Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-01-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis to ND MPs: Papandreou should take stand on electoral law,

[02] FM Papandreou desires wider consensus on major issues concerning

[03] IOC's Oswald: Election period will not affect Olympic preparations

[04] Development, economy ministers outline Greek economy prospects for

[05] Public order minister says road accidents reduced

[06] Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidium to visit Greece this week

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[08] Weather Forecast: Cloud and possible light rain on Tuesday

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[01] Karamanlis to ND MPs: Papandreou should take stand on electoral law, graft

Addressing his party's parliamentary deputies on Monday, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis issued a challenge to future PASOK leader George Papandreou, demanding that he take a stand on a draft bill for electoral law being brought to Parliament by the government and on corruption in the public sector.

He said Papandreou could not ''link the start of his career [as party leader] with political opportunism''.

Papandreou is the sole candidate for ruling PASOK's presidency in a carefully organised succession initiated by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who stepped down as leader of the partyon January 8. The succession will be formally confirmed by a party grass-roots vote on February 8, but to all intents and purposes Papandreou has already taken over the task of leading PASOK to elections on March 7.

Simitis will remain prime minister until that time, while Papandreou will lead any PASOK government that emerges from the polls.

In his address to MPs, Karamanlis also announced that he had sent letters to all the party leaders, including Papandreou, asking them to ensure a ''civilised'' political contest in the run-up to elections.

Karamanlis said he had asked for absolute neutrality on the part of the state, for the media to adhere to codes of conduct and the Constitution, for ''meaningful dialogue on society's problems'' and for political argument and demeanour that would restore society's faith in the political system.

[02] FM Papandreou desires wider consensus on major issues concerning country

Foreign Minister and PASOK party leadership candidate George Papandreou, speaking after meeting the directorate of PASOK's Parliamentary group on Monday, said he desires wider consensus on major issues concerning the country.

Replying to questions by the press on what main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis said on Monday regarding the way with which the election campaign sould be conducted, Papandreou said he wants a nice election campaign through which the positions of the parties will be utilised and consensus will be reached which all parties will participate in and will support after the elections.

Papandreou further said he is pleased over the fact Karamanlis refers to such issues which, as he added, he hopes will become practice.

[03] IOC's Oswald: Election period will not affect Olympic preparations

The head of the International Olympic Committees (IOC) coordinating commission for the 2004 Games, Denis Oswald, on Monday said he does not believe the campaign period in Greece will affect preparations for the upcoming Summer Olympics.

General elections in the country are slated for March 7.

?Olympic preparations will not be affected by the pre-election period. The new people that are likely to assume government positions after the elections are experienced and briefed over Olympic issues,? he told the state-run ERA Sports radio.

He also expressed a conviction that all the venues and projects -- including the closely watched roof construction over the main Olympic Stadium as well as the new tram and suburban rail lines -- will be delivered on time. Moreover, he said Greece is making an enormous effort and spending massive amounts of money on security for the Games.

Finally, he referred to the Athens Games unique cultural value. ?There will be great benefits in the quality of daily life, they (Games) will leave a legacy for the next 20 years,? he said.

[04] Development, economy ministers outline Greek economy prospects for businessmen

LONDON (ANA/L. Tsirigotakis) - The Hellenic-British Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of British Industries held a conference on ''Greece:the economic centre of southeastern Europe'' at London's City on Monday.

Speakers included Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos who outlined for participants, representatives of major British and foreign companies based in London, the state of the Greek economy and opportunities and prospects it offers for investments.

The conference was also addressed by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Robert Finch, British Ambassador to Athens David Madden and British Foreign Undersecretary for security issues Baroness Simons.

[05] Public order minister says road accidents reduced

Public Order Minister George Floridis on Monday expressed satisfaction with the ministry's ''On route'' programme for the prevention of road accidents, saying the ministry will soon be announcing accident report statistics showing a fall in lethal and non-lethal traffic accidents.

According to sources, 48 fewer people were killed in road accidents in 2003 than in 2002, representing a drop of 2.9 per cent, while there was a 9.1 per cent drop in those seriously injured and a 7.3 per cent drop in those lightly injured.

[06] Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidium to visit Greece this week

The three-member Presidium of the Bosnia-Herzegovina National Government will arrive in Athens this week on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Greece's president Costis Stephanopoulos, it was announced on Monday.

Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic and Presidency members Borislav Paravac and Sulejman Tihic will arrive in Athens on Wednesday, a Greek Presidency announcement said.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.293

Pound sterling 0.698

Danish kroner 7.507

Swedish kroner 9.184

Japanese yen 137.6

Swiss franc 1.577

Norwegian kroner 8.675

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.645

Australian dollar 1.663

[08] Weather Forecast: Cloud and possible light rain on Tuesday

Cloudy weather, particularly in western Greece, and possibility of light rain. Winds westerly, southwesterly light to moderate. Temperatures in Athens 5C to 15C and in Thessaloniki 0C to 11C.

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.293

Pound sterling 0.698

Danish kroner 7.507

Swedish kroner 9.184

Japanese yen 137.6

Swiss franc 1.577

Norwegian kroner 8.675

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.645

Australian dollar 1.663

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