Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-04-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Rainy on Friday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[03] EU wants good relations with new neighbours, not lines of division

[01] 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.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.100

Pound sterling 0.697

Danish kroner 7.484

Swedish kroner 9.238

Japanese yen 131.3

Swiss franc 1.511

Norwegian kroner 7.898

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.600

Australian dollar 1.793

[03] EU wants good relations with new neighbours, not lines of division

The European Union desires good relations with its new immediate neighbours created from the expansion of its borders, and not new lines of division, Greek prime minister and current EU chairman Costas Simitis said on Thursday at the end of a European Conference that followed Wednesday's signing of an Accession Treaty with 10 new acceeding states.

''This expansion moves borders and creates new immediate neighbours. Our interest is to have good relations with these neighbours, and not new lines of divisions,'' Simitis told a press conference at the end of the Conference, adding that ''we had good cooperation'' at the summit talks attended by the 15 EU member states, the 10 acceding states, the three candidate states, and countries with broad bilateral relations with the EU. In fact, all European countries from Iceland to Russia were represented.

''...We discussed how to promote cooperation between the enlarged Europe and its neighbouring countries for greater development, better political cooperation and for protection of the environment, as well as a series of activities we must develop in unison,'' especially European road and energy networks, etc., Simitis said.

''There was a common view (during the Conference) that this procedure of cooperation and synergy should be continued and agreements followed up, not replaced by a new model...Therefore, Athens served as the basis for new efforts to upgrade Europe, despite whatever differences, a group that creates prosperity, stability and international cooperation,'' Simitis said.

The Greek permier also referred to the text agreed at the European Conference, stressing the fact that the participating leaders agreed that the United Nations must play a central role in the process leading towards self-government for the Iraqi people.

''Yesterday and today, following intense deliberations with other member states, the presidency composed a Statement about Iraq. The presidency welcomed the UN chief`s presence (at the summit), and his briefing on the international situation and the future of Iraq,'' Simitis said.

''We believe Iraq's neighboring countries should help stability, and we favor aiding reconstruction,'' Simitis said in reference to the Presidency Statement, and reiterated the need for resolution of Palestinian issue, once again stressing that the Greek Presidency` declaration emanated from the common positions of and deliberations with all the member-states.

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