Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-08-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't: Humanitarian measure for FYROM citizens a success

[02] Athens confirms int'l interest in detained Russian media baron

[03] Intracom signs 5.8-mln-euro contract with Merchant Marine ministry

[04] NY State assembly delegation in Athens this week

[05] Weather Forecast: Sporadic showers on Wednesday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[07] Greek stocks remain under pressure on Tuesday

[01] Gov't: Humanitarian measure for FYROM citizens a success

The government on Tuesday announced that a total of 382 citizens from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) have visited Greece under a special humanitarian measure allowing visits into the country by individuals considered by Athens as political refugees who had fled Greece as a result of the 1946-49 civil war.

Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos, who chaired a meeting of officials at the foreign ministry to evaluate the success of the programme, said that 281 of them had now returned back home and that 125 visited Greece for the first time, most of whom were retired and aged people, whose aim was to visit their birthplace in Greece.

The purely humanitarian initiative implemented by the Greek foreign ministry was warmly welcomed by the FYROM government, as well as by the international press and local media.

During Tuesday's meeting, also discussed was the likelihood to repeat the measure given its success, Loverdos said.

[02] Athens confirms int'l interest in detained Russian media baron

The Greek government on Tuesday laconically commented on the case of an outlaw Russian media baron arrested at the Athens airport last week and being held on an Interpol warrant issued by Russian authorities.

Vladimir Gusinskiy, 51, was jailed on Monday by an appellate level prosecutor in Athens pending a ruling on his case by the countrys high court.

?Its clear that there is significant international interest surrounding the issue of Russian businessman Gusinskiy,? a government spokesman said during a regular press briefing in the Greek capital.

According to a handful front-page news stories in Athens dailies on Tuesday, the arrest of the one-time chief of Moscow-based Media-Most Holdings and the NTV broadcast network, has generated international pressure from certain quarters calling for the Russian fugitives release.

He had arrived in Athens aboard a flight from Tel-Aviv on Thursday and was travelling with both Russian and Israeli passports.

According to reports, Gusinskiy has been wanted since late 2000 in connection with a multi-million-dollar money laundering and loan fraud scandal, that according to some press reports, tops the 250-million-dollar mark.

According to wire stories from Moscow on Tuesday, Russian prosecutors are preparing a request to extradite the man.

[03] Intracom signs 5.8-mln-euro contract with Merchant Marine ministry

Intracom, in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, on Tuesday announced the signing of a contract with Merchant Marine Ministry, worth 5.8 million euros, for the extension of a National System for Maritime Traffic Management (VTMIS), based on the VTS and RTS centres of Rafina and Lavrio ports.

Under the supply agreement, the consortium will install four radars in Evia, Lavrio, Andros and Kea islands.

A ministry statement said that the project aimed to offer a wider coverage of Greek seas and offer a more efficient management of sea transport, sea safety and protecting the sea environment.

[04] NY State assembly delegation in Athens this week

A New York State assembly delegation arrives on Thursday for an official visit to Athens, at the invitation of Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis. Talks are expected to focus on international efforts at fighting international terrorism.

''Our discussions in Athens will focus on international terrorism and ways to deal with it,'' NY State representative Michael Giannaris told the Athens News Agency.

''Athens is organising the 2004 Olympic Games and New York City is a candidate host-city for the 2012 Games. Therefore, we have a lot to discuss, and our Greek hosts will have a lot to say to us based on their own experience'', he added.

The NY delegation will visit Cyprus on Wednesday, where NY state legislators will meet with President of the Cyprus Republic Tassos Papadopoulos and other top government officials.

[05] Weather Forecast: Sporadic showers on Wednesday

Sporadic showers is forecast in western Greece and in the mainland on Wednesday with also the possibility of showers in the Cycladic islands and Crete mainly in the afrenoon. Winds variable, light to moderate. Temperatures in the north will range from 19C to 34C; in western Greece from 21C to 37C; and in the Aegean islands from 23C to 33C. Temperatures in Athens between 25C and 35C; and in Thessaloniki from 22C to 33C.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.090

Pound sterling 0.697

Danish kroner 7.490

Swedish kroner 9.352

Japanese yen 128.0

Swiss franc 1.549

Norwegian kroner 8.389

Cyprus pound 0.589

Canadian dollar 1.528

Australian dollar 1.694

[07] Greek stocks remain under pressure on Tuesday

A wave of profit taking in blue chip stocks, particularly banks, kept Greek stock prices under pressure for the second consecutive session in the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

The general index fell 1.80 percent to end at 2,251.48 points, reflecting mainly a 3.21 percent drop in the bank sector.

Turnover remained a high 189.6 million euros.

The Retail sector was the only one to score gains (0.42 percent), while the Investment, Holding and Textiles sectors suffered heavy percentage losses (3.06 percent, 2.74 percent and 2.68 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks dropped 2.09 percent, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 2.06 percent and the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.27 percent lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 307 to 40 with another 18 issues unchanged.

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