Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Cloud turning to rain on Wednesday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[03] PM Simitis briefs President Stephanopoulos on domestic, foreign issues

[04] Gov't spokesman: Social Charter to unfold over next gov't term

[01] Weather Forecast: Cloud turning to rain on Wednesday

Cloud, rain and storms are forecast in the west, moving to the mainland by nightfall. Winds south-southwesterly, moderate to strong. In the west and north, temperatures will range from 17C to 27C; and in the rest of the country from 16C to 30C. Temperatures in Athens between 19C and 30C; and in Thessaloniki from 18C to 25C.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.122

Pound sterling 0.708

Danish kroner 7.488

Swedish kroner 9.205

Japanese yen 130.6

Swiss franc 1.556

Norwegian kroner 8.322

Cyprus pound 0.587

Canadian dollar 1.537

Australian dollar 1.717

[03] PM Simitis briefs President Stephanopoulos on domestic, foreign issues

Prime minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday briefed President Costis Stephanopoulos on domestic and foreign issues, focusing mainly on economic developments, the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations.

The main topic of discussion was ''the convergence for greater prosperity, which presupposes stability and is achieved through development,'' Simitis told reporters after the one-hour meeting.

''We have stability and high growth rates, but we must all contribute to and take advantage of the opportunities, because convergence is not given to us as a gift by others, just as (Greece's membership in the) EMU was not given to us as a gift,'' Simitis added.

He said that September was the month of exercise of economic policy, adding that the guidelines for convergence would be unveiled on Wednesday.

The premier also said that the budget figures had already been calculated and the drafting of the budget would be completed by the end of the month, adding that next month's discussions in the EU on the European Constitution and the Intergovernmental Conference would somewhat divert attention away from economic policy, which he noted was of primary concern to the citizen.

[04] Gov't spokesman: Social Charter to unfold over next gov't term

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Tuesday reiterated that the Social Charter announced by the government represented the operations plan for its programme, which was designed to begin now and unfold while the next government was in office, coming to completion at the end of the next four-year term.

The spokesman repeated this clarification in response to questions and stressed that the government would make a commitment to meet specific targets and figures based on the charter.

Regarding pay rises demanded by certain professional groups, Protopapas said the government was doing its utmost to provide the best possible solution that the economy could bear.

''We would like to hope that the parties will not make other moves during this phase,'' he added.

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