Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-02-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Stephanopoulos-Re-election

[02] Thessaloniki - 'Asia Forum 2000' ends

[03] Athens Derivatives Exchange-Close

[04] Metro - Commuters - Average

[05] FMs - Greece - Turkey/Bulgaria

[06] Gov't - Condolences - Bulatovic

[07] Athens Bourse-Close

[01] Stephanopoulos-Re-election

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos was easily re-elected by Greece's Parliament on Tuesday evening to a second consecutive five-year term, with 269 deputies voting in his favour.

161 ruling PASOK and 101 main opposition New Democracy (ND) deputies voted for the long-time Patra attorney, a veteran of Greece's political scene. Seven independent deputies also voted in favour.

In terms of the smaller parties represented in the Greek Parliament, ten Coalition of the Left and Progress deputies voted for veteran leftist politician Leonidas Kyrkos, while 11 Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and eight Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) deputies simply declared themselves present.

Two ND deputies were absent.

Stephanopoulos achieved what no other head of state has since the restoration of Greece˘s democracy in 1974, namely, re-election to a second consecutive term, as well as another Parliamentary first: support by both major parties in the 300-deputy legislature.

Since 1974, Greece has had five individuals occupy the president˘s post, including Mihail Stasinopoulos, Constantine Tsatsos, Constantine Karamanlis (who served from 1980-85 and again from 1990-95), Christos Sartzetakis and today˘s Kostis Stephanopoulos.

[02] Thessaloniki - 'Asia Forum 2000' ends

The two-day "Asia Forum 2000" came to an end on Tuesday with three important decisions being taken on the forum's initiation, the creation of four Eurasian business centres and the finding of a location to establish the Asia Forum on its own premises in Thessaloniki.

A second meeting will be held in Thessaloniki again on May 23-28.

The forum was attended by about 80 politicians and business representatives from 36 countries in Asia, the Balkans, the European Union, eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Middle East.

[03] Athens Derivatives Exchange-Close

Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher on Tuesday in line with the indices on which they are based.

On the Athens bourse, the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 2.51 percent higher; and the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 for medium capitalisation stocks closed 0.59 percent up.

Turnover from derivatives rose to 10.3 billion drachmas from 7.7 billion drachmas a day earlier and 11.5 billion drachmas on Friday.

[04] Metro - Commuters - Average

Response to the new Athens metro appears to be more than satisfactory, as official figures released on Tuesday show an average of 300,000 commuters using the hi-tech underground system on a daily basis.

Specifically, the number of commuters has ranged from 290,000 to 302,000, of which 220,000 buy one-way tickets while some 80,000 passengers use unlimited route passes.

The stations with the highest passenger traffic are Syntagma and Omonia, as well as the terminal stations of Ethniki Amyna and Sepolia.

In response to concerns over security, meanwhile, officials from the Attiko Metro said 120 police officers and 70 private guards are on patrol during working hours.

[05] FMs - Greece - Turkey/Bulgaria

The Greek government confirmed on Tuesday that the foreign ministers of Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece will meet in Thrace ˇ the region where the three countries share borders ˇ on Feb. 19.

On his part, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas called the meeting ?hopeful?, adding that it ushers in a new mode of communication between the three neighbours.

[06] Gov't - Condolences - Bulatovic

The Greek government expressed its condolences on Tuesday over the death of Yugoslav Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic, who was assassinated by an unidentified assailant in a Belgrade restaurant late Monday evening.

The motive for killing of the secretive minister was undetermined.

In response to press questions, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the incident demonstrates how ?disturbed? the situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is at present. He also added that internal and international forces must make efforts for the reconstruction of Yugoslavia˘s democratic institutions.

[07] Athens Bourse-Close

Equities ended higher on the Athens Stock Exchange for the sixth straight session on Tuesday, led by a surge in banking blue chips.

The Athens general index finished at 5,550.40 points from 5,489.30 points a day earlier, up 1.11 percent. Turnover, which has shown a steady rise in past sessions, hit 376.87 billion drachmas.

The market maintained an upward thrust after profit takers muscled into the session several times, in turn enticing bargain hunters who drove up prices again.

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