Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Stephanopoulos begins three-day official visit to

[02] PM addresses ruling PASOK parliamentary group, denies reshuffle rumour

[03] Greek tourism authorities participate in intl travel fairs

[04] Greek exports rise 5.1 percent in first half 2003

[05] Plaque unveiled outiside Constantine Karamanlis' residence in Paris

[06] Greek National Tourism Organisation presents ''Ulysses Voyage''

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

[08] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, some rain on Wednesday

[01] President Stephanopoulos begins three-day official visit to Serbia-Montenegro

BELGRADE (ANA/N. Megadoukas) - President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos began a three-day official visit to Serbia-Montenegro on Tuesday night, aimed at further strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries, with talks with President Svedozar Marovic.

''I am among friends. And this friendship of ours has been proved in practice. And we shall do this in the future as well with words and with deeds,'' President Stephanopoulos said after his talks with President Marovic.

President Stephanopoulos reiterated Greek support for the effort of Serbia-Montenegro to join Euroatlantic institutions, the NATO alliance and the European Union.

[02] PM addresses ruling PASOK parliamentary group, denies reshuffle rumour

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday called for the ''dynamic participation'' by all of ruling PASOKs deputies in order for the party to win next year's general elections.

In addressing a meeting of PASOKs parliamentary group, Simitis also denied rumours of a government reshuffle, before criticising those who ''cultivate attacks against MPs in order to mar their personal dignity''.

He also called on PASOKs deputies to disregard such rumours, and instead to focus on the partys strategy for reducing unemployment, for convergence with the EU, and for national issues.

The premier further called on his deputies to showcase the government's accomplishments of recent years and its commitments for the next four-year term to voters, while at the same time accusing main opposition New Democracy of engaging in a ''sterile opposition'' that aims only at assuming power. Among others, he cited ND leader Costas Karamanlis' stance on Greek-Turkish affairs and the main opposition party's stance on the ''re-establishment'' of the state.

ND's sole goal is to gain power in favour of a ''closed group and circle of party supporters'', Simitis said.

[03] Greek tourism authorities participate in intl travel fairs

Greece's National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) is strengthening its presence in international tourism fairs ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

GNTO participated in JATA World Travel Fair in Japan along with a number of Greek tourist enterprises. The travel fair completed its activities with the promotion of the Olympic flame and the six Greek Olympic cities by Greek tourism authorities.

GNTO also participated in TTW Tour-Travel 2003 international fair held in Warsaw, Poland.

Around 40,000 people visited the travel fair, of which 9,000 were commercial visitors and 600 journalists.

[04] Greek exports rise 5.1 percent in first half 2003

Greek exports rose by 5.1 percent in the first six months of 2003 to 5.873 billion euros despite a strong rise in the euro currency exchange rate, reflecting strong exports to developed countries and in particular EU member-states and improved export performance of manufactured products, official figures said on Tuesday.

Exports to EU rose 17 percent in the January-June period, while exports to OECD member-states increased by 16 percent over the same period.

[05] Plaque unveiled outiside Constantine Karamanlis' residence in Paris

PARIS (ANA) Late Greek statesman Constantine Karamanlis was honored here on Tuesday at a ceremony where a plaque was unveiled outside the residence where he lived in self-imposed exile between 1963 and 1974.

?Greek Statesman Constantine Karamanlis resided here from 1963 to 1974,? reads the plaque unveiled by the mayor of Paris 16th District, Pierre Christian Taittinger.

The residence is located at 21, Boulevard Montmorency, across from the Bois de Boulogne.

Several local politicians, diplomats, academics as well as Karamanlis youngest brother, Achilleas, attended the event.

[06] Greek National Tourism Organisation presents ''Ulysses Voyage''

An English-language edition of ''Ulysses Voyage'' was presented by the Greek National Tourism Organisation on Tuesday.

The work, which was produced in association with the National Bank of Greece's educational foundation, interprets the world of Ulysses, or Odysseus, on both a mythical and factual level.

Addressing the presentation, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that the creation of a mythological park in the Ionian islands could become a major tourist attraction, aided by private capital.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.172

Pound sterling 0.707

Danish kroner 7.488

Swedish kroner 9.030

Japanese yen 128.8

Swiss franc 1.559

Norwegian kroner 8.303

Cyprus pound 0.589

Canadian dollar 1.559

Australian dollar 1.713

[08] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, some rain on Wednesday

All parts of the country will see scattered cloud, with showers in the west, centre and north. Storms will erupt later in the day in the Ionian, Epirus, Macedonia and the western central mainland. Winds variable, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 8C to 22C; in the west 12C to 24C; and in the rest of the country from 10C to 26C. Temperatures in Athens between 14C and 25C; and in Thessaloniki from 12C to 21C.

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