Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-06-18

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Samaranch- Athens 2004 Olympics

[02] PM in Portugal to attend decisive for Greece EU summit

[03] Thessaloniki-Inter-Balkan Medical Centre

[04] Weather Forecast - Monday

[01] Samaranch- Athens 2004 Olympics

The president of the International Olympics Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, in an interview with the Ethnos of Sunday newspaper, said he was pleased with Prime Minister Costas Simitis's recent moves in preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

He also expressed confidence in the person of the president of "Athens 2004", Yianna Daskalaki-Angelopoulos.

Samaranch dismissed fears by the international press on Greece's security during the games, stating with emphasis that "he is certain that the Greek government will control the problem."

He noted that Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos knows the issue of the Olympiad very well and that he would be very useful.

[02] PM in Portugal to attend decisive for Greece EU summit

PORTO, Portugal (ANA-D.Stamboglis) - Prime Minister Costas Simitis, accompanied by Foreign Minister George Papandreou, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and other ministers arrived here on Sunday to attend a decisive for Greece European Union Summit scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Santa Maria da Feira.

The summit is expected to endorse on Monday Greece's long awaited entry into the eurozone-zone.

Papantoniou told reporters prior to arrival that, with the decision, Greece was for the first time joining the EU "powerful" group. "It is a great moment for modern Greek history," he said, adding that the task should now be to protect and promote further more the country's position.

The impact on the Greek economy, Papantoniou said, would be lower prices, lower interest rates, strong currency and mainly strong growth rates.

Greece managed to achieve accession to the euro-zone after six years of systematic efforts.

Papantoniou told an Athens Sunday paper in an interview that Greece's EMU entry signaled structutral changes and a market liberalisation. In this perspective, he said, confrontations with "powerful state suppliers" would be inevitable, while the "political system must be safeguarded against economic interests".

[03] Thessaloniki-Inter-Balkan Medical Centre

The Inter-Balkan Medical Centre of the Apostolopoulos Group was inaugurated in Thessaloniki on Saturday night, in the presence of the last president of the former Soviet Union, Michail Gorbachev.

Also present at the inauguration were actor Peter Ustinov, who attended in his capacity of goodwill ambassador of UNESCO, the widow of late French president Francois Mitterrand, Danielle, tens of ministers from Greece and abroad, deputies, mayors and deans.

Archbishop Christodoulos expressed the wish that the Centre become "a link between the peoples of the region and of our people."

Ustivov-Mitterrand awarded

On the occasion, the Thessaloniki municipality at a ceremony at the municipal council hall on Sunday afternoon, awarded Ustinov and Mitterrand with the silver medal of the city.

Ustinov, 79, said he felt at home in Greece, expressing respect for the Greek people who discovered democracy. He also praised Danielle Mitterrand's work and struggles. Danielle Mitterrand is the president of "France Libertes" Foundation.

On her part, Mitterrand said the honour was not just for her but also for the Kurds and all the other peoples and to persons who strive without work and without official documents and to those who struggle for people who are living at the margins of society.

[04] Weather Forecast - Monday

Scattered cloud in eastern and southern Greece is forecast for Monday, while the weather will be fair in the rest of the country.

Winds will be northerly, moderate to strong, turning gale force in the Aegean Sea.

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