Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-04-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO chief discusses Euro-army, Mideast crisis, with PM Simitis

[02] PM and FM arrive in Bucharest for tripartite cooperation (Recasts-more)

[03] 'Economist's' int'l conference focuses on Cyprus issue on Thurs.

[04] Greek-Turkish Chamber officials end tour of SE Turkey

[05] World congress of sports editors begins in Athens on Tuesday

[06] First international sports management conference in Athens

[07] Bank workers to strike Friday

[08] Olympic Airways to seek damages from state over strike

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[10] Weather Forecast: Unsettled on Friday

[11] Greek stocks end Thursday's session flat

[01] NATO chief discusses Euro-army, Mideast crisis, with PM Simitis

Problems in European Union cooperation with non-EU countries which, however, are NATO member states regarding the Euro-army, NATO-Russia cooperation, the Middle East crisis and the situation in the Balkans were the focus of talks between Greek premier Costas Simitis and visiting NATO secretary general George Robertson on Thursday.

The meeting with Lord Robertson was also attended by foreign and defence ministers George Papandreou and Yannos Papantoniou.

On the euro-army, Robertson clarified that he had not come to Athens with any plans, but just to underline that a collective, flexible solution needed to be given since the European Union's common foreign and defence policy concerned all Europeans.

He added, however, that he understood Greece's concerns over the problem that has arisen.

Simitis reiterated that Greece could not accept the ''Ankara Text'', adding that Athens was discussing, with constructive proposals, other possibilities for seeking a different solution.

Athens opposes a US-British text signed in Ankara that would enable intervention by Turkey, a non-EU country, in the EU's crisis management operations when NATO infrastructures are used.

[02] PM and FM arrive in Bucharest for tripartite cooperation (Recasts-more)

BUCHAREST (ANA - Ch. Poulidou) - Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived here on Thursday night, accompanied by Foreign Minister George Papandreou, to attend a summit between Romania, Greece and Bulgaria and with the participation of Presidents Ion Iliescu and Georgi Parvanov.The tripartite cooperation is expected to adopt a statement which, among others, will underline the need for recognition of ''multiethnicity'' in the region for the consolidation of ''viable growth, stability and security''.

[03] 'Economist's' int'l conference focuses on Cyprus issue on Thurs.

Discussions focusing on the prolonged Cyprus issue kicked off the second day of sessions at the Economist Groups 6th ?Government Roundtable? on Thursday at an Athens seaside resort. The session, entitled of ?The Cyprus Question: Back to the Negotiation Table??, coincided with the start of a third round of direct talks on the island republic this week.

Cypriot political leader Tassos Papadopoulos first took the podium to emphasise that the Cyprus solution must come via negotiations, before stressing that the Turkish sides intransigence, as he charged, marks the main obstacle towards finding a solution to the 28-year-old problem of division on the island.

Papadopoulos, the head of the Democratic Party of Cyprus and president of the island republics Parliamentary committee for European affairs, outlined what a prospective resolution should entail, namely, Cyprus as a unified state and not two separate nations.

Moreover, he echoed both Nicosias and Athens standing position that the prospect of Cyprus EU accession marks the best possible opportunity to solve the problem.

[04] Greek-Turkish Chamber officials end tour of SE Turkey

ISTANBUL (ANA) - Officials of the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce on Thursday wound up a tour of four southeastern Turkish cities as part of a programme to inform businesses of investment opportunities in the two countries. Also arranging the visit was the Greek consulate in Istanbul and Turkey's Council for External Economic Relations. On the last day of the trip, the delegation visited Adana, Turkey's sixth largest city. The area specialises in agricultural produce, mainly fruit. On Wednesday, the officials toured, Gaziantep, a large city in southeastern Turkey, which processes farm products and manufactures industrial goods that are mainly destined for export. Economic ties between Greece and Turkey rose sharply in 2000 with trade totalling one billion US dollars.

[05] World congress of sports editors begins in Athens on Tuesday

The World Congress of the International Association of Sports Editors (AIPS) will take place in Athens and Ancient Olympia from April 23-28, with the participation of representatives from 28 countries. The congress, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Greek Sports Press Association (PSAT), will give the opportunity to the sports editors from all over the world to be briefed on the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Also taking part in the sessions will be several representatives of international sports federations such as the IAAF, FIFA and FIBA.

[06] First international sports management conference in Athens

The 1st International Congress of Sports 2002 on ''Sports Management and Marketing in the 3rd Millennium'' will be held in Athens on September 11-15, while a press conference on the event was held in the Athens suburb of Marousi on Thursday.

The municipality of Marousi and the Marousi Marketing Group (MMG) company are organising the international conference which has met with widespread acceptance.

[07] Bank workers to strike Friday

Bank personnel are to stage a 24-hour strike on Friday following a breakdown in talks with employers on pay for 2002 and 2003, their union federation said.

Negotiators have rejected an offer by the Union of Greek banks for wage increases of 2.8 percent and 2.5 percent for this year and next.

[08] Olympic Airways to seek damages from state over strike

Olympic Airways is to seek compensation of 2.0 billion drachmas from the state for earnings lost due to a 24-hour strike on Thursday called by labour centres nationwide to protest against a government overhaul of the social insurance system.

The ailing national carrier carried out one flight per domestic and international destination because of the walkout. The strike led to the cancellation of most flights, resulting in the loss of earnings.

Management had sought a court order declaring the strike by Olympic staff illegal but the ruling came at about 11 am on Thursday after the walkout had begun at midnight.

The application for the court order had been made in good time, management said.

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro

U.S. dollar 0.896

Pound sterling 0.620

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.226

Japanese yen 117.0

Swiss franc 1.480

Norwegian kroner 7.695

Cyprus pound 0.580

Canadian dollar 1.409

Australian dollar 1.666

[10] Weather Forecast: Unsettled on Friday

Cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to showers and storms on the mainland, especially in the late afternoon. Mostly sunny in the Ionian with showers in other island areas. Winds northerly, moderate to strong, turning very strong in parts of the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 8C to 16C; on the rest of the mainland from 10C to 20C; and in the islands from 13C to 20C. Light cloud in Athens with temperatures between 12C and 18C. Rain is likely in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 10C to 15C.

[11] Greek stocks end Thursday's session flat

Equity prices ended Thursday's session flat reflecting lack of fresh buying interest in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The general index ended 0.05 percent higher at 2,203.27 points, reflecting a rebound in blue chip stocks late in the session, with turnover a low 74.27 million euros.

The Retail and Insurance sectors scored the biggest percentage gains (1.40 percent and 0.80 percent, respectively), while the Holding and IT Solution sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (1.41 percent and 1.17 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.07 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.06 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 0.08 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 163 to 139 with another 47 issues unchanged.

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