Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-09-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek PM, foreign minister satisfied with election results in Germany

[02] NYC mayor meets with Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul

[03] Electric cars showcased in northwestern Greece

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[05] Weather Forecast: Rain in much of the country on Tuesday

[06] Greek stocks end 1.73 percent lower on Monday

[07] Athens Classic Marathon on Nov. 3

[01] Greek PM, foreign minister satisfied with election results in Germany

COPENHAGEN (ANA - M. Spinthourakis) Clearly satisfied with the results of Germany's general elections over the weekend, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday told reporters that the victory by Germany's social-democrat and Greens coalition was a ''guarantee that Europe would go forward in accordance with our views and goals''.

Simitis was in Copenhagen to attend a joint summit of EU and southeast Asian countries (ASEM).

According to the Greek premier, the re-election of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder would ensure the continuity of Europe's common foreign and security policy, which was necessary in these difficult times, as well as policies for growth, social justice and social cohesion. Finally, he said it would also act as a guarantee for European enlargement that would limit regional inequalities.

Speaking from Athens, meanwhile, Greek foreign minister George Papandreou similarly welcomed the re-election of the Social Democrat-Greens alliance, which was largely due to rise in support for the Greens party led by his German counterpart Joschka Fischer.

[02] NYC mayor meets with Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul

ISTANBUL (ANA - A. Kourkoulas) - New York's Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Monday visited the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos in his office in Phanar.

Bloomberg called the Patriarch not only a religious leader of the Orthodox Church, but also a man who worked toward bringing different religions together, so that people can understand each other and to co-exist.

Following his visit in Athens, Greece, Bloomberg arrived here intending to meet with Vartholomeos. The Patriarchal Holy Synod held a banquet in his honor.

[03] Electric cars showcased in northwestern Greece

The Greek Motorists' Association (ELPA) on Monday showcased vehicles that use electricity, as well as hybrid cars that use both electric batteries and gasoline.

The event took place in Kozani, northwestern Greece and was part of the ''European Week for Commuters''.

The event was sponsored by the municipality, Toyota Hellas, ELPA, the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and other institutions.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 0.991

Pound sterling 0.636

Danish kroner 7.489

Swedish kroner 9.130

Japanese yen 122.0

Swiss franc 1.475

Norwegian kroner 7.413

Cyprus pound 0.578

Canadian dollar 1.559

Australian dollar 1.812

[05] Weather Forecast: Rain in much of the country on Tuesday

Rain and storms are forecast in the west, easing off from early evening. The rest of the country will see scattered cloud that may turn to light rain in the eastern Aegean islands. Winds variable, light to very strong, turning gale force in the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 17C to 26C; in the west from 20C to 28C; and in the rest of the country from 19C to 30C. Temperatures in Athens between 21C and 28C; and in Thessaloniki from 20C to 29C.

[06] Greek stocks end 1.73 percent lower on Monday

Greek stocks ended a turbulent session, marked by a 95-minute halt of trading due to problems with the electronic trading system OASIS, lower on Monday, disappointing investors who hoped for maintaining a recovery trend that started last Friday in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The general index dropped 1.73 percent to end at 1,853.98 points, with turnover a low 62.5 million euros.

The Cement, Insurance and Food-Beverage sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (3.21 percent, 3.12 percent and 2.92 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks dropped 2.03 percent, reflecting losses in blue chips like National Bank (off 3.18 percent), the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.46 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 1.95 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 277 to 48 with another 32 issues unchanged.

[07] Athens Classic Marathon on Nov. 3

Greeces athletics federation (SEGAS) announced on Monday that the annual ?Athens Classic Marathon?, which traces the classical route from the ancient Marathon battlefield to the Greek capitals Panathenian Stadium, will be run on Nov. 3.

The Athens marathon is dedicated to the memory of noted Greek peace activist, 1930s track star and physician Grigoris Lambrakis, whose shocking and politically motivated 1963 assassination in Thessaloniki inspired film director Costa-Gavras ?Z? in 1969.

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