Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-02-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek EU presidency plans two new initiatives vis-a-vis the Iraq crisis

[02] Greek PM and Giscard d'Estaing discuss draft EU Constitution

[03] Papandreou to attend 7th European Forum in Austria

[04] Forum to promote business links between Greece, Turkey

[05] Women's Rights delegation, headed by Eurodeputy Karamanou, to visit

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, some snow on Friday

[08] Greek stocks end slightly lower on Thursday

[01] Greek EU presidency plans two new initiatives vis-a-vis the Iraq crisis

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Thursday said the Greek presidency of the European Union was proceeding with two new initiatives vis-a-vis the Iraq crisis.

The first was based on a proposal by Foreign Minister George Papandreou to the UN Security Council calling for specific issues to act as indicators measuring Iraq's cooperation with UN weapons inspectors, and the second involved approaching the Arab League.

In response to press inquiries, Protopapas said that any pressure on Saddam Hussein should be carried out through the UN and not by individual states, also noting that the joint statement of the EU's ''15'' and the threatened use of force against Iraq in the statement were ''accepted by the entire European Press''.

''The decision restored Europe's unified stance, it opened a window to peace and now it is time for Iraq to fully meet its obligations'', he added.

[02] Greek PM and Giscard d'Estaing discuss draft EU Constitution

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, currently the president of the European Council, on Thursday said Greece agreed absolutely with the drafting of a Constitution for the European Union.

In a joint press conference held after his meeting in Athens with Valery Giscard D'Estaing, the chairman of the Conference on the Future of Europe, Simitis also praised the veteran French politician for the 'significant progress' made by the forum so far.

He noted, however, that Athens wanted an EU Constitution that enhanced the Union's democratic foundations, brought it closer to European citizens, simplified procedures and made Europe more transparent, while at the same time preserving the Community's effectiveness so that it was capable of formulating policy and taking decisions when it enlarged to 25 member-states.

The Greek premier also stressed that Greece would like to see the EU's community aspects and redistributive policies reinforced with new goals such as full employment.

In addition, he called for strengthening the union as a factor of peace and stability and ''providing more content'' in the areas of foreign policy and defence policy.

Giscard d'Estaing stressed that the goal of the ongoing forum to draft an EU constitution, which over the next few days will add another seven articles, was to make Europe simpler, more effective and democratic on all levels.

He underlined emphatically, however, that Europeans would need a strong political will to strengthen the EU and its institutions.

Asked to comment on the ''Gang of Eight'' letter on Iraq, in which five EU member-states and three EU candidate-countries expressed their support for United States positions on the crisis, Giscard D'Estaing did not hide his disapproval.

He pointed out that member-states had made a commitment to work together on a common foreign policy framework with the signature of the Maastricht Treaty 10 years previously, and that this treaty called on them to arrive at common positions in a spirit of cooperation.

Another question that had to be taken into account, the veteran politician added, was whom this letter was addressed to. As it was addressed outside the EU, it did not accord with community practice, which provides for prior consultation and cooperation within the EU, in accordance with the Maastricht Treaty.

[03] Papandreou to attend 7th European Forum in Austria

VIENNA (ANA-D.Dimitrakoudis) Foreign Minister George Papandreou, currently presiding over the EU General Affairs Council, is expected to attend the deliberations of the Seventh European Forum, taking place Friday to Sunday in Lech, Arlberg, western Austria, at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.

The traditional annual meeting bringing together some of Europes leading politicians at the famous winter resort in the Austrian Alps, is also to be attended, among others, by European Commission President Romano Prodi, European Parliament President Pat Cox and Slovenian Prime Minister Anton Rop.

On Saturday, the forum will look, behind closed doors, into a number of European current affairs, including the Convention on the Future of Europe, EU enlargement and developments following last Fridays Brussels EU Council on Iraq, called by the Greek EU Presidency.

Austria, to be represented at the meeting also by Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, is expected to raise the issue of environmental harm caused by foreign trucks passing through the country.

[04] Forum to promote business links between Greece, Turkey

A three-day forum began in the northern port city of Thessaloniki on Wednesday, which aims to promote business links between Greek and Turkish enterprises.

The forum includes a seminar and opportunities for executives of businesses to meet in preparation for this year's Partenariat, which is to be held in Istanbul in May.

The event is arranged by the Association of Northern Greek Industry, the Thessaloniki Chamber of Trade and Industry, and Greece's consulate in Istanbul.

In January-November 2002, Greek exports to Turkey rose by 17.93 percent to total 286.2 million US dollars. Turkish exports to Greece in the same period increased by 15.47 percent to 509.5 million dollars, the Greek economic and trade attache in Istanbul, Haralambos Kounalakis, told the meeting.

According to Abdurahman Ariman, general secretary of the Union of Foreign Investors of Turkey, there is a lack of domestic capital in Turkey, and investors are needed from abroad.

[05] Women's Rights delegation, headed by Eurodeputy Karamanou, to visit Turkey

BRUSSELS (ANA - M. Spinthourakis) - A delegation of the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, headed by the committee's president, PASOK Eurodeputy Anna Karamanou, will pay a three-day visit to Turkey from February 24-26.

On Monday, the Eurodeputies will be received by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos who will brief them on the Orthodox Church's position on equality of the genders issues.

In Istanbul, they will also meet with representatives on non-governmental organisations, such as Turkey's National Women's Council.

On Tuesday, the delegation will visit Ankara where according to the agenda, they will meet with Turkish PresidentAhmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and political party leaders.

On Wednesday, the Eurodeputies will meet with members of the Turkish government and at noon the same day give a press conference in Ankara.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.084

Pound sterling 0.679

Danish kroner 7.490

Swedish kroner 9.180

Japanese yen 128.8

Swiss franc 1.482

Norwegian kroner 7.596

Cyprus pound 0.585

Canadian dollar 1.634

Australian dollar 1.820

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, some snow on Friday

Cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, with snow or sleet in eastern Thessaly, the eastern mainland, Evia, the eastern Peloponnese, the Cyclades and Crete. Storms are also forecast at sea in the south. Winds variable, moderate to very strong. In the north, temperatures will range from -8 to 2C; on the rest of the mainland from -4C to 5C; and in the islands from 0C to 5C. Temperatures in Athens between 0C and 5C; and in Thessaloniki from -3C to 3C. Snow is likely to fall in Attica, easing off fairly quickly.

[08] Greek stocks end slightly lower on Thursday

Greek stocks eased slightly on Thursday in thin trading conditions on the Athens Stock Exchange, reflecting market worries over development in Iraq and the impact of a possible war on the country's economy.

The general index fell 0.03 percent to end at 1,692.97 points, with turnover a low 62.4 million euros.

The Holding, IT and Construction sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.13 percent, 1.02 percent and 0.79 percent, respectively), while the IT Solutions (2.55 percent), Retail (1.28 percent) and Publications (0.83 percent), scored the biggest gains.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks was flat, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.68 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.01 percent lower. The FTSE/ASE 140 index fell 0.11 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 184 to 107 with another 67 issues unchanged.

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