Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-10-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens-Russian FM-Visit

[02] World Cup-Albania-Greece-Result

[03] EU-Brussels-Greek-Turkish Women's Delegation

[04] Greece - Yugoslavia - Developments

[05] Onassis - NYC - Cultural centre

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates-Thursday

[07] Greece-Estonia-economic relations

[08] Weather Forecast-Thursday

[09] IOC - Rogge - 2004 Olympics

[10] Marfin Securities-new acquisition

[11] Greece-food safety

[12] Klonatex Group-distribution deal

[13] Despec Group-profit forecast

[14] ASE-close

[01] Athens-Russian FM-Visit

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov arrives in Athens on Thursday morning from Nicosia for talks with the Greek government.

Ivanov had delayed his visit to Athens by a day due to his visit in the Middle East.

[02] World Cup-Albania-Greece-Result

TIRANA (ANA) - Greece lost 2-0 to Albania in a World Cup European Group Nine qualifying match in Tirana on Wednesday night.

Albania scored with Alban Bushi in the 50th minute and with Ervin Fakaj in the 92nd minute.

Greece now has two defeats and one win in the tournament.

It beat Finland 1-0 in its second match in Athens last Saturday, gaining its first three points, and lost 2-0 away to Germany in the first qualifying match.

[03] EU-Brussels-Greek-Turkish Women's Delegation

BRUSSELS (ANA - G. Zitouniati) - Twenty-two women from Greece and Turkey, members of the initiative for the promotion of peace and citizens' diplomacy in the eastern Mediterranean, are currently visiting Brussels at the invitation of PASOK Eurodeputy Anna Karamanou.

The members of "Win Peace" - whose president is Margaret Papandreou, mother of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou - met with the head of the PASOK Eurodeputies, George Katiforis, Greek Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and took part in a march on Monday against violence and poverty.

The members were also briefed on the functioning of European institutions and on the European Union's policy on the equality of the sexes and attended a debate at the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on EU-Turkish relations.

[04] Greece - Yugoslavia - Developments

The Greek government on Wednesday reviewed recent developments in the Balkans, focusing especially on the situation in Yugoslavia and economic activity by Greece-based companies in the greater region.

Following the meeting, Foreign Minister George Papandreou said Athens is applying a Balkan policy based on the principles of international law and the protection of human rights.

Commenting on Yugoslavia, he said Greece's policy toward that country was vindicated, calling developments in Belgrade 'historic' and as forging the way for Yugoslavia's accession to Euro-Atlantic alliances.

[05] Onassis - NYC - Cultural centre

A unique hub for Hellenic culture will soon be inaugurated in the heart of New York City, as the Alexander S. Onassis Foundations first US-based cultural centre will open its doors this month within Fifth Avenues Olympic Tower.

The cultural centre will be inaugurated on Oct. 24 with two noteworthy art exhibitions, including a replica of the Parthenon Marbles, circa 1817, and a collection of works by modern Greek artists inspired by Classical antiquity.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates-Thursday

Indicative rates released by the central bank for the next working day.

Thursday's rates (buying)

Euro 336.724

U.S. dollar 385.838

German mark 172.165

French franc 051.333

Pound sterling 563.595

Irish punt 427.552

Belgian franc 008.347

Luxembourg franc 008.347

Dutch guilder 152.799

Italian lira (100) 017.391

Austrian schilling 024.471

Danish kroner 045.203

Swedish kroner 039.063

Finnish mark 056.633

Spanish peseta 002.024

Portuguese escudo 001.679

Japanese yen (100) 356.991

Swiss franc 222.684

Norwegian kroner 041.767

Cyprus pound 588.137

Canadian dollar 257.126

Australian dollar 206.470

[07] Greece-Estonia-economic relations

Greek-Estonian relations are good and steadily developing, with Greece lending its support to Estonian efforts to become a member of the European Union and NATO.

Bilateral economic relations have great potential due to the fact that Estonia has been invited to the first wave of EU accession talks.

Greek businesses have shown an increasing interest towards the Baltic state and in particular in the fields of maritime transport, port construction, shipbuilding, high technology, science, forestry, agriculture, food, textiles and furniture.

Estonia is particularly interested in cooperation in the tourism sector.

The two countries have signed four agreements covering the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments, abolishment of visa requirements, maritime transport and international road transport.

Bilateral trade is steadily rising. Estonian exports to Greece has increased from 2.5 million kroons to 33.5 million in the period 1995-1999, while imports have grown from 13 million to 37.1 million kroons.

Estonian exports to Greece totalled 30.3 million kroons in the first half of 2000, while imports totalled 20.9 million.

Greece ranked as the 51st biggest trade partner and the 60th biggest investor of Estonia.

[08] Weather Forecast-Thursday

Cloudy weather is forecast throughout Greece on Thursday, maybe turning to showers in the west. Winds will be southerly, light to moderate, turning very strong in the Ionian Sea. In the north temperatures will range from 15C to 25C; and in the rest of the country from 17C to 28C. Scattered cloud in Athens, with temperatures between 19C and 27C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 14C to 24C.

[09] IOC - Rogge - 2004 Olympics

International Olympic Committee deputy president Jacques Rogge on Wednesday called on Athens organisers to have sports facilities ready at least one year before the 2004 Games, while noting that the Greek government had rejected an IOC proposal for the creation of an ?Olympics ministry?.

In response, the Greek government said significant progress has been made since March, ?something that will be verified during the IOCs official visit next month to our country.?

[10] Marfin Securities-new acquisition

Marfin Securities on Wednesday announced the full takeover of Hellenic Securities for an undisclosed sum.

A company statement said that Hellenic Securities's main shareholders will participate in Marfin Securities' board.

Marfin Securities was founded in 1998 and it is a subsidiary of Marfin Group.

[11] Greece-food safety

The Greek government on Wednesday adopted EU directives on food safety envisaging that food companies have the responsibility to ensure food hygiene.

Development, Finance and Justice ministers signed a joint decision to harmonise Greek law with EU directives on food safety.

A Food Inspection Agency will monitor the implementation of the government decision.

The agency is currently drafting a guide on food safety practices.

[12] Klonatex Group-distribution deal

Klonatex Group on Wednesday announced the signing of an exclusive deal for the distribution of Jockey International's products in Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and FYROM.

Jockey International is a manufacturer of men's and women's underwear.

Klonatex reported a 58 percent increase in its consolidated sales to 31 billion drachmas in the first six months of 2000, up from 19.8 billion last year, while net pre-tax profits totalled 5.8 billion drachmas. Consolidated net pre-tax profits totalled 7.3 percent in the first half of the year.

[13] Despec Group-profit forecast

Despec Group expects its consolidated turnover to total around 40.3 billion drachmas this year, up 185 percent compared with 1999, and pre-tax profits, after minority rights, to reach 2 billion drachmas from 958 million in the previous year.

A company announcement said that improved results reflected a strategic vertical and horizontal expansion of the group, covering a wide range of the information technology market.

Its vertical expansion includes boosting its activities in computer supplies and peripherals, home entertainment, mobile business and the production and distribution of digital media.

The horizontal strategy includes expansion in foreign markets through takeovers and creation of new companies. Despec has already established its presence in Turkey and Romania and plans to expand in other east European countries.

[14] ASE-close

Equity prices lost further ground on Wednesday pushing the general index below the 3,900 technical support level on the Athens Stock Exchange.

Traders said low liquidity remained the biggest problem of the Greek market and reiterated that it remained vulnerable to further falls.

The general index ended at 3,883.20 points, losing 1.02 percent of its value, with turnover a low 70.62 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.65 percent lower at 2,209.27 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 1.22 percent to 477.09 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 503.10 points, off 3.01 percent.

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