Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK leader Papandreou visits Cyprus, says solution feasible by May 1

[02] Yiannitsis, Verheugen hold phone conversation on Cyprus issue

[03] ND leader blasts PM and PASOK over weather-induced chaos

[04] PM Simitis has informal meeting with Swedish counterpart Persson

[05] Cyprus' AKEL party reveals initiative for return of Parthenon Marbles

[06] Weather Forecast: Snow and sunshine on Wednesday

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

[08] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in consolidation

[01] PASOK leader Papandreou visits Cyprus, says solution feasible by May 1

NICOSIA (ANA/V. Mourtis) - PASOK leader George Papandreou, addressing here representatives of 47 Turkish Cypriot organisations and five parties with a pro-European orientation on Tuesday, said finding a solution to the issue of Cyprus by May 1 (the date on which Cyprus oifficially becomes an EU member) is feasible.

Papandreou also proposed during the dialogue the Olympic Flame's passing through all of Cyprus.

The PASOK leader had a dialogue with the Turkish Cypriots' representatives, who showed great interest in both attending the meeting and expressing their views and listening to his replies.

The meeting was held at the Ledra Palace hotel, along the ''green line'' dividing the city of Nicosia, and its biggest part was given live coverage by the Turkish channel NTV.

Papandreou called on the Turkish Cypriots present to contribute, during these last few weeks which may constitute the last phase of the Cyprus issue, more than any time in the past to a solution being achieved.

He also referred to the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations, which was made feasible in parallel to efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

[02] Yiannitsis, Verheugen hold phone conversation on Cyprus issue

Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis had a lengthy telephone conversation with European Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen on Tuesday afternoon.

According to diplomatic sources, their discusssion centred on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue in view of the resumption of negotiations in Nicosia on Thursday.

Yiannitsis and Verheugen exchanged views on the way with which the European Commission will contribute in the overall procedure by offering expertise on issues related to the acquis communautaire.

Verheugen had a meeting earlier in the day in Brussels with the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

Verheugen is expected to arrive in Nicosia on Wednesday for consultations with all the sides around this issue.

[03] ND leader blasts PM and PASOK over weather-induced chaos

In a bitter personal attack against Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the new president of ruling PASOK George Papandreou regarding the problems caused by last week's severe weather conditions, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis on Tuesday said that the irresponsibility and arrogance of the ''PASOK system'' were ''more numbing than the snow''.

In a speech in Argyroupoli where he presented his party's positions on dealing with everyday problems, Karamanlis accused Simitis of ''disappearing so as not to be a reminder of the continuity of the PASOK system'' while Papandreou tried to convince the electorate that the same things also happened elsewhere.

''After 14 years as a minister, Mr. Papandreou has only just heard of the PASOK system,'' he said.

[04] PM Simitis has informal meeting with Swedish counterpart Persson

Prime minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday had an informal meeting with his visiting Swedish counterpart Goran Persson, after which the latter departed for Turkey.

According to diplomatic sources, the two premiers discussed the latest developments in the European Union and in the Cyprus issue, European Parliament elections, and the March 7 general elections in Greece.

Persson on Monday night attended ruling PASOK leader George Papandreou's campaign speech in the Cretan city of Iraklio.

[05] Cyprus' AKEL party reveals initiative for return of Parthenon Marbles

The Cypriot leftist party AKEL on Tuesday revealed that it had managed to collect hundreds of signatures from notable Cypriots, including politicians, artists and members of the Church, in support of an appeal to UNESCO that asked the organisation to intervene for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Among those backing AKEL's initiative were Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, the Cypriot Parliament speaker, the heads of the political parties, members of the government and several MPs.

[06] Weather Forecast: Snow and sunshine on Wednesday

Light snowfall or rain are forecast in many eastern parts of the country, the eastern Peloponnese, the Cyclades islands and Crete. The rest of the country will see sunshine. Winds north-northeasterly, moderate to very strong. Temperatures in Athens 1C to 9C and in Thessaloniki from 2C to 9C. Snow or sleet will fall in northern and eastern Attica in the morning.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.296

Pound sterling 0.680

Danish kroner 7.511

Swedish kroner 9.267

Japanese yen 136.8

Swiss franc 1.587

Norwegian kroner 8.854

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.699

Australian dollar 1.626

[08] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in consolidation

The Athens bourse finished higher on Tuesday in another move to consolidate, traders said.

The general share index gained 0.39 percent to end at 2,473.29 points. Turnover was 152.2 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.66 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.71 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with losses of 1.48 percent.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 227 to 75 with 53 issues remaining unchanged.

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