Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-09-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek Church donates 250 mln Dr to Serbian church

[02] New Albanian FM speaks favourably on Greek-Albanian relations

[03] Jospin says Cyprus settlement will facilitate its EU entry

[04] Summary of premier's press conference in Thessaloniki

[05] French FM to meet Greek counterpart in Athens Monday

[06] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Monday

[01] Greek Church donates 250 mln Dr to Serbian church

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece said on Sunday that the Church of Greece will donate 150 million drachmas for the mission of the Serbian Church and another 100 million drachmas for the construction of the church of Aghios Savvas.

This was stated by the Archbishop during a dinner which was hosted in his honour in Belgrade by Patriarch Pavlos of Serbia.

Earlier, Christodoulos, who is on an official visit to the Serbian

Church, in an address at Belgrade's Cathedral reffered to the help which the Greeks had offered to the Serbs. He also spoke of the suffering of the Orthodox people, stressing in particular that the situation prevailing in Kosovo forces Orthodox Serbians to abandon their homes.

[02] New Albanian FM speaks favourably on Greek-Albanian relations

TIRANA (ANA-I. Patso) - Albania's new Foreign Minister Arta Dade referred to Greek-Albanian relations in the first interview she gave following assumption of her post.

In an interview with the "Korieri" newspaper, Dade underlined that "indisputably, Greece constitutes one of our most important partners in all sectors." Furthermore, she said, these relations become more substantial "given that both the countries are governed by left-wing forces with the same programmes".

"Greece has really supported Albania in all its democratic developments and Greece is also a member of international organisations to which we aspire to join," Dade added, noting that "our relations with this country constitute a priority."

The new Albanian foreign minister said that there were also other bonds between the two countries, such as the Greek minority in Albania and the large number of Albanian migrants in Greece who have started to become incorporated in Greek social life through their legalisation these past few years by the Greek authorities.

[03] Jospin says Cyprus settlement will facilitate its EU entry

French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who arrived in Athens on Sunday for a working visit, said that he "supported a settlement of the Cyprus issue based on the respect of the UN Security Council's decions".

He added that " a political settlement of the Cyprus question, which we hope for with all our heart, can only facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union."

Jospin, who gave an interview to the Vima Sunday newspaper, said that Greece and France have similar visions for the future and particularly are striving for the successful outcome of three objectives. These are, he said, the construction of a society of solidarity based on a viable and stable economic growth, the completion of the construction of a "democratic European Union, prosperous and strong on the international scene, faithful to its allies but autonomous and capable of action," and the defence of European cultural particularities.

Jospin, who is in Athens at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis, said that the negative consequences of globalisation such as economic and political instability and the extension of social exlusion and the increase of the gap between the countries of the south and north, were "real and worrying". He added, however, that "we should not try to obstruct globalisation but to check and and regulate it". "We should avoid any form of fatalism and intensify our effort for the stabilisation of the financial markets, to restrict the consequences of profiteering and regulate the international movement of capital," the French premier added.

Reffering to the Balkans and to the crisis in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Jospin expressed his concern, stating at the same time his country's determination, along with the international community, to contribute in the implementation of the political agreements under the aegis of the European Union. "Peace in the Balkans passes through their return to Europe, ending with their entry into the European Union," he noted.

Jospin said that he was against changes being made to the internationally recognised borders of the Balkans and noted Greece's valuable contribution in the region.

On Turkey's European prospect, he observed that "it will be able to be strengthened through the implementation of the total political and social values which are valid in Europe. It is up to Turkey therefore to decide to proceed on the road of reform to which it has commmited itself to," The French prime minister concluded.

Jospin and Simitis will hold talks on Monday over various EU issues and the latest developments in the Balkans.

[04] Summary of premier's press conference in Thessaloniki

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Sunday expressed his will to move forward with readjustments and changes, which will strengthen the country, while he defended the social policies of the government, during his traditional press conference at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (TIF), at the conclusion of his three-day visit here.

He defended the social policies of the government, stressing that it will continue in the years to come, so as to support the financially week social strata.

He criticized the main opposition New Democracy for its actions.

Simitis reiterated that he would lead ruling PASOK during the next elections, answering questions on his succession.

He stressed that the issue of the choice of religion being listed on the police id cards has closed, noted that regarding the government reshuffle there will not be a policy of seniority preference, rather he would seek to renew the government based, however, on the need for continuance.

Journalists' questions also allowed the premier to focus on the issue of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the Cyprus problem and the Greek-Turkish relations.

Finally the premier spoke of public works projects in Thessaloniki, which he said would progress.

[05] French FM to meet Greek counterpart in Athens Monday

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine will have talks with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou in Athens on Monday morning, a Greek foreign ministry's announcement said on Sunday.

Vedrine will accompany French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin during his working visit in Athens.

Jospin will hold talks with Prime Minister Simitis on Monday.

[06] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Monday

The weather will be sunny in most parts of the country on Monday, with scattered cloud in the north that may turn to showers. Winds northwesterly, light to moderate. In the north, temperatures will range from 13C to 31C; on the rest of the mainland from 16C to 33C; and in the Aegean islands from 20C to 30C. Sunshine in Athens, with temperatures between 19C and 32C. Light cloud over Thessaloniki, with a chance of showers later in the day and temperatures from 16C to 30C.

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