Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-05-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Mostly fair on Tuesday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[03] Athens, Nicosia call for 'European solution within UN framework' for

[04] ''Road map'' a window of opportunity that should not be missed, FM says

[05] Greek and Turkish FMs agree on confidence-building measures

[01] Weather Forecast: Mostly fair on Tuesday

Mostly fair weather is forecast for Tuesday throughout the country, but in the later hours of the day scattered cloud and local showers in the mountainous areas may be expected. Winds variable, moderate. In the north, temperatures will range from 13C to 25C; and in the rest of the country from 15C to 27C. Temperatures in Athens between 16C and 26C; and in Thessaloniki from 14C to 23C.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.190

Pound sterling 0.726

Danish kroner 7.484

Swedish kroner 9.272

Japanese yen 139.6

Swiss franc 1.538

Norwegian kroner 7.930

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.640

Australian dollar 1.809

[03] Athens, Nicosia call for 'European solution within UN framework' for Cyprus

The Greek and Cypriot governments want a European solution for the Cyprus problem within the framework of the United Nations, Greek Prime Minister and current European Council President Costas Simitis said on Monday after talks with visiting Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos in Athens.

Simitis said his three-hour meeting with Papadopoulos had focused on two main issues: European issues and the agenda of the Thessaloniki EU Summit in June and the ongoing effort to achieve a solution to the Cyprus issue and to coordinate the actions of Athens and Nicosia in foreign policy terms.

''We both believe that measures on the Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot side for the partial facilitation of movement by Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots [between the occupied north and free south of the island] are not aimed at a solution of the Cyprus issue but seek to create impressions and disorient public opinion, alleviate pressures on the Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot side and ultimately, the recognition of the pseudo-state,'' Simitis stressed.

According to the Greek premier, these moves were also a way of taking the Cyprus issue out of a UN framework and gradually 'de-internationalising' it.

[04] ''Road map'' a window of opportunity that should not be missed, FM says

Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Monday said that the acceptance of the 'road map' was a window of opportunity for peace in the Middle East that should not be missed.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Euro-Mediterranean conference in Crete, Papandreou stressed that the ''road map'' was a product of the common effort of the international community aiming to create two states, Israel and Palestine, that will live in peace and security one next to the other by the end of 2005.

He stressed that the ''road map'' provides the opportunity and aids the process with specific steps, adding ''I understand the possible caution or even the suspicion of many, since, this is not the first effort. Hopes were created in the past without final result''.

''It is now important to move on without delay in implementing the 'road map' with decisiveness ... and political will. This means that we should leave aside the differences and the divisions and to work for a comprehensive peace in the region,'' Papandreou said.

[05] Greek and Turkish FMs agree on confidence-building measures

Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul agreed on Monday to the taking of three low-policy confidence-building measures.

The two foreign ministers concluded their meeting in Hersonisos on the island of Crete where the Euro-Mediterranean meeting is taking place.

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