Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-06-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Sunshine, scattered cloud on Friday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[03] Greek FM: 'Future of Europe' the focus of talks at Thessaloniki Summit

[01] Weather Forecast: Sunshine, scattered cloud on Friday

The day will start sunny with scattered cloud from afternoon. Showers are likely in Crete in the morning. Winds north-northeasterly, light to strong. In the west, temperatures will range from 16C to 31C; on the rest of the mainland from 14C to 32C; and in the Aegean islands from 16C to 27C. Temperatures in Athens between 19C and 30C; and in Thessaloniki from 18C to 29C.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.186

Pound sterling 0.717

Danish kroner 7.483

Swedish kroner 9.199

Japanese yen 140.3

Swiss franc 1.556

Norwegian kroner 8.202

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.605

Australian dollar 1.781

[03] Greek FM: 'Future of Europe' the focus of talks at Thessaloniki Summit

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whose country currently holds the rotating European Union presidency, reiterated on Thursday that discussions at the upcoming European Summit in Thessaloniki (June 20-21 June) will focus on the future of Europe within the framework of a draft Constitutional Treaty that will be tabled at the Summit by the Constitutional Convention.

Following a meeting chaired by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens to discuss preparations for the Summit, Papandreou expressed hope that the draft Constitution will constitute the basis for further debate and negotations among the bloc's members, and ''will open a prospect for a strong, consolidated and financiallly robust democratic Europe, which will really be at the service of its citizens''.

He also referred to discussions on the European prospect of the western Balkan states, saying he hoped those countries will at some point join the European family, ''provided they comply with the principles of democracy, good neighbourly relations and peace''.

Papandreou said the issues of immigration and illegal migration had also been the focus of discussions, emphasising that a position paper being prepared by the Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana would be used as the basis for discussions on ''Europe's future course in the international arena''.

Asked to comment on planned demonstrations in Thessaloniki during the Summit, Papandreou said the Greek government would do all it could to ''allow the protesters not only to protest, but also to convey their views''.

He also said that issues such as fighting poverty, the environment and genetically modified products were of high concern, adding ''we want to hear the voice of society''.

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