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

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU says Baghdad's compliance with UNSCR 1441 best way to avert war

[02] Greece calls Turkish blocking of US troops deployment very significant

[03] Greek defence minister discusses with British counterpart Iraq, Cyprus

[04] 2004 Athens Olympic Games commemorative coins presented at Bank of

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Ôuesday

[06] British film producer to promote Parthenon Marble's return to Greece

[07] EU members reach agreement on common patent system

[08] Weather Forecast: Cloud, rain on Tuesday

[09] Greek stocks ease slightly on Monday

[01] EU says Baghdad's compliance with UNSCR 1441 best way to avert war

DOHA (ANA - D. Constantakopoulos) -- The European Union on Monday said that everyone was in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and there was still a window of opportunity to avert war if Iraq leader Saddam Hussein came through with a dramatic gesture for disarmament.

Talking to reporters after talks here with Gulf Cooperation Council delegates, Greek Foreign Minister and EU Council President in office George Papandreou on Monday stressed the EU wished a peaceful solution to the crisis without precluding the use of force as the last resort, adding ''and we are supporting the UN''.

Asked about the differences in opinion among EU member states, Papandreou said that everyone within the EU was bound by their preference for a peaceful solution.

''There are individual differences, of course, but there is also very strong unity in the desire to exhaust all peaceful means'', he said.

''There is further need for initiatives to confront the Iraqi crisis'', Papandreou said and stressed that despite disagreement within the EU and the UN, there is agreement on UNSCR 1441, and that the message to Saddam is that compliance with the UN resolution is the best way to avert war.

[02] Greece calls Turkish blocking of US troops deployment very significant

EU presidency Greece on Monday said that the Turkish Parliament's decision to refuse facilities for the deployment of US troops for a possible war against Iraq was very significant and should set one thinking.

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas reiterated the Greek EU presidency's wish that any developments on Iraq occur within the framework of the United Nations.

Commenting on recent statements made by Turkish ruling party leader Recep Erdogan, who wished for ''good bilateral relations'' with Greece, the spokesman said that Greece also wished for good neighbourly relations, but that Ankara would have to demonstrate ''consistency through words and deeds''.

[03] Greek defence minister discusses with British counterpart Iraq, Cyprus

LONDON (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis) - ''My conviction and that of the Greek government is naturally that the diplomatic window which exists on the issue of Iraq is today more open in comparison to the previous days,'' Greek Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou told reporters after an hour-long meeting here on Monday with British Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon.

The Greek minister noted two basic factors, which, according to his assessment, have changed the scene and the prospects of a war in Iraq. It is, he said, the Turkish parliament's decision not to allow the installation or the passage through Turkish territory of U.S. troops and the anti-war position of international public opinion and particularly public opinion in Britain which demands a second UN resolution for Britain and the U.S. to act together in a military operation in Iraq.''

''With these facts the possibility of the war in Iraq remains of course strong, but less strong in comparison to the previous days and consequently this strengthens the Greek EU presidency's efforts for a diplomatic solution to the Iraq crisis,'' Papantoniou said.

The Greek minister said he also discussed with his British counterpart the Cyprus issue and latest developments and stressed the intransigence of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and for the need of the international community to exert pressure for Denktash to give a positive reply to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at The Hague on March 10 concerning the referendum.

Hoon assured his Greek counterpart that on the issue of Cyprus, the British government will make great efforts in the right direction.

''The proper direction naturally is for the Cypriots, and particularly the Turkish Cypriots to freely express their opinion concerning their future,'' Papantoniou added.

[04] 2004 Athens Olympic Games commemorative coins presented at Bank of Greece

A special issue of commemorative coins for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games was presented at the Bank of Greece on Monday in the presence of Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Athens 2004 Organising Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Bank of Greece Governor Nikos Garganas.

Daskalaki said 160,000 gold and 800,000 silver coins will be issued, while revenues expected by ATHOC amount to 2.5 million euros.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Ôuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.088

Pound sterling 0.690

Danish kroner 7.488

Swedish kroner 9.266

Japanese yen 128.4

Swiss franc 1.473

Norwegian kroner 7.795

Cyprus pound 0.585

Canadian dollar 1.615

Australian dollar 1.779

[06] British film producer to promote Parthenon Marble's return to Greece

WASHINGTON (ANA - T. Ellis) - World famous British film producer William Steward will deliver a series of lectures in the United States and Canada on the necessity for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

The first lecture of the series will be delivered in San Francisco on Thursday. The producer will also appear in Vancouver, Portland, Saint Louis, Chicago, Washington, Toronto and Ottawa.

The tour was organized by the St. Louis University Greek studies chair.

[07] EU members reach agreement on common patent system

BRUSSELS (ANA - G. Zitouniati) - The European Union's council on fair competition on Monday arrived at a decision on the much talked about common European patent system, during a meeting headed by Greek Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who is the presiding minister.

[08] Weather Forecast: Cloud, rain on Tuesday

Cloud, rain and storms are forecast in most parts of the country, with scattered showers in central and eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Snow will fall on high ground. Winds variable, moderate to very strong. In the north, temperatures will range from -2C to 11C; on the rest of the mainland from 0C to 14C; and in the islands from 7C to 15C. Temperatures in Athens between 4C and 14C; and in Thessaloniki from 0C to 10C.

[09] Greek stocks ease slightly on Monday

Greek stocks eased slightly on Monday reflecting lack of buying interest and uncertainty over international economic and geopolitical developments.

The general index fell 0.13 percent to end at 1,611.97 points, with turnover a low 77.6 million euros.

The IT, Textile and IT Solutions sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (2.30 percent, 1.80 percent and 1.43 percent, respectively), while the Cement, Retail and Metal sectors scores the biggest percentage gains (0.73 percent, 0.60 percent and 0.46 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.50 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.50 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 0.87 percent. The wider FTSE/ASE 140 index fell 0.54 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 177 to 123 with another 53 issues unchanged.

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