better protected in Britain.

[09] British Museum denies discussions on the return of the Parthenon Marbles

LONDON 05/08/2003(ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

According to the museum's release, the discussions are not focusing on a possible relocation of the Marbles, but on other areas of academic and cultural cooperation, such as a British Museum loan of important antiquities to be on display next year in Greece within the framework of the Cultural Olympiad.

The British Museum stressed that its position with regard to the Parthenon Marbles remained unchanged, adding that Museum officials did not in any case perceive permanent return of the Marbles to Greece.

The marble sculptures, originally part of a frieze that decorated the ancient temple of the Parthenon on the Athens Acropolis, were removed in the 19th century by Lord Elgin and are now on display at the British Museum in London. Greece has campaigned for their return for the last two decades but the British Museum refuses, claiming that the marbles were legally obtained and are better protected in Britain.

[10] ''N17'' trial hears statement by Tselentis

Athens 05/08/2003 (ANA)

According to Tselentis, during the hold-up, Xiros remained outside the Savings Bank wearing ear-phones and pretending to be listening to a walkman but he was actually monitoring police radio frequencies. Giotopoulos at the time was standing near by, Tselentis added in his statement.

The defendant said that in bomb attacks or killings, the group was very careful not to hit anybody or anything else but their actual targets, while he added that when they abandoned a stolen car after an attack, they usually left in it empty cigarette buts or packs that they picked up from the street ''to mislead or make fun of the police.''

Tselentis, as he did in his preliminary statement, denied he had been neither involved in the attempted killing of Robert Chand nor a Marinopoulos supermarket robbery.

After the court adjourned its session for Tuesday, angry-tempered Giotopoulos told reporters Tselentis' testimony was ''dictated'' so that he could take advantage of the benefits offered by the law on terrorism.

During his preliminary examination, Tselentis had said that he knew Giotopoulos by the name of ''Petros,'' but had giver no further details about his role in the terrorist group.

[11] August ''full moon'' cultural events and concerts at archaeological sites

Athens 05/08/2003 (ANA)

The Acropolis in Athens, the Temple of Aphaia on the Saronic island of Aegina, the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, ancient Olympia and the prehistoric settlement of Poliohni on the eastern Aegean island of Lemnos will also remain open to the public, although no events are planned.

Admission is free to all "full moon" events and concerts.

[12] Hash haul in the sea area off Corfu

Athens 05/08/2003 (ANA)

The two men were spotted by electronic surveillance instruments aboard a speedboat heading toward the northwestern part of the island and when they were approached for a check by a Corfu port authority patrol boat they turned east and took off heading for Albanian waters.

The patrol boat gave chase and the two suspects and their illicit cargo were seized when during the race their speedboat capsized.

The two men will be taken before a public prosecutor in Corfu.

[13] Forest fire raging in Nea Makri

Athens 05/08/2003 (ANA)

The fire started from an inaccessible point in the region of Anatoli in a forest with pine tress between Nea Makri and Dionysos.

On the spot are ten fire engines with 30 firemen, two planes and three helicopters which are trying to keep the fire under control before it spreads.

Strong winds in the area are hampering the work of the firemen.

[14] Central Bank announces lifting of exchange restrictions

NICOSIA 05/08/2003 (CNA/ANA)

A Central Bank press release on Monday notes that the lifting of the restrictions is occurring earlier than the deadline agreed on with the EU and will have an immediate effect.

The restrictions lifted concern current international exchanges, personal expenses, international cards, capital transfers and ex-change restrictions for non-residents of Cyprus.

Regarding current international exchanges, all remaining restrictions are lifted, specifically those concerning prepaid imports, foreign currency in cash to be sent abroad for local purchases and payments to non-residents.

On personal expenses, all exchange restrictions regarding the issuing of currency to be used for personal expenses of residents of Cyprus traveling abroad for business, recreation, study or medical treatment purposes, are lifted.

Furthermore, the issuing of international cards for Cyprus residents and payments of exchanges carried out with these cards are liberalized.

Regarding capital transfers, all exchange restrictions are lifted on immigration exchanges, as well as money gifts from parents to children permanently living abroad.

Restrictions on investments, foreign bank deposits, and purchasing of mutual funds, insurance products and houses abroad, will continue to be in effect.Also, non-residents of Cyprus will be able to participate in bank capital shares on the Cyprus Stock Exchange, while income from the sale of assets and stocks will now be able to be turned into foreign currency.

After the lifting of these restrictions, those remaining concern the short-term renting of houses in foreign currency, loans to non-residents of Cyprus in Cyprus pounds, the free exchange of Cyprus pounds into foreign currency and the partial capital transfers.

These remaining exchange restrictions will be lifted when Cyprus becomes a full member of the EU in May 2004.

[15] Cypriot towns participate in MEDA energy project

NICOSIA 05/08/2003 (CNA/ANA)

The project aims to enable local authorities to become more familiar with the technologies and tools of energy planning to-wards an energy efficiency management policy in Mediterranean cities.

For this reason a number of seminars have been organized and two more will take place in October regarding urban transport management.

Among the eleven pilot cities are Alexandria, Alger, Beirut and Damascus. French, Greek, Spanish and Italian organizations also participate in this project.

The project's Follow up Committee met recently in Barcelona to look to the work that needs to be completed before the project ends in November.

Spain's National Agency for Renewable and Energy Efficiency (IDAE) is coordinating the project.

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