Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Conference-Democracy-Papandreou

[02] Foreign policy-Meeting

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates-Friday

[04] Weather Forecast-Friday

[05] Stock Market-Close

[06] New board for 'Athens 2004' committee

[07] Olympics Organising Committee - managing director resigns

[01] Conference-Democracy-Papandreou

Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou will depart on Sunday for Warsaw to attend an international conference on democracy.

The conference, which will be attended by foreign ministers from about 100 countries, is organised by the United Nations with the contribution of seven countries (Poland, Chile, Czech Republic, India, Mali, Korea and the United States). The US will be represented by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

After Warsaw, the foreign minister will accompany President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on an official visit to Moscow.

During his visit to Moscow, Stephanopoulos will sign an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation between the two countries.

[02] Foreign policy-Meeting

Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a meeting on foreign policy planning on Thursday, attended by Foreign Minister George Papandreou and other officials.

Papandreou said afterwards all foreign policy issues were discussed in light of a cabinet meeting to be held next week on the same issue. He added that European issues were also discussed in light of France assuming the European Union's rotating presidency next month, which has put forward "interesting ideas" on Balkan problems and the EU's institutional reform.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates-Friday

Following are indicative foreign exchange rates for commercial banks released by the central bank for the next working day.

Fridays rates (buying)

Euro 333.858

U.S. dollar 355.166

[04] Weather Forecast-Friday

Sunny weather is forecast throughout the country on Friday. Winds will be northerly, light to moderate.

[05] Stock Market-Close

The Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) ended lower on Thursday, remaining under pressure for the fourth consecutive session as the market dropped below an earlier support level of 4,200 points.

The ASE's general share index ended at 4,193.10 points, down 1.45 percent. Turnover was light at 81 billion drachmas.

[06] New board for 'Athens 2004' committee

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Thursday appointed a new board of directors for the "Athens 2004" Olympics Organising Committee, following the resignation of the committee's managing director Costas Bakouris.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that Bakouris had resigned on good terms with the government in a "climate of consensus and good will," and that the government planned to use him again "in good time."

The new board members were appointed by the prime minister following deliberations with the chairman of the Olympics Organising Committee, Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki.

[07] Olympics Organising Committee - managing director resigns

The managing director of the Athens 2004 Olympics Organising Committee, Costas Bakouris, submitted his resignation on Thursday said government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

Bakouris will be replaced by the general secretary at the Merchant Marine Ministry, Petros Synadinos, who was on the team that organised Athens' successful bid for the Games.

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