Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek public investments programme payments up 50 pct, yr/yr

[02] ND leader discusses expatriate Hellenism issues with council leader

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[04] Athens organisers brief IOC leadership on progress for Games

[05] Weather Forecast: Maximum temperature of 41C on Friday

[06] Greek stocks end mixed to higher on Thursday

[01] Greek public investments programme payments up 50 pct, yr/yr

The Greek government on Thursday reported that payments in a Public Investments Programme rose to 3.383 billion euros at the end of June, from 2.736 billion euros the previous month, accounting for 38 percent of the total programme this year, worth 8.918 billion euros.

The government said that the June figure was around 50 percent higher from the same period last year (2.269 million euros). A government statement said that funding decisions issued by June 30, 2003, totalled five million euros, more than 56 percent of total payment limit, while June payments totalled 646.5 million euros.

[02] ND leader discusses expatriate Hellenism issues with council leader

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis received Council of Hellenes Abroad President Andrew Athens at the party's head office on Thursday, according to an announcement issued by the party.

Karamanlis also met with AHEPA President James Dimitriou, who was accompanied by a delegation of the organisation.

Talks held during the meetings focused on latest developments regarding expatriate Hellenism issues. The importance attributed by ND to expatriate organisations for promoting national issues, both in the United States and the rest of the world, was also stressed.

The ND leader expressed his thanks to the Greek expatriates for continuous efforts they are making to improve the country's position all over the world.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.154

Pound sterling 0.695

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.247

Japanese yen 136.8

Swiss franc 1.564

Norwegian kroner 8.337

Cyprus pound 0.592

Canadian dollar 1.551

Australian dollar 1.699

[04] Athens organisers brief IOC leadership on progress for Games

PRAGUE (ANA - D. Kalabakas) -- Athens 2004 organisers (ATHOC) on Thursday briefed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the Lausanne-based organisation's 115th session here, with ATHOC chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki presenting plans for competitions, facilities, various ongoing construction works, security, the volunteers programme, transports and even hospitality.

?Were nearing the final stretch with great speed and confidence. We still have a lot to do,? she told the IOCs leadership and delegates from around the world.

However, the ATHOC chief appeared confident that Athens would be able to pull off splendid Games.

Both IOC President Jacques Rogge and top executive Denis Oswald, who heads the IOC commission overseeing progress for the 2004 Games, complemented organisers over their stepped up efforts to make up for past delays and to achieve the current rate of progress.

However, Oswald again cited a handful of projects he said were on very tight deadlines, including the Karaiskaki stadium where the football finals will be held; a 2.5-kilometre coastal stretch of the new Athens tram network, as well as an ambitious project to build a state-of-the-art glass/metal dome over the main Olympic stadium (OAKA).

"Athens faces a huge challenge. There can be no more incidents,"

Oswald reiterated in the Czech capital.

The Swiss IOC vice-president will, in fact, return to Athens between July 15-17 to head up an inspection team some 13 months before the Games return to the place of their birth.

[05] Weather Forecast: Maximum temperature of 41C on Friday

Hot, sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country. Storms may break out on high ground in Epirus and Thrace from late afternoon. Winds northwesterly, light. In the west and north, temperatures will range from 20C to 38C; on the rest of the mainland from 21C to 41C; and in the Aegean islands from 24C to 38C. Temperatures in Athens will range between 24C and 41C; and in Thessaloniki from 22C to 38C.

[06] Greek stocks end mixed to higher on Thursday

Greek stocks ended mixed to higher on Thursday supported by continued buying activity in blue chip stocks, particularly banks, while smaller capitalisation stocks came under profit taking pressure and eased in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The general index managed to recover earlier losses to end 0.32 percent higher at 1,952.13 points, with turnover an improved 186.1 million euros.

The Construction, Banks and Cement sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (2.08 percent, 1.48 percent and 1.42 percent, respectively), while the Base Metal, Textile, Food-Beverage and Telecommunications sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (3.46 percent, 1.27 percent, 1.11 percent and 1.08 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.63 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.29 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.14 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 188 to 135 with another 37 issues unchanged.

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