Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-09-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Optimistic dynamic in Cyprus issue for first time, FM says during

[02] More than 350 illegal immigrants abandoned off Evia, five dead

[03] Weather Forecast: Cloud on Wednesday

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

[01] Optimistic dynamic in Cyprus issue for first time, FM says during Nicosia visit

NICOSIA (ANA - G. Leonidas) --

An optimistic dynamic has been created in the Cyprus issue for the first time, Greek foreign minister George Papandreou said late Tuesday in Nicosia.

"For the first time, and given the prospect of Cyprus' accession to the European Union, a new optimistic dynamic has been created for the first time on the Cyprus issue," Papandreou told a special late-night programme on state television RIK titled "The hour of truth for Cyprus' future".

Papandreou, who Wednesday concludes a two-day visit to Cyprus for talks with the government and political party leaders, explained that in all his contacts with Turkish political officials he notes that Cyprus must be rendered "an example of cooperation and friendship" because "it is unacceptable that Athens and Ankara proceed to any cooperations while a part of Cyprus remains under (Turkish) occupation".

"Turkey is fully aware that its way to Europe passes through Cyprus," the Greek FM added.

[02] More than 350 illegal immigrants abandoned off Evia, five dead

The bodies of five illegal immigrants among a group of more than 350 Kurds and Afghanis disembarked by immigrant-smugglers were discovered on the coast of Evia early Wednesday, the Greek Coast Guard said.

A Coast Guard official told ANA that the immigrants were disembarked off Mantoudi during the night by an unidentified ship, and Coast Guard patrol boats were combing the sea area of Evia to ascertain whether the vessel was still inside Greek territorial waters.

According to early reports, the immigrants were disembarked off the coast of Mantoudi and had to swim to shore. The five dead were believed to have drowned.

[03] Weather Forecast: Cloud on Wednesday

Light cloud is forecast in all parts of the country on Wednesday, turning overcast in the west with rain and storms mainly in the northwest, spreading to the rest of the mainland and northern Aegean overnight. Winds west-southwesterly, light to moderate, turning strong later in the day. In the north, temperatures will range from 15C to 30C; on the rest of the mainland from 18C to 33C; and in the islands from 22C to 31C. The day will start sunny in Athens, turning to cloud and possibly rain or a storm during the night. Temperatures between 22C and 33C. Cloud in Thessaloniki turning to showers or storms from evening, with temperatures from 17C to 30C.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Wednesday

Indicative tourist buying rates

U.S. dollar 376.852

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 545.461

Irish punt 429.202

Belgian franc 008.379

Luxembourg franc 008.379

Dutch guilder 153.389

Italian lira (100) 017.457

Austrian schilling 024.565

Danish kroner 45.409

Swedish kroner 35.388

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 315.626

Swiss franc 223.106

Norwegian kroner 042.449

Cyprus pound 589.849

Canadian dollar 243.201

Australian dollar 196.874

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