Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-02-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Rain, storms on Saturday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[03] Greek PM does not rule out emergency EU summit over Iraq

[01] Weather Forecast: Rain, storms on Saturday

Rain and storms are forecast in all parts of the country. Snow will fall on high ground in the north and centre, and low lying areas of the north. Winds east-southeasterly, very strong to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from 0C to 9C; on the rest of the mainland from 7C to 14C; and in the islands from 14C to 17C. Temperatures in Athens between 10C and 14C; and in Thessaloniki from 3C to 7C.It may rain in both cities in the evening.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.090

Pound sterling 0.660

Danish kroner 7.496

Swedish kroner 9.302

Japanese yen 130.2

Swiss franc 1.479

Norwegian kroner 7.511

Cyprus pound 0.583

Canadian dollar 1.669

Australian dollar 1.854

[03] Greek PM does not rule out emergency EU summit over Iraq

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, head of the rotating EU presidency, on Friday said he had not ruled out the possibility of an emergency European summit to discuss the Iraq crisis following the letter on the issue signed by eight European countries just three days after the EU General Affairs Council had reached a common position.

The letter, which urged support for US efforts to ensure Iraq's compliance with Security Council resolutions, was signed by EU member-states Britain, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Denmark and by candidate states Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Speaking after a meeting with a delegation from the ETUC, a European trade union confederation, Simitis said that the Greek presidency would not call a summit over the letter per se but only if crucial decisions about further developments had to be made.

He underlined, however, that the letter was an act that created problems because it had been sent out without any prior notice.

''It is, however, an expression of opinion, which member-states are free to make,'' he added.

It was the presidency's obligation, duty and aim to organise dialogue for a common EU position on the issue, he said.

''We have agreed that we must try to have a common foreign policy. This must be our goal. Therefore, it is good if the EU member-states communicate with one another. For this reason we must try to overcome our differences,'' he said.

The way in which the letter on Iraq was sent out by the 'eight', Simitis added, demonstrated a lack of communication.

''We do not help Europe acquire a strong voice within the global system in this way,'' he concluded.

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