Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-04-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] European leaders adopt EU presidency text on Iraq, Mideast peace

[02] Turkish warplanes violate Greek national airspace

[03] Largest-ever heroin, cocaine haul by Larisa police discovered

[04] Athens bourse closed April 18, 21 for Easter abroad

[05] Greek PM to receive warm welcome on his arrival in Cyprus on Friday

[06] Weather Forecast: Rainy on Friday

[07] Greek stocks rise 0.65 percent on Thursday

[01] European leaders adopt EU presidency text on Iraq, Mideast peace process

European leaders attending an extended informal summit in Athens on Thursday approved a text prepared by the Greek presidency of the European Union on Iraq and a Middle East peace settlement.

This called for increased involvement in post-war Iraq by the United Nations, a central UN role in the transitional process toward self-government by the Iraqi people and also reiterated the EU's commitment to play a significant role in the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq.

It also stated that the US-British coalition that conducted the military operations in Iraq were responsible, at the present stage, for ensuring a secure environment in Iraq, including the provision of humanitarian assistance and the protection of the country's cultural heritage and museums.

In addition, it further reaffirmed the EU's commitment for a successful conclusion of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process through implementation of the Quartet's roadmap and welcomed the presence of UN Secretary Kofi Annan at the Athens summit, during which 10 Acceding countries signed the EU Accession Treaty in Athens on Wednesday.

[02] Turkish warplanes violate Greek national airspace

Nine formations or 18 Turkish warplanes infringed air traffic regulations in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) on 10 occasions on Thursday, which developed into over 50 violations of Greek national airspace extending from the island of Limnos to the island of Rhodes, press reports said.

In all cases the Turkish aircraft were recognised and intercepted by Greek warplanes, while in eight cases the interception process developed into an engagement.

Six of the Turkish warplanes intercepted by Greek aircraft were armed.

[03] Largest-ever heroin, cocaine haul by Larisa police discovered

The largest-ever quantity of heroin and cocaine ever intercepted by police in Larisa was discovered this week during a routine check on a private car.

The drugs were found on Wednesday in a hidden compartment of a car driven by a pair of Albanian nationals and included 5.385 kilos of heroin and 1.1 kilos of cocaine.

A 29-year-old woman passenger in the car was arrested, while the 48-year-old driver escaped.

The woman was initially detained because she did not carry proper identification documents. The man, who claimed to be her husband, was asked to follow the patrol car to the police station but turned off into a dirt track to escape. He later abandoned the car and escaped on foot.

[04] Athens bourse closed April 18, 21 for Easter abroad

The Athens Stock Exchange will close on April 18 and April 21 to conform with Easter market holidays abroad, authorities said on Thursday.

Orthodox Easter is a week later.

[05] Greek PM to receive warm welcome on his arrival in Cyprus on Friday

NICOSIA (ANA - G. Leonidas) - A warm welcome will be provided for Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on his arrival in Cyprus on Friday, the first country he will visit as European Council president following the European Union's historic enlargement.

Simitis will arrive at 7 p.m. and shortly afterwards he will be welcomed by people at a short distance outside the city of Larnaca.

The Greek prime minister will hold talks on Saturday morning with President Tassos Papadopoulos at the Presidential Mansion and will lay a wreath at the statue of Archbishop Makarios.

He will visit House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias at noon and at 1 p.m. he will address a special session of the House.

Simitis is expected to meet with opposition Turkish Cypriot politicians at the Greek ambassador's residence on Saturday afternoon, who responded to his desire to express their parties' views.

Republican Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat said he will meet Simitis and will not ask for the permission of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Community Liberation Party leader Hussein Agolemli also said he will meet the Greek prime minister.

[06] Weather Forecast: Rainy on Friday

Rainy weather is forecast in all parts of the country, with intermittent snowfall on mainland mountains. Winds northeasterly, moderate to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from 6C to 14C; in the west from 8C to 18C; and in the rest of the country from 10C to 17C. Temperatures in Athens between 11C and 15C; and in Thessaloniki from 8C to 13C.

[07] Greek stocks rise 0.65 percent on Thursday

Greek stocks resumed their upward trend on Thursday, reflecting renewed buying activity for selected blue chips in the telecommunications and retail sectors in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The general index ended 0.65 percent higher at 1,633.06 points, with turnover a low 97.7 million euros.

The Retail (1.68 percent), Construction (1.09 percent) and Telecommunications (1.08 percent) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while the Textile, Wholesale and Metal sectors suffered the heaviest losses (3.79 percent, 1.75 percent and 1.73 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.86 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.09 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index jumped 1.57 percent and the wider FTSE/ASE 140 index ended 0.47 percent up.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 225 to 93 with another 40 issues unchanged.

The Greek market will remain closed on Friday and next Monday on the occassion of the Easter holidays of the Chatholic Church.

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