Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-12-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek and Swiss FMs discuss EU-Swiss relations

[02] Four illegal immigrants dead, several missing in two speedboat

[03] Cypriot composer Marios Tokas gives concert in Vienna

[04] Greek & Australian universities sign cooperation agreement

[05] Weather Forecast: Snow expected in many areas on Friday

[06] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop with small cap paper hardest hit

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[01] Greek and Swiss FMs discuss EU-Swiss relations

Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Swiss counterpart Joseph Deis discussed relations between the European Union and Switzerland in light of the upcoming Greek EU presidency during a luncheon on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Deis expressed hope that chapters concerning cooperation between the EU and Switzerland will be completed in the coming months.

Negotiations between the two sides primarily concern the taxation of capital, the Schengen Treaty, the environmental sector, genetically modified products and fraud in the customs sector.

The two sides are also discussing developments in the sector of EU enlargement and are cooperating on humanitarian law issues, as well as international relations such as in the area of the Middle East and Iraq.

Bilateral Greek-Swiss relations were also discussed, which are at a very good level.

Referring to reactions by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in past days, Papandreou reiterated that the present opportunity to solve the Cyprus issue is a considerable one and expressed regret in the event the Turkish Cypriots stay out of the European family.

He said it is a pity for Denktash to insist on these positions and if he does not realise the present-day conjuncture history will pass him by.

He further said walls such as those of Berlin should fall.

On the question of the letter by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the foreign minister said the text stresses the need for all sides to show a will for negotiating over a specific period of time and keeps the impetus created open.

[02] Four illegal immigrants dead, several missing in two speedboat incidents

Shortly after the body of an illegal immigrant who had jumped off a distressed speedboat was found close to the Mantoudi coast of northern Evia on Thursday, the coast guard spotted the bodies of three more illegal immigrants from a second smugglers' speedboat some 15 kilometres from the first incident.

The body of an illegal immigrant was found close to the shores of northern Evia on Thursday morning, and a search operation by local authorities was still in progress to locate several others still missing after jumping into the water when the speedboat smuggling them to Greece ran aground and took on water earlier in the day.

The 14-metre speedboat manned by two people-smugglers, carrying an unknown number of illegal immigrants -- Afghanis and Iraqi Kurds -- ran aground off Kymasi beach on the Mantoudi coast of northern Evia, and the illegal immigrants abandoned the vessel, jumping into the water to swim ashore.

The 58 survivors, including one woman and the two smugglers, managed to swim to shore where they were taken into custody and provided with food, dry clothing and blankets and put up temporarily at a nearby farm building.

According to accounts by the survivors, several more illegal immigrants were still missing.

Meanwhile, during the search operation for possible survivors of the first speedboat, which was later discovered and identified as the ''Arit Beta'', coast guard patrol boats spotted a second speedboat 15 kilometres away near the Evia coast of Hiliadou. Aboard the second speedboat were 24 men, including the vessel's two Turkish people-smugglers/captains, and two women, as well as three bodies.

[03] Cypriot composer Marios Tokas gives concert in Vienna

VIENNA (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis) - Leading Greek Cypriot composer Marios Tokas gave a concert at Saint Stephen's Cathedral here on Wednesday night, with his work of Byzantine tradition named ''Mary Mother of God.''

The performance, enthusiastically welcomed by the audience, included singers Manolis Mitsias and Costas Hadjichristodoulou, who were accompanied by Bratislava's Philharmonic Orchestra and the choir Echo, conducted by George Payiatis.

Seated among the audience was Cyprus' Ecucation and Culture Minister Ouranios Ioannidis and many representatives of Austria's public life.

In a brief address before the beginning of the concert, Tokas expressed his emotion, pleasure and pride for the great moment when the voice of his small motherland is being heard through his music.

In his own address, Cyprus' Ambassador to Vienna Stavros Epaminondas said that with the decison taken at the EU's Copenhagen summit Cyprus, which has been a part of European culture for thousands of years, is now joining Europe's political and economic expression and this decision is being celebrated with a concert, a token of cultural tradition.

[04] Greek & Australian universities sign cooperation agreement

The University of Thessaloniki and the Melbourne, Australia La Trobe University signed a cooperation agreement in Thessaloniki on Thursday, which includes cultural and academic activities.

Thessaloniki University Rector Michalis Papadopoulos and La Trobe University Dean Michael John Osborne signed the agreement, which follows the twinning of Thessaloniki and Melbourne in 1987.

[05] Weather Forecast: Snow expected in many areas on Friday

Snow is forecast in many parts of the country with the remainder remaining fine. Set for snow are the north, Thessaly, the eastern central mainland, Evia, the eastern Peloponnese, the Cyclades and Crete. Winds north-northeasterly, strong to gale force. In the north and centre, temperatures will range from -03C to 04C; in the west from 03C to 11C; and in the rest of the country from 01C to 09C. Temperatures in Athens between 03C and 05C, with snow or sleet expected mainlyin northern Attica in the morning; and in Thessaloniki from -01C to 04C.

[06] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop with small cap paper hardest hit

The Athens bourse finished lower on Thursday with players dumping mainly smaller and medium capitalisation paper.

The general share index shed 1.25 percent to end at 1,800.46 points. Turnover was 116.4 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.43 percent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 1.89 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished 2.51 percent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 276 to 57 with 25 issues remaining unchanged.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.035

Pound sterling 0.645

Danish kroner 7.484

Swedish kroner 9.169

Japanese yen 124.8

Swiss franc 1.475

Norwegian kroner 7.343

Cyprus pound 0.577

Canadian dollar 1.609

Australian dollar 1.831

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