Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-07-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Fair with local cloud on Monday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[03] PM expected to take new policy initiatives in coming week

[01] Weather Forecast: Fair with local cloud on Monday

Fair weather is forecast in all parts of the country and only in northern Greece is local cloud expected in the afternoon. Winds northerly moderate and very strong in the southeastern Aegean. In the west and north, temperatures will range from 15C to 30C; on the rest of the mainland from 20C to 34C; and in the Aegean islands from 24C to 31C. Temperatures in Athens will range between 22C and 33C; and in Thessaloniki from 20C to 30C.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.155

Pound sterling 0.692

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.251

Japanese yen 136.4

Swiss franc 1.562

Norwegian kroner 8.333

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.546

Australian dollar 1.699

[03] PM expected to take new policy initiatives in coming week

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, following changes made in the ruling PASOK party and the government, is expected to take initiatives this coming week concerning the policy being implemented and the coordination and monitoring of the government's work.

The new government will be sworn in on Monday morning and a cabinet meeting will follow immediately afterwards, during which Simitis is expected to make his first announcements.

According to reports, Simitis will be expected to provide instructions on the functioning of the government and the speeding up of the government's work.

The prime minister will determine a clear and binding timetable for every ministry, including specific commitments for each ministry and sector of government policy, and will monitor its implementation personally on a daily basis.

Simitis will also be involving himself in the party's work on a daily basis, at least during the first stage of the party's power being handed over to new Central Committee Secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis. Associates of the prime minister are even speaking of his presence at the party's head office every day.

During Monday's cabinet meeting, Simitis is expected to announce the creation of a special body to monitor the government's work and the planning of its communication policy.

It will be convening on a daily basis under the chairmanship of the prime minister and its participants will include Finance and Economy Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Chrysohoidis.

A cabinet or inner cabinet meeting is also expected on Tuesday for discussions on issues concerning the modernisation of the political system and transparency in public life.

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