Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-10-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM sanguine about prospects of economy after presidential briefing

[02] FM addresses one-day conference in Spain

[03] Greece unveils EU-funded rail network project

[04] Gov't cites heavy travel schedule for US's Powell

[05] ND leader reiterates call for immediate general elections

[06] Correction - Weather Forecast: Sunny and humid on Tuesday

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Tuesday

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[09] Greek stocks fall on lack of buying interest

[01] PM sanguine about prospects of economy after presidential briefing

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday appeared sanguine about the future prospects of the Greek economy, predicting that a recovery in Europe would help the country achieve higher-than-expected growth rates.

In statements to reporters after briefing President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on current domestic and foreign policy issues, Simitis said the European Union Summit in Brussels had noted signs of recovery in Europe's economy that promised a significant and steady improvement over the next months.

As the fastest-growing economy in the EU, Simitis predicted that this would assist Greece achieve or even better current growth targets.

[02] FM addresses one-day conference in Spain

BARCELONA (ANA - F. Karaviti) - Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Monday spoke of the importance of regional development for the future of Europe, during a one-day conference organized here by the city's former mayor and president of the Socialists of Catalonia Pascual Maragal.

Papandreou, who chaired a work group on the ''map of new Europe'' noting the need to create infrastructures which will overcome the political and geo-political boundaries, while commenting on the regional integration he spoke of the ''future participatory democracy, the democracy of citizens''.

''The 'soft' interconnection networks should be strengthened, such as education and culture,'' Papandreou said and mentioned the Balkans as an example for the region of Greece.

[03] Greece unveils EU-funded rail network project

Greek Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis, leading a group of government ministers and deputies elected in the Epirus region, on Monday unveiled a project for the construction of a rail network linking Epirus with the Peloponese in western Greece.

The project, included in a recently adopted Trans-European Network plan by the European Union, is expected to breathe new life to Western Greek regions and to promote economic development.

The Western Rail Network was included in a total of 29 priority projects approved by the European Union and is expected to be completed in 2014.

The railroad Egnatia network, linking western Macedonia, Epirus, Western Greece and Western Peloponese, from Kozani to Kalamata, will be budgetted at 2.7 billion euros and is expected to service more than 1.5 million people and to breathe new life into the region of Epirus, one of the poorest regions in the EU.

[04] Gov't cites heavy travel schedule for US's Powell

The Greek government on Monday cited a heavy travel schedule on the part of US Secretary of State Colin Powell as the reason for canceling an envisioned lightning visit by the latter to the Greek capital this week.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas merely noted, in reply to a press question, that initial preparations for the visit had commenced via diplomatic channels.

The issue of whether or not the influential US Secretary of State would scheduled a visit to Athens before meeting other commitments was the subject of intense media scrutiny in Athens over the past few days.

[05] ND leader reiterates call for immediate general elections

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis on Monday reitereated a call for immediate general elections, charging that the country was being hurt by the perpetuation of the present state of affairs.

Addressing a meeting of the ND parliamentary group, Karamanlis said that immediate elections were mandatory for the national interest, and called on the prime minister to fulfill his obligation to the country.

Reacting to Karamanlis' statements, particularly his references to re-examining the contracts for privatisations, government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Monday accused ND of trying to cause problems in economic developments with accusations that had no basis.

[06] Correction - Weather Forecast: Sunny and humid on Tuesday

In the title please read " Sunny and humid on Tuesday" instead of " Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Tuesday"

Sunny and humid in Greece on Tuesday, with a chance for rain in the usually wet northwest. Winds south-southwesterly, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 10C to 22C; in the west 15C to 25C; and in the rest of the country from 14C to 28C. Temperatures in Athens between 18C and 28C; and in Thessaloniki from 14C to 22C.

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Tuesday

Sunny and humid in Greece on Tuesday, with a chance for rain in the usually wet northwest. Winds south-southwesterly, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 10C to 22C; in the west 15C to 25C; and in the rest of the country from 14C to 28C. Temperatures in Athens between 18C and 28C; and in Thessaloniki from 14C to 22C.

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.172

Pound sterling 0.699

Danish kroner 7.491

Swedish kroner 9.137

Japanese yen 129.2

Swiss franc 1.564

Norwegian kroner 8.339

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.545

Australian dollar 1.693

[09] Greek stocks fall on lack of buying interest

Greek stocks eased slightly in the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday, maintaining a pattern prevailing in previous sessions and reflecting lack of fresh buying activity in the market.

The general index fell 0.19 percent to end at 2,120.72 points with turnover a disappointing low 78 million euros.

The Wholesale, Textile and Publication sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (0.68 percent, 0.55 percent and 0.52 percent, respectively), while the Construction and Telecommunications sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (0.98 percent and 0.49 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.15 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.27 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.50 percent higher.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 167 to 111 with another 79 issues unchanged.

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