Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-11-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] IOC's Rogge pleased with 2004 preparations

[02] Central bank chief says EU growth & stability pact still alive

[03] Greece plans to destroy its landmines on Greek-Turkish border

[04] Photographic exhibition to open in Athens' airport

[05] Greek National Tourism Organisation gets new chief

[06] Noted politician, academic Pesmazoglou dies at 86

[07] Ecumenical Patriarch to visit Austria in March

[08] Weather Forecast: Cloudy on Friday

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

[10] ASE ends higher for fifth consecutive session on Thursday

[01] IOC's Rogge pleased with 2004 preparations

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge on Thursday again expressed his satisfaction with ongoing preparations for next years Olympic Games, citing progress made on a variety of venues plagued by extremely tight construction deadlines.

Rogge spoke during a press conference at the Athens 2004 Olympic Organising Committees Nea Ionia headquarters, a day after attending a high-profile ceremony officially unveiling the global route for the Olympic torch relay.

Touching on a handful of projects that in the past earned the IOCs close scrutiny, Rogge told reporters he was pleased with the progress of construction for domes over the main Olympic stadium (OAKA) and an adjacent velodrome.

Asked about elections in the country next spring, the powerful IOC president said he does not believe the campaign will affect Olympic preparations in any way, saying everyone wants the 2004 Olympics to be successful.

He said the same holds true if there is a change of government, saying that a changeover two or three years before the Games can certainly affect preparations, but not two or three months before the Olympics -- particularly in terms of security planning or measures.

Asked about the all-important security issue for the Games, Rogge again stressed that this field is the number one priority around the world following Sept. 11, something that is always the IOCs primary concern as well. He again stated that it is impossible to absolutely, 100 percent, guarantee security for the Games.

Finally, he said the IOC will examine the issue of holding the mens shot-put event in ancient Olympia on a comprehensively, with the final decision resting with the Lausanne-based organisations executive council.

[02] Central bank chief says EU growth & stability pact still alive

A European Union plan to align the economies of its member states and spur growth is still alive, despite a major erosion of credibility, central bank chief Nikos Garganas said on Thursday.

Eurozone countries were aware of the credibility gap, but the growth and stability pact would remain in placein the long term and was unlikely to be scrapped, Garganas told a news conference.

In addition, no revision of the agreement was planned, and there was no alternative solution. A federal budget could not be introduced as most eurozone countries were against the move.

''There has to be a framework of fiscal discipline on an EU level, which the pact 'guarantees','' he said.

At the same time, structural reform was needed as agreed at the bloc's Lisbon summit but the level of change so far was lower than anticipated, said the Bank of Greece governor.

[03] Greece plans to destroy its landmines on Greek-Turkish border

Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis on Thursday said that the destruction of landmines on the Greek-Turkish border has not begun yet, but it will happen as soon as technical problems are resolved.

''The process for the destruction of the landmines has not begun yet, since there exists a series of practical issues. It is the aim of Greece and Turkey to begin the destruction of the mines on their common borders as soon as this technical process has been completed,'' Beglitis said.

Greece and Turkey submitted the necessary ratification documents for the Ottawa International Treaty to the United Nations last September, Beglitis noted, adding that after the completion of the ratification process the two states will be bound by this treaty.

[04] Photographic exhibition to open in Athens' airport

A photographic exhibition entitled ''HallasTM: The new image of Greece'' will be hosted at the ''Eleftherios Venizelos'' Athens International Airport, from Monday to June 30, showcasing Greece's historical course toward the new era of communications and cooperation of cultures and people.

[05] Greek National Tourism Organisation gets new chief

A new chief for the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) took office on Thursday.

Appointed by the development ministry, Nikos Dimadis replaces Ioannis Patelis as head of the GNTO.

Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said Dimadis would shoulder the burden of implementing reforms announced by the government in the tourism sector, beginning with an immediate start of operations for a GNTO subsidiary that will handle publicity and marketing.

A second priority was evolving cooperation with the private sector, especially due to a major influx of tourists next year for the Athens 2004 Olympics, Tsohatzopoulous said.

[06] Noted politician, academic Pesmazoglou dies at 86

Yiangos Pesmazoglou, an academic and noted Greek politician, died peacefully at the age of 86 in his home in Athens on Thursday, having been survived by his wife of 58 years Miranda and his two sons.

The funeral will take place at the A' Cemetery of Athens on Saturday.

[07] Ecumenical Patriarch to visit Austria in March

VIENNA (ANA/D. Dimitrakoudis) - Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will officially visit Austria between March 3 and 9, 2004, at the invitation of the Austrian government, conducting the first such visit by a Patriarch.

The visit coincides with the bicentennial anniversary of the founding of the National School of Vienna, the oldest Greek community school outside the country that has recorded continual operation.

The Greek community in Vienna will also celebrate the bicentennial since the founding of the first Greek Orthodox Church in the city that of Agios Georgios, which is located in the center of the city at what is known as the Greek neighborhood.

The double bicentennial celebration will be held on Sunday March 7, 2004 at the Vienna Metropolitan Church of Agia Triada and will be officiated by the Patriarch, while Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos is expected to be present for the event.

[08] Weather Forecast: Cloudy on Friday

Cloudy weather is forecast throughout the country with showers mainly in the west, which may also see storms. Winds southerly, moderate to strong. Temperatures steady, with a minimum of 14C and maximum of 18C in Athens; and in Thessaloniki, 12C to 15C.

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.199

Pound sterling 0.700

Danish kroner 7.499

Swedish kroner 9.109

Japanese yen 131.0

Swiss franc 1.561

Norwegian kroner 8.229

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.569

Australian dollar 1.660

[10] ASE ends higher for fifth consecutive session on Thursday

Greek stocks remained on an upward trend for the fifth consecutive session in the Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday pushing the general index 0.42 percent higher to 2,183.09 points, reflecting improved sentiment in the Greek bourse. Turnover was an improved 167.1 million euros.

The Textile and IT sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (2.29 percent and 1.99 percent, respectively), followed by the Holding and Telecommunications sectors (up 1.51 percent and 1.36 percent, respectively).

The Retail (-0.72 percent), Cement (-0.69 percent) and Industrial (-0.07 percent) sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.36 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.51 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 1.28 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 208 to 101 with another 50 issues unchanged.

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