Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-01-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Govt has similar goals for European, Greek economy, Tsohatzopoulos says

[02] European Socialist Party Eurodeputies' delegation to arrive in Athens

[03] London event shows Parthenon before removal of Marbles

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[05] Weather Forecast: Cloud expected on Saturday

[06] Greek stocks end week 0.76 percent higher

[01] Govt has similar goals for European, Greek economy, Tsohatzopoulos says

The Greek EU presidency will work hard to ensure the competitiveness of European economy through supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and deregulating markets, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Mr Tsohatzopoulos stressed that the government's main goals were:

-supporting small and medium-sized enterprises based on a ''Green Paper'' and a SMEs Charter,

-deregulating internal markets and supporting consumers, and

-deregulating Europe's energy and financial markets through inter-European networks.

[02] European Socialist Party Eurodeputies' delegation to arrive in Athens on Monday

Europarliament Socialist Party group President Baron Crespo, heading a delegation of Eurodeputies, will start a two-day visit to Athens on Monday, in light of the Greek EU presidency.

On Monday Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos will hold a dinner for the delegation in his capacity as Vice-President of the European Socialist Party (ESP).

On Tuesday the delegation will hold a joint press conference with Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, also headed by Crespo and the leader of the PASOK Eurodeputies George Katiforis on the Greek EU presidency.

Later in the day, the delegation will meet with Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and Yiannitsis at a central Athens hotel and will hold a discussion on the European Union's enlargement and the future of Europe.

During their stay in Athens the delegation will also meet with National Economy Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas, Environment, Town Planing and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou and Education Minister Petros Efthymiou and they will discuss the spring summit as it is related to the Lisbon Strategy.

Discussions will also take place, concerning stability and security, with Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis, Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos, Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis and Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis.

Before concluding the visit, the delegation will also be received by Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the Maximos Mansion.

[03] London event shows Parthenon before removal of Marbles

LONDON (ANA) A ?virtual? exhibition organised in the British House of Commons will demonstrate until Jan. 27 what the Parthenon looked like before Lord Elgin sliced off several of the Classical temples friezes in the early 19th century.

The demonstration was organised by the British Committee for the Repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles, while computer-generated images also showed what the new Acropolis Museum in Athens will look like when completed in roughly two years.

On his part, British MP Richard Allan, an archaeologist by training and one of the committee leaders, told the BBC that the group wanted to press its demand that the sculptures be housed in the new museum.

Conversely, the director of the British Museum said the friezes should remain at the London museum because they will not actually be re-attached to the Parthenon itself the most recognisable and prominent structure on the Acropolis.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.047

Pound sterling 0.655

Danish kroner 7.487

Swedish kroner 9.178

Japanese yen 125.5

Swiss franc 1.467

Norwegian kroner 7.293

Cyprus pound 0.578

Canadian dollar 1.639

Australian dollar 1.858

[05] Weather Forecast: Cloud expected on Saturday

Light cloud is forecast for most parts of the country on Saturday, while in the west and north there may be local rains later in the day. Winds westerly-southwesterly, strong turning gale force in the southern Aegean. In the north and center, temperatures will range from 3C to 12C; in the west from 6C to 17C; and in the rest of the country from 9C to 18C. Cloudy in Athens with temperatures between 09C and 17C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 07C to 12C.

[06] Greek stocks end week 0.76 percent higher

Greek stocks reversed Thursday's rally to end slightly lower on the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday, as buying interest faded ahead of the weekend and with market sentiment undermined by geopolitical worries.

The general index ended 0.05 percent lower at 1,776.16 points, with turnover a low 54.5 million euros.

The Food-Beverage, Textile, Insurance, IT Solution and Publication sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (4.53 percent, 3.89 percent, 3.60 percent, 2.03 percent and 1.86 percent, respectively), while the Bank, Cement and Telecommunication sectors scored gains (0.83 percent, 0.45 percent and 0.23 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.35 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.98 percent, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 2.23 percent and the FTSE/ASE 140 index ended 0.16 percent lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 254 to 58 with another 39 issues unchanged. The general index ended the shortened week with a net gain of 0.76 percent.

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