Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-04-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM has telephone conversation on Mideast with Kofi Annan

[02] Conference on citizens and the environment continues

[03] Russia dominates in European Women's Gymnastics Championship

[04] Book on Greek economy presented in Washington

[05] Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy and local showers on Monday

[01] FM has telephone conversation on Mideast with Kofi Annan

Foreign Minister George Papandreou discussed developments in the Middle East with UN secretary general Kofi Annan by telephone on Saturday night.

According to diplomatic sources, Annan briefed Papandreou on the UN's decision to create a committee to probe accusations regarding the tragic events in Jenin.

He also expressed satisfaction over the joint initiative by Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem to visit Israel and Palestinian territory, adding that it is a positive step which could contribute to the strengthening of peace efforts.

Papandreou and Annan also discussed the situation prevailing in the humanitarian sector, while Papandreou briefed him on the Greek government's actions as regards the sending of humanitarian aid to Palestinian territory and the protection of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

[02] Conference on citizens and the environment continues

A four-day 4th international conference on ''Citizens-Sustainable Growth-Environment'' continued in Athens on Sunday with the participation of representatives from 77 Mediterranean, southeastern European and Black Sea countries. It is organised by the Mediterranean Cooperation foundation.

Speakers at Sunday's second day of the conference noted that a necessary prerequisite for viable development can be nothing else other than peace and stability.

Human safety and the protection of human rights, is linked directly with a development which will have as its centre the citizen, the speakers stressed.

They also noted that respect of the environment was an issue which united all countries.

''The war in the Middle East does not only concern Israel and Palestine. It concerns all of us,'' Environment Minister Vasso Papandreou said on Saturday, adding that terrorism and war are not and cannot be the future of the world and the future of the Mediterranean.

Former foreign minister Karolos Papoulias said the force of war leads to the blind response of the weaker and urged the parties involved to return to the negotiating table as equal partners.

Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said ''we are obliged to see a process developing which is against every principle. A political solution will not be found in a military way and with war'' and stressed that the peoples of the Mediterranean should call for an end to the war and a return to the negotiating table.

[03] Russia dominates in European Women's Gymnastics Championship

Russia dominated in the European Women's Gymnastics Championship which ended in Patra, southern Greece, on Sunday.

Russia won five gold and two silver medals, followed by Ukraine (one gold, one bronze), The Netherlands (four silver, two bronze) and Britain, Italy and Romania one bronze each.

Greece's Dimitra Kastritsi came sixth in the floor exercises, which constitutes the best position which Greece has ever taken in a women's European championship.

[04] Book on Greek economy presented in Washington

WASHINGTON (ANA - T. Ellis) - A study entitled ''Greece's economic performance and its prospects'', which was published recently by the Bank of Greece and Washington's Brookings Foundation, was presented at an event here during the weekend by Bank of Greece deputy governor Nikos Garganis and a foundation official.

Garganis underlined that the book analyses a multitude of macroeconomic and structural issues and referred to the change in economic policy since 1994 which led to a fall in inflation and deficits, a high growth rate and finally to Greece's entry to the eurozone.

The publication of the study for Greece is within the framework of the economic publications of Brookings which study the course of various economies in the world, such as of Sweden, Chile, Australia, Japan and Britain.

The event was organised by the Brookings Foundation and the Press Office of the Greek Embassy in Washington.

[05] Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy and local showers on Monday

Partly cloudy spells are forecast in all parts of the country, which may turn to showers and short-lived storms from late afternoon. Winds southeasterly light to moderate in the west and northeasterly moderate to strong in the east and very strong in parts of the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 8C to 18C; on the rest of the mainland from 10C to 20C; and in the islands from 13C to 19C. Partly cloudy in Athens with temperatures between 11C and 18C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 11C to 17C.

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