Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-10-24

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] IOC gives Athens 'thumbs up' for Olympics preparations

[02] European defense, int'l developments top agenda of Greek, French DMs

[03] Greek economic climate index up in September, IOBE report

[04] Greek writer honoured by FYROM's Writers Union

[05] Greater Hellenism Foundation organising seminar on El Greco, Velasquez,

[06] Striking taxi drivers forge pact with government

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Saturday

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

[09] Greek stocks rebound on Friday

[01] IOC gives Athens 'thumbs up' for Olympics preparations

The IOC on Friday again gave Athens the ?thumbs up? for its intensely watched Olympics preparations, citing progress in every aspect while at the same time reiterating that deadlines are severely pressing, especially regarding a trio of significant projects.

Top IOC inspector Denis Oswald began a press conference in the Greek capital on Friday by stressing that ?things are getting serious, very close?, before saying that the Lausanne-based organisation is pleased with the answers it got this week in Athens regarding a handful of concerns.

With high-profile 2004 Organising Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki at his side, Oswald stressed that ?no slippage in venue deadlines? was discerned since the last IOC inspection two months ago. He also said the seven Olympic ?test events? that took place in August were ?successfully conducted? despite a smattering of ?minor problems?, as he noted.

?We will be ready for the Games historic homecoming ? We have 10 months and 34 sports (test) events before us. Our goal is the gold,? Angelopoulos-Daskalaki stressed in beginning her comments at the customary press conference held after every IOC inspection.

[02] European defense, int'l developments top agenda of Greek, French DMs meeting

Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou on Friday met with his French counterpart Michele Alliot-Marie and discussed an array of issues concerning the development of the European defense, EU-NATO relations, the European armaments organization, developments in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the cooperation of Greece and France in the the defense industry sector.

Papantoniou briefed his counterpart regarding developments in the Cyprus problem and Greek-Turkish relations, calling 2004 a critical year for Greece's national issues.

The two ministers agreed on strengthening European defense, through the immediate activation of a work-team, which was created during the informal meeting of the defense ministers in Rome, on the establishment of an operational center and on the future structure of the European rapid reaction force.

Both ministers also supported the autonomous operational action of this European force, which will operate either in a complementary fashion to NATO or on its own, but never in competition to NATO.

[03] Greek economic climate index up in September, IOBE report

Greece's economic climate index rose to 98.3 points in September from 97.8 points in July, IOBE (the Institute for Economic and Industrial Research) said on Friday.

The rise reflected an improved climate in the construction sector and better conditions in the retail sector, while the manufacturing and services sectors showed fractional improvement, IOBE said in its report.

The index of business expectations in the manufacturing sector rose to 102.9 points in September, its highest since November 2002, while in the construction sector, the business climate in Greece improved markedly in contrast with a declining sentiment in the rest of the European Union. Around 50 percent of Greek businesses expect improved activity compared with the previous quarter, while prospects for employment were significantly better.

The business expectations' index in the retail sector rose significantly to 116.7 points, reaching the highest levels this year, while in the services sector the index soared to new 2003 highs in September reflecting renewed optimism over the prospects of the sector in the months ahead.

[04] Greek writer honoured by FYROM's Writers Union

SKOPJE (ANA/N. Frangopoulos) - The Writers Union of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) gave Greek writer Constantine Asimakopoulos the literary award ''Literary Sceptre'' during a ceremony held at its offices here on Friday.

Asimakopoulos had been honoured with this distinction in 2001, but the award was delivered on Friday since the Greek writer had been unable to be present two years ago.

[05] Greater Hellenism Foundation organising seminar on El Greco, Velasquez, Goya

The Greater Hellenism Foundation will be organising a seminar titled ''Three Centuries of Spanish Splendour:El Greco, Velasquez, Goya'' in the framework of the Adults Training Programme.

Lectures will be given by painter and art historian Nelli Parastatidou at the Foundation's cultural centre ''Ellinikos Kosmos'' on November 3, 10 and 24.

[06] Striking taxi drivers forge pact with government

Taxi owners are due to end their strikefollowing an agreement forged with the government during talks on Friday.

Although the SATA union made no announcement of an end to the stoppage, which was originally due at 5am on Saturday, taxis in Athens and the provinces began reappearing on the streets.

Under the terms of the agreement made with Deputy Finance Minister Apostolos Fotiadis, taxis will carry electronic cash registers starting on January 1, 2004; and all cab drivers and owners will pay income tax under the regular system beginning on January 1, 2005.

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Saturday

All parts of the country will see cloud, with showers and storms in the northeast and eastern Aegean that will soon ease off. Winds variable, light to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 10C to 21C; in the west from 15C to 24C; and in the rest of the country from 17C to 26C. Temperatures in Athens between 18C and 24C; and in Thessaloniki from 15C to 20C.

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.187

Pound sterling 0.700

Danish kroner 7.490

Swedish kroner 9.122

Japanese yen 130.0

Swiss franc 1.559

Norwegian kroner 8.305

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.553

Australian dollar 1.696

[09] Greek stocks rebound on Friday

A 2.9 percent rise in Public Power Corporation's share price helped Greek stocks to a moderate recovery in the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday, reversing a two-day sharp fall.

Demand for PPC's shares rose significantly as the market discounted a positive outcome in a third flotation by the company.

The general index rose 0.47 percent to end at 2,102.10 points, with turnover a moderate 98.1 million euros. The index ended the week with a net loss of 1.06 percent.

The Holding and Industrial sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (0.74 percent and 0.72 percent, respectively), while the Investment and Bank sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (0.67 percent and 0.58 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.19 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.20 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.12 percent up.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 163 to 130 with another 68 issues unchanged.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article