Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-02-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM, Cyprus House speaker discuss Cyprus issue, EU prospects (adds

[02] Alternate FM Yiannitsis on visit to Hungary

[03] EIB to set priority on funding Olympic projects

[04] Greece safe and ready for the Athens 2004 Games, sports official says

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Saturday

[06] Greek stocks end the week 1.52 percent lower

[01] PM, Cyprus House speaker discuss Cyprus issue, EU prospects (adds Kaklamanis)

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday met with visiting Cyprus House of Representatives speaker Dimitris Christofias for talks on developments regarding the Cyprus issue and the island republic's EU membership course.

After the half-hour meeting, Christofias told reporters that he had a "cordial discussion and an in-depth exchange of views on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and our joint effort".

Christofias arrived in Greece to attend the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of parliament presidents and house speakers.

He said they both hoped that the dialogue currently taking place would operate positively and produce results..." and for it to be a dialogue, both sides must speak the same political language and aspire to the same basic goal".

"The common goal that had once been decided is a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation. Mr. Clerides (Cyprus President Glafcos) remains consistent with that position, as also with the provisions of the UN resolutions, and we hope that the Turkish side will change philosophy so that we may speak the same tongue. To date, unfortunately, it speaks its well-known tongue, which in essence, means two sovereign states," Christofias added.

[02] Alternate FM Yiannitsis on visit to Hungary

BUDAPEST (ANA - M. Mouratidis) - Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, within the framework of his working visit here, on Friday discussed issues of bilateral interest and matters which concern Hungary's accession to the European Union, with Hungarian government and opposition officials.

Yiannitsis met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi, Alternate FM in charge of European affairs Peter Gottfried as well as the head of the opposition, Socialist Party president Laszlo Kovacs.

"We discusssed at length on matters which concern Hungary's accession to the EU", said Yiannitsis after his talks with Martonyi.

He said "we all hope that by the end of the year the negotiations will conclude with all the countries in the first group of enlargement."

Yiannitsis said "Greece supports Hungary's accession to the EU and views that it will be a great achievement for the signing of the EU enlargement to take place during the course of the Greek (EU) presidency" in the first half of 2003.

[03] EIB to set priority on funding Olympic projects

The chairman of the European Investment Bank, Philippe Maystadt, said on Friday that the EIB would set a priority on helping to finance projects for the 2004 Olympics hosted by Athens.

Speaking in the Greek capital after a meeting with Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Maystadt also said that the EIB favoured financing links for infrastructure projects in southeastern Europe including energy, transport and electronic networks.

In addition, the EIB agreed to hold talks with the government on restructuring the Greek state's debt to the bank.

[04] Greece safe and ready for the Athens 2004 Games, sports official says

NEW YORK (ANA) - "Greece is the safest western country and all the Olympic installations will be ready by 2003. There is a correct organizing on sports infrastructures and the relevant timetables are followed," Sports General Secretary Nikos Exarchos said on Friday, during a press conference held for the Greek expatriate mass media here.

He stressed that the Greek community of the United States is a basic element on the course of organizing the Olympic Games of 2004, adding "we should synchronize so as to achieve the best possible result and to secure the promotion of the Olympic Games of Athens for their special meaning, that is the promotion - not only of the sports events, but also of our culture and history".

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Saturday

Light cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to showers mainly in the centre and north. Snow may fall on high ground in the north from evening. Winds east-southeasterly, strong, turning very strong to gale force in parts of the Ionian and Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 4C to 11C; on the rest of the mainland from 6C to 16C; and in the islands from 8C to 17C. Scattered cloud in Athens, with temperatures between 9C and 15C. Showers in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 6C to 10C.

[06] Greek stocks end the week 1.52 percent lower

Greek stocks ended the last trading session of a subdued week lower hit by lack of buying interest as investors continued refraining from market transactions.

The general index ended 0.25 percent lower at 2,488.78 points, with turnover a low Dr 30.77 billion, or 90.3 million euros.

The Construction and IT sectors scored the biggest percent gains (0.51 percent and 0.39 percent, respectively), while the Telecoms, IT Solutions and Food-Beverage sectors suffered losses (1.02 percent, 0.45 percent and 0.37 percent).

The Parallel Market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 0.50 percent higher.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.32 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.22 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.08 percent higher.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 159 to 138 with another 62 issues unchanged.

The general index ended the week with a net loss of 1.52 percent.

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