Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-04-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Warm and sunny on Wednesday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[03] Efforts for Cyprus solution must continue within UN, Athens and Nicosia

[04] EU-Iran meeting takes place in Athens

[05] Trade unions planning rallies and marches for Labour Day

[01] Weather Forecast: Warm and sunny on Wednesday

Warm, sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country. Early morning mist is expected. Winds variable, light. On the mainland, temperatures will range from 9C to 27C; and in the islands from 12C to 23C. Temperatures in Athens between 13C and 26C; and in Thessaloniki from 11C to 25C.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.104

Pound sterling 0.694

Danish kroner 7.484

Swedish kroner 9.203

Japanese yen 132.9

Swiss franc 1.519

Norwegian kroner 7.832

Cyprus pound 0.592

Canadian dollar 1.605

Australian dollar 1.786

[03] Efforts for Cyprus solution must continue within UN, Athens and Nicosia agree

Athens and Nicosia agreed that efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem must continue within a United Nations framework, Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas announced on Tuesday.

He said Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos had jointly reached that conclusion during talks on the phone earlier that morning about the latest developments on the island republic, specifically the enthusiastic response of the general public, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots alike, to an easing of restrictions to free movement by the illegal Turkish-Cypriot regime in the north, with tens of thousands flocking to cross the 'green line' in both directions.

He said Simitis and Papadopoulos had ''hailed the wave of brotherhood on Cyprus, that proved that the Cypriot people wished to leave the past behind.''

Papadopoulos also briefed Simitis, who currently chairs the European Council as head of the Greek EU presidency, on the measures that the Cyprus government long ago prepared and intends to announce regarding Turkish Cypriots.

The spokesman said that Papadopoulos will be visiting Simitis and Athens on May 26.

[04] EU-Iran meeting takes place in Athens

The biannual European Union-Iran meeting took place in Athens on Tuesday, headed by Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis and Iranian Deputy Minister for Western European and N. American affairs Dr. Ahani.

The closed door meeting of the EU troika and Iran, according to press sources, dealt with bilateral affairs, investments, energy issues, immigration and conditions in the wider Middle Eastern region.

[05] Trade unions planning rallies and marches for Labour Day

A 24-hour general strike, marches and rallies are being planned by the main trade union organisations in Greece for this year's Labour Day on May 1.

A rally in Syntagma Square in central Athens, organised by the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), the civil servants' union ADEDY and the Athens Labour Centre, will be held on Thursday at 10:30, while similar rallies will be held in other major cities throughout the country.

Public transport workers will participate in the general strike with symbolic work stoppages that will be announced by their unions.

In a Labour Day message released on Tuesday, meanwhile, GSEE stressed that it would continue its struggle for a 35-hour working week without loss of pay and benefits that respected collective labour agreements and labour laws.

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