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Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-03-10Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] New PM warns his ministers not to discriminate along party-political lines10/03/2004 23:14:39New Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis warned his ministers on Wednesday not to discriminate along party-political lines and stressed that he would brook no hint of arrogance, during a meeting held in Parliament after the hand-over of the ministries to the new government. ''I will not accept discrimination and distinctions and I am not interested in how each person voted. Operate on the basis of real worth and choose associates that are honest and capable people,'' he stressed. Indicating that he expected his ministers to display a high moral tone, he also underlined his aversion to provocative displays of luxury and extravagance. The new government exchanged notes on urgent issues concerning each ministry, based on the briefings received by the ministers from their predecessors. Karamanlis said the New Democracy (ND) government's target for the economy was to attract new investments and opportunities that will create new jobs and improve the quality of life for the general public. He also emphasised social solidarity, noting that Greek voters had placed their trust in the government to solve day-to-day problems. The new premier underlined that ministers would have to go straight to work and that there was no ''period of grace'' for the new government, urging them to concentrate on quality in public life and to display moderation, respect for alternative points of view, seriousness and honesty. Overall, the hand-over of the ministries went smoothly in a climate of good cooperation, with the incoming administration promising to continue and build on the work of their predecessors. [02] Caramanlis and IOC's Rogge to meet on Saturday10/03/2004 23:06:12Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge will discuss all issues pertaining to the Olympic Games preparations during their meeting which is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Maximos Mansion. The key issues will be: the Calatrava Roof of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, the roof of the Olympic Aquatic Centre, sufficient energy supply, the Marathon Course, security and transport. According to press sources the IOC was especially pleased with Caramanlis' decision to head the Ministry of Culture in order to supervise Olympic preparations. Also attending the meeting will be Alternate Culture Minister Fani Pali-Petralia, Deputy Culture Minister Petros Tatoulis, ATHOC president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of the IOC Coordination Committee Denis Oswald and Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli. [03] Cyprus president to hold talks with new Greek PM10/03/2004 23:04:16NICOSIA (ANA/G. Leonidas) - Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Wednesday the government of Cyprus is in continuous contact with Greece's new Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and expressed confidence that Karamanlis will make the best possible choices on the issue of Cyprus. President Papadopoulos will be holding talks with the new prime minister in Athens on Sunday and will be briefing him on the course of the on-going intercommunnal direct talks. The Cyprus president and Karamanlis will determine the strategy to be followed by the governments of Athens and Nicosia, in light of enlarged negotiations on the Cyprus issue due to get underway next week on the aspect of security and on the enlarged talks scheduled for March 22. [04] US President George W. Bush congratulates new Greek PM10/03/2004 21:43:11US President George W. Bush congratulated Greece's new Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on the assumption of his duties in a letter addressed to him on Wednesday. President Bush referred to the issue of Cyprus and to the Athens Olympic Games, while underlining the good relations existing between the two countries and that many things unite them. ''As you are preparing to lead the Hellenic Republic, I express my readiness to cooperate closely with you to reconcile the two communities in Cyprus by May 1,'' the US president said. President Bush said on the question of the Olympic Games that ''we must intensify our common efforts to enable the return of the Olympic Games to their birthplace to be successful and safe.'' The US president further said Greece and the US have much in common and aim at the building of an indivisible Europe with freedom and peace, which they are trying to promote in southeastern Europe and the Middle East. [05] Weather Forecast: Light cloud on Thursday10/03/2004 18:37:35Light cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to rain and storms in the west from late afternoon and then spreading eastwards. Winds variable, moderate to strong. Temperatures in Athens 7C to 16C and in Thessaloniki from 4C to 11C. [06] Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 165.5 mln euros Wednesday10/03/2004 18:33:28Equity Index Futures: Stock Futures: [07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday10/03/2004 18:24:08Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank U.S. dollar 1.239 Pound sterling 0.681 Danish kroner 7.511 Swedish kroner 9.248 Japanese yen 137.4 Swiss franc 1.588 Norwegian kroner 8.725 Cyprus pound 0.590 Canadian dollar 1.639 Australian dollar 1.651 [08] PM Karamanlis chairs first meeting of new Cabinet10/03/2004 15:44:39Greece's newly-sworn-in prime minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday chaired the first meeting of his new government, during which he instructed his Cabinet to be modest and unassuming in their attitude to the citizens. "We must forget who and what they voted for, since the elections are over and there is much work ahead for us," Karamanlis said. He told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that a new governance was the demand of the Greek society, adding that his government would "give its best self" to meet the citizens' expectations. "The Greek people bestowed a great honour on us, and we will meet their expectations, but also our duty," the premier said. After the Cabinet meeting, Karamanlis left parliament and headed for the culture ministry, where outgoing minister Evangelos Venizelos would turn over the ministry to him. Karamanlis has kept the culture portfolio for himself, to place emphasis on the cultural sector and the organisation of the 2004 Athens Olympics this summer. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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