Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-04-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Simitis says enlarged Europe will play decisive role in world

[02] Greek defence minister to visit Germany and France for talks with

[03] Transport minister inaugurates second phase of limited demand route

[04] ANA director general chairs Union of Mediterranean News Agencies

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud and showers on Monday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[07] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Sunday

[01] PM Simitis says enlarged Europe will play decisive role in world developments

Prime Minister Costas Simitis in a statement published in the Sunday edition of ''TO VIMA'' newspaper, said an enlarged and strong Europe will play a decisive role in world developments.

The statement by the Greek Prime Minister and European Council President comes three days before the 10 EU acceeding countries will sign the Accession Treaty in Athens on Wednesday, April 16.

Simitis stressed the need for the strengthening of the European Union in order for it ''to play its role more effectively in a world multi-centred system, so as to serve peace, cooperation, solidarity and a world community of justice.''

He also indirectly denounced the conduct of the United States throughout the duration of the crisis in Iraq, underlining that ''superpowers should not determine our fate, either today or tomorrow.''

The prime minister also expressed the need ''for us to proceed together in respecting our cultural differences, bridging our differences.''

On the EU enlargement, Simitis stressed that ''it is no longer Western Europe, it is the whole of Europe,'' adding that in this Europe ''the common policies and organisation at present are not sufficient.''

He noted that ''the European social model must be adjusted, so that with the new social facts, to secure cohesion and solidarity.''

[02] Greek defence minister to visit Germany and France for talks with counterparts

Greek Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou will pay successive visits to Berlin and Paris on Monday and Tuesday where he will meet with his German and French counterparts, Peter Struck and Michele Alliot-Marie, respectively.

Discussions will centre on the shaping of conditions for the post-war period in Iraq and the role of the United Nations, Greek EU presidency issues concerning the Euro-army and the European Defence Industry, following the decision of the European Council, and the next steps of the defence unification (Convention for the Future of Europe and the European Constitution).

[03] Transport minister inaugurates second phase of limited demand route programme

Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis on Sunday inaugurated the second phase of the limited demand air route programme with reduced fares in Thessaloniki, northern Greece.

Speaking during the event, Verelis announced that his ministry is orientated towards linking Thessaloniki by air with cities in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea with ticket subsidisation.

The second phase of the programme anticipates the incorporation of 12 destinations from Athens, Thessaloniki and other regional cities with 70 flights and 1,500 bookings a week.

''Benefits will appear for local regions and their wider areas with the implementation of this considerable programme, since their continuous and unimpeded air linkage with a low fare will be established which will contribute to the handling of the islands' social and economic isolation,'' Verelis said.

[04] ANA director general chairs Union of Mediterranean News Agencies meeting

Athens News Agency (ANA) Director General Andreas Christodoulides chaired a meeting in Athens on Sunday of the Administrative Council of the Union of Mediterranean News Agencies.

The Administrative Council, which is comprised of the director generals and presidents of the news agencies of Algeria, Tunisia, Cyprus and Greece, discussed preparations for the General Assembly which will take place in Algiers on June 28-29 and in general the problems faced by journalists in conducting their duties.

Meanwhile, the World Forum of News Agencies begins in Istanbul on Monday. Tens of news agencies from all over the world will take part in the forum which is organised by the Turkish news agency Anadolu.

The Union of Mediterranean News Agencies will be represented at the forum by ANA director general Christodoulides.

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud and showers on Monday

Scattered cloud and showers are forecast in most parts of the country on Monday, with brief storms in the east and south. Winds northerly, northeasterly, moderate to very strong, turning gale force in the Aegean Sea. In the north, temperatures will range from 7C to 16C; on the rest of the mainland from 10C to 20C; and in the islands from 9C to 17C. Temperatures in Athens between 13C and 16C; and in Thessaloniki from 10C to 16C.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.082

Pound sterling 0.689

Danish kroner 7.485

Swedish kroner 9.211

Japanese yen 130.1

Swiss franc 1.509

Norwegian kroner 7.963

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.574

Australian dollar 1.790

[07] Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny on Sunday

Sunny weather and some light cloud are forecast in most parts of the country, with a little rain likely in the west and north. Winds northerly, light to moderate. In the north, temperatures will range from 7C to 16C; on the rest of the mainland from 9C to 19C; and in the islands from 12C to 20C. Temperatures in Athens between 13C and 18C; and in Thessaloniki from 10C to 16C.

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