Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-05-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece joins the West in anti-smoking measures

[02] Greece ratifies the Kyoto Protocol; Greenpeace comments

[03] Greek president begins visit to Australia and New Zealand on Sunday

[04] IOC president Rogge sends message to ATHOC on Olympic Games

[05] Tourism seen flat in 2002

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[07] British Airways to launch Athens-Birmingham flights June 1

[08] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Friday

[09] Greek stocks end 1.55 percent lower on Thursday

[01] Greece joins the West in anti-smoking measures

Greece will follow the example set by the United States and many European countries in enacting a series of nine measures against smoking and for the protection of non-smokers, Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos said on Thursday.

Announcing the measures at a press conference one day before the international day against smoking, he said that measures will carry penalties of up to three months imprisonment and steep cash fines.

The measures include the total ban on cigarette advertising, beginning from Jan. 1st, which includes a ban on commercials in movie theaters as well, while restaurants and coffee shops will have to create non-smoking sections.

[02] Greece ratifies the Kyoto Protocol; Greenpeace comments

Greece on Thursday became one of the last European Union countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol for reducing greenhouse gases and climate change, after the Greek Parliament gave a 'yea' vote to the treaty just one day before the May 31 deadline.

The Greek branch of Greenpeace hailed the ratification of the treaty on Thursday as 'historic' - ''even if we are the last member-state to ratify the Protocol'' - saying that Greece had lent its support to the most important environmental agreement ever signed.

[03] Greek president begins visit to Australia and New Zealand on Sunday

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will depart on Sunday for Australia and New Zealand accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis and heading a delegation of 40 Greek businessmen.

This will be the first ever visit by a Greek head of state to New Zealand and the third visit to Australia, following that of late Constantine Karamanlis and that of Christos Sertzetakis in the 1980s.

Stephanopoulos will visit Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney of Australia and Wellington of New Zealand and will meet with the political leaderships of the two counties, as well as with the local Greek community leaders.

The president's visit aims at reiterating the identity of Greek and Australian positions on major international issues, to further develop trade and economic relations and to re-invigorate the bonds of the Greek-Australian community with Greece.

The president will also make a strong point of the ''bonds of blood'' connecting Greeks with Australians and New Zealanders for their contribution in the defense of Greece against the Nazi forces during the Battle of Crete.

[04] IOC president Rogge sends message to ATHOC on Olympic Games preparations

Olympic International Committe (IOC) President Jacques Rogge on Thursday sent a taped message to the president, administrative council and staff of the Athens Olympic Organising Committee (ATHOC), stating that following the end of the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City in the United States last February, ''world interest will centre on Athens". At the same time, Rogge noted that ''enormous progress has been achieved in preparation for the Olympic Games.''

Rogge stressed that ''it is time for the preparations to continue at a brisk rate. The Athens 2004 Olympic Games can and must be crowned with success.''

He also stressed the significance of the return to Athens of the Olympic Games and that this fact constitutes ''a unique opportunity for Greece but also for the Olympic spirit itself.''

[05] Tourism seen flat in 2002

Tourism is likely to remain flat in 2002 against the previous year, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) said on Thursday.

The forecast was based on arrivals from abroad in May that indicated tourism would not decline against 2001, GNTO president Yiannis Patellis told reporters.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro

U.S. dollar 0.945

Pound sterling 0.644

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.182

Japanese yen 116.6

Swiss franc 1.477

Norwegian kroner 7.493

Cyprus pound 0.583

Canadian dollar 1.449

Australian dollar 1.673

[07] British Airways to launch Athens-Birmingham flights June 1

British Airways announced on Thursday that it will launch direct flights on June 1 between Athens and Birmingham, the UK's second city.

The new route is the result of an alliance between BA and Maersk Air Ltd. Flights are three times a week, BA said in a statement.

[08] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Friday

Sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country. Winds north-northwesterly, moderate, turning strong at sea. On the northern mainland, temperatures will range from 13C to 26C; on the rest of the mainland from 15C to 29C; and in the islands from 18C to 25C. Sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 18C and 29C. Scattered cloud in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 17C to 26C.

[09] Greek stocks end 1.55 percent lower on Thursday

Greek stocks lost substantial ground in the Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday, hit by a negative climate in other European markets and increased profit taking by domestic investors.

The general index fell 1.55 percent to end at 2,263.24 points, with turnover an improved 104.8 million euros.

The Retail, Publication, Textile and Insurance sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (2.78 percent, 2.45 percent, 2.41 percent and 2.28 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.63 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index dropped 1.28 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.55 percent lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 291 to 37 with another 32 issues unchanged.

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