|
|
|
Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-01-25
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 25/01/1999 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Government undisturbed by poll results
- Athens comments on IOC scandal
- Farmers protest 'a message' to minister
- Albanian man arrested on drug charges
- Disgruntled workers occupy hotel
- Montenegro underlines press freedom
- Weather
- Foreign Exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Government undisturbed by poll results
The government on Monday dismissed opinion polls showing a fall in the
prime minister and government's popularity, saying that it was confident of
a return to power at the next general elections in 2000. The poll,
published in daily Ta Nea, showed 56.7 percent of respondents not at all
satisfied with the government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis's
popularity rating falling to 24.8 percent. Main opposition leader Costas
Karamanlis's popularity also fell, to 34.4 percent, as did most other
political party leaders. Some 55.3 percent of respondents said they were
unhappy with the opposition New Democracy's performance. The Simitis
government has vowed to make Greece the 12th member of European economic
and monetary union by 2001 and has implemented a strict austerity programme
to meet the criteria for inclusion.
Athens comments on IOC scandal
Athens is focusing on organising a successful 2004 Olympic Games and is not
considering at this stage hosting the Games on a permanent basis, the
government said on Monday. Replying to reporters' questions, spokesman
Dimitris Reppas noted that the issue of Athens becoming a permament home
for the Olympic Games, in the wake of the influence-peddling scandal in the
ranks of the International Olympic Committee, had been mentioned in a
number of press reports. He added that the Olympic ideal and the holding of
the world's premier sporting event should not be identified with the
"blameworthy actions of a few".
Farmers protest 'a message' to minister
Farmers in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki camped out in front of
the Agricultural Bank's central offices on Monday in a symbolic protest
against EU farm policies. In statements, the two federation of farmers in
the Thessaloniki prefecture stressed that their action was a "message" for
Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis to immediately meet their demands.
Farmers are demanding a higher production ceiling for cotton crops and
government intervention in Brussels to prevent what they claim will be a 30
per cent reduction in cereal crop prices this year if the European
Union does not alter its regulations.
Albanian man arrested on drug charges
Athens police on Monday announced the arrest of an Albanian man caught in
possession of nearly one kilo of heroin, 14.5 kilos of marijuana and 170
grams of cocaine. He was identified as Pano Piero, 39, who police believe
has been selling large quantities of narcotics to dealers in Athens. Piero
was arrested after a surveillance operation lasting almost two weeks.
Another Albanian, Krista Kavo, 33 was arrested in Athens after being found
in possession of two kilos of marijuana, while a third, Claudian Tzatzo, 21
was arrested after police found nearly half a kilo of heroin and 242 grams
of cocaine in his possession.
Disgruntled workers occupy hotel
Former employees of the Porto Carras hotel complex in Sithonia, Chalkidiki
on Monday occupied the premises to protest their dismissal after the
company was sold. The employees are demanding their re-hire, claiming that
the new owner - "Potidaia - Tourist, Hotel and Agricultural Enterprises" -
has violated the purchase agreement. They said the occupation would
continue until a meeting was arranged between representatives of their
labour union, the General Confederation of Greek Labour, the company and
the ministries of labour, development and finance for the purpose of
finding some solution. The approximately 500 employees - 200 permanent and
300 hired on a seasonal basis - have ejected the manager and other
senior staff members from the hotel and are blocking the main entrance.
Montenegro underlines press freedom
Montenegrin government press secretary Bozidar Yaredic emphasised today his
country's insistence on promoting freedom of the press and free speech,
repeatedly drawing a difference between Montenegro and Serbia. Citing
"internal pressures" on his government by Belgrade, Yaredic said EU
sanctions on the whole of Yugoslavia were taking a severe toll on his
republic's economy and development, with only some 20 per cent of the adult
workforce among a population of about 650,000 residents in Montenegro fully
employed. Yaredic reiterated that his government favours an expanded
autonomy in the troubled Yugoslav province of Kosovo but absolutely no
change of borders or independence.
WEATHER
Mostly fair weather is forecast throughout the country today. Winds north,
northweasterly in the west and east, light to strong, and very strong in
the southern Aegean, easing off towards evening. Athens will be mostly
sunny with scattered cloud and temperatures ranging from 2-13C. Same in
Thessaloniki with temperatures from -1C to 10C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Monday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 275.687
Pound sterling 456.161 Japanese yen (100) 242.028
French franc 48.814 German mark 163.715
Italian lira (100) 16.537 Irish Punt 406.567
Belgian franc 7.937 Finnish mark 53.853
Dutch guilder 145.299 Danish kr. 43.833
Austrian sch. 23.270 Spanish peseta 1.924
Swedish kr. 35.597 Norwegian kr. 37.091
Swiss franc 200.131 Port. Escudo 1.597
Aus. dollar 175.405 Can. dollar 182.151
Cyprus pound 550.421
(M.P.)
|
