Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-03-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Olympic Airways-Greece-Iran

[02] 2004 Olympics-French Investors

[03] Internet-Transport-Busses

[04] Foreign Exchange Market-Close

[05] Secondary Bond Market-Close

[06] Marfin-Union Bancaire Privee-Mutual Funds

[07] Gov't-Kosovo

[08] Athens Derivatives Trade-Close

[09] Gov't - Kosovo - Tension

[10] Weather Forecast-Thursday

[11] Greece - Turkey - NGOs - Cooperation

[12] Greek shipping register

[13] Seferis - Honored - Izmir

[14] ANEK Lines-profits outlook

[15] ASE-close

[16] Viohalco-capital increase

[17] Industrial production figures

[01] Olympic Airways-Greece-Iran

Greece�s Olympic Airways (OA) plans to begin flights to Tehran, Iran in June, a company official said on Wednesday, according to an Iranian news agency (IRNA) report from Athens.

The report noted that there will be three direct weekly flights between the capitals of the two countries beginning on June 18, marking the first time the airline will fly to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

[02] 2004 Olympics-French Investors

The committee managing the 2004 Olympic Games to be hosted by Athens on Wednesday outlined investment opportunities to a group of visiting French executives.

Addressing the delegation of 120 executives representing a wide range of French products and services were the committee's chairman, Panayotis Thomopoulos, and its managing director, Kostas Bakouris.

[03] Internet-Transport-Busses

The Ministry of Communications and Transport unveiled a new Internet service both in Greek and English for those who want to travel in Greece, using public transportation.

The ministry�s Internet page (www.yme.gr) now includes all intercity bus schedules for 19 of the 52 prefectures of Greece, while soon the rest will also be included.

[04] Foreign Exchange Market-Close

The drachma gained on the euro but fell against the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market on Wednesday.

[05] Secondary Bond Market-Close

Bonds in the domestic secondary market traded briskly in higher turnover on Wednesday, partly fuelled by expectations of a rate hike by the European Central Bank, traders said.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.37 percent from 6.43 percent in the last two trading days and 6.42 percent on Friday.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds fluctuated between 91 and 92 basis points against 96 basis points in the two previous sessions and 98 basis points on Friday.

[06] Marfin-Union Bancaire Privee-Mutual Funds

Marfin Financial Services and Union Bancaire Privee, a Swiss bank, have launched two new mutual funds on the domestic market, the Greek firm said on Wednesday.

Newly created Marfin Mutual Funds will manange the two composite funds - Marfin Greek Focus (mainly domestic equities and bonds), and Marfin International Focus (chiefly equities and bonds abroad).

[07] Gov't-Kosovo

The Greek government on Wednesday said it considers the volatile situation in strife-torn Kosovo over the past few weeks as heading towards normalisation.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the statement in response to a press question, adding however, that the situation in Kosovo remains tense.

[08] Athens Derivatives Trade-Close

Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher on Wednesday in line with the stock indices on which they are based.

On the Athens bourse, the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.03 percent up; and the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 for medium capitalisation stocks closed 0.60 percent higher.

Turnover from futures fell to 5.6 billion drachmas from 7.41 billion drachmas a day earlier and 10.1 billion drachmas on Monday.

[09] Gov't - Kosovo - Tension

The Greek government on Wednesday said it considers the volatile situation in strife-torn Kosovo over the past few weeks as heading towards normalisation.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the statement in response to a press question, adding however, that the situation in Kosovo remains tense.

Reppas mentioned that the ?international presence? in the area guarantees stability, while underlining that any flare-up of fighting in the KFOR-controlled Yugoslav province ?would be disastrous to all.?

Additionally, he said Greece supports the implementation of UN resolution 1244 for the supervision of forces in the region and the inviolability of borders.

He also noted that Athens views any differences between Belgrade and Montenegro as an ?internal issue?, emphasizing that the international community does not accept any changes in the region�s status quo or borders.

Tsohatzopoulos

On his part, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos stressed that any ideas of autonomy and independence in Kosovo will surely ?lead to a conflict?.

Speaking from Thessaloniki, the Greek minister blamed ethnic Kosovo Albanians, the Yugoslav government as well as the international community for the tension in the region.

Commenting on the dispatch of Greek troops to the Mitrovica region in northern Kosovo this week, the scene of violence between Kosovars and French peacekeepers recently, Tsohatzpoulos said all national contingents comprising KFOR are used periodically in trouble spots so as not to warrant an increase in the multinational force�s size.

Finally, he called for the reopening of the Danube to shipping and substantive European Union investments both in Kosovo and the surrounding Balkan states.

[10] Weather Forecast-Thursday

Overcast weather is forecast throughout the country on Thursday, later turning to rain.

In the north, snow will fall on high ground. Storms may occur, especially in the west and rest of mainland Greece.

Winds south-southwesterly, moderate to strong, turning gale force at sea.

[11] Greece - Turkey - NGOs - Cooperation

ISTANBUL (ANA � Kourkoulas) � A protocol of cooperation was signed here this week between the Greek non-governmental organisation (NGO) ?Centre for Strategic Planning and Development (KESSA) � Dimitra? and the Turkish ?Foundation for the Development of Human Resources.?

?With this protocol we begin a long-term and stable cooperation for humanitarian activities in Turkey, Greece and in third countries,? the head of the Greek NGO in Turkey, Costas Sklavounos, said.

[12] Greek shipping register

The Greek shipping register rebounded in February raising its fleet tonnage by 171,147 tons, Merchant Marine Ministry's figures showed on Wednesday.

A ministry report said that 10 new ships hoisted the Greek flag in February with a total tonnage of 349,236 tons, while another nine ships were deleted, of 178,089 tons.

The average age of the newly registered ships was five years while the average age for the deleted ones was 24 years.

Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis expressed his optimism that the new - and biggest - Greek-owned cruise ship "Olympic Voyager" (part of Royal Olympic Cruises' fleet, a member of Louis Group) would be listed on the Greek shipping register.

[13] Seferis - Honored - Izmir

ISTANBUL (ANA � A. Kourkoulas) -- A ceremony commemorating the 100-year anniversary since the birth of Nobel laureate George Seferis was held this week in his native district of Vourla, in modern-day Izmir.

?We�re proud that this municipality of Izmir is the birthplace of such a great Greek poet,? Izmir prefect Kemal Nehrozoglu said in an address.

A representative from the Greek embassy in Ankara also attended the event and read out a message by the Greek culture minister, as Athens has declared the year 2000 as the ?Year of George Seferis?. In addition, the Greek government is also organising an international conference in the western Asia Minor port city on the topic of ?George Seferis: Between East and West?.

Flowers were later laid outside Seferis� ancestral home, now located on a street that two years ago was renamed in honor of the poet.

[14] ANEK Lines-profits outlook

ANEK Lines, a listed Greek coastal shipping company, on Wednesday said it expected its pre-tax profits to rise to 6.7 billion drachmas this year from 6.1 billion in 1999.

The company expects its net profits to reach 5.7 billion drachmas in total revenue of 41.8 billion drachmas also this year.

Predictions included the recently absorbed companies Rethymniaki, ANEK Italia and Lasithi Shipping Co.

ANEK's net profits rose steadily in the last six years. They were 3.2 billion drachmas in 1994, 1.7 bln in 1995, 3.3 billion in 1996, 3.7 billion in 1997 and 5.05 billion drachmas in 1998.

The company recently signed an international syndicated loan. The new capital will be used to finance the building of its two new ferries, worth 205 million euros, in Norway's shipyards. The first ship is expected to be delivered in October and the second in April 2001.

[15] ASE-close

Equity prices rebounded on Wednesday after a three-day decline which pushed the market 4.44 percent lower.

Traders said selective buying for large and medium-sized capitalisation stocks, particularly in the Industrials sector, was the main source of energy in the market. A positive climate in international markets and a sharp drop in long-term yields on Tuesday also encouraged sentiment.

The general index ended 1.22 percent higher at 5,063.45 points, off the day's highs of 5,090.74 points.

Turnover was a low 167.33 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.03 percent to 2,802.28 points, while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.64 percent higher at 787.84 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 1,106.98 points, up 0.29 percent.

[16] Viohalco-capital increase

Viohalco's shareholders on Wednesday approved a share capital increase plan worth 9.513 billion drachmas through the capitalisation of reserves.

The plan envisages the issuing of 95,139,236 new common shares of nominal value of 100 drachmas each to be granted to shareholders on an one-to-one basis.

After the share capital increase, Viohalco's equity capital will total 190,278,472 shares, worth 19.027 billion drachmas.

The group announced that its 1999 turnover exceeded 310 billion drachmas and its pre-tax profits were more than 102 billion drachmas.

Grigoris Constantakopoulos, the board chairman, said that Viohalco's prospects were positive and that the group was implementing an investment programme worth 125 billion drachmas.

[17] Industrial production figures

Greece's composite industrial production index, including mining, manufacturing, electricity and natural gas, increased 4.5 percent in December 1999 from the same month the previous year.

The composite index rose 3.7 percent in the period January-December 1999 compared with the previous year.

Sector indices moved as follows:

The mining production index soared 35.8 percent reflecting a sharp rise in boxite, building material, oil and natural gas production - due to the reopening of the Thassos oil fields.

The manufacturing index rose 1.7 percent, reflecting rises in clothing and footwear, wood and packaging machines.

The electricity-natural gas production index increased 6.7 percent in December.

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