Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-03-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek EU presidency saddened over innocent victims, hopes for speedy

[02] Greece offers one million dollars to Iraq for humanitarian purposes

[03] Deputy FM departs for New York for Greek Independence Day events

[04] Womens equal opportunities committees to meet in Athens

[05] Greek cinema week inaugurated in Belgium

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[07] Correction - Greeks especially concerned over environment,

[08] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Friday

[09] Greeks especially concerned over environment, Eurobarometer says

[10] ASE follows international market lower on Thursday

[01] Greek EU presidency saddened over innocent victims, hopes for speedy end of war

Greece's prime minister Costas Simitis, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, on Thursday said he was saddened by the deaths and innocent victims of the Iraqi crisis and expressed hope that the hostilities would end as quickly as possible.

Briefing the Greek parliament plenary on last week's EU summit and the war in Iraq, Simitis stressed that strengthening the role of the European Union comprised the most significant prospect for averting a ''monopolistic world'', adding that the policy being followed by Greece was based on respect of international legality in tandem with respect of its bilateral agreements.

''It is the only policy that ensures the national interests,'' the premier said, adding, in response to criticism of the government's stance, that ''we cannot on the one hand reinforce international legality and on the other hand undermine our alliances''.

''We say 'yes' and 'now' where necessary. We do not play (games)and we do not experiment. Greece is not alone in the world, and we will safeguard the alliances that have been forged over a long period of time,'' the premier said.

Greece, he added, as the EU president, had followed a policy of ''balancing the opposing views'' on the Iraq crisis, and had succeeded in achieving common positions of the '15' in three EU summit meetings.

''We succeeded -- contrary to the desire of those countries that supported immediate intervention in Iraq -- to hold the Spring summit of the EU, and without allowing it to fall victim to the war by not discussing the economic and social prospects of the EU,'' he said.

According to Simitis, the EU had the obligation to also discuss ''what comes after'', namely what will come after the war in Iraq. He further reiterated the positions taken by the EU, such as the need to safeguard Iraq's territorial integrity, stressing that any actions of neighbouring countries against Iraq, ''including Turkey'', would comprise invasion and occupation and would therefore be illegal.

[02] Greece offers one million dollars to Iraq for humanitarian purposes

NEw YORK (ANA - P. Panagiotou) - Greece has offered one million dollars to Iraq for humanitarian purposes.

Greece's permanent representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, has delivered a relevant letter by Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos to Alternate UN Secretary General Loise Frechet.

The letter states that it is an ''initial gesture of support for the very vulnerable people of Iraq who are faced with a humanitarian crisis.''

Loverdos said Greece is closely watching relevant developments, particularly proposals by the secretary general for continuing coverage of humanitarian needs in Iraq through the ''Oil for Food'' programme, stressing the need ''for the efforts of the UN's institutional apparatus to be supported to enable it to promote an emergency plan.''

[03] Deputy FM departs for New York for Greek Independence Day events

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis on Thursday departed for New York, where he will represent Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the Greek government in the events of the Greek community for the celebration of the ''March 25th'' Greek Independence Day.

During his stay in New York the Greek minister will meet with Archbishop of America Dimitrios and Greek-American community leaders, he will address a series of events organized by the Greek-American community and he will be present in the official doxology in the Agia Triada church of the city of New York.

On Sunday, Magriotis will represent the government in the grand parade for the Greek Independence Day that will take place on the 5th Avenue, as every year and then he will attend the banquet organized by the New York City leadership here in honor of the Greek community.

[04] Womens equal opportunities committees to meet in Athens

BRUSSELS (ANA G. Zitouniati) Womens participation in the debate for the future of Europe and the legal, economic and social aspects of womens rights are the main themes to be examined during a meeting of the EUs Network of Parliamentary Committees on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, to be held in Athens next Monday.

The event is organised at the initiative of Euro-MP Anna Karamanou (PASOK), president of the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, with support by the Foreign Ministry and the General Secretariat of Equality, and attendants will include women MPs from EU member-states national parliaments, acceding countries and the European Parliament.

Deliberations are expected to conclude with the adoption of a declaration on the future of Europe, gender equality and womens rights, incorporating the conferences conclusions.

On Monday morning, participants will visit the Athens Acropolis where they are expected to convey an anti-war message and sign a declaration by women for peace demanding an end to the war in Iraq and a peaceful resolution on the basis of United Nations resolutions.

[05] Greek cinema week inaugurated in Belgium

BRUSSELS (ANA) - A Greek cinema week titled ''Greece on the Screen'' was inaugurated at the Vendome cinema hall on Wednesday night in the presence of Greece's Ambassador to Belgium Karantis and with the participation of a large number of both Greek and Belgian spectators.

The opening evening included the screening of the film ''Photograph'' by Niko Papatakis and was the reason for the Greek film director's presence in the Belgian capital.

The dedication to the Greek cinema production is an initiative by the Greek culture ministry in cooperation with the foreign ministry, regional Greek authorities and the Greek Cinema Centre and is part of cultural events organised on the occasion of the Greek European Union presidency.

The programme is expected to be presented in 15 other European countries, apart from Belgium, and includes 19 Greek films covering all the trends of Greek cinema.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.080

Pound sterling 0.686

Danish kroner 7.485

Swedish kroner 9.326

Japanese yen 129.4

Swiss franc 1.491

Norwegian kroner 7.904

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.583

Australian dollar 1.799

[07] Correction - Greeks especially concerned over environment, Eurobarometer says

In the lead, please read ?Thursday? instead of ?Friday?, as incorrectly stated.

A corrected repetition follows

BRUSSELS (ANA - A. Simatos) - Greeks appear especially concerned about environmental problems, but are not convinced that they can do much on a personal level to improve the situation, according to a report published on Thursday by the Eurobarometer in Brussels.

Specifically, 55 per cent of those Greeks asked said that they are especially concerned over environmental problems, compared to 44 per cent of Italians or 25 per cent of Swedes.

Also, Greeks are less prone to take personal action as with 56 per cent come second to the French (58 per cent) believe that they can not improve conditions by undertaking personal action.

European Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom presented the results of the Eurobarometer Survey entitled ''The attitudes of Europeans towards the environment.''

The results, which reflect the views of 16,000 EU citizens who were polled last autumn, show that while environmental issues remain top of their list of priority issues, opinions have evolved with regards to the main causes of pollution and what action should be taken. Attitudes in Member States have subtly changed too since the last such survey was published in 1999.

Commenting on the survey results, Commissioner Wallstrom said: ''Europeans clearly see the environment as a top priority and want more action at European level. The views expressed in this survey will of course be taken into account in our future policy initiatives on environment matters. Europe plays the leading role in environmental protection but we can not rest on our laurels. This survey shows that more needs to be done.''

When asked to indicate which causes of environmental degradation most worried them, 50% said that nuclear disasters ranked highest on their list of concerns; 45% said that industrial disasters most worried them. More traditionally perceived problems, like air pollution, natural disasters, water pollution and the elimination of tropical rainforests, still preoccupy many Europeans and were quoted by between 41% and 44% of respondents.

One interesting development since the 1999 survey is that Greece is now the most concerned Member State, while the Netherlands is the least concerned.

On the key issue of what can be done, opinions among Europeans are equally divided. 50% of respondents said they believed that their actions could help reverse current environmental trends, while 50% felt that their actions would make no difference. However, 65% of Europeans said that their actions could have an impact if others were similarly committed to taking action.

In general terms, 44% of those polled said they were pessimistic about the future, while 45% expressed optimism that changing behaviour patterns could bring positive results.

When it comes to what course of action should be taken, 48% expressed a preference for stricter regulations and tougher enforcement, while 45% saw better information, increased environmental awareness and greater involvement in the decision-making process as the best way to achieve results. 40% of respondents believed that better enforcement of existing legislation is the key.

Significantly, 33% of Europeans now see the EU as the best level for taking decisions about protecting the environment, which endorses the efforts made by the EU to better implement existing legislation and to bring in new and more effective laws. In comparison, 30% said that they thought national governments were best placed for decision-making and 27% opted for local government level.

[08] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Friday

Sunshine is forecast in all parts of the country. Early morning mist is expected on the mainland and in the Ionian. Winds variable, light to moderate. In the north, temperatures will range from 1C to 19C; in the Ionian and on the rest of the mainland from 4C to 21C; and in the Aegean islands from 6C to 20C. Temperatures in Athens between 5C and 20C; and in Thessaloniki from 3C to 18C.

[09] Greeks especially concerned over environment, Eurobarometer says

BRUSSELS (ANA - A. Simatos) - Greeks appear especially concerned about environmental problems, but are convinced that they can do much on a personal level to improve the situation, according to a report published on Friday by the Eurobarometer in Brussels.

Specifically, 55 per cent of those Greeks asked said that they are especially concerned over environmental problems, compared to 44 per cent of Italians or 25 per cent of Swedes.

Also, Greeks are more prone to take personal action as with 56 per cent come second to the French (58 per cent) believe that they can improve conditions by undertaking personal situation.

[10] ASE follows international market lower on Thursday

Global uncertainty over developments in the war in Iraq hit stock markets around the world and pushed share prices lower in the Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday.

The general index fell 0.80 percent to end at 1,539.40 points, with turnover a low 59 million euros.

The Publication, Cement and Textile sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (2.39 percent, 1.80 percent and 1.75 percent, respectively), while the IT Solutions, Retail and Holding sector scored the biggest percentage gains (1.28 percent, 0.09 percent and 0.02 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.07 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.47 percent, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.52 percent down, and the wider FTSE/ASE 140 index fell 1.02 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 232 to 66 with another 58 issues unchanged.

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