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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis, Prodi hope Iraq war ends soon

[02] EU president Greece pledges to spare no effort to ensure EU unity

[03] Olympic Airways reduces flights due to Iraq war, protests

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Friday

[06] Greek stocks ease as war begins in Iraq

[01] Simitis, Prodi hope Iraq war ends soon

BRUSSELS (ANA - Chr. Poulidou) -- European Union president Greece said on Thursday it deeply regretted that a peaceful solution to the Iraq problem could not be found and expressed hope that ''warfare would soon end so as to minimize casualties, particularly among civilians''.

''The Greek presidency will do its duty, as it did at the previous emergency European Summit'', Greek Prime Minister and European Council President in-office said at a press conference in Brussels on the results of an EU Tripartite Social Summit that took place early on Thursday, on the eve of the Spring EU Council in Brussels.

''We will try to sound once more the desire of the European people for a common course with peace and progress,'' he said, adding ''The Iraq issue will be on the agenda tonight and we are going to exchange views on it. The presidency will seek common positions, in spite of disagreements and difficulties. Common positions that will allow Europe to have its own voice and intervention in further developments''.

Along the same lines, European Commission President Romano Prodi, in a sharp statements indirectly addressed to EU partners, stressed ''we all agree that we owe our wealth and prosperity to the Union'' and that it was time to ''draw the lessons from this crisis. Europe can make an effective contribution to peace in the world only if its nations pull together within the European Union'' and that it was not in its interest to ''to continue relying on others when it comes to defending our values militarily.''

[02] EU president Greece pledges to spare no effort to ensure EU unity

Greece is not involved in any way in the Iraq war, a Greek government spokesman on Thursday again stressed, adding that as the president of the European Union, the country will make every effort to secure the bloc's unity and future prospects.

Replying to reporters' questions, Greek Deputy Mass Media and Press Minister Telemahos Hytiris said the EU Spring Summit on Thursday would be very interesting, due to ''contradictions and varying stances within the EU''.

Moreover, he said he was confident that everyone shared a desire for Europe to advance.

Hytiris said there was a clear decision on the part of Greece for non-participation in the war, and that this decision would not change, regardless of any pressure that might be exerted.

He added that the Greek frigate ''Koundouriotis'', currently in the Persian Gulf region, was outside of the war zone and in the event the war zone was extended the frigate would sail back to Greece.

With regard to the use of Souda base (which hosts facilities for US naval support on the island of Crete), the spokesman said Greece, just as other countries, honors international agreements it has signed over the past decades.

Finally, he said all measures for the protection of Greek territory have been taken and that there was no reason for alarm or panic.

[03] Olympic Airways reduces flights due to Iraq war, protests

Olympic Airways is to reduce its flights due to the war with Iraq and due to work stopppages called for Friday by the General Confederation of Labour of Greece and the ADEDY civil servants union to protest against the war.

Taking part in the stoppage from 1200 to 1500 on Friday are air traffic controllers. Flights will be disrupted.

Olympic's new flight schedule for the near future is available from the airline and from travel agents.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.067

Pound sterling 0.682

Danish kroner 7.487

Swedish kroner 9.259

Japanese yen 128.4

Swiss franc 1.483

Norwegian kroner 7.983

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.582

Australian dollar 1.802

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Friday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to showers in Macedonia an Thrace from afternoon with snow on high ground. The rain will spread to Thessaly, the eastern central mainland, Evia and the north Aegean islands. Winds northerly, light to moderate, turning strong later in the day. In the north, temperatures will range from -2C to 12C; in the west and on the rest of the mainland from 2C to 17C; and in the Aegean from 6C to 16C. Temperatures in Athens between 4C and 16C; and in Thessaloniki from 2C to 11C.

[06] Greek stocks ease as war begins in Iraq

Greek stocks eased slightly on Thursday in the Athens Stock Exchange reflecting investors' reluctance to participate in the market only hours after the war began in Iraq.

The general index fell 0.29 percent to end at 1,538.89 points, with turnover a low 45.5 million euros.

The Cement, Publication and Retail sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (2.20 percent, 1.73 percent and 1.68 percent, respectively), while the Wholesale, Textile and Investment sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (1.50 percent, 1.23 percent and 1.06 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.74 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.29 percent, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.16 percent higher and the wider FTSE/ASE 140 index eased 0.47 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 146 to 140 with another 71 issues unchanged.

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