Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-05-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] IOC's Oswald impressed with Athens' progress, doubts dispersed

[02] PM pledges to tighten the economy, boost growth

[03] Coin to mark Athens 2004 Olympics in circulation on Thursday

[04] Council of Europe reinforces human rights

[05] Weather Forecast: Sunny spells and cloud on Thursday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise, bucking trend in Europe

[01] IOC's Oswald impressed with Athens' progress, doubts dispersed

Denis Oswald, the influential chairman of the IOC's coordination commission for the Athens 2004 Games, expressed his satisfaction on Wednesday with progress in a series of key Olympics venues and related projects, days after the eagerly awaited process to slide a massive metallic skeleton over the main Olympic stadium (OAKA) began in earnest.

His comments came during an internationally televised press conference at Athens organisers (ATHOC) Nea Ionia headquarters, and with ATHOC chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki at his side.

Oswald told reporters that the IOC is now confident that all Olympics-related projects, venues and infrastructure will be delivered in time for the 2004 Games, which begin on Aug. 13 with an Opening Ceremony at the very stadium where the new state-of-the-art roof began to slide into place.

He further noted that any doubts he or the IOC may have had are now ?dispersed?, before again stressing that the process to slide the Olympic Stadium roof into place demonstrated Greeces ability to accomplish such major tasks.

[02] PM pledges to tighten the economy, boost growth

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday pledged to tighten up the economy and boost growth after completing a review of the economy with Eurostat, the European Union's statistics agency.

''We are tidying up the state, developing the economy, and serving society,'' Karamanlis told a parliamentary debate on the economy.

The government's first step since coming to power in March 7 national elections had been to start a detailed investigation into state finances on suspicion that the previous government had misrepresented key indicators, requesting Eurostat to take part.

''Not only had there been no fiscal revitalisation, but the problem had actually became more acute,'' the premier said.

Citing an example, he noted that according to Eurostat data, the general government deficit in 2003 was 3.2 per cent of gross domestic product against the previous government's forecast of a 1.0 per cent surplus for that year.

[03] Coin to mark Athens 2004 Olympics in circulation on Thursday

The Bank of Greece is to circulate a new two-euro coin on Thursday to mark the Athens 2004 Olympics.

The 50 million commemorative coins totalling 100 million euros will circulate in all eurozone countries, central bank officials told a presentation on Wednesday.

Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas said that collectors at home and abroad had shown strong interest in the issue.

[04] Council of Europe reinforces human rights

The Council of Europe, which held its annual Ministerial Conference on Wednesday in Strasbourg, adopted a protocol which modifies the European Convention on Human Rights, by reinforcing the effectiveness of the European Human Rights Court. The protocol will be signed on Thursday.

The situation in the Balkans, the Council of Europe's efforts in fighting human trafficking, organised crime and terrorism were some of the issues discussed during the conference, according to an announcement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Regarding Kosovo specifically, the ministers expressed their concern for the area's political situation and emphasised the need for European institutions and organisations to play a greater role in dealing with it.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Yiannis Valinakis, representing Greece at the conference, underlined the emphasis Greece places on the Council of Europe's role and on its decisions which must be implemented. He also stressed that independence, objectivity, and effectiveness are three necessary elements if the European Human Rights Court is to be effective.

[05] Weather Forecast: Sunny spells and cloud on Thursday

Warm, mostly sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to cloud and showers or isolated storms from afternoon in the Ionian, western central mainland, Epirus, and Macedonia. Winds southerly, moderate. Temperatures in Athens from 14C to 28C and in Thessaloniki between 11C and 26C.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.195

Pound sterling 0.675

Danish kroner 7.501

Swedish kroner 9.243

Japanese yen 135.2

Swiss franc 1.553

Norwegian kroner 8.267

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.660

Australian dollar 1.711

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise, bucking trend in Europe

The Athens bourse finished higher with players buying into high capitalisation stocks, bucking the trend in other European markets, which showed a decline, traders said.

The general share index gained 0.97 per cent to end at 2,473.84 points. Turnover was 162.3 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.95 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.17 per cent down; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities lost 0.51 per cent.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 162 to 120 with 79 issues remaining unchanged.

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