Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-05-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis, Chretien, Prodi underline good EU-Canada relations

[02] Karamanlis issues message to mark anniversary of Greece's EU accession

[03] World Day against Smoking dedicated to crackdown on indirect tobacco

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

[05] Weather Forecast: Showers forecast for Thursday

[06] ASE surpasses 1,700 level again on Wednesday

[01] Simitis, Chretien, Prodi underline good EU-Canada relations

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, currently the European Council president in-office, at a post EU-Troika - Canada Summit press conference on Wednesday, held jointly with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and European Commission President Romano Prodi, underlined the good EU-Canada relations and collaboration on international policy issues.

The Greek premier said discussions at the meeting had focused on developments in the Middle East and cooperation of the international community for the reconstruction of Iraq within the framework of the United Nations, and that various Canada and EU subjects had been discussed on the level of cultural and student exchanges.

Simitis said the EU had followed a policy similar to that of Canada vis-a-vis the US-British-led war on Iraq, since it believes in an institutional role for the UN on international issues.

On his part, the Canadian prime minister referred to the large Greek community in Canada, the international and bilateral issues that he discussed with Simitis and Prodi, and stressed discussions had been carried out in a very positive climate.

The president of the European Commission placed emphasis on cooperation between Canada and the European Commission on the promotion of a UN resolution regarding postwar reconstruction of Iraq, and stressed that the UN did not play any role in the war on Iraq and that it was time to regain its place in the international community.

''We appreciate all efforts for upgrading the UN'', Prodi said.

[02] Karamanlis issues message to mark anniversary of Greece's EU accession

On the occasion of the 24th anniversary since Greece signed its then European Communities accession treaty, on May 28, 1979, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis issued an announcement on Wednesday in which he stressed that the anniversary marked a day of celebration and memory.

?It is a day of celebration because this anniversary coincides with the year of Europes reunion and Cyprus accession into the EU. The new Europe of 25 member-states and 480 million people is the best proof of the strength of European values, which firstly flourished in Greece,? Karamanlis remarked in his statement.

He further added that it was a day of memory, as all Greeks remember that their country managed through adverse conditions to enter into a supranational scheme of partnership and stability.

?Europe is now on the eve of the submission of a draft plan for a Constitutional Treaty. Our country is called upon to preserve its interests in creating a future Europe having an equal representation ... a Europe that will in no way harm the fundamental value of equality of the nations making it up?, concluded the opposition leader.

[03] World Day against Smoking dedicated to crackdown on indirect tobacco advertising

The World Day against Smoking on May 31 is dedicated this year to the crackdown on indirect tobacco advertising.

The World Health Organisation, in its effort to find the main causes for the spreading of smoking, reached the conclusion that two factors contribute to this in a ''cunning'' way. They are fashion and the cinema, which are elements of day-to-day life which constitute a source of ''inspiration'', particularly for young people.

Greek Society Against Smoking President Nikolaos Houlis announced on Wednesday that smoking remains one of the main causes of premature death in our modern-day society. Greece ranks high among the most negative statistics in this sector.

According to latest assessments, more than half the men in Greece are smokers, while the percentage of women smokers has increased considerably in recent years.

On the international scene, it is believed that four million people die every year of the harmful effects of smoking, while the prediction for 2030 is that deaths will reach 10 million.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.183

Pound sterling 0.724

Danish kroner 7.483

Swedish kroner 9.226

Japanese yen 139.9

Swiss franc 1.535

Norwegian kroner 7.938

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.637

Australian dollar 1.815

[05] Weather Forecast: Showers forecast for Thursday

Cloudy with a chance for showers is forecast for Thursday throughout the country. Winds variable, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 12C to 24C; and in the rest of the country from 17C to 26C. Temperatures in Athens between 17C and 25C; and in Thessaloniki from 15C to 23C.

[06] ASE surpasses 1,700 level again on Wednesday

A spectacular rebound of shares in the bank sector, led by a 4.97 percent jump in National Bank, pushed the Athens Stock Exchange above the 1,700 level on Wednesday.

A positive trend in other European bourses and a renewed buying activity in the domestic market helped the general index end 1.97 percent higher at 1,708.08 points.

All sector indices ended higher with the exception of telecommunications, which fell 0.32 percent pressured by an 1.54 percent drop in Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation's share price.

The Textile, Holding and IT Solution sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (6.24 percent, 4.49 percent and 4.06 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 2.21 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 2.29 percent higher, and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index jumped 3.22 percent.

Turnover was an improved 111.4 million euros. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 305 to 35 with another 24 issues unchanged.

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