Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-02-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece, Cyprus reaffirm close ties, joint coordination (adds comments)

[02] Greece sends humanitarian aid to China following devastating quake

[03] Europarliament committee on gender equality conduct three-day visit in

[04] EU president Greece to revitalise trans-European transport and energy

[05] Korean electronics manufacturer opens Greek subsidiary

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

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

[08] Greek stocks end 1.01 percent lower on Monday

[01] Greece, Cyprus reaffirm close ties, joint coordination (adds comments)

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and visiting Cyprus president-elect Tassos Papadopoulos on Monday reaffirmed the close ties between their two countries, pledging that they would remain so in the future.

After his meeting with Papadopoulos, Simitis said close ties between Athens and Nicosia would remain close in the future, with the common aspiration of mutual consolidation and coordination of their moves.

On the memorandum submitted to the two sides by UN secretary general Kofi Annan, Simitis said it would be discussed by the Cyprus National Council, adding that ''Greece offers its opinion and support, but the Cypriot side is the one that decides and leads''.

He continued, however, that margins for success in the Cyprus talks were narrow and nearly non-existent within the timeframe that has been proposed.

Simitis further expressed certainty that Cyprus' EU accession course was not at threat, and that Cyprus, together with the other nine candidates countries approved for membership, would sign the act of accession in Athens on April 16.

Papadopoulos conveyed the Cypriot people's appreciation for Greece's contribution, and expressed his intention to take advantage of the historic conjuncture so that, in the event that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash altered his position, a solution to the Cyprus problem would be reached.

As for Annan's recent memorandum, Papadopoulos said it would be an object of negotiations with the UN special envoy on the Cyprus issue Alvaro de Soto.

Simitis said that he did not expect to discuss with Annan, when the UN chief visits Greece for consultations on Tuesday, the substance of the arrangements he has proposed, adding that among the issues that would most likely be included in his talks with the UN secretary general was mainly the Cyprus security issue, which was also of concern to Greece.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said that Annan's final proposals and proposed procedure for a Cyprus solution would be made known in Athens following Simitis' meeting with the UN chief in Athens on Tuesday afternoon.

Regarding Simitis' talks with Papadopoulos, the spokesman noted that the main problem at this juncture was the intransigence of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side.

[02] Greece sends humanitarian aid to China following devastating quake

Greece has sent humanitarian aid to China amounting to 200,000 euros to help deal with the problems caused by the catastrophic earthquake which struck regions of northwest China on Monday morning.

The aid was sent on the instruction of Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos following coordination with the Greek Embassy in China.

[03] Europarliament committee on gender equality conduct three-day visit in Turkey

ISTANBUL (ANA - A. Kourkoulas) - PASOK Eurodeputy Anna Karamanou on Monday began a three-day visit in Turkey heading a delegation of a Europarliament committee on women and equal opportunity.

The Eurodeputies on Monday met with the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, who briefed them on the positions of the Orthodox Churches on the issues of equality between the genders.

The delegation will meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations while in Istanbul, as well as with the National Council of Women of Turkey.

On Tuesday the delegation will meet with Turkish President Ahmet Sezer and Prime Minister Abdulah Gul and leaders of political parties.

The Eurodeputies requested to visit in prison with Leila Zana, a Turkish parliament deputy who has been in prison since 1994.

On Wednesday the delegation will meet with members of the Turkish government and then they will hold a press conference.

[04] EU president Greece to revitalise trans-European transport and energy schemes

European Union president Greece intends to bring back to the front burner past schemes for the completion of trans-European transport and energy infrastructure networks (TEN) and will put forward specific proposals in time for the Brussels European Council (summit)on 26-27 March.

Greece, currently holding the rotating six-month EU presidency through June, said that deregulation and the integration of the internal market, both geared toward boosting the competitiveness of the European economy, cannot be carried out successfully without first processing cross-border TEN projects.

Funding for the new networks will be provided from EU fiscal resources and new financial tools launched by the European Investments Bank EIB), as well as from private investments.

[05] Korean electronics manufacturer opens Greek subsidiary

LG Electronics of Korea said on Monday that it had set up a subsidiary in Greece as part of a rapid worldwide growth plan.

The parent firm's chairman, Hee Jong Park, told a news conference in Athens that LG Electronics Hellas SA aimed to rank third among electrical and electronic firms in Greece within five years.

In addition, the Greek operation would also target the Cypriot market, later moving into Balkan markets including Bulgaria, if performance was satisfactory, Park said.

The Greek company will distribute products to retail outlets.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.080

Pound sterling 0.685

Danish kroner 7.488

Swedish kroner 9.197

Japanese yen 127.3

Swiss franc 1.481

Norwegian kroner 7.613

Cyprus pound 0.585

Canadian dollar 1.618

Australian dollar 1.795

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

Cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, with a little snow in eastern Thessaly, the eastern mainland, Evia, the eastern and southern Peloponnese, the Cyclades and Crete; and sleet in low lying areas of the south. Winds north-northeasterly, moderate to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from -7C to 7C; in the west from -5C to 11C; and in the rest of the country from -3C to 10C. Temperatures in Athens between 1C and 7C; and in Thessaloniki from -3C to 6C. Snow is likely to fall in northern and eastern Attica.

[08] Greek stocks end 1.01 percent lower on Monday

Greek stocks ended sharply lower on Monday hit by worries over international geopolitical developments.

The general index fell 1.01 percent to end at 1,663.52 points, with turnover a low 52 million euros.

The IT Solution sector was the only one to score gains (up 0.59 percent), while the Insurance, Publication, Textile and Cement sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (2.57 percent, 2.46 percent, 2.34 percent, 2.23 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.17 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 1.35 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 1.81 percent. The wider FTSE/ASE 140 index fell 1.27 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 261 to 46 with another 45 issues unchanged.

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