Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-09-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece donates one million dollars to UN for Afghan refugee relief

[02] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in edgy trade

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[04] Trade group says consumption down after terrorist attacks in US

[05] Fontaine: Political problem cannot block Cyprus EU entry (RECASTS)

[06] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Friday

[07] Fontaine: Political problem cannot be condition for Cyprus' EU entry

[01] Greece donates one million dollars to UN for Afghan refugee relief

Greece will grant 500,000 dollars to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and another 500,000 dollars to non-governmental organizations to fund refugee relief efforts in and around Afghanistan, Foreign Minister George Papandreou said on Thursday.

During a press conference, Papandreou noted that the ministry decided to provide the funds in efforts to deal with the tremendous dimensions the refugee problem has reached.

UNHCR representative in Greece Flore Rohas-Rodrigues was also present at the press conference, along with popular Greek signer George Dalaras, who will perform in two concerts, one on Thursday and a second on Friday in Athens to benefit the refugee relief efforts of the U.N.

Papandreou lauded the efforts of the UNHCR, noting its continual efforts over the past 50 years, since its establishment.

He also said that a foreign ministry's official will depart for Pakistan over the next few days to coordinate the humanitarian efforts of Greek NGOs.

On her part, Rohas-Rodrigues expressed her gratitude for the government and people of Greece for their support to the UNHCR efforts, underlining that the world is currently facing one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies of all times.

[02] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in edgy trade

The Athens bourse finished slightly higher on Thursday in volatile trade, tracking jitters in other European markets stemming from fears of recesssion after terrorist attacks in the US earlier this month.

The general share index gained 0.67 percent to end at 2,172.46 points. Turnover was 111.36 million euros.

The index rose due to a last-minute round of buying. Volatility seen during the session was likely to continue in the short term, analysts said.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.76 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 1.13 percent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities 0.65 percent up.

Advances led declines at 176 to 126 with 58 issues remaining unchanged.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Indicative tourist buying rates

U.S. dollar 367.227

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 541.354

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 45.455

Swedish kroner 34.229

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 307.980

Swiss franc 228.231

Norwegian kroner 041.808

Cyprus pound 588.738

Canadian dollar 233.470

Australian dollar 178.375

[04] Trade group says consumption down after terrorist attacks in US

The National Confederation of Greek Commerce said on Thursday that domestic consumption had dropped after terrorist attacks in the US on September 11.

"There are companies that have not used their cash registers since then, and have not been able to able to order fresh supplies," the trade group's president, Christos Folias, told a news conference.

Banks should ease the crisis by offering loans at lower rates, said Folias, who is also a eurodeputy for the main opposition New Democracy party.

[05] Fontaine: Political problem cannot block Cyprus EU entry (RECASTS)

Cyprus meets the criteria for entry into the European Union and no obstacles could be placed in its path to EU accession, European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine said in Athens on Thursday.

"It is objectively evident that Cyprus fulfils the criteria and will be among the first new countries to enter the EU. There cannot be other accession conditions in the framework that has already been decided on," she said.

Fontaine also said that the island republic's entry into the EU could not be made conditional on achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem. On the contrary, she added, Cyprus' membership of the EU might act as a catalyst for resolving the problem.

According to Fontaine, the European Parliament would not agree to a first wave of countries entering the EU if Cyprus was not among them.

"I cannot, of course, determine my colleagues decisions in advance but I think I know the situation," she said.

Currently on a official visit to Greece, Fontaine made the statements while speaking before the Greek Parliament's European Affairs Committee.

[06] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Friday

The weather will be sunny on Friday with some scattered cloud in the east. Winds northerly, light to strong, turning very strong in the southern Aegean. On the northern mainland, temperatures will range from 12C to 23C; on the rest of the mainland from 16C to 26C; and in the islands from 19C to 27C. Mostly sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 19C and 26C. Sunshine in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 16C to 23C.

[07] Fontaine: Political problem cannot be condition for Cyprus' EU entry

Cyprus meets all the criteria for entry into the European Union and no obstacles should be placed in its path toward EU accession, European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine said in Athens on Thursday, according to an announcement from the Greek Parliament.

Fontaine also said that the political problem on the divided island republic could not be a condition for Cyprus' entry into the EU.

Currently on a official visit to Greece, Fontaine made the statements while speaking before the Greek Parliament's European Affairs Committee.

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