Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-06-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] USA-Albright-Greece-Report on Terrorism

[02] Papandreou calls for dialogue over Parthenon Marbles

[03] Greece-EMU-ECOFIN

[04] Weather Monday

[01] USA-Albright-Greece-Report on Terrorism

WASHINGTON (ANA - E. Ellis) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright assured on Sunday that "the US is not examining the eventuality of imposing sanctions against Greece."

She was responding to a report by the National Committee on Terrorism which alleged that Greece was not cooperating fully in combatting terrorism. The report, which proposes sanctions against Greece, will be made public on Monday.

Speaking in an interview with CNN from Moscow where she is currently on a visit, Albright added that the problems which exist in combatting terrorism on the part of the Greek government have been discussed in recent meetings which she and other US government officials have had with Greek officials.

In Athens, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, in commenting on the National Committee on Terrorism report, said: "We have expressed in another case as well the position and the firm will against terrorism. Such demands which do not correspond to the true situation in our country are not acceptable. We view that such a content has no relation with the security of the citizens in Greece and with our country's continuous effort for the elimination of such activities."

The eventuality of sanctions being imposed on Greece and Pakistan, for allegedly "not cooperating fully" in the combatting of terrorism, is proposed by the committee which was set up six months ago by the US Congress. The establishment of the committee was decided following attacks against US embassies in eastern Africa about two years ago and the purpose of the report is the taking of necessary measures for the protection of American citizens in and out of the US.

[02] Papandreou calls for dialogue over Parthenon Marbles

LONDON (ANA-L.Tsirigotakis)- Foreign Minister George Papandreou visited the Parthenon Marbles housed at the British Museum on Sunday, at the invitation of the museum's direction.

Papandreou called the invitation "the beginning of a constructive bilateral dialogue on the issue of the Parthenon Marbles".

Greece has campaigned for the return of the marbles, which were taken from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, in the early 19th century.

"I want to underline the emotion felt by every Greek who visits the Parthenon Marbles. My visit is the first ever by a Greek minister at the invitation of the British Museum and I hope that this would be the beginning of a constructive dialogue, I would say an official dialogue, between the British Museum and Greek authorities on this particular issue," Papandreou said.

"Of course I am here to address the House of Commons culture committee on this issue," he added.

[03] Greece-EMU-ECOFIN

European Union Council of Finance and Economy Ministers (ECOFIN) is expected to approve Monday in Luxembourg Greece's entry into the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), during a meeting set to prepare the Union's summit in Feira, Portugal, on June 19.

The final decision for Greece's entry into the euro-zone will be taken during the summit.

Greek Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou will be taking part in Monday's meeting.

[04] Weather Monday

Fair and sunny weather is fo'recast for throughout Greece on Monday. Northerly winds, moderate in the west, gusty in the southern parts and the Aegean. Sunny skies for both Athens and Thessaloniki, with temp'eratures ranging from 19C to 31C in the capital; 16C to 30C in the north'ern city.

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