Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-08-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece seeks Parthenon Marbles exhibit in Athens for 2004 Olympics

[02] Greek film festival in Australia Aug 27-Sept 7

[03] Archbishop blasts ''bid to bar Christianity'' from EU constitution

[04] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Monday

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Greece seeks Parthenon Marbles exhibit in Athens for 2004 Olympics

Greece has proposed to the British Museum in London that the Parthenon Marbles should be displayed in Athens next year in a joint exhibition timed to coincide with the 2004 Olympics.

''In the framework of joint cultural traditions and close cultural ties between the two countries, we have proposed the creation of a single, joint exhibition of the Parthenon Marbles,'' Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said in a statement on Sunday.

''In this manner, the Marbles may be in Athens for the 2004 Olympic Games through cooperation between the British Museum and the Acropolis' New Museum,'' Venizelos said.

The minister was responding to media enquiries regarding an article published in the Sunday Times newspaper earlier in the day that said the Greek government and British Museum were in talks about returning the works of art for the Athens Olympics under a rental arrangement.

''The Greek side is ready to sign all the necessary contracts, both between the two museums and between the two governments. Besides, the two countries are members of the European Union and of UNESCO,'' Venizelos said.

''If the British side were to agree to the proposal, this would be both a cultural and a political initiative of global dimensions,'' he added.

The Sunday Times quoted the Greek press attache in London, Nikos Papadakis, as saying he had no doubt the Marbles would return to Athens.

Papadakis added that it was the first time talks were continuing, which was encouraging.

The newspaper also said that UNESCO, the UN's cultural organisation, had backed the talks.

[02] Greek film festival in Australia Aug 27-Sept 7

MELBOURNE (ANA/S.Hatzimanolis) - A festival of Greek films is to be held in Melbourne, Australia on August 27 to September 7.

Among works to be shown are ''Zorba the Greek'', a Kakoyiannis classic dating back 40 years; and contemporary movies including ''Hard Goodbyes: My Father'', whose young star, George Karayiannis, won the top acting prize at the Locarno international film festival.

[03] Archbishop blasts ''bid to bar Christianity'' from EU constitution

Archbishop Christodoulosof Athens and All Greeceon Sunday sharply criticised what he called moves to ''exclude'' Christianity from a constitution being drafted for the European Union.

''It it unjust what they are trying to do at the moment in the European Union in drafting the EU's constitution,'' Christodoulos told inhabitants of the island of Samos during a visit.

''A small minority insists on excluding Christianity as a structural, cultural element in Europe's civilisation,'' he said.

In a separate address on the island, the archbishop called for closer cooperation between the Church and local authorities.

''It's wrong to think that the Church should not get involved in politics. In the ancient Greek sense of man being composed of spirit and flesh, it's reasonable for the Church to be involved in man's economic well-being,'' Christodoulos said.

[04] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Monday

Sunshine is forecast in all parts of the country. Winds north-northeasterly, moderate to very strong, turning gale force in the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 17C to 30C; in the west from 19C to 33C; and in the rest of the country from 20C to 32C. Temperatures in Athens between 24C and 32C; and in Thessaloniki from 22C to 30C.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.125

Pound sterling 0.701

Danish kroner 7.489

Swedish kroner 9.304

Japanese yen 135.7

Swiss franc 1.542

Norwegian kroner 8.222

Cyprus pound 0.592

Canadian dollar 1.583

Australian dollar 1.739

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