Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-02-25

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek PM and US President discuss Iraq, EU-US relations

[02] UN chief Annan arrives in Athens, says opportunity must not be lost for

[03] UN chief Annan signs Olympic Truce Statement

[04] National Bank of Greece launches Bulgaria's first credit card

[05] 40% of Greek youths find jobs outside their educational field, Eurostat

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud and sunny spells on Wednesday

[08] Greek stocks plunge to five-year lows on Tuesday

[01] Greek PM and US President discuss Iraq, EU-US relations

United States President George Bush on Tuesday held talks with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis over the phone for 15 minutes regarding the Iraq crisis and relations between the United States and the European Union, sources said.

They said the call had been initiated by Bush and that he had congratulated the Greek EU presidency for its decision to call an emergency summit on Iraq and the summit's successful outcome, as well as the presidency's stance on the issue.

The American president also stressed the importance of relations between the U.S. and the EU and his desire that these relations remain so, while assuring Simitis that he would personally work in this direction.

The same sources said that the Greek premier and current president of the European Council stressed that any action related to Iraq must originate with the United Nations and UN decisions, a view with which Bush agreed.

Simitis also took the opportunity to refer to the Cyprus problem and a tour of Athens, Ankara and Nicosia by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, asking Bush to use his influence with Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot side to assist progress toward a solution.

Bush apparently assured the Greek premier of his personal interest in a solution of the Cyprus problem.

[02] UN chief Annan arrives in Athens, says opportunity must not be lost for Cyprus

UN secretary general Kofi Annan arrived in Athens at noon on Tuesday for talks with the Greek government on ongoing efforts for a Cyprus settlement, and in an airport statement reiterated that the opportunity for a solution must not be lost.

Annan, who met Tuesday evening with prime minister Costas Simitis, said during arrival statements there was an important opportunity for resolving the Cyprus isue that must not be lost.

He said the matter was urgent, and that Cyprus should accede the European Union reunited, noting that this was desired by the European Union and the UN Security Council alike. But for this to occur, he continued, the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots needed to hold separate referendums by March 30 at the latest.

If this opportunity was lost, he warned, it was unclear whether there would be another opportunity anytime soon.

A reunified Cyprus should sign the accession to the European Union, he reiterated.

Annan further said that the hour of decisions had arrived, and that both sides needed to reach agreement by February 28, noting, however, that a few days extention could be given. But he warned that a delay beyond early March would comprise a 'no' to the accession to the EU by a reunified Cyprus.

The UN chief said he was encouraged by the talks he had in Ankara on Monday, and said the new amendments to his draft solution plan would contain no surprises and would aim at bringing the two sides to agreement.

Replying to questions, Annan said he hoped that EU accession would be made by a reunified Cyprus, adding that he had briefed the Turkish government (on Monday) of the points of the revised plan he would present, and would do the same with the Greek government (on Tuesday) as well as the Cyprus government and the Turkish Cypriot community. Annan is due to arrive in Cyprus on Wednesday.

Asked what would happen if a solution was not reached, Anna said it was in the interests of both sides to reach a solution, adding that Ankara realised how urgent this was and desired a unified Cyprus to accede the EU.

Annan also described Greece as a country with an important role on the international scene, and now, more than ever, as it was holding the EU presidency.

[03] UN chief Annan signs Olympic Truce Statement

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan signed the Statement of World Personalities in Support of the Olympic Truce Initiative in Athens on Tuesday evening, in the presence of Foreign Minister and EU Council of Ministers president George Papandreou.

Speaking at a special signing ceremony at the foreign ministry, Papandreou hailed Annan's role in international efforts for peace in many regions of the world, and referring to the Cyprus issue, stressed that ''we are expecting a great deal and have many hopes.''

On his part, the UN chief espressed his particular pleasure as his first visit to Athens coincided with the signing of the Olympic Truce Declaration. He stated that ''we should implement and utilise daily in practice the signing.''

Present at the event were the ambassadors in Athens of the five countries which are permanent members of the UN Security Council as well as Greek parliamentarians.

The brief event came to a close with the screening of a videofilm on the theme of the Olympic Idea.

[04] National Bank of Greece launches Bulgaria's first credit card

National Bank of Greece, a blue chip on the Athens bourse, recently issued Bulgaria's first credit card through a subsidiary in the neighbouring country, UBB bank.

The deputy governor of National Bank, Andreas Vranas, told a conference in the northern port city of Thessaloniki on Tuesday that the move had proved a great success.

UBB also offered Bulgarian customers consumer loans by means of third party sales outlets, Vranas added.

The conference on Greek companies and reconstruction of the Balkans was arranged by the Kalofolias Group and Express daily financial newspaper.

[05] 40% of Greek youths find jobs outside their educational field, Eurostat says

BRUSSELS (ANA - G. Zitouniati) - A large percentage of Greek youths land jobs that are not corresponding to their field of education, according to a European Union wide study conducted by Eurostat and released on Tuesday.

Some 40 per cent of Greek youths find jobs they were not trained for, thus bringing Greece to second highest position after Italy (47 per cent) among European Union member-states.

These percentages decrease as the educational level increases according to the study, resulting in university graduates to be more likely to find a job in their chosen field of study.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.086

Pound sterling 0.689

Danish kroner 7.487

Swedish kroner 9.190

Japanese yen 127.2

Swiss franc 1.476

Norwegian kroner 7.690

Cyprus pound 0.585

Canadian dollar 1.618

Australian dollar 1.793

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud and sunny spells on Wednesday

Cloud and sunny spells are forecast in most parts of the country. Winds variable, light to very strong. In the north, temperatures will range from -7C to 9C; in the west from -5C to 13C; and in the rest of the country from -3C to 10C. Temperatures in Athens between 0C and 9C; and in Thessaloniki from -3C to 9C.

[08] Greek stocks plunge to five-year lows on Tuesday

A negative climate in international markets, due to worries over a possible war in Iraq, hit the Greek market on Tuesday pushing share prices to their lowest levels in five years.

The general index dropped 2.42 percent to end at 1,623.34 points, its lowest close in the last five years, with turnover a low 97 million euros.

The Textile, IT Solutions, Banks and Wholesale sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (5.52 percent, 4.33 percent, 3.98 percent, 3.97 percent and 3.58 percent, respectivey).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks dropped 2.67 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 2.44 percent, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index plunged 3.05 percent, while the wider FTSE/ASE 140 index ended 2.67 percent off.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 320 to 20 with another 21 issues unchanged.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article