Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-11-05

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Visiting Bulgarian president meets PM, President of Republic

[02] Greek tourism authorities to launch promotion in China

[03] Shimon Peres in Greece this week

[04] International Polis 2003 exhibition to be held in Thessaloniki

[05] Deputy FM holds talks with Chinese foreign ministry delegation

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[07] Weather Forecast: Unsettled on Thursday

[08] Greek stocks end flat on Wednesday

[01] Visiting Bulgarian president meets PM, President of Republic

Meetings by visiting Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Wednesday were conducted in a warm and friendly climate, the two sides said.

Greece firmly supports Bulgaria's entry in Euro-Atlantic institutions, Stephanopoulos said after his meeting with Parvanov.

Parvanov reiterated his country's commitment to completing the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and they also discussed the opening of new crossing points on the Greek-Bulgarian border.

The Bulgarian president noted that the six months of the Greek European Union presidency had had very positive results for the Balkan region.

Commenting on Athens' support for his country's efforts to boost its European prospects, Parvanov said this was like ''a following wind in Bulgaria's sails on the road toward Brussels''.

In an equally friendly meeting with the prime minister afterward, Parvanov and Simitis reconfirmed their desire for closer economic ties and to open new border-crossings on their shared borders.

With regard to the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline, Simitis said this would be discussed later on Wednesday in a meeting between ministers on both sides.

Answering questions about the operation of the nuclear power plant in Kozloduy, Parvanov said the first and second reactions had been shut down and that the other two would be inspected by the EU.

[02] Greek tourism authorities to launch promotion in China

Greece's National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) is preparing for the country's official participation in Shanghai's international tourism fair and the opening of its branch office in the Chinese city, a few weeks after the EU and China signed an agreement paving the way for Chinese tourists to visit European countries.

GNTO will soon publish promotion printed material for Greece in the Chinese language and launch a website in China, while it also plans to produce a television documentary for Greece.

A group of Chinese officials are expected to visit Crete and Santorini, while China's Development Deputy Minister Mr Li Zibin will visit Greece in December, heading a seven-member delegation, on the official invitation by Greek Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

[03] Shimon Peres in Greece this week

Former Israeli prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres on Sunday will lay a wreath at a monument to the Jews of Thessaloniki that died in the WWII Holocaust.

Peres arrives in Athens on Friday for meetings with Foreign Minister George Papandreou and main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis.

The northern Greek port city was the home to the largest Sephardic Jewish community in the world prior to the Second World War.

[04] International Polis 2003 exhibition to be held in Thessaloniki

The international Polis 2003 exhibition is to be held in the northern port city of Thessaloniki on November 27-30, organisers said on Wednesday.

Exhibitors are local and state authorities and private companies, trade fair organiser Helexpo said in a statement.

Arranging the two-yearly event with Helexpo is the Greek Local Development and Government Association.

Polis 2003 is being held under the aegis of the ministries of interior, public administration and decentralisation, development, culture and Macedonia-Thrace, along with sector associations, the statement said.

[05] Deputy FM holds talks with Chinese foreign ministry delegation

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis held talks on Wednesday with a Chinese foreign ministry delegation headed by Deputy Minister Li Bingcai, who is the official responsible for issues concerning Taiwan, according to a foreign ministry press release on the issue.

Li Bingcai briefed Magriotis on his country's policy on the issue of Taiwan, which is summed up in one phrase ''one country two systems.''

He also underlined the significance the peaceful policy followed by China has for the wider region.

Magriotis referred to the great importance of the 2004 Olympic Games for Greece, saying that a small country such as Greece and a great one such as China, both having a great history and civilisation, have undertaken to host the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008 respectively. He also briefed Li Bingcai on developments in Greek-Turkish relations and on the course of the Cyprus issue.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.156

Pound sterling 0.689

Danish kroner 7.496

Swedish kroner 9.106

Japanese yen 126.7

Swiss franc 1.577

Norwegian kroner 8.314

Cyprus pound 0.587

Canadian dollar 1.540

Australian dollar 1.630

[07] Weather Forecast: Unsettled on Thursday

All parts of the country will see changeable weather with cloud, rain and storms. Snow will fall on high ground in the centre and north, and probably in low-lying areas of western Macedonia. Winds variable, moderate to very strong, turning gale force in the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 6C to 11C; in the centre from 7C to 13C; and in the rest of the country from 9C to 19C. Temperatures in Athens between 14C and 16C; and in Thessaloniki from 9C to 11C.

[08] Greek stocks end flat on Wednesday

Greek stocks ended Wednesday's session mixed to higher in the Athens Stock Exchange reflecting lack of fresh incentives and directions in the market.

The general index ended 0.10 percent higher at 2,158.15 points after moving within tight ranges throughout the session. Greek investors remained on the sidelines awaiting the announcement of nine-month results in the next few days.

Turnover was a moderate 104.3 million euros.

The Holding, Telecommunications and Retail sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (0.78 percent, 0.51 percent and 0.44 percent, respectively), while the Insurance, Publication and Construction sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (0.55 percent, 0.53 percent and 0.48 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.15 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.03 percent down and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.66 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 191 to 95 with another 76 issues unchanged.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article