Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-10-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens Stock Exchange opening: Upward trend

[02] Papandreou interview with PBS Channel 13 in New York

[03] Greek FM comments on relations with Turkey, Cyprus problem

[04] New US ambassador arrives in Greece

[05] Greek FM meets UN chief in New York, discusses terrorism (RECASTS)

[06] Greek FM meets UN chief in New York, discusses terrorism

[07] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Thursday

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

[01] Athens Stock Exchange opening: Upward trend

Equities were rising strongly at the opening of trade on Thursday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), matching the trend in European bourses. Buyers predominated, pushing the general share index up 1.9 percent to 2,265.75 points at 12:20 p.m. Turnover stood at 16.2 million euros or 5.5 billion drachmas.

Individual sector indices were all moving up, with the biggest gains in wholesale trade, up 3.47 percent; publishing, up 3.27 percent; and IT, up 3.27 percent.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 1.93 percent; and the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper was up 2.11 percent; while the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities was up 2.41 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 294 were up, 11 were down and 9 were unchanged.

[02] Papandreou interview with PBS Channel 13 in New York

NEW YORK (ANA - M. Georgiadou) Greece hopes to use its good relations with Arab countries to contribute to the effort for an international alliance against terrorism, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said in New York, during a televised interview broadcast by PBS Channel 13.

The Greek foreign minister gave the interview during his stay in the city on Wednesday, where he had successive meetings and also visited 'Ground Zero', the devastated site of the former World Trade Center, razed by the terrorist strikes of Sept. 11.

In more practical terms, Papandreou said that Greece was providing operational assistance to US airplanes from a base on Crete, helping to locate suspected terrorists and investigating instances of suspected money-laundering.

He also stressed the role of the United Nations in helping counteract the justifications and arguments used by terrorists in many countries, who presented the US as the sole superpower that imposed its will everywhere.

Asked if Greece was part of the alliance against terrorism, or whether its participation came with conditions, Papandreou said that "Greece is open to all forms of cooperation with the US, with which it is in constant contact."

He said that the US had informed Athens of the evidence against Osama bin Laden.

In any case, he added, "the political conclusion is that this was an attack on an ally, who enjoys Greece's absolute solidarity".

During the interview, Papandreou also referred to relations between Greece and Turkey, and said that there were still outstanding problems that might disrupt these, such as the Cyprus problem.

[03] Greek FM comments on relations with Turkey, Cyprus problem

NEW YORK (ANA - M. Georgiadou) Responding to questions put by a New York correspondent of the Turkish newspaper "Hurriyet", Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said there was now an opportunity for Greece and Turkey to work together in the fight against terrorism.

Papandreou made the statements after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York late on Wednesday night (Greek time).

"I hope there is no 'war of statements' between us over these issues," he added, while denying recent allegations by certain Turkish officials that there were 'camps' of Kurdish militants on Greek territory.

Asked if Greek-Turkish cooperation was a possibility if the US decided to start a military operation against Afghanistan, Papandreou said that there could be if necessary, but that nothing specific had been asked of Greece at this time.

The Greek minister also stressed that the recent close cooperation between Greece and Turkey and the new atmosphere this had created could be brought to bear on the Cyprus problem.

[04] New US ambassador arrives in Greece

The new United States Ambassador to Greece, Thomas J. Miller, arrived in Athens on Thursday morning on a flight that landed at the new Athens airport at Spata.

Alighting from the plane, Miller said he was very happy to be in Greece for the third time and that he would do what he could to promote good cooperation between Greece and the US.

He stressed that Greece and the US are linked by a long friendship, share the same ideals, the same history and the same goals.

"Sometimes we disagree on tactics, but this happens in a mature relationship between two friends," he added.

[05] Greek FM meets UN chief in New York, discusses terrorism (RECASTS)

NEW YORK (ANA - M. Georgiadou) Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou had a 40-minute meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during his visit to New York, with whom he discussed the role of the United Nations in the fight against terrorism, regional crises and the Cyprus problem.

Papandreou met with Annan late on Wednesday night Greek time, after visiting the 'Ground Zero' site of the Twin Towers disaster with the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Demetrios and meeting with members of the Greek-American community in the city.

Regarding his meeting with the UN chief, Papandreou said that he supported involving the UN in the fight against terrorism and the crisis that erupted after the Sept. 11 strikes against the United States.

"I think working with the United Nations will help achieve the widest possible consensus and alliance of all countries against the phenomenon of terrorism, and particularly against the specific organisation that caused this event," Papandreou said.

He also stressed that the present crisis should not divert attention from regional crises, such as in the Balkans or the Middle East, that often triggered violent or terrorist actions.

The Greek foreign minister said that he and Annan had also exchanged views on the Cyprus issue and that the UN Secretary-General had promised to continue his efforts for a resolution to that problem.

Another issue discussed was the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and ways in which the UN could help stabilise the region.

Papandreou said he had also conveyed to Annan the views expressed by his counterparts during his recent tour of Middle East countries.

"It was a very useful and constructive meeting. The role of the United Nations today is historic, at a very difficult time for humanity when the future of many generations is at stake," Papandreou concluded.

[06] Greek FM meets UN chief in New York, discusses terrorism

NEW YORK (ANA - M. Georgiadou) Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou had a 40-minute meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during his visit to New York, with whom he discussed the role of the United Nations in the fight against terrorism, regional crises and the Cyprus problem.

Papandreou met with Annan late on Tuesday night Greek time, after visiting the 'Ground Zero' site of the Twin Towers disaster with the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Demetrios and meeting with members of the Greek-American community in the city.

Regarding his meeting with the UN chief, Papandreou said that he supported involving the UN in the fight against terrorism and the crisis that erupted after the Sept. 11 strikes against the United States.

"I think working with the United Nations will help achieve the widest possible consensus and alliance of all countries against the phenomenon of terrorism, and particularly against the specific organisation that caused this event," Papandreou said.

He also stressed that the present crisis should not divert attention from regional crises, such as in the Balkans or the Middle East, that often triggered violent or terrorist actions.

[07] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Thursday

The weather will be sunny throughout the country on Thursday, with limited early morning visibility on the mainland. Winds northwesterly, light to moderate. On the northern mainland, temperatures will range from 12C to 30C; on the rest of the mainland and the Ionian from 15C to 32C; and in the Aegean islands from 19C to 29C. Sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 18C and 32C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 15C to 30C.

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

Indicative tourist buying rates

U.S. dollar 367.068

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 541.268

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 45.462

Swedish kroner 34.707

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 303.050

Swiss franc 227.713

Norwegian kroner 041.816

Cyprus pound 588.606

Canadian dollar 234.240

Australian dollar 183.080

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