Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-10-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Transport minister briefs top IOC officials over tram, suburban rail

[02] Magriotis to represent Greek government at Izetbegovic funeral

[03] Gul signs Olympic Truce declaration in Athens

[04] Papandreou to meet separately with Robertson, Weston on Wednesday

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud and humid on Wednesday

[06] Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 42 mln euros Tuesday

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

[08] Greek stocks end significantly higher on Tuesday

[01] Transport minister briefs top IOC officials over tram, suburban rail

The latest high-profile concerns aired by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently over 2004-related transports projects (the suburban rail line and the new tram network) resulted a meeting Monday evening between the relevant Greek minister and a pair of top IOC inspectors.

According to ministry press release issued on Tuesday, Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis briefed the Games executive director, Gilbert Felli, and the Lausanne-based organisations transport expert, Philippe Bovy, in detail over progress regarding both projects considered crucial for the success of the 2004 Athens Games.

Verelis had reportedly requested the meeting in a letter to IOC coordination committee chairman Denis Oswald.

?We had a very detailed and in-depth conversation and we provided all the information we had to the IOC representatives about the course of progress for the suburban rail line and the tram,? Verelis merely noted, while adding that the IOC, as usual, will present its findings and assessments after an upcoming inspection in the Greek capital.

Finally, the minister said the lead contractors for the rail and tram projects Ergose S.A. and Tram S.A., respectively have been instructed to disclose information about progress of works to the press.

[02] Magriotis to represent Greek government at Izetbegovic funeral

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis will be representing Greece at the funeral of former Bosnia-Herzegovina President Alija Izetbegovic, which will take place in Sarajevo on Wednesday, it was announced.

[03] Gul signs Olympic Truce declaration in Athens

Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his visiting Turkish counterpart Abdulah Gul reconfirmed their intention to cooperate closely for the success of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, particularly on issues of security and tourism.

During a meeting they had with ATHOC President Gianna Angelopoulos Daskalaki and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, Gul signed a declaration for the Olympic Truce and Papandreou thanked his counterpart for supporting this initiative.

He also reminded those participating in the event that the first two signatures on the Declaration for the Olympic Truce were his and former Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem's.

''If we can stop war for 16 days, maybe at some point we may be able to have peace forever. The cooperation of the two countries can become an example for the whole world,'' Papandreou said.

On his part, Gul congratulated Papandreou for his initiative and Daskalaki for the progress of the Olympic projects he toured by air earlier in the day.

[04] Papandreou to meet separately with Robertson, Weston on Wednesday

Foreign Minister George Papandreou will meet with NATO's Secretary General Lord Robertson and U.S. State Department Special Coordinator for the Cyprus issue Ambassador Thomas Weston on Wednesday.

The meetings will be separate and will include statements to the press upon their conclusion.

[05] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud and humid on Wednesday

Scattered cloud and humid in Greece on Wednesday, with a chance for rain in the usually wet northwest. Winds south-southwesterly, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 10C to 24C; in the west 16C to 27C; and in the rest of the country from 15C to 30C. Temperatures in Athens between 18C and 29C; and in Thessaloniki from 15C to 23C.

[06] Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 42 mln euros Tuesday

Equity Index Futures: