Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-03-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece-EMU membership application

[02] Opinon poll-PASOK marginal lead

[01] Greece-EMU membership application

Greece was joining the European Union's economic and monetary union (EMU) by virtue of its achievements, prime minister Costas Simitis said at an Athens event as Greece submitted its formal application Thursday for euro zone membership.

The efforts and sacrifices of the Greek people have borne fruit, Simitis told an event at the Zappion Mansion.

In letters by prime minister Costas Simitis to his EU counterparts and by national economy and finance minister Yannos Papantoniou to Portuguese finance minister Pino Mora, who currently chairs the EU's council of economy and finance ministers (ECOFIN), and EU Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs Pedro Solbes, all dated Thursday, March 9, Greece formally applied for euro zone entry and adoption of the common European currency 'euro' as of January 1, 2001, in accordance with Article 122 (paragraph 2) of the EU Treaty.

[02] Opinon poll-PASOK marginal lead

Ruling PASOK had a slim 2.1 percent nationwide lead in an opinion poll, but the lead was within the poll's error margin, according to the results of a V.PRC poll published Thursday in TA NEA newspaper.

The nationwide poll, conducted between February 12 and March 5, showed PASOK leading with 37 percent, followed by main opposition New Democracy party with 34.9 percent. According to the poll, PASOK had a 2.1 percentage point lead over ND, but the lead was within the poll's "statistical error margin" of plus/minus 2.4 percentage points.

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