Compact version |
|
Sunday, 22 December 2024 | ||
|
Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-02Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>NEWS IN ENGLISHAthens, Greece, 02/07/1999 (ANA)MAIN HEADLINES
NEWS IN DETAILPM tells ministers to work till they dropPrime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday asked his cabinet to work harder up until the end of the government's term of office in September next year, stressing that this was also the message sent by the Greek people in European elections last month. "Until the end of the government's term of office, we will all have to work with greater persistency, determination and effectiveness. We must work 'till we drop," Simitis told a cabinet meeting. The prime minister said he was optimistic that the people would renew the government's mandate in general elections next year. EDU representatives meet on Balkans Member parties of the European Democratic Union, including Greece's conservative opposition New Democracy party, began meeting in Thessaloniki on Friday to discuss the situation in the Balkans. "We have gathered here to discuss and decide on joint action which will promote democracy, a civil society and the social and economic upgrading and restoration of the Balkans," ND leader Costas Karamanlis told reporters during a break in the sessions, which are closed to the press. Kosovo ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova, who had been invited to participate, was unable to attend because, according to reports, five members of his family had been murdered. French senator in Athens for talks Senator Xavier de Villepin, President of the French Senate's Commission for Foreign Affairs and Defence has arrived in Athens for talks with Greek government officials that will include Thessaloniki's role in the reconstruction of the Balkans, it was announced here today. Senator Villepin, who will be here until July 5, will hold talks with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias and members of the parliament's Greek-French friendship group. Seven soldiers killed in car accident Seven Greek soldiers were killed on Friday in a collision between a truck and a military ambulance on the national highway near Thessaloniki, police said. The accident occurred on the 20th kilometre of the Thessaloniki- Kavala national highway between the villages of Aghios Vassilios and Kavalari. Police said the seven soldiers were serving at the Military Training Centre in Redina, Thessaloniki. They said the truck, carrying iron pipes en route from Thessaloniki to Kavala swerved off the road into the opposite lane and crashed into the military ambulance jeep, literally crushing it. Greek equities maintain upward course Equity prices ended the week with gains helped by strong buying interest in blue chips in the banks sector. The general index ended 0.67 percent higher at 4,152.55 points, off the day's highs as profit-taking took some steam of the market. Turnover was 152.967 billion drachmas with 26,432,940 shares changing hands. A decision by the ASE's board on Thursday to suspend trading of Thessaliki's shares left a large number of smaller capitalisation stocks under strong pressure. The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks fell 1.72 percent while the FTSE/ASE 20 index gained 1.15 percent to 2,461.20 points. WEATHERPartly cloudy weather will prevail throughout the country today with scattered showers in the afternoon in mainland Greece. Winds northerly, light to strong. Possibility of showers in Athens with temperatures between 20-35C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 19-30C.FOREIGN EXCHANGEFriday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 311.716 Pound sterling 493.064 Japanese yen (100) 258.168 French franc 49.142 German mark 164.815 Italian lira (100) 16.648 Irish Punt 409.300 Belgian franc 7.991 Finnish mark 54.216 Dutch guilder 146.276 Danish kr. 43.380 Austrian sch. 23.426 Spanish peseta 1.937 Swedish kr. 36.952 Norwegian kr. 39.878 Swiss franc 201.108 Port. Escudo 1.608 Can. dollar 212.883 Aus. dollar 208.766 Cyprus pound 558.893 Euro 322.350(M.P.) Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |