Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-03-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Public order minister stresses need for European strategy against

[02] National Bank of Greece gets new governor

[03] Greek participation at the International Book Fair in Paris

[04] Pat Cox due in Athens on Saturday for Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

[06] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Saturday

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop in edgy trade

[01] Public order minister stresses need for European strategy against terrorism

BRUSSELS (ANA/M. Spinthourakis) - Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis stressed the need here on Friday for a main European strategy to be defined to combat international terrorism.

Voulgarakis also indicated to the country's partners that Greece looks forward to the cooperation and assistance of European Union member-states to strengthen security for the Athens Olympic Games.

The public order minister, who represented Greece at the EU council with Justice Minister Anastassis Papaligouras, told Greek reporters that it is clear now that following the terrorist attacks in Madrid the EU has realised the immediate need of strengthening cooperation between its member-states on issues concerning terrorism and between national intelligence and security services in particular.

To this end, Friday's special EU Internal Affairs Council decided to approve the appointment of a special coordinator for terrorism issues.

It was also decided that relevant officials from the intelligence and security services of the enlarged EU's 25 member-states will convene next week to examine ways of improving their cooperation from now on.

[02] National Bank of Greece gets new governor

National Bank of Greeces board of directors on Friday unanimously elected Takis Arapoglou as chairman and governor of the country's largest credit institution to replace the late Theodoros Karatzas, whose term lasted until 2005.

The bank's board of directors comprises executive members Takis Arapoglou, who is also chairman and governor; Theodoros Pantalakis; Andreas Vranas and Apostolos Tamvakakis as deputy governors; as non-executive members the metropolitan bishop of Ioannina, Theoklitos, Dimitrios Daskalopoulos, Vassilios Konstantakopoulos, George Lanaras, Miltiadis Nektarios, Ioannis Panagopoulos, Dimitrios Papoulias, Vassilios Rapanos and Avraam Triantafyllidis; and as independent non-executive members George Tsougiopoulos and Panagiotis Lambropoulos.

The board has retained the current allocation of duties of the governor and deputy governors.

[03] Greek participation at the International Book Fair in Paris

The 24th International Book Fair (March 19-24), which this year honours Chinese literature, opened in Paris on Thursday. Greece is participating with its own pavilion, in an effort to promote Greek literature to publishers and the many visitors who attend the fair each year.

Greece's participation was co-organised by The National Book Centre of Greece, the Panhellenic Federation of Publishers and Book Sellers, the European Centre for the Translation of Literature and Human Sciences, and the Writers' Society under the auspices of the Culture Ministry.

Representative Greek books published in 2003-2004, as well as publications of the Ministry of Culture will be displayed at the 108 sq. m. pavilion.

The Paris-based Greek bookstore Desmos has organised a series of author appearances at the Greek pavilion during the Fair. They include: Kostas Axelos (19/3); George Skabardonis and Florence Noiville (20/3); Jacques Lacarriere (21/3); Jean Cuisenier, Michel Sivignon, and Nikos Aliagas (23/3). On Sunday March 21, the authors George Skabardonis and Vassilis Vassilikos will be discussing the Greek novel.

[04] Pat Cox due in Athens on Saturday for Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly

European Parliament President Pax Cox is due to arrive in Athens on Saturday to attend the Euro-Mediterranean Assembly which will be held in the Greek capital on Monday and Tuesday.

Taking part in the sessions of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly will be the presidents, vice-presidents and members of the parliaments of the EU-member countries, of the European Parliament and of the parliaments of the 10 countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean, which take part in the Barcelona Procedure (Egypt, Marocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Autonomous Palestinian Authority, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon).

The start of the sessions will be opened by Parliament President Anna Benaki-Psarouda.

Within the framework of his visit, Cox will also take part, as main speaker, at an event for the prospects of the European Constitution which is organised on Monday by the European Parliament Bureau in Greece and the Greek Centre of European Studies.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.244

Pound sterling 0.678

Danish kroner 7.506

Swedish kroner 9.345

Japanese yen 133.0

Swiss franc 1.571

Norwegian kroner 8.583

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.655

Australian dollar 1.663

[06] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Saturday

Mostly sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country, with scattered cloud in the west and north and some early morning mist. Winds westerly, light to moderate. Temperatures in Athens 12C to 24C and in Thessaloniki from 9C to 23C.

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop in edgy trade

The Athens bourse finished lower on Friday with players nervous for a second straight session over volatility in world markets, traders said.

The general share index shed 0.78 per cent to end at 2,365.40 points. Turnover was 156.0 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.62 per cent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 1.40 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities lost 1.98 per cent.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 273 to 55 with 32 issues remaining unchanged.

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