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Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-30Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>NEWS IN ENGLISHAthens, Greece, 30/07/1999 (ANA)MAIN HEADLINES
NEWS IN DETAILSimitis calls for common strategy at Balkan summitPrime Minister Costas Simitis told a Balkan stability pact summit in Sarajevo on Friday that the situation in the Balkans was at least partly due to the habitual intervention of the major powers, as well as to the insecurity and fear prevailing in the region. In a brief address at the summit, Simitis called for a common strategy for the entire region, aimed at promoting economic and political reform, securing development and strengthening security. The stability pact, he said, could serve as a basis for peace and cooperation in the region. Simitis said that the summit should not be seen as pitting two sides against each other, that is, on the one hand the Balkan countries which wanted to overcome their difficulties, and on the other the rest of the world which is willing to help. The prime minister concluded his statement by underlining the responsibility of all parties for the situation which has been created in the Balkans. "For this reason, we must unite our efforts to overcome the present situation," he said. Greek-Turkish talks shift to Athens, on cultural, regional issues The first day of a second leg of talks between Greek and Turkish officials ended in Athens yesterday, after commencing in Ankara on Monday. The two delegations of foreign ministry officials will conclude talks today on issues related to the "citizen safety", with discussions expected to focus on ways of confronting illegal immigration and combatting organised crime and terrorism. Informed sources said talks yesterday covered cultural and regional cooperation issues, and were conducted in a "positive climate". The foreign ministry officials from both countries have been appointed to discuss "low-level policy issues". Foreign Minister George Papandreou is expected to receive the Turkish delegation in his office on Saturday. The Greek-Turkish talks was agreed upon by Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers George Papandreou and Ismail Cem, respectively, in New York late last month. Chrysohoidis in crime-fighting, border control talks with FYROM Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis held talks in Skopje yesterday with FYROM Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski during a one-day visit to the neighbouring country. Mr. Chrysohoidis also met with FYROM Deputy PM Dosta Dimovska, Parliament Deputy President Tomislav Stojanovski and Interior Minister Trajanov. The issue of implementing a police cooperation protocol and cooperation against drug and weapon smuggling were discussed during the Greek minister's meeting with Mr. Trajanov, while prevention of international terrorism and illegal immigration were also examined along with specific security issues related to the Balkan region. The two sides agreed that cracking down on crime constitutes a common target of the two countries. Finally, Mr. Chrysohoidis invited Mr. Trajanov to visit Greece. Gov't reiterates its position on Moslem minority The government said yesterday that its position on the issue of the Moslem minority of Thrace was "clear, known and unchanged", namely, that such a minority existed and was only a religious one. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the statement when asked by reporters to comment on remarks by Foreign Minister George Papandreou in an interview with an Athens-based monthly magazine and speaking yesterday on a local radio station. In the published interview, Mr. Papandreou was quoted as saying that "nobody doubts that there are a lot of Moslems of Turkish origin" in western Thrace, adding however, that "at times the minority issue is raised together with territorial claims. If existing borders are not questioned, I don't really care if somebody calls himself a Moslem, Turk, Bulgarian or Pomack". "The Balkans will find their peace if we guarantee borders and at the same time the rights of minorities," he said. Mr. Reppas stressed that as far as Greece was concerned there could be no question of the minority in Thrace being designated in any way other than 'Moslem'. The issue came to the forefront last week when Thrace's three Moslem MPs and 13 non-governmental organisations called for recognition of so-called "Turkish" and "Macedonian" minorities in Greece. Mr. Reppas said while the rights of Greek citizens were respected, "any attempt to undermine national sovereignty or obstruct the exercise of (Greece's) sovereign rights will not be tolerated". Balkan media conference opens in Thessaloniki The first Balkan Meeting of Greek Media opened in Thessaloniki today, organised by the Union of Greek Media Correspondents abroad under the aegis of the national economy ministry and the press ministry. Taking part in the meeting are owners and directors of Greek-language newspapers and radio and television stations in the Balkan region, for the purpose of strengthening relations among them and sharing their experiences on the role of the media in the Balkans, and discussing developments in general. Norwegian woman runs amok A 40-year-old Norwegian woman ran amok this morning in the port of Egina and, after setting fire to two motorcycles, jumped into the sea and drowned. Police said the woman's friend, also a foreign national, identified her as Vense Medoft (phonetic spelling). Police had not yet confirmed her identity. They said the woman set fire to two parked motorcycles in the port at 6:30 a.m., and when she failed to set fire to a third motorcycle, jumped into the sea and swam out some 15 metres before drowning. Gov't releases results of lab tests on various foods The government yesterday presented results of lab tests reportedly showing that Greek foodstuffs are uncontaminated. Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos said a wide range of samples from dairy products, meats, poultry, eggs and their by products, were all tested for dioxin contamination, with levels far lower than prescribed legal limits. Mr. Venizelos also announced that a bill establishing a "national foods inspection agency" will be tabled in Parliament within the next few days. Deadline ends for new bids in Ergobank buyout The deadline expired yesterday for new bids in a war for the acquisition of Ergobank with EFG Eurobank apparently emerging the winner in the absence of a fresh offer from Bank of Piraeus, analysts said. Piraeus had effectively withdrawn from the battle earlier this week after Ergobank's management recommended to shareholders that they should accept the offer by the EFG Bank Group through Consolidated Eurofinance Holdings, itself a member of the Latsis Group. Piraeus and EFG, which, along with Ergobank are listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, were the only bidders. Today is the date when bids may be withdrawn. Ergobank's shareholders must decide on August 4 whether or not to take part in an offer, and any shares collected by the bidders must be announced on August 5. Stocks nose down in brisk trade Equities ended slightly lower yesterday with investors again shunning blue chips and favouring selected buys in small and medium capitalisation stocks. The general index ended 0.32 percent lower at 4,378.37 points from 4,392.24 points a day earlier. Turnover was 237.402 billion drachmas from 164.1 billion drachmas in the previous session. Changing hands were 34,439,505 stocks. Sector indices ended as follows: Banks (-0.37 pct), Leasing (+8.00 pct), Insurance (-3.84 pct), Investment (-1.73 pct), Construction (-0.01 pct), Industrials (-0.10 pct), Miscellaneous (-0.30 pct) and Holding (-0.73 pct). The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 0.19 percent higher. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips dropped 0.33 percent to finish at 2,535.46 points. Of 296 shares traded, declines outpaced advances at 156 to 131 with 9 issues unchanged. National Bank of Greece ended at 21,300 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 21, 900, Bank of Piraeus at 8,940, Ergobank at 32,000, Titan Cement (common) at 30,790, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,855 and Intracom (common) at 20,700 drachmas. Block trade in Bank of Piraeus : A block trade in Bank of Piraeus shares, representing 2.6 percent of the bank's share capital, was reported on the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday. The stock was reportedly moved by private investors. The trade was for 3, 109,000 shares at 8,800 drachmas each, totalling 27.4 billion drachmas of the bourse's turnover for the day. UK travel agents to hold congress in Greece The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is to hold its annual congress for 2000 on the island of Kos, a domestic tourism official said yesterday. General secretary Evgenios Yannakopoulos of the Greek National Tourism Organisation said ABTA's members in London voted yesterday in favour of Greece against Portugal, the other candidate country. Organisational details of the congress, one of the largest sector events in the world, will be announced in the autumn, Mr. Yannakopoulos said. Progress report on Athens metro Transport and Communications Minister Tasos Mantelis yesterday inspected the site of the Sepolia station being built for the new Athens metro. Construction is at an advanced stage in 19 out of 21 stations, and 23 out of 25 trains ordered have been delivered. Around 800,000 passengers are expected to travel annually on the existing and new network, due to come into operation at the end of the year. WEATHERFair weather is forecast throughout the country on Friday with clouds developing in west, central and north Greece and local rainfall in the northern Ionian, Macedonia and Ipiros. Winds will be northerly mild to moderate.Fair weather in Athens with scattered cloud in the afternoon hours with the possibility of rain, and temperatures between 23C and 36C. In Thessaloniki weather will be fair early in the day with clouds developing in the afternoon hours and possibility of rainfall or storm. Temperatures will range from 21C to 31C.FOREIGN EXCHANGEFriday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 301.766 Pound sterling 482.985 Japanese yen (100) 261.402 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. 43.293 Austrian sch. 23.426 Spanish peseta 1.937 Swedish kr. 36.605 Norwegian kr. 38.549 Swiss franc 201.674 Port. Escudo 1.608 Can. dollar 199.630 Aus. dollar 195.583 Cyprus pound 558.278 Euro 322.350(S.S.) Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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