[02] Greece celebrates rejection of Italian ultimatum in WWII

Double celebrations marking the anniversary of Greece's refusal to bow to fascist Italy in 1940 and Thessaloniki's liberation from the Ottomans in 1912 were held in the country's second city on Tuesday with President Kostis Stephanopoulos taking the salute in a military parade.

Stephanopoulos told reporters after the event that key concepts of freedom, patriots, Greeks, and the national flag acquired significance when they matched sentiments.

On Monday, he told an officers' club in Thessaloniki that civil servants who failed to respect and serve the public could not be called patriots; or people who sought wealth illegitimately, including what he called ''parasites'' who fed on public money and went unpunished.

In a message for the October 28 holiday, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said that gains needed to be consolidated; Greece was powerful enough today to take on new challenges.

The leader of the main opposition New Democracy party, Costas Karamanlis, said that Greece now faced a historic challenge as it had in 1940; that of striving in the front line for prosperity and security in Europe.

National Defence Minister Yiannos Papanatoniou said that the upgraded capacity of the armed forces attested to an ongoing modernisation drive.

The Communist Party of Greece said the October 28 holiday only acquired real significance if timely conclusions were drawn from the historical event that matched the interests of the people; and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology underlined that the spirit among Greeks of resistance against fascism had acquired a new, internationalist and global dimension.

A schoolchildren's parade was held in Athens to mark October 28 anniversary with Education Minister Petros Efthymiou and Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni looking on.

In Iraklio, Crete, Press and Mass Media Minister Christos Protopappas attended a celebration.

October 28 was also celebrated in Cyprus in an anniversary event led by President Tassos Papadopoulos.

In the US, the World Council of Hellenes Abroad lauded the heroic resistance of Greeks in 1940.

Ethnic Greeks in Albania also celebrated ''Ochi''(''No'')Day.

[03] FM Papandreou leads PASOK delegation at Socialist Int'l meeting in Brazil

SAO PAOLO (ANA) - Foreign Minister George Papandreou led a delegation from Greeces ruling PASOK party on Monday at a conference organised here by Brazilian leader Luis Inacio Lula da Silva for the 23rd ?Socialist International?, an event that coincided with the Brazilian presidents birthday and the anniversary of this election to the post.

Papandreou was scheduled to speak on the topic of ?Prevention and Resolution of Conflicts in the New International Environment?.

Earlier, the Greek FM called da Silva, better known as Lula in South Americas largest country, as a ?personality that inspires hope for a better world?. Discussions also turned to the issue of European integration, something that apparently interests the Brazilian leadership, while the latter expressed poorer countries displeasure with the American and European agriculture policy.

Moreover, da Silva signed the ?Olympic Truce? declaration, an initiative under the IOCs auspices that is being vigorously promoted by Athens and Papandreou personally.

?We are here in Brazil today representing Greece, during a significant moment, a moment when the world is passing from an era of insecurity, and where the social democratic position remains particularly timely a guarantee for the promotion of a world of solidarity, a world that fights poverty, inequality, and promotes peace and multi-faceted diplomacy within the UN?? Papandreou said.

[04] Weather Forecast: Cloud, rain on Wednesday

All parts of the country will see cloud, with rain in the west, centre and north. Winds variable, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 2C to 12C; in the west from 9C to 21C; and in the rest of the country from 6C to 18C. Temperatures in Athens between 10C and 17C; and in Thessaloniki from 9C to 12C.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.184

Pound sterling 0.699

Danish kroner 7.490

Swedish kroner 9.143

Japanese yen 128.3

Swiss franc 1.560

Norwegian kroner 8.316

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.549

Australian dollar 1.682

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