Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-05-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] ATHOC denounces attempt by reporters to illegally enter worksites

[02] Olympic Stadium's western section of roof placed in final position

[03] Employers, unions forge two-year wage pact

[04] Greek-Turkish Friendship Festival to be held in Alexandroupoli

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, some rain on Friday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise, led by blue chips

[01] ATHOC denounces attempt by reporters to illegally enter worksites

Athens organizers (ATHOC) on Thursday called an attempt a day earlier by a pair of British journalists and three representatives of a German television network to enter Olympic venue worksites without permission as ?unethical?.

According to a press release, ATHOC noted:

?Yesterday, (Wednesday) shortly before midnight, a journalist and a photographer from a British newspaper were stopped by a special ward of the Greek Police inside the Athens Main Olympic Stadium. The two individuals had entered without permission in order to ? test the implementation of the security measures?, as they stated soon afterwards. They were apprehended and brought in for further questioning at the Maroussi Police Station.

Once their personal identification was verified by the Police (passport and journalist ID), they were released.

The two British newspaper representatives had earlier attempted to enter the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, through the Olympic Aquatics Centre entrance, but a member of a private security company prohibited them from doing so.

A similar incident took place yesterday (Wednesday) at the Helliniko Olympic Complex, when three representatives from a German TV station were stopped and brought in for questioning at the Helliniko Police Station. Disregarding the relevant rules, they attempted to film the Canoe/Kayak sport areas. Once their personal identification was verified they, too were released.

On the occasion of the above incidents the ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games would like to state the following:

1. ATHENS 2004 absolutely respects the freedom of the Press and the work carried out by journalists. For this purpose, ATHENS 2004 organises venue tours for Mass Media representatives on an almost daily basis, where they are thoroughly updated on the progress of Olympic preparations. In addition, ATHENS 2004 has repeatedly informed all Mass Media in Greece and abroad about the accreditation procedure for entering and photographing Olympic Venues. The British newspaper and German TV station representatives in question never informed ATHENS 2004 or any of the States agencies, nor did they request permission to enter the grounds of the Olympic Stadium.

2. It must be noted that in the sport venues, security measures are in effect (as was proven in the case in question and in other cases as well), but not on an Olympic level; this will be the case in July after the completion of the construction works, the ?lock down? and the? security sweep?.

Following the security sweep, only those possessing an Olympic accreditation or a ticket will be allowed to enter Olympic Venues.

3.It is obvious that similar behavior which could be interpreted as guided by an intention to harm the image of the Athens Games and Greece, - goes against journalist ethics and does not contribute to the strengthening of the trust and security of this great celebration of peace and sport.

[02] Olympic Stadium's western section of roof placed in final position

The western section of the roof of the Athens Olympic Stadium was placed in its final position on Thursday afternoon when it ''rested'' on its 25-metre deep foundations after sliding along a distance of 72 metres.

The culture ministry, the Olympic Games Organising Committee and officials responsible for the effort of sliding the roof into position, which got underway at noon on Monday, expressed their absolute satisfaction with the outcome of the undertaking.

Culture ministry officials also stressed that the first resounding reply has already been given to all who doubted the Greeks' ability to complete such a complex construction effort, as the sliding of the stadium's roof into its final position was.

Initial preparations have already started to slide the eastern section of the stadium's roof into place, while the undertaking is expected to be completed by the end of the month. The distance the second section of the roof has to cover is 10 metres less than the first.

[03] Employers, unions forge two-year wage pact

Employers and unions on Thursday forged a two-year incomes pact,

completing talks for a national collective labour agreement.

Agreed by the Association of Greek Industry (SEB) and the General Confederation of Labour of Greece (GSEE), the pact contains a 4.0 per cent rise in salaries from January 1 2004, with a further 2.0 per cent increase to take effect on September 1, 2004.

From January 1, 2005, wages will rise by 2.2 per cent with a further 3.3 per cent increase to take effect on September 1 of that year.

Both sides agreed to begin talks on introducing a 39-hour working week after the Athens Olympics in August accompanied by an employers' demand for an increase in the ceiling for overtime to 45 hours from 43 hours.

At the end of the two-year period covered by the agreement, the minimum wage should total 591.20 euros, up from 519.17 euros.

[04] Greek-Turkish Friendship Festival to be held in Alexandroupoli

The 3rd Greek-Turkish Friendship Festival will be held in Alexandroupoli, northern Greece on June 19 and 20 within the framework of the programme of initiatives of ''Daphne'' for strengthening relations of friendship and cooperation between Turkey and Greece.

This year's Festival entitled ''Bridges and Walls'', underlines the basic objectives of the work of ''Daphne'', the creation of bridges through culture, trade, education and science.

The festival will be held outdoors with the participation of musicians from Komotini as well as distinguished Turkish singer Aylan Algan.

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, some rain on Friday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to showers or storms in the west, Thrace, the northern and eastern Aegean islands, and Macedonia. Winds north-northwesterly, moderate to strong. Temperatures in Athens from 13C to 25C and in Thessaloniki between 11C and 21C.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.191

Pound sterling 0.675

Danish kroner 7.500

Swedish kroner 9.214

Japanese yen 136.2

Swiss franc 1.550

Norwegian kroner 8.228

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.657

Australian dollar 1.739

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise, led by blue chips

The Athens bourse finished higher with players buying into high capitalisation stocks for a second straight session, retaking 2,500 points, traders said.

The general share index gained 1.08 per cent to end at 2,500.58 points. Turnover was 157.4 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.25 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.66 per cent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities gained 0.72 per cent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 168 to 117 with 78 issues remaining unchanged.

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