Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-07-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Activities of Turkish oceanographic vessel closely monitored, demarche

[02] Electricity workers to stage 48-hour strike starting Weds

[03] Programme launched for Opening and Closing Ceremonies of Olympic Games

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[05] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Wednesday

[06] ASE follows European markets lower on Tuesday

[01] Activities of Turkish oceanographic vessel closely monitored, demarche lodged

The Greek government has lodged a ''strong verbal demarche'' with Turkey and was closely monitoring the activities of the Turkish oceanographic research vessel ''Piri Reis''in the Aegean, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said Tuesday, adding that ''I want to believe that no problem will arise.''

Foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis affirmed that the activities of the Piri Reis were being monitored and that Greece had lodged strong demarches with Turkey, replying to press questions during a briefing.

''First of all, we must say that we are very closely monitoring the development and course of the research activities of the oceanographic vessel Piri Reis, and that we have lodged strong demarches at senior diplomatic level,'' Beglitis said.

He said that Turkish officials ''have reassured us that no seismic exploration will be conducted, just scientific research on the seabed, and in tandem that they desire a close cooperation with the Greek side, so that no problem would arise and in order for Turkey's international obligations to be adhered to.''

As to whether the Piri Reis had entered Greek national waters, ''we are investigating this, but according to early information this does not appear to have occurred,'' Beglitis said, adding that ''the demarche we made also had a strong deterrent character, so that no problem will arise in the coming days.''

[02] Electricity workers to stage 48-hour strike starting Weds

Workers of Athens-quoted Public Power Corporation are to begin a 48-hour strike on Wednesday in protest against a government bill to liberalise the energy sector being debated in parliament.

Management of the state-owned company have asked the public to reduce electricity consumption at peak hours (1200-1500) on the two days of the walkout.

[03] Programme launched for Opening and Closing Ceremonies of Olympic Games

The Recruitment of Volunteers Programme for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, one of the largest and most ambitious artistic challenges in the world, has been launched.

According to an announcement on Tuesday, the ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee (ATHOC) is already accepting Application Forms for Volunteer Performers, as well as Artistic and Technical Support Volunteers for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Approximately 70,000 spectators are estimated to attend the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the Olympic Stadium and more than 4 billion people will watch them on TV.

All performers participating in the celebrations, from the most famous ones to those that step onto a stage for the first time, will be volunteers.

?We are in the exceptionally pleasant position to offer the residents of Greece the opportunity to become part of history by participating in the Ceremonies team. Under the artistic guidance of Dimitris Papaioannou the volunteers will be able to work with talented and internationally acclaimed artists, in order to create and present the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, which will enchant and inspire spectators and TV viewers from all over the world?, ATHOC President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said.

For the Opening and Closing Ceremonies more than 8,000 Volunteer Performers are required with qualifications in dancing, theatre, musical arts and artistic interpretation, as well as athletes specialised in the following areas: athletics, gymnastics, yoga, aerobics, body-building, cycling, martial arts.

More than 2,000 volunteers are required in the areas of Artistic and Technical Support to assist in the preparation and rehearsals of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies; they must have knowledge of and experience in theatrical productions or other artistic events.

All applicants must be 16 years of age by 31st December 2003.

Auditions for the Volunteer Performers selection will begin in October 2003.

It should be noted that the deadline for submitting applications is 15 September 2003.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.141

Pound sterling 0.696

Danish kroner 7.495

Swedish kroner 9.230

Japanese yen 134.8

Swiss franc 1.564

Norwegian kroner 8.352

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.549

Australian dollar 1.708

[05] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Wednesday

Hot, sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country. Winds northerly, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 17C to 31C; on the rest of the mainland from 20C to 33C; and in the islands from 22C to 30C. Temperatures in Athens will range between 24C and 32C; and in Thessaloniki from 23C to 30C.

[06] ASE follows European markets lower on Tuesday

Greek stocks ended Tuesday's session lower in the Athens Stock Exchange as a wave of profit taking in the last half hour of trading hit blue chip stocks, particularly banks, reversing an earlier advance of prices.

A negative picture in other European markets also affected sentiment in the Greek bourse while gains in the telecommunications sector offered only minor support to the market.

The general index fell 0.44 percent to end at 2,006.71 points, with turnover an improved 222.1 million euros.

The Insurance, Banks and Investment sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.92 percent, 1.71 percent and 0.98 percent, respectively), while the Telecommunications (1.88 percent), Publication (1.39 percent) and Holding (1.31 percent) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks eased 0.47 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.50 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 0.41 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 189 to 138 with another 39 issues unchanged.

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