Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-06-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Use of hydrogen for peaceful purposes to be among topics at U.S.-EU

[02] Culture minister inaugurates painting exhibition on Olympic ideals

[03] Chinese businessman proved positive of SARS virus

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[05] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Wednesday

[06] Greek stocks continue moving lower

[01] Use of hydrogen for peaceful purposes to be among topics at U.S.-EU summit

WASHINGTON (ANA - T. Ellis) - Working groups from the European Union and the United States have concluded in joint statements which will be issued during Wednesday's U.S.-EU summit between U.S. President George W. Bush, Greek Greek Minister and European Council President Costas Simitis and European Commission President Romano Prodi at the White House and concern the use of hydrogen for peaceful purposes, cooperation in the sector of energy and the need to confront the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

The reaching of an agreement for the start of talks on the deregulation of air transport is also expected to be announced, while emphasis will also be given during the talks for peace in the Middle East and the promotion of the ''Road Map''.

The U.S. is also expected to reiterate its opposition to the entry of Libya to the UN Security Council while the European Union is maintaining a neutral stance.

Premier Simitis will also brief President Bush on the decisions taken at the recent EU summit in Halkidiki.

[02] Culture minister inaugurates painting exhibition on Olympic ideals

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos inaugurated a painting exhibition of Greek and Italian artists at the Museum of Cycladic Art on Tuesday night titled ''Olympic Games-Five Links of Sports Competition, Solidarity, Culture, Hope and Peace.''

Venizelos referred in his address to close cooperation with Italy in a series of sectors, as well as the continuation to be given by the European Union's Italian presidency, which will succeed the Greek one, to the work of the Greek presidency.

''2003 could be characterised the 'Mediterranean Presidency' of the EU,'' Venizelos said.

Ten Greek and 15 Italian artists are participating in the exhibition, while the topics of the works are inspired by Olympic ideals and sport.

The exhibition, which remained in Naples from March 29 to May 4, will last until September 15 in Athens and will then be transferred to Venice.

[03] Chinese businessman proved positive of SARS virus

A 36-year-old marble trader who visited Drama, northern Greece was initially proved positive of having Severe Acute Respirartory Syndrome (SARS) after being admitted to Thessaloniki's Papanikolaou Hospital, it was reported on Tuesday.

The Chinese patient arrived in Athens in mid-June and then travelled to Drama where he came down with a high fever. He was taken to Drama hospiral on Monday where doctors initially dioganosed tonsils.

Health and Welfare Minister Costas Stefanis in a press conferess on Tuesday said ''this time we have a real suspect case.''

The patient is now being treated in the hospital's special 'zero pressure' chambers.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.165

Pound sterling 0.699

Danish kroner 7.484

Swedish kroner 9.218

Japanese yen 137.4

Swiss franc 1.544

Norwegian kroner 8.234

Cyprus pound 0.589

Canadian dollar 1.580

Australian dollar 1.752

[05] Weather Forecast: Hot and sunny on Wednesday

Sunshine is forecast in all parts of the country, with isolated storms likely on high ground on the northern mainland. Winds northerly, light to moderate. On the mainland, temperatures will range from 18C to 37C; and in the islands from 21C to 33C. Temperatures in Athens will range between 22C and 37C; and in Thessaloniki from 21C to 36C.

[06] Greek stocks continue moving lower

Greek stocks continued moving lower in the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday as investors kept up pressure on share prices, particularly of smaller capitalisation companies.

The general index fell 0.34 percent to end at 1,881.27 points, with turnover a moderate 148.5 million euros.

The Wholesale, Insurance and Textile sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (4.08 percent, 3.05 percent and 2.84 percent, respectively), while the retail, publication and telecommunication sectors scored the biggest percentage gains (1.13 percent, 0.77 percent and 0.13 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.16 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.52 percent, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.63 percent down and the wider FTSE/ASE 140 index fell 0.38 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 238 to 81 with another 40 issues unchanged.

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