Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-12-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek National Division soccer results

[02] FM calls on Ankara, Turkish Cypriots, to advance just Cyprus solution

[03] Philip Craven new International Paralympics Committee chief

[04] Photographic exhibition on Patriarch Vartholomeos

[05] Weather forecast: Overcast, rainy in most parts of the country Monday

[06] Russian President Putin heads for Hanover after three-day state visit

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Greek National Division soccer results

Following are the results of Greek National Division soccer matches played over the weekend:

OFI Crete-Olympiakos Piraeus 1-1

Aris Thessaloniki-Panahaiki Patra 1-1

Ethnikos Asteras Athens-Ionikos Piraeus 1-0

Iraklis Thessaloniki-Akratitos Athens 1-1

Panathinaikos Athens-PAOK Thessaloniki 1-2

Xanthi-Aegaleo Athens 4-2

Panionios Athens-AEK Athens 2-6

Standings and points after games games played:

AEK 24 points, Olympiakos 19, Aris 16, Xanthi 15, PAOK 15, OFI 14, Panathinaikos 12, Iraklis 12, Ethnikos Asteras 11, Panionios 10, Akratitos 9, Ionikos 5, Panahaiki 5, Aegaleo 2.

[02] FM calls on Ankara, Turkish Cypriots, to advance just Cyprus solution

Greece's foreign minister George Papandreou on Sunday called on Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot side to advance a just solution to the Cyprus issue, addressing the 4th world congress of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) in Thessaloniki.

Referring to recent developments in the Cyprus issue, Papandreou spoke of a "new beginning", but warned that it was still too early for judgements and conclusions.

"History and the next developments will pass the final judgement. Cyprus as a member of the European Union will reality in a very short time, we hope. The prospect is opening up for co-habitation of the two communities in a just solution within the framework of the UN Resolutions, and we call on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to advance such a solution, which will be ble to open up a new era in relations between us," Papandreou said, reiterating that Greece backed a "European Turkey".

In a message to the SAE congress read out by the island republic's oversees Cypriots minister, Cyprus president Glafcos Clerides assured that the Greek Cypriot side would carry on with its positive stance in the inter-communal talks.

"We fervently desire that a solution is found before Cyprus' accession to the European Union so that our Turkish Cypriot compatriots may benefit equally from our membership in the large European family," Clerides said in his message.

"To that effect, I am determined to responsibly examine and take advantage of every opportunity for a correct solution that I hope will arise during the talks," he added.

[03] Philip Craven new International Paralympics Committee chief

The International Paralympics Committee (IPC) General Assembly on Sunday elected British Philip Craven as its new president here in Athens.

Craven served as president of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation for the past 12 years, as he was a Paralympics basketball player and swimmer, having thus a good understanding of issues that are related to the problems of the Parolympics athletes.

Craven succeeded Dr. Robert Steadward who served the committee for the past three consecutive four-year terms, which is the maximum allowed by the IPC charter.

[04] Photographic exhibition on Patriarch Vartholomeos

A photographic exhibition by photographer and journalist Nikos Manginas on the 10-year course of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos was inaugurated on Sunday by the Patriarch himself and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Thessasloniki.

The exhibition is taking place on the sidelines of the 4th general assembly of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad.

The exhibition portrays an impressive decade which started on October 22, 1991, when the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Synod elected the Metropolitan of Halkidon as the 270th Ecumenical Patriarch.

[05] Weather forecast: Overcast, rainy in most parts of the country Monday

The weather will be overcast and rainy in most parts of the country on Monday, with cloud and drizzle in Thessaly, the eastern mainland, Evia, the Peloponese, the Cyclades and Crete and snowfall in the mountainous regions. The rest of the country will be overcast. Winds will be moderate, easterly-northeasterly, turning to storm-force at sea with local gales. Temperatures will range from -5 to 5 C in the north, -1 to 9 C in the rest of the mainland, and 5-11 C on the islands. Athens will be overcast with drizzle in the north of the prefecture and light snow on Mt. Parnitha, and temperatures of 4-7C, but 2-3 degrees lower in the north. Thessaloniki will be slightly overcast, with temperatures from 0 to 5 C.

[06] Russian President Putin heads for Hanover after three-day state visit in Greece

Russian President Vladimir Putin departed Sunday for Moscow, via Hanover for informal talks with the German Chancellor, after winding up a three-day state visit to Greece during which he signed several bilateral cooperation agreements, but was prohibited by inclement weather from fulfilling a long-time desire to visit the all-male monastic community of Mt. Athos.

Putin, who arrived in Athens on Thursday at the invitation of Greek counterpart Costis Stephanopoulos, signed six bilateral accords during his visit focusing on cooperation in the fuel, energy, shipping and air transport sectors, as well as police cooperation and cooperation between the two countries' justice ministries, as well as for the establishment of mutual cultural centres in the two countries.

[07] 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 541.621

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 045.397

Swedish kroner 036.123

Finnish mark 056.852

Spanish peseta 002.032

Portuguese escudo 001.686

Japanese yen (100) 303.158

Swiss franc 228.599

Norwegian kroner 042.374

Cyprus pound 588.027

Canadian dollar 240.591

Australian dollar 196.013

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