Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-03-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis visits Haidari university hospital

[02] Inflation-February

[03] Secondary Bond Market-Close

[04] Foreign Exchange Market-Close

[05] Minoan Flying Dolphins-NEL

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday

[07] Athens Derivatives Market-Close

[08] Symi - Residents - Protest

[09] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

[10] Coastal shipping-wage settlement

[11] ASE-close

[01] Simitis visits Haidari university hospital

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday said his government will not hesitate to clash with private interests in the health sector.

"We will not hesitate to clash with private interests in the health sector, as well as with practices and mentalities which downgrade treatment according to the conscience of the Greek citizen," he said during a visit at the new regional university hospital of Western Attica, being built in the Athens area of Haidari.

Simitis, accompanied by government officials and Health Minister Lambros Papadimas and in the presence of many local inhabitants, toured the hospital's premises and was briefed on the progress of work.

He called on doctors and paramedics to be pioneers in the new era of the National Health System (ESY), adding that every difficult case handled in private clinics is ultimately treated at state hospitals.

Simitis said that in past years the number of Greeks chosing to go for treatment abroad has decreased, as they are showing confidence to Greek hospitals and Greek doctors more and more.

Outlining what has been achieved in the health sector so far, Simitis said the upgrading of 700 beds in hospitals in the Attica area is being completed, while the considerable amount of 114 billion drachmas from the 3rd Community Support Framework will be used to improve the hotel infrastructure at hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki. He said the target is to have hospitals providing both good medical services and a civilised environment for treatment.

On his part, Papadimas said the hospital will be completed in a year's time, it will have a capacity of 735 beds and will be fully integrated in the duty system. According to assessments, its cost will amount to 30 billion drachmas.

[02] Inflation-February

Consumer price inflation is expected to rise to 2.8 percent year-on-year in February from 2.6 percent in January, but Greece will still meet the Maastricht criterion for euro-zone entry, a government source said on Monday.

Last month's inflation figure is due to be announced officially on Tuesday.

[03] Secondary Bond Market-Close

Bonds in the domestic secondary market retained their high levels in quiet trade on Monday ahead of Greece's application to join the euro zone, due to be submitted to the European Union on March 9.

[04] Foreign Exchange Market-Close

The drachma gained slightly on the euro in unspectacular domestic foreign exchange trade on Monday and ended almost flat versus the US dollar.

[05] Minoan Flying Dolphins-NEL

Minoan Flying Dolphins, the country's largest passenger shipper, announced on Monday that it was withdrawing its interest in an alliance with Lesvos-based NEL, a smaller sector firm.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates-Tuesday

Following are indicative foreign exchange buying rates for commercial banks released by the central bank for the next working day.

Tuesday's rates (buying)

Euro 331.020

U.S. dollar 343.014

[07] Athens Derivatives Market-Close

Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished mostly flat or slightly higher on Monday roughly in line with the stock indices on which they are based.

On the Athens bourse, the FTSE/ASE 20 index ended 0.08 percent up; and the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index closed 0.72 percent higher.

[08] Symi - Residents - Protest

A total of 1,276 residents of the Dodecanese island of Symi surrendered their voting cards on Monday to protest the lack of state-appointed physicians on the picturesque isle.

According to reports, a delegation of some 50 Symi residents arrived on nearby Rhodes and handed over the cards at the Dodecanese prefecture building. Although regional and central government officials later arrived on the spot to promise that appointments are forthcoming, the delegation proceeded with the protest and demanded the immediate appointment of a pediatrician and general practitioner for the small island just off the Asia Minor coast.

General elections are scheduled in Greece on April 9.

[09] Weather Forecast-Tuesday

Sunny weather is forecast throughout the country on Tuesday with scattered cloud in the east and south.

[10] Coastal shipping-wage settlement

The Panhellenic Merchant Seamen's Union (PNO) will ask for a seven percent pay rise this year, at the opening of wage settlement negotiations with the Greek Union of Coastal Shipping Owners on Tuesday.

On the other hand, shipowners are expected to support lower pay rises due to the impact of rising international oil prices.

The national seamen's union said that higher pay rises in 2000 were justified following the drachma's slide last year that shrunk seamen's wage purchasing power.

PNO also demands readjustment of the organic composition on ships to respond to the market's real needs.

[11] ASE-close

Equity prices ended Monday's session slightly lower on the Athens Stock Exchange, unable to hold their initial gains as lack of follow-through buying combined with low turnover led investors to profit-taking.

Dealers said sentiment remained fragile although the week is expected to be full of positive economic news.

On Wednesday, the Bank of Greece is expected to announce a cut in its intervention rates by 75 basis points, and on Thursday the government will submit its formal application to participate in EMU.

Buying focused on blue chip stocks, particularly in the Industrial sector, while Construction shares came under heavy pressure.

The general index ended 0.32 percent lower at 5,100.63 points, off the day's highs of 5,178.98 and its lows of 5,090.83 points.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.08 percent to 2,824.84 points, while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.73 percent to 797.87 points.

Turnover was a moderate 220.83 billion drachmas.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 1,180.78 points, off 1.57 percent.

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