Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-04-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[02] Weather Forecast: Warm and sunny on Tuesday

[03] DHSY party leader has telephone conversation with Greek PM

[04] FM Molyviatis, US ambassador Miller discuss Cyprus developments

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.215

Pound sterling 0.668

Danish kroner 7.506

Swedish kroner 9.266

Japanese yen 127.3

Swiss franc 1.579

Norwegian kroner 8.440

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.596

Australian dollar 1.612

[02] Weather Forecast: Warm and sunny on Tuesday

Warm, sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country with some scattered cloud in the west and north. Winds south-southwesterly, moderate, turning strong at sea. Temperatures in Athens from 8C to 21C and in Thessaloniki between 6C and 17C.

[03] DHSY party leader has telephone conversation with Greek PM

NICOSIA (ANA - G. Leonidas) - Democratic Rally (DHSY) party leader Nicos Anastasiades had a telephone conversation with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Monday morning, whom he briefed on the climate prevailing in Cyprus and on ''which are the prevailing views'' concerning the referendum to be held on April 24.

Speaking after a meeting with the President of the European Peoples Party's European Democrats Hans-Gert Poettering, Anastasiades said the Greek prime minister told him that he will clarify his position on the Annan plan after the Easter holidays and that the Greek Council of Political Party leaders will convene on the issue of Cyprus after Easter.

The DHSY party leader said he requested a telephone conversation with Karamanlis to be informed on ''when the Council of Political Party leaders will convene and to exchange some thoughts.''

Asked whether the participation of Cypriot parties in the Council is being considered, Anastasiades said ''it does not appear to be possible'', adding that ''it is an institutional body which does not allow such a thing.''

[04] FM Molyviatis, US ambassador Miller discuss Cyprus developments

The developments in the Cyprus issue, as well as matters of bilateral and international interest were discussed Monday during a meeting between Greek foreign minister Petros Molyviatis and US ambassador in Athens Thomas Miller.

In statements to the press after the meeting, Miller expressed optimism that, in the 19 days remaining until the holding of simultaneous referenda in Cyprus on UN secretary general Kofi Annan's plan for a Cyprus settlement, things will have changed.

He added that the decision, of whether to vote 'yes' or 'no' on the Annan plan on April 24, belonged to the Cypriot people -- the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots -- themselves.

Miller opined that, in essence, the Annan plan had not been understood because it had not yet been studied adequately, despite the many views that have been expressed and analyses made.

He further said that it was difficult to read the 9,000 pages of the plan, but added that there were 20 pages that deserved being read and provided important material for study.

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