Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-06-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Merchant marine minister to Cyprus next week

[02] Hellenic Post Offices issue stamp commerorating Kazantzakis

[03] Travel Card workers strike over non-payment of wages

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Merchant marine minister to Cyprus next week

NICOSIA (ANA/G.Leonidas) - Greek Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis is to visit Cyprus for a two-day visit starting on Monday to sign a bilateral sector agreement with the island republic.

Among officials Anomeritis will meet are Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and the island's communications and public works minister, Kikis Kazamias.

[02] Hellenic Post Offices issue stamp commerorating Kazantzakis

Hellenic Post Offices has issued a commemorative stamp depicting the internationally acclaimed novelist and essayist, Nikos Kazantzakis.

Officials from the government and Hellenic Post Offices on Saturday presented the new stamp on Crete, Kazantzakis' birthplace.

[03] Travel Card workers strike over non-payment of wages

Around 50 employees of Travel Media, operator of a contentious hotels discount scheme, staged a strike on Saturday over non-payment of wages.

Staff told media that the company issuing the card had financial problems and was unable to provide customers with discounts on accomodation offered by the 50-euro card; and that it had failed to meet other financial commitments.

Workers also said that managagement executives had failed to appear to answer repeated complaints of non-payment by hoteliers, travel bureaus, supplies and other associates; and that a new summer brochure promised to customers had yet to materialise.

Following a high-profile advertising campaign for the new card, which was available from street kiosks, consumer groups had warned the public that the deal was likely to be fraudulent.

The company was barred from publicising the card under a court order sought by the HATTA tourism trade group until the claims it was making were investigated.

The warnings lowered use of the card by purchasers, bringing down revenue while advertising costs were still owing, staff sources said.

Travel Media offered one-night stays at hotels from 7.5 euros with breakfast, with the average at 12.5 euros. Luxury accomodation was also said to be available.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.150

Pound sterling 0.695

Danish kroner 7.486

Swedish kroner 9.256

Japanese yen 137.8

Swiss franc 1.557

Norwegian kroner 8.339

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.557

Australian dollar 1.730

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