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Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-04-18Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Greeks-"Righteous of Nations"-Israel18/04/2001 22:30:43Twenty-three Greeks on Wednesday were awarded Israel's supreme honourary distinction, the title of "Righteous of Nations", for contributing with self-sacrifice and self-denial to the salvation of Jews persecuted by the Nazis during World War II. The ceremony was held at the residence of Israeli ambassador to Athens Ran Curiel. The awards are part of events marking Thursday's Holocaust victims' memory day taking place all over the world. In his address, Curiel thanked the honoured persons and acknowledged the help offered by the Greeks to the Jewish people. "The perpetuation of the memory of the Holocaust will shield humanity from similar phenomena which are reappearing menacingly, such as racism and xenophobia," he said. [02] Crete-Pakistani fighter jet-emergency landing18/04/2001 19:56:33A Pakistani airforce fighter jet made an emergency landing at the Iraklion airport in Crete, on Wednesday, as its jet engine malfunctioned. The French made "Mirage FIII" fighter jet was on its way from France to Pakistan and while over Crete the pilot requested permission for emergency landing at the civilian airport. Along with the fighter jet, a second aircraft with a team of engineers, also landed. Both planes departed once the engine was repaired. [03] Foreign Exchange Rates-Thursday18/04/2001 18:43:38Thursday's buying rates U.S. dollar 385.071 German mark 172.829 French franc 051.531 Pound sterling 549.100 Irish punt 429.202 Belgian franc 008.379 Luxembourg franc 008.379 Dutch guilder 153.389 Italian lira (100) 017.457 Austrian schilling 024.565 Danish kroner 45.299 Swedish kroner 37.369 Finnish mark 056.852 Spanish peseta 002.032 Portuguese escudo 001.686 Japanese yen (100) 313.506 Swiss franc 221.151 Norwegian kroner 41.943 Cyprus pound 584.266 Canadian dollar 245.479 Australian dollar 191.228 [04] Athens Conference Centre-Travel Firms18/04/2001 18:36:11The Association of Tourism and Travel Bureaus in Greece (HATTA) on Wednesday welcomed a plan by the government to build a conference centre for Athens. In a letter to Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, HATTA asked for extension of the deadline in a tender the government has called for the project. The letter said the conference centre's location on the site of the old Hellenikon airport, which closed at the end of March, was suitable, although the building should also be designed to house events including trade fairs and arts performances. [05] Greece - Denmark - FMs meet18/04/2001 18:35:30EU expansion and the situation in the Balkans, along with the dire economic crisis plaguing neighbouring Turkey, dominated talks here on Wednesday between the Greek and Danish foreign ministers. Danish FM Mogens Lykketoft later told reporters that Copenhagen was in favour of including as many candidate countries as possible in the Unions upcoming expansion, while noting that Denmark is keenly following Greeces efforts to bring Turkey closer to the principles laid out during the EU summit of Helsinki. On his part, Greek FM George Papandreou added that Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue were discussed in the talks, as Denmark will precede Greece in assuming the rotating, six-month EU presidency during the latter half of 2002. [06] Thessaloniki-Car Show18/04/2001 18:13:50A four-day trade fair entitled Car & Motor Accessories and Hi Fi Show 2001 begins in Thessaloniki on Thursday. The fair, organised by Promotion, will include a display of antique cars from the northern port city's Technical Museum as well as luxury and sports automobiles. Among corporate promotions, Lotus' Elise model will make its Greek debut. The event is to be held in the grounds of Thessaloniki's international trade fair. [07] Greece - Bulgaria - Visa-less travel18/04/2001 17:51:34SOFIA (ANA) Some 11,000 Bulgarian citizens visited Greece since April 10, the day when visa requirements were lifted for travel to Schengen Pact member-states, the Greek embassy here announced on Wednesday. Conversely, 320 Bulgarian citizens were denied entrance, as computer checks revealed various past offences recorded in Schengen states. Others blocked from entering Greece included minors who did not have the written approval of both parents to travel abroad, as required by provisions, as well as individuals that authorities deemed as ?likely to engage in illegal employment? within Greece or another Schengen Pact member. ?The free passage of Bulgarian citizens without visas in no way translates into a right to work in Schengen Pact states,? an embassy release noted in response to several local press reports. ?The exercise of artistic or business activities, seasonal employment and international transports (TIR) still necessitate the approval of relevant Greek authorities and the granting of visas by Greek consulates,? the embassy release further emphasised. [08] Weather Forecast-Thursday18/04/2001 17:28:28Scattered cloud is forecast throughout the country on Thursday, possibly turning to light rain in the northern Ionian, Epirus and Macedonia. Winds variable, light to moderate. Temperatures in the north will range from 5C to 22C; on the rest of the mainland and in the Ionian from 8C to 24C; and in the Aegean islands from 11C to 21C. Scattered cloud in Athens, with temperatures between 10C and 23C. Same in Thessaloniki with limited visibility in the morning. Temperatures from 7C to 20C. [09] ASE-close18/04/2001 16:02:25Strong buying interest for blue chip stocks combined with an improved turnover and a positive climate in international markets, pushed Greek equities sharply higher on Monday with the general index breaking the 3,300 resistance level to end at the highest levels since January 3, 2001. Traders said activity, by domestic and foreign institutional investors, focused on blue chip stocks included in the MSCI Greece index ahead of an official decision to upgrade the Athens Stock Exchange into a mature market in May. The telecoms index led the rally with Panafon (8.52%), Hellenic Telecoms (4.39%) and Cosmote (3.84%) scoring the biggest gains, followed by banks (Piraeus Bank +4.37%, Alpha Bank +4.03%, Commercial Bank +4.02% and National Bank +3.46%). The general index ended at 3,316.17 points, up 4.10 percent, with turnover an improved 284.78 million euros, or 97.04 billion drachmas. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 4.14 percent higher at 1,947.46 points, and the FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 2.85 percent to end at 381.39 points. The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended at 330.88 points, up 2.16 percent. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |