Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-09-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] 'Dialogue of Civilizations' world forum begins on Rhodes

[02] Condolences expressed over death of veteran politician Yiannopoulos

[03] Athens Mayor and ATHOC chief have working meeting on Olympic Games

[04] Ecocinema 2003 to be held in Rhodes from 9 to 14 September

[05] Seminar on cultural tourism to be held in Corfu

[06] Olympic Airways overhaul gets parliamentary approval

[07] Strike disrupts Olympic Airways flights

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[01] 'Dialogue of Civilizations' world forum begins on Rhodes

A mostly Russian-backed international forum entitled ?Dialogue of Civilizations? began on Rhodes on Thursday, with hundreds of delegates from around the world including former prime ministers and high-ranking religious leaders - arriving for three days of panel discussions ranging from security to globalization to dialogue between faiths and cultures.

The forum on the Dodecanese island is organised by the Center of National Glory of Russia and the St. Andrew the First Foundation, with dozens of top Russian officials participating.

Delegates from Asia and the Middle East are also attending in the forum.

[02] Condolences expressed over death of veteran politician Yiannopoulos

The political leadership of the country expressed its sorrow over the death of veteran politician Evangelos Yiannopoulos, who died at the age of 85 on Thursday, at 6 a.m.

Prime Minister and PASOK President Costas Simitis expressed his condolences and those of the government to his family and stressed that as a member of PASOK, Yiannopoulos contributed to the successes of the governments to which he was a member.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis also expressed his condolences to the family of the late parliamentarian, calling him a model politician and a fighter for democracy.

Yiannopoulos will be buried on Monday.

[03] Athens Mayor and ATHOC chief have working meeting on Olympic Games

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni met the head of the Athens Olympics Organising Committee (ATHOC) Gianna Angelopoulos at the Athens Town Hall building on Thursday for a working meeting focusing on the 2004 Cycling Road Race that is to take place in the centre of the city.

After the meeting, Angelopoulos praised the Athens Municipality on its good organisation for the race, saying it showed the the high level of municipality services.

Bakoyianni said Athens would continue cooperation with ATHOC with ever increasing intensity up until the Olympic Games and that the Municipality's goal was that Athens should gain from this sporting experience.

[04] Ecocinema 2003 to be held in Rhodes from 9 to 14 September

A total of 65 films will be screened at the 3rd International Environmental Film Festival (Ecocinema 2003) that will take place on the Dodecanese island of Rhodes from 9 through 14 September, with the participation of a host of significant stage directors from Greece and abroad.

Organisers said that selection of this year's films was based on a broad thematic basis, proposing the development of an environmental consciousness as an element of daily life.

[05] Seminar on cultural tourism to be held in Corfu

The Ionian Islands' region and tourism authorities in cooperation with the World Tourism Organisation are organising a two-day international seminar on ''Cultural Tourism in Balkan States'', September 19-20, in Corfu.

Scientists and culture and tourism authorities are expected to present their recommendations in the seminar, aimed to help the Balkan region to benefit from an increasing popularity of cultural travel and to promote the region's cultural identity.

[06] Olympic Airways overhaul gets parliamentary approval

A government bill to allow the creation of Olympic Airlines, successor to state-owned Olympic Airways, was approved by parliament on Thursday.

Voting in favour of the bill were 52 deputies of the ruling PASOK party with 46 opposition parliamentarians voting against.

Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis told the house that the recreated airline would be in the market for a buyer, aided by banks and the ministries of finance and transport.

The government has tried to privatise Olympic in the past but each attempt fell flat.

Staff of the ailing airline have opposed the the government's overhaul plan. A strike on Thursday severely disrupted services.

[07] Strike disrupts Olympic Airways flights

A 24-hour strike by civil aviation workers on Thursday severely disrupted Olympic Airways flights, mainly to destinations abroad.

The Federation of Civil Aviation Unions went ahead with the stoppage despite a court ruling declaring the action illegal.

In addition, flight attendants collectively called in sick, apparently to bypass the repercussions of staging a strike ruled as illegal.

Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis said he had ordered an enquiry into the affair.

Workers are protesting against a government bill to restructure Olympic Airways, which is to be renamed Olympic Airlines and restrict its business to flights.

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.090

Pound sterling 0.694

Danish kroner 7.484

Swedish kroner 9.203

Japanese yen 127.4

Swiss franc 1.550

Norwegian kroner 8.258

Cyprus pound 0.587

Canadian dollar 1.508

Australian dollar 1.707

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