Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-09-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM and Cyprus president discuss possible resumption of Cyprus

[02] Greek shipowners in Piraeus, London see fleet secure in top ranking

[03] Greece, Turkey due to sign natgas deal

[04] Map exhibition focusing on Cyprus at Benaki Museum

[05] Taxis begin 48-hour strike on Wednesday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, rain on Wednesday

[08] Greek stocks continue moving lower on Tuesday

[01] PM and Cyprus president discuss possible resumption of Cyprus negotiations

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos discussed possibilities for the resumption of negotiations to find a solution to the issue of Cyprus in talks held at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on Tuesday.

In a statement, Simitis referred to the upcoming UN General Assembly and talks Papadopoulos will have in New York with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and reiterated the adherence of Greece and Cyprus to the UN process.

''We are negative towards any effort to achieve a solution outside the framework of the UN,'' the prime minister said, adding that ''achieving a just, viable and workable solution based on UN resolutions and the acquis communautaire remains our target.''

Simitis stressed the need for maintaining the readiness of both the Greek and Greek Cypriot sides for an immediate resumption of talks when this will be possible on the basis of the UN secretary general's existing plan.

The prime minister said the intransigence of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is continuing whom, as he stressed, Ankara is continuing to fully support.

[02] Greek shipowners in Piraeus, London see fleet secure in top ranking

The Union of Greek Shipowners and the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee in London said on Tuesday that Greek-owned vessels securely held their leading position in the market, also showing signs of an upward trend.

Greek-owned shipping represents 18.3 percent of global capacity in deadweight tons against 17.8 percent a year earlier, the two trade groups said in a statement after a meeting in Piraeus.

Greek shipping represents 37.38 percent of the European Union fleet, the statement said.

[03] Greece, Turkey due to sign natgas deal

Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Tuesday that Greece and Turkey are due to sign an agreement on bringing natural gas from the Caspian.

''An agreement has been signed between DEPA SA of Greece and Botas of Turkey for construction of the pipeline. What remains is signature of a contact between the two governments,'' Tsohatzopoulos said in reply to a reporter's question in Thessaloniki. He gave no timescale.

The minister was in the northern port city to attend a ceremony for signature of a contract between suppliers and the city's university, which is to receive natural gas.

[04] Map exhibition focusing on Cyprus at Benaki Museum

An exhibition that charts the history of Cyprus as this was recorded in European cartography from the 15th until the 19th centuries opened its doors at the Benaki Museum in Athens on Tuesday, inaugurated by Cyprus Minister of Education and Culture Pefkios Georgiades.

The exhibition features roughly 100 maps out of 250 contained in the collection of Cypriot national Sylvia Ioannou.

Organisers said the aim of the exhibition, which is entitled ''Sweet Country, Cyprus'' is to highlight the economic, administrative and cultural ties between Cyprus and Europe through history on the occasion of the island's accession to the EU.

It covers the periods of Frankish and Venetian rule on the island, including the Cyprus War of 1570-71, the Renaissance period and ends in period of the Enlightenment.

[05] Taxis begin 48-hour strike on Wednesday

Taxi drivers in Athens and Attica are to begin a 48-hour strike on Wednesday at five o'clock in the morning, their union said in a statement.

The drivers are protesting against a government plan to make the use of electronic cash registers in their vehicles mandatory from January 1, 2004; and against the government's refusal to allow taxis to use bus lanes.

The government has said it will not backtrack on receipts.

Taxi drivers are also seeking a rise in tariffs.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.132

Pound sterling 0.710

Danish kroner 7.486

Swedish kroner 9.219

Japanese yen 131.6

Swiss franc 1.570

Norwegian kroner 8.336

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.548

Australian dollar 1.707

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, rain on Wednesday

Most parts of the country will see cloud and rain, especially in the west and south, where storms may also erupt. The north will be dry. Winds variable, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 11C to 26C; on the rest of the mainland and in the Ionian from 16C to 28C; and in the Aegean islands from 19C to 27C. Temperatures in Athens between 18C and 28C; and in Thessaloniki from 17C to 26C.

[08] Greek stocks continue moving lower on Tuesday

Greek stocks remained under pressure to end lower in Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with the Greek bourse continuing moving against the tide of rising international markets.

The general index ended 1.05 percent lower at 2,026.07 points, slightly off its session lows of 2,020 points. Turnover was a low 135.2 million euros.

All sector indices ended lower, with the Textile (4.31 percent), IT Solution (3.79 percent) and Wholesale (2.68 percent) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.80 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.88 percent down and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 2.36 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 291 to 39 with another 28 issues unchanged.

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