Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-01-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM says Europe can contribute to way out of Iraq issue

[02] ATHOC president discusses human dimension of Olympic Games

[03] Greek Soccer results

[04] EU Greek presidency inaugurates ''2003 European year of persons with

[05] Weather Forecast: Cloud and rain on Monday

[01] FM says Europe can contribute to way out of Iraq issue

DAVOS (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos) - Foreign Minister George Papandreou held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell over the weekend, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum taking place here, and stressed Europe's readiness to contribute to a peaceful way out of the Iraq issue.

''Europe can contribute to yet another effort for a peaceful way out on condition that Saddam Hussein cooperates fully with the UN,'' the foreign minister told the Athens News Agency after his talks with Powell.

Papandreou and Powell had an extensive exchange of views on developments regarding Iraq, possible initiatives and on existing concern.

Papandreou, in statements made in past days and speaking at a press conference here, had repeatedly stressed the need for deepening dialogue between both sides of the Atlantic and avoiding ''cliches'' which frequently dominated increasingly scathing remarks exchanged between European and U.S. officials in past days.

He also met with Tayyip Erdogan, leader of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, and Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul for talks on relations between the EU and Turkey.

The Turkish leaders conveyed Ankara's concern to Papandreou over the situation to follow a possible war and on developments which may occur in the Arab world, as well as the worries of Iraq's neighbours. The issue of Cyprus was also discussed.

Other meetings Papandreou had here were with King Abdallah of Jordan, the Polish president, Switzerland's prime minsier and the Archbishop of Albania Anastasios.

Papandreou eventually departed from Davos for Brussels where the European Union's Council of General Affairs will be convening on Monday and which is expected to focus primarily on the crucial issue of Iraq.

[02] ATHOC president discusses human dimension of Olympic Games

Athens 2004 Organising Committee President Gianna Angelopoulos Daskalaki agreed to important initiatives being taken regarding the humanitarian dimension of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games in talks held over the weekend in Davos, Switzerland, with the UN secretary general's special adviser Adolf Oggy.

The talks were held in the framework of the annual World Economic Forum which is taking place with the participation of personalities from all over the world.

Oggy and Daskalaki, who participated in a discussion on ''Sports, confidence and politics'', agreed that, in the framework of UNESCO's activities for the Olympic Games, children from all over the world will take part in the torch race.

Moreover, children from all corners of the earth will be able to come to Greece in the summer of 2004 to enjoy the Games.

Daskalaki is also expected to address a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Oggy soon, outlining the initiatives programme and, according to reports, Annan and Oggy will visit Athens to officially present the initiatives, which are under the auspices of the UN.

[03] Greek Soccer results

Results of Greek first division soccer matches played over the weekend:

OFI Crete-Iraklis Thessaloniki 3-1

Xanthi-Akratitos Athens 1-2

Aris Thessaloniki-Panahaiki Patras 1-1

Kallithea Athens-Olympiakos Piraeus 1-4

Ionikos Piraeus-Panionios Athens 1-2

AEK Athens-Aegaleo Piraeus 3-2

PAS Ioannina -Proodeftiki Piraeus 2-1

Panathinaikos Athens-PAOK Thessaloniki 1-0

The standings after 16 games:

Panathinaikos 35

Olympiakos 33

PAOK 30

AEK 29

Panionios 28

Aris 26

Iraklis 24

Xanthi 23

Proodeftiki 21

OFI 21

Aegaleo 19

Kallithea 14

Ioannina 14

Ionikos 11

Akratitos 11

Panahaiki 7

[04] EU Greek presidency inaugurates ''2003 European year of persons with handicaps''

The EU Greek presidency and the European Commission on Sunday inaugurated the ''2003 European year of persons with handicaps'' during a special event at the Athens Concert Hall, in the presence of President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, government ministers from EU member-states and Eurodeputies.

The official speakers list included Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, Minister of Health and Welfare Kostas Stephanis, Greek EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, Europarliament Vice President Quinto Podesta and European Forum for the Handicapped Persons president Yiannis Vardakastanis.

All speakers stressed the importance of the rights for full social acceptance of the 37 million European citizens that live with handicaps, while Diamantopoulou noted that this year will mark the turning point for a permanent change concerning the ''invisible'' citizens as she called Europe's handicapped.

[05] Weather Forecast: Cloud and rain on Monday

Cloudy and rainy weather is forecast in all parts of the country. Snow will fall on high ground in central and eastern Greece. Winds northeasterly gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from -1C to 7C; on the rest of the mainland and in the Ionian from 3C to 11C; and in the Aegean islands from 8C to 14C. Cloud and rain in Athens and snow on mount Parnitha with temperatures between 5C and 10C. Cloud in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 3C to 7C.

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