Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-02-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Peaceful way out of Iraq crisis still possible, Greek and Egyptian FMs

[02] Names of '2004 Olympic' colognes, perfumes unveiled

[03] French former soccer star Michel Platini to help Olympic Games' int'l

[04] Weak tremors reported in southwestern Greece

[05] Weather Forecast: Rain, snow on Saturday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[07] Greek stocks rebound strongly on Friday

[01] Peaceful way out of Iraq crisis still possible, Greek and Egyptian FMs say

CAIRO (ANA - S. Aravopoulou) - Europe and Egypt were working together in order to find a peaceful way out of the Iraq crisis, even at the last moment, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said after talks with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo on Friday.

Greece currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.

''We believe there is still a window of opportunity for a diplomatic solution,'' Papandreou said during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, while he noted that Europe supported the work of United Nations weapons inspectors and hoped that it would be completed.

Egypt's desire for a peaceful way out of the crisis was also underlined by Maher, who said that Egypt would continue to send messages to Saddam Hussein urging a peaceful and diplomatic solution of the problem.

''There are still margins for finding a solution, we want Saddam to fully comply and show the world that he does not possess weapons of mass destruction,'' Maher stressed.

The Egyptian minister said that Papandreou's visit had given them the opportunity to discuss problems in Iraq and the Middle East and to jointly insist on the need for a diplomatic, peaceful solution.

They had emerged from the meeting with reinforced positions as regards their will for a peaceful solution, and they would continue efforts to find a peaceful way out of the crisis in coordination and cooperation with the UN, he added.

Maher said that Egypt did not intend to send envoys to Baghdad, while he stressed that UN weapons inspectors must continue their work.

Papandreou pointed out that the inspectors were travelling to Baghdad on Friday and, depending on whether their specific demands were met, a peaceful resolution was still possible.

He stressed that Saddam Hussein had to demonstrate that he was fully cooperating with the UN and convince the world that he did not possess weapons of mass destruction.

He also noted that the EU had a common position on the Middle East crisis.

[02] Names of '2004 Olympic' colognes, perfumes unveiled

A new, delightful ?aroma? surrounds the Athens 2004 Games as of Friday, as Athens organizers (ATHOC) unveiled the names of two perfumes and two colognes intended for the Games ?Olympic Spirit? line of products.

The new line will be developed by the Athens-based firm Sarantis, following the latters agreement with ATHOC.

An initial design calls for the colognes and perfumes to be found in stylish commemorative metallic containers, while brand names touch on four individual Olympic values: ?Heritage? and ?Fair Play? for men, and ?Participation? and ?Celebration? for women.

[03] French former soccer star Michel Platini to help Olympic Games' int'l promotion

French former soccer star Michel Platini will help the international promotion of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, as well as the best possible holding of the Olympic soccer tournament.

Deputy Sports Minister George Lianis presented the soccer legend during a press conference on Thursday.

''Michel Platini will participate in the Personalities Committee for the promotion of the 2004 Olympic Games. In parallel, in cooperation with FIFA and the Greek Soccer Federation, he will help us in the Olympic soccer tournament. I listened to his views with pleasure. His presence here honours our country. I asked him to convey an invitation to FIFA's President, Mr. Blatter, for an official visit to our country, while I accepted the invitation to attend the Champions League final which will take place in Manchester,'' Lianis said.

Platini said ''I am aware that I have many friends in Greece. I gladly accepted Mr. Lianis' proposal, with whom we have the same views on sport. I don't believe there is a man in the world who will not want to help Greece to organise the Olympic soccer tournament in an excellent way and the Olympic Games in general.''

[04] Weak tremors reported in southwestern Greece

Two weak earthquakes, one measuring 4.1 and the other 4.6 on the Richter scale, were recorded late Friday afternoon southwest of Kalamata, in the Peloponnese.

The first quake was recorded at 17:51 p.m. and the second at 19:03 15 kilometers southeast of Kalamata.

[05] Weather Forecast: Rain, snow on Saturday

Light cloud is forecast for most parts of the country on Saturday, with the exception of the northwest where snow and sleet are expected. Winds variable, strong to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from -6C to 5C; on the rest of the mainland and Ionian from -3C to 8C; and in the islands from 1C to 11C. Mostly sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 0C and 7C. Same in Thessaloniki from -1C to 4C.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.087

Pound sterling 0.668

Danish kroner 7.490

Swedish kroner 9.235

Japanese yen 130.5

Swiss franc 1.478

Norwegian kroner 7.528

Cyprus pound 0.584

Canadian dollar 1.656

Australian dollar 1.842

[07] Greek stocks rebound strongly on Friday

Greek stocks ended higher on Friday reversing a four-day decline in the Athens Stock Exchange, although sentiment remained negative on worries over domestic economic and international geopolitical developments.

Buying interest focused on high capitalisation stocks pushing the general index 1.28 percent higher to end at 1,674.20 points. Turnvoer was a low 59.8 million euros.

The Textile, Holding and Publication sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (3.79 percent, 2.53 percent and 2.13 percent, respectively), while the Insurance and Construction sectors suffered losses (0.26 percent and 0.16 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.50 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 1.14 percent, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.46 percent higher and the wider FTSE/ASE 140 index rose 1.44 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 234 to 62 with another 55 issues unchanged.

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