Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-07-20

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece terms Erdogan's statements on Cyprus 'provocative'

[02] Australia wins world junior basketball championship in Thessaloniki

[03] Ecumenical patriarch ends his visit to the island of Limnos

[04] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Monday

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Greece terms Erdogan's statements on Cyprus 'provocative'

Athens on Sunday slammed statements made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the anniversary of Turkey's invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974 as provocative and said that they went counter to the interests of both Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot community.

''Calling the blood-steeped offensive a 'peacekeeping operation' is a provocation for all humanity, the international community and the United Nations, which has officially classed the Turkish operation as an invasion and occupation of Cyprus,'' government spokesman Christos Protopapas said in comments on Erdogan's message for the anniversary.

''These cannot be accepted. At the end of the day, these things turn against Turkey and against the Turkish-Cypriot community,'' he noted.

Turkey has to fully understand that its only road to Europe passes through the erasure of the 'green line' dividing the Cyprus Republic, Protopapas stressed.

''If they want a solution to the Cyprus problem let them begin dialogue based on the proposals of the United Nations, based on the proposals made by [UN Secretary General Kofi] Annan. This is the only way we can move forward,'' the Greek spokesman added.

Erdogan's message was also commented on by main opposition New Democracy spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, who said the expectations created by the Turkish prime minister's election had been dashed by his provocative statements.

In a message sent to Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on Saturday, Erdogan had termed the invasion a ''peacekeeping operation'' that had ''helped Turkish-Cypriots face the future in safety and allowed the two nations'' - as he termed the two communities on the island - ''to coexist in peace and security''.

[02] Australia wins world junior basketball championship in Thessaloniki

Australia won the World Junior Basketball Championship in Thessaloniki on Sunday, beating opponents Lithuania by 126 points to 92 points.

Greece came in third, followed by Croatia and the United States.

[03] Ecumenical patriarch ends his visit to the island of Limnos

Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos ended his visit to the island of Limnos on Sunday by heading the morning mass at the Aghia Triada Metropolitan Church in Myrina and the christening of the daughter of Aegean Minister Nikos Sifounakis and businesswoman Maris Daskalantonaki in the afternoon.

During his sermon at Myrina, the patriarch referred to the anguish felt by the ''Church of Constantinople'' at what he called attempts by members of the Orthodox faith to ''undermine the institutions, foundations and roots of existence of us, the remaining few''.

In a symbolic move on Saturday, meanwhile, Vartholomeos had visited the village of Ai Strati, where he carried out a blessing for ''all our brothers on this island that died in exile, bitterness or tribulation''.

After the service, he planted an olive tree in the village square as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and cooperation by humanity.

Also present at Sunday's christening service were Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis and Press and Media Minister Christos Protopapas.

[04] Weather Forecast: Sunny on Monday

Sunny weather is forecast throughout Greece on Monday, turning locally overcast in central and northern Greece in the afternoon, and temperatures ranging from 17-38 C in northern Greece, 20-34 C in the rest of the mainland, and 22-30 C on the islands.

Athens will be sunny, with strong northerly winds, and temperatures of 24-33 C. The same in Thessaloniki, with light northerly winds and temperatures of 20-30 C.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.129

Pound sterling 0.710

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.311

Japanese yen 134.5

Swiss franc 1.548

Norwegian kroner 8.426

Cyprus pound 0.592

Canadian dollar 1.588

Australian dollar 1.744

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article