Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-10-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Stephanopoulos arrives in Riga

[02] Greece - Yugoslavia-Stephanopoulos-Kostunica

[03] Hania-Czech tourists-Rescue

[04] Turkey-Greece-Journalists

[05] Weather Forecast-Monday

[01] President Stephanopoulos arrives in Riga

RIGA (ANA - N. Megadoukas) - President Kostis Stephanopoulos arrived in Riga on Sunday night, at the start of his tour of the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia.

President Stephanopoulos, who is repaying visits to Greece by the presidents of the two countries, will meet his Latvian counterpart on Monday morning and address an economic forum of Greek and Latvian businessmen later. He will also visit the Latvian Parliament and meet representatives of the Greek community in the country, while he will also be attending an official dinner given in his honour by his Latvian counterpart on Monday evening.

President Stephanopoulos' visit to the two countries is aimed at strengthening relations, particularly in the economic and cultural sectors.

[02] Greece - Yugoslavia-Stephanopoulos-Kostunica

BELGRADE (ANA - M. Mouratidis) - Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos congratulated newly-elected Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, both personally and on behalf of the Greek people, for his election victory and wished him success in his "lofty mission", while also sending wishes for the "progress and prosperity of the friendly Yugoslav people".

President Stephanopoulos, in his message delivered to Kostunica by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, expressed certainty that traditionally good relations and friendship and cooperation between the two countries would be strengthened and developed in the interests of both peoples during his period of office and at "this important and historic conjuncture".

"Greece, together with the other democratic countries of the world which are united by common values and virtues, will be very happy to welcome Yugoslavia again, under the guidance of Mr. Kostunica, in the family of European democratic countries where it traditionally belongs," President Stephanopoulos said and expressed Greece's readiness to assist all of Kostunica's efforts in this direction.

[03] Hania-Czech tourists-Rescue

Four Czech tourists were rescued from rough seas in the Gulf of Hania, Crete, on Sunday after their sailboards capsized.

Local residents noticing the incident, notified Hania harbour authorities and a boat was sent to the area which lifted them on board 300 metres off the islet of Theodorou shortly afterwards and took them back to shore.

[04] Turkey-Greece-Journalists

ISTANBUL (ANA - A. Kourkoulas) - Greek and Turkish journalists addressing the 2nd Conference of Greek and Turkish Journalists, which came to an end on Sunday, stressed the need for adequate news on domestic developments in Greece and Turkey, while Athens News Agency (ANA) managing director Nicholas Voulelis said the Greek government's decision to agree to Turkey's candidacy for European Union membership was a "strategic option."

"Greece should be the first and most consistent supporter of Turkey's accession to the EU," he said.

Voulelis underlined the lack of substantive knowledge of Turkey, adding that the media should approach sensitive problems without fanaticism.

Journalist George Kapopoulos said "a vacuum exists in objective news because Turkey's foreign policy is presented as being dissociated from domestic developments in Turkish society" and added that "airtight compartments" continue to exist between diplomatic news and foreign policy.

Former Turkish Foreign Minister Ilter Turkmen said "the press is not so important for a country's domestic policy because people have direct contact with developments" and that "on the contrary, the press plays a special role in foreign policy because readers lack direct contact with the issue."

[05] Weather Forecast-Monday

Rainy, stormy weather is forecast throughout Greece on Monday, particularly in coastal areas.

Winds will be variable, light to moderate, turning strong at sea.

In the north temperatures will range from 13C to 23C; on the rest of the mainland from 15C to 26C; and in the islands from 18C to 27C.

Rain in Athens, with temperatures between 16C and 26C.

Similar weather in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 15C to 23C.

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