Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-02-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Rain, light snowfall on Friday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[03] UN High Commissioner for Refugees meets Yiannitsis

[01] Weather Forecast: Rain, light snowfall on Friday

Cloud is forecast in all parts of the country. The centre and north will see light snowfall. The rest of the country can expect intermittent rain in low-lying areas and a little snow on high ground. Winds variable, moderate to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from -5 to 5C; on the rest of the mainland from -2C to 9C; and in the islands from 2C to 12C. Temperatures in Athens between 3C and 9C; and in Thessaloniki from -1C to 5C.Light snow or sleet is forecast on mountains around the capital, and in northern and eastern Attica.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.084

Pound sterling 0.669

Danish kroner 7.491

Swedish kroner 9.179

Japanese yen 131.4

Swiss franc 1.480

Norwegian kroner 7.553

Cyprus pound 0.584

Canadian dollar 1.654

Australian dollar 1.836

[03] UN High Commissioner for Refugees meets Yiannitsis

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers met in Athens on Thursday with Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis for a discussion on refugee problems to arise from a likely war on Iraq.

The UN High Commission for Refugees estimates that a possible war on Iraq will result to creating a large wave of refugees of up to 600,000 people. Lubbers said the HC was preparing to deal with the situation, if a war in Iraq eventually breaks out. He noted the two aspects of the refugee problem, which are the economic dimension and the issue relating to their reception in neighbouring countries.

However, the UN High Commissioner said he hoped that the war was averted and any refugee problem be dealt with in international cooperation and solidarity, not only in the case of Iraq but for all refugees around the world. He added he also hoped that next Mondays special EU summit in Brussels would arrive at a positive decision that would assist in averting a war.

Yiannitsis referred to the pressures that Greece and the rest of Europe may face as a result of a refugee wave from Iraq. He noted that similar problems arose in the past as a result of the wars in the Balkans.

He further explained that Greece, as the current EU Presidency, was working towards peacefully resolving the Iraq crisis, as well as averting possible refugee implications.

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