Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-10-08

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[02] Greek AWACS crews may participate in NATO's operations, gov't spokesman

[03] Greek inflation falls to 3.6 percent in September

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Indicative tourist buying rates until Tuesday

U.S. dollar 366.871

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 540.752

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 45.468

Swedish kroner 34.705

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 306.319

Swiss franc 228.983

Norwegian kroner 041.938

Cyprus pound 588.331

Canadian dollar 234.741

Australian dollar 186.029

[02] Greek AWACS crews may participate in NATO's operations, gov't spokesman says

Greece's newly acquired AWACS airborne warning and control system platforms and their crews may participate in NATO's operations in North America, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Monday, following a Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) meeting.

Reppas said that the airplanes go together with their crews, thus AWACS with Greek crews may participate in NATO operations in North America.

He stressed that during the KYSEA meeting Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who chaired it, said that the operations in Afghanistan were not a war of civilizations, nor a war between religions, rather it is a war against terrorism.

Reppas noted that Simitis called President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and briefed him on developments in Afghanistan, while during the cabinet meeting he issued orders to Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Health and Welfare Minister Alekos Papadopoulos for the confrontation of possible effects of the U.S. offensive in Afghanistan.

Responding to questions, Reppas said that according to reports the migration wave from Afghanistan to Europe and consequently to Greece is rising, while he added that the Greek government was undertaking all the necessary measures to increase the security of the country's borders.

Reppas called the measure of grounding all private airplanes and helicopters an effective preventative measure, adding that if any of these kind of planes attempts to fly it then falls under the responsibilities of the Greek Airforce.

He stressed that there is no danger for biological warfare against Greece, but despite that the government has undertaken all necessary measures.

In closing, Reppas said that the ruling PASOK party congress would convene as scheduled, as well as the government reshuffle planned for after the congress.

[03] Greek inflation falls to 3.6 percent in September

Greece's annual inflation rate, measured by the consumer price index, fell to 3.6 percent in September from 3.8 percent the previous month, the National Statistics Service said on Monday.

The consumer price index rose by 1.9 percent in September from August.

The annual inflation rate's rise reflected increases in alcohol and tobacco prices (11.2 percent), food and beverages (6.4 percent).

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