Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-10-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek-Cypriots WW II veterans to participate in Oct. 28 National Day

[02] Opinion poll on gov't reshuffle shows approval by ruling PASOK voters

[03] President of the Republic visits north-central Pella prefecture

[04] Weather Forecast: Rainy on Sunday

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Greek-Cypriots WW II veterans to participate in Oct. 28 National Day parade

Greek-Cypriot, veterans of the Second World War, will parade for the first time ever in the military parade in Thessaloniki during the Sunday celebrations commemorating the Oct. 28 National Day.

On Saturday, 15 veterans of the Pancypriot Confederation of World War II Veterans arrived in Thessaloniki, hosted by the National Bank of Greece, to participate in the events.

In 1940, following the first successes of the Greek Armed Forces in the Albanian front against the Axis forces, about 30,000 men and women from Cyprus joint the armed forces and fought, confederation president Andreas Christofis said.

Some 5,000 of the volunteers fought in Greece, about 2,000 of those where captured prisoners and the other three were executed during the occupation of Greece by the Nazi forces, between 1941 and 1944.

The other 25,000 fought against the Axis in France and Egypt, while 5,000 of those where for the defense of Cyprus itself, by the then British colonial administration of the island.

"The catch phrase of the English at the time (in Cyprus) so that we may join the English army, was that 'by joining the English army you fight for Greece and your own freedom', but the promise was a check without funds in the bank, even to this day," Christofis said.

[02] Opinion poll on gov't reshuffle shows approval by ruling PASOK voters

Greece's public opinion does not seem certain that the new government that resulted from Tuesday's government reshuffle would change the tempo of projects the government has undertaken, according to an opinion poll published by Imerisia, financial daily, on Saturday.

The poll conducted by V-PRC for Imerisia, noted that 50 percent of those that answered the poll's questions, were "mostly not satisfied" with the government reshuffle, while 30.5 per cent responded "mostly satisfied" and the remaining 19.5 per cent noted "I don't know or I will not answer".

Ruling PASOK voters, participating in the opinion poll, however, provided their support for the new government tot he tune of 51.9 per cent, with only a 35.7 per cent responding "not satisfied".

Meanwhile the same poll showed Foreign Minister George Papandreou as the most popular member of ruling PASOK party by far, with a 70.6 per cent approval rating, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos with a 58.9 per cent approval rating came second and Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos with 58.4 per cent approval rating came third.

[03] President of the Republic visits north-central Pella prefecture

Rresident of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Saturday stressed that funds earmarked for Greece's regions from the third community support framework (CFS) of the European Union should be used to the last euro, so as to develop those areas.

Speaking during his visit the north-central Pella prefecture, on his way to Thessaloniki for the Oct. 28, national day parade, Stephanopoulos said "Greece should utilize the thrid CFS funds, because I am not sure there will be a fourth one as well".

Accompanied by Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis he visited the towns of Yiannitsa, Edessa and Pella.

In Pella, he stressed the importance of Macedonia to Greece's existence as a country, adding "for this reason it is the love for Macedonia, for this reason it is the love for the name, this piece of land is not only a vanguard of the country, but the life of our own country".

[04] Weather Forecast: Rainy on Sunday

Showers are forecast in most parts of the country on Sunday, with snow on high ground on the mainland and storms in the south. The northeast will be cloudy with a chance of showers later in the day. Winds variable, moderate to very strong, turning gale force in the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 4C to 17C; in the west from 10C to 22C; and in the rest of the country from 12C to 19C. Cloudy in Athens, with temperatures between 13C and 18C. Cloudy in Thessaloniki and with showers forecast for later in the day and temperatures from 8C to 15C.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Indicative tourist buying rates until Monday

U.S. dollar 379.327

German mark 172.829

French franc 051.531

Pound sterling 542.224

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 045.455

Swedish kroner 035.839

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 309.407

Swiss franc 229.229

Norwegian kroner 042.505

Cyprus pound 588.738

Canadian dollar 240.983

Australian dollar 190.256

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