Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-11-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Mostly fine on Tuesday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[03] Simitis details progress of ongoing 550mln-euro Balkan reconstruction

[04] Return of political stabiliy in Georgia of primary importance

[05] Romania's EU prospects dominate alternate FM's talks in Bucharest

[06] Verdict in N17 trial to be announced on Dec. 8

[07] Flight Stewards Union calls two 48-hour strikes

[08] Tourist bus owners announce three-day strike from Wednesday

[01] Weather Forecast: Mostly fine on Tuesday

Scattered cloud and humidity in all parts of the country with early morning mist is forecast for Tuesday. Winds variable, light. Temperatures are to remain high for the time of year, with a minimum of 12C and maximum of 21C in Athens; and in Thessaloniki, 7C to 17C.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.191

Pound sterling 0.701

Danish kroner 7.495

Swedish kroner 9.033

Japanese yen 129,9

Swiss franc 1.565

Norwegian kroner 8.229

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.558

Australian dollar 1.652

[03] Simitis details progress of ongoing 550mln-euro Balkan reconstruction plan

Prime Minister Costas Simitis detailed the economic and political dimensions of Athens ambitious 550-million-euro Balkan reconstruction and development plan during an address in Thessaloniki on Monday.

?Peace and stability in the Balkans cannot exist without their European vocation,? Simitis said, before focusing on the plans implementation over the past year and a half in six countries: Serbia/Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Greek premier reiterated that Athens plan is based on three initiatives, including private investments, which will absorb 20 percent of the total package. The second initiative deals with low-cost projects being overseen by the Greek diplomatic missions in each of the aforementioned countries (1 percent of the total), while a third initiative which comprises the lions share of the programme deals with the financing of major projects.

[04] Return of political stabiliy in Georgia of primary importance

Greece said Monday that it was of primary importance for political stability to return to Georgia.

Asked to comment on the recent developments in Georgia, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said that at this time it was of ''primary importance for Georgia to return soon to the road of political stability''.

He added that Greece and the European Union backed the territorial integrity of Georgia and were in close contact, monitoring the developments.

The presernvation of territorial integrity, particularly in regions that influence the more general balances, was the EU's firm policy and principle, Beglitis added.

[05] Romania's EU prospects dominate alternate FM's talks in Bucharest

BUCHAREST (ANA) Romanias European Union prospects dominated meetings here on Monday during a working visit by Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis.

The latter stressed that his talks with Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Dan Geoana covered bilateral cooperation ?so that accession negotiations are completed by the end of 2004 so that membership comes in 2007.?

On his part, Geonna said afterwards that Yiannitsis visit comes in the wake of a recently published Commission report on Romania and Bulgarias progress towards EU accession ahead of the upcoming Summit in Brussels.

[06] Verdict in N17 trial to be announced on Dec. 8

The Three-Member Criminal Appeals Court trying 19 suspected ''November 17'' terrorists on Monday set December 8 as the date on which it will hand down its verdict in the case, after the conclusion of the high-profile trial that lasted 162 sessions over several months.

Presiding judge Mihalis Margaritis declared the end of the trial after the last of the prisoners addressed their rejoinders to the court, ending with the alleged leader of the terror band Alexandros Giotopoulos.

[07] Flight Stewards Union calls two 48-hour strikes

The Olympic Airways Flight Stewards Union has called two continuous 48-hour strikes from November 28 to December 1.

The stewards, who have decided to exercise the right of disagreement and not go to the Olympic Airlines company being established, are protesting ''the ultimatum by OA's flight exploitation general director, who is calling on the stewards to go to the new company and sign individual labour contracts'', as they said in an announcement.

[08] Tourist bus owners announce three-day strike from Wednesday

Greek tourist buses' owners on Monday threatened a three-day strike from Wednesday, 26 November, protesting against the governnent's unfulfilled promises to meet the sector's demands.

Representatives of the sector, speaking to reporters, said that a meeting with Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Transport Minister Christor Verelis on Tuesday was crucial for the future of the union's mobilisations.

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