Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-11-14

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis says Cyprus EU accession not linked to political solution

[02] Papandreou sends letter to Union's counterparts, rallying support for

[03] Turkish FM categorically against new Cyprus proposals

[04] Simitis honored for Athens' efforts against software piracy, copyright

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[06] Greek stocks rebound on ASE

[01] Simitis says Cyprus EU accession not linked to political solution

WARSAW (ANA - V. Mourtis) - Prime Minister Costas Simitis, speaking at a press conference here after a European Socialist Party session, reiterated on Thursday that Greece and its European Union partners have confirmed that in no way is Cyprus' accession to the EU linked to a solution of its political problem.

Referring to the critical stand observed by Greek opposition parties, as well as deputies of his ruling PASOK party, Simitis said it is hasty for opinions to be stressed on the parties' position.

''We harm the issue if he draw hasty conclusions,'' he said, adding that the Cypriots will play a leading role on the issue since it concerns them and requested ''before we state our position let's see how they (Cypriots) themselves will state their position.''

Simitis further said there was ample time for different prospects to be examined and to see what benefits Cyprus and Greece.

[02] Papandreou sends letter to Union's counterparts, rallying support for Cyprus

BERLIN (ANA - P. Stangos) - Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday sent a letter to his European Union counterparts requesting their ''personal support'' on the ''course to Copenhagen'' in the formulation of a solution for the Cyprus issue compatible with the Union's acquis communautaire.

According to sources, Papandreou will present to the EU foreign ministers, in Brussels on Monday, the Greek approach to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for the resolution of the Cyprus issue.

Sources also said that the letter has already been received by German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who already had a telephone conversation with Papandreou.

Papandreou also sent the same letter to European Commission President Romano Prodi, to European High Commissioner for foreign and defense policy Javier Solana and to the President of the Europarliament Pat Cox.

[03] Turkish FM categorically against new Cyprus proposals

ISTANBUL (ANA - A. Kourkoulas) - Turkish Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel on Thursday appeared categorically negative towards the idea of a discussion on proposals submitted by the UN secretary general for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Gurel said the plan was made to serve the ''plans of others and not for a solution to the Cyprus issue,'' adding that the aim of the proposals is to ''satisfy the European Union and to enable Cyprus to join painlessly''.

He added that the plan ''eradicates a bizonal nature completely'', it will create new refugees and it is not subject to discussion and termed it a ''great loss for the Turkish Cypriots.''

The Turkish minister also criticised Turkey's new leader Justice and Development Party chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying he is following an ''irresponsible'' foreign policy.

''If Erdogan does not rid himself of the complex of being accepted in the West, then big problems will be created in Turkey,'' the foreign minister said.

[04] Simitis honored for Athens' efforts against software piracy, copyright protectio

WASHINGTON (ANA - T. Ellis) -- Greek PM Costas Simitis was awarded the annual ''cyber champion'' award this week by the Business Software Alliance for Athens' efforts to fight the pirating of software as well as to better combat copyright infringments and to expand computer technology to the public sector, schools etc.

The award was accepted by Greece's ambassador to Washington on Simitis' behalf.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.017

Pound sterling 0.640

Danish kroner 7.485

Swedish kroner 9.170

Japanese yen 121.8

Swiss franc 1.476

Norwegian kroner 7.373

Cyprus pound 0.576

Canadian dollar 1.603

Australian dollar 1.807

[06] Greek stocks rebound on ASE

Greek stocks rebounded moderately in the Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday despite losses in blue chip stocks in the telecommunications and bank sectors.

Investors' interest focused on smaller capitalisation stocks. The general index rose 0.50 percent to end at 1,809.94 points, moving in tight ranges throughout the session (1,803-1,814).

The Telecommunications, Investment and IT Solution sectors suffered losses (0.88 percent, 0.19 percent and 0.15 percent, respectively), while the Textile, Industrials and Wholesale sector scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (2.19 percent, 2.14 percent and 1.53 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.15 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.11 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index jumped 1.99 percent.

Turnover was a low 75.4 million euros. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 234 to 71 with another 48 issues unchanged.

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