Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-12-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] '17N' trial proposed sentences announced

[02] Greece, Turkey agreement over air corridors

[03] Latest poll shows ND lead over PASOK at June levels

[04] Fifty-one ancient graves discovered in Serres

[05] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR, violate national airspace

[06] SAE World Congress in Thessaloniki to be dedicated to 2004 Olympic

[07] Taxi strike on Thursday

[08] Weather Forecast: Rain, storms on Thursday

[09] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks nose up, bucking trend in European markets

[10] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[01] '17N' trial proposed sentences announced

The special court trying the 'November 17' terrorist group case on Wednesday announced the proposed sentences for the 15 defendants convicted in the rulings announced Monday. Four other defendants were acquitted in the verdicts passed down on Monday.

The court will confer on the proposals, and is due to pass down the sentences next week.

Bench prosecutor Christos Lambrou, representing the state, called for multiple life sentences for 17N leader Alexandros Giotopoulos (21), main hitman Dimitris Koufodinas (13), Xiros brothers Savvas (6) and Christodoulos (10), and Vassilis Tzortzatos (3), and a life sentence for Iraklis Kostaris.

[02] Greece, Turkey agreement over air corridors

Greek and Turkish authorities on Wednesday signed a relevant Letter of Agreement in Paris, within the framework of ICAO, regarding new civilian air corridors over the Aegean.

A foreign ministry spokesman made the announcement in Athens, while adding that all necessary technical details regarding the agreements were finalised.

Spokesman Panos Beglitis stressed that the agreement is a particularly positive development for Greece.

[03] Latest poll shows ND lead over PASOK at June levels

The latest opinion poll released this week shows main opposition New Democracys (ND) lead over ruling PASOK at Junes levels, namely, 38.9 percent to 30.7 percent for the latter party.

The 8.2-percent difference comes after the ruling party apparently closed the gap somewhat over the summer and until October, when it announced a series of political and economic initiatives.

According to the MRB firms poll, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was preferred by 5.1 percent of respondents, followed by 3.6 percent for the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos); 2.1 percent for DIKKI; 2.7 percent for the newly formed LA.OS and 17 percent declaring themselves undecided.

[04] Fifty-one ancient graves discovered in Serres

Fifty-one ancient graves dating from the archaic to the Hellenistic eras have been found in the ancient city of Neo Skopos in Serres, where part of the necropolis has been uncovered.

Other graves have been discovered on the western side of the present-day settlement in the past.

According to archaeologists, the majority of the graves are empty and several have been looted, though some of them contain clay urns and copper jewellery that have been transferred to the Serres archaeological museum.

They also show that burial was preferred during funeral rites in the archaic era, while funeral pyres prevailed in Hellenistic times.

[05] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR, violate national airspace

Fifteen formations of Turkish warplanes infringed the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) 15 times on Wednesday and on 14 occasions they violated Greek national airspace in the central and eastern Aegean, press reports said.

In all cases, the 41 Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted by Greek jets. It was also reported that seven of the Turkish jets were armed.

[06] SAE World Congress in Thessaloniki to be dedicated to 2004 Olympic Games

The 5th World Congress of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), to be held at the ''N. Germanos'' Conference Centre in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, from December 11-14, will be dedicated to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and its projection.

During the congress, a review will also be made of SAE's work during the past two years while its new objectivives for the next four-year period will be determined. Furthermore, decisions will be taken on the institutional changes in the operation of organised Hellenism in light of the voting of the executive law of the constitution for the SAE which is being advanced by the foreign ministry.

In a press conference in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis said the congress will contribute to the process for the renewal of SAE and the safeguarding, as much as possible, of its representation. Therefore, for the first time, taking part as regular delegates, will be representatives of the Greeks of Istanbul and Albania, while the status of observers is abolished. Also taking part will be 60 new organisations.

On his part, SAE President Andrew Athens said at the press conference that Greek expatriates will contribute for the success of the Olympic Games, noting that a briefing campaign will start in schools in the U.S. and Canada.

[07] Taxi strike on Thursday

Taxi owners will go on strike on Thursday to protest the government's move to begin controls on whether they have installed or ordered for installation the new, obligatory, cash receipt registers.

The strike will begin on Thursday at 5 a.m. and will last until Friday 5 a.m.

During the meeting of their union representatives on Thursday they will decide whether their strike will last longer than this 24-hour action.

[08] Weather Forecast: Rain, storms on Thursday

Rain is forecast throughout the country with storms in the west. Winds very strong to gale force. Temperatures up slightly, with a minimum of 7C and maximum of 13C in Athens; and in Thessaloniki, 1C to 8C.

[09] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks nose up, bucking trend in European markets

The Athens bourse finished higher on Wednesday, bucking a decline in other European markets.

The general share index gained 0.14 percent to end at 2,201.20 points. Turnover was 167.7 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.25 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.24 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with losses of 0.87 percent.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 225 to 69 with 61 issues remaining unchanged.

[10] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.233

Pound sterling 0.708

Danish kroner 7.501

Swedish kroner 9.008

Japanese yen 133.3

Swiss franc 1.558

Norwegian kroner 8.195

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.617

Australian dollar 1.666

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