Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-11-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek side declares itself ''fully ready'' for resumption of Cyprus

[02] Thessaloniki anti-globalisation protest 'seven' to be released

[03] Athens mayor presents Medal to Cyprus president

[04] Stephanopoulos receives Rogge

[05] London mayor prepares events to welcome Olympic Flame

[06] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Thursday

[07] Greek stocks rally for fourth consecutive session

[01] Greek side declares itself ''fully ready'' for resumption of Cyprus talks

Greece and Cyprus on Wednesday confirmed that they were ''fully ready'' for the resumption of negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem based on the peace plan presented by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, after a meeting in Athens between Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and visiting Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.

During the meeting they ascertained the continued intransigency of Rauf Denktash's regime, which was also demonstrated during a visit to occupied Cyprus by Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Simitis said.

They also examined internal developments within the occupied north in view of polls organised by the illegal regime on December 14 and the continued naturalisation of Turkish settlers within its borders.

[02] Thessaloniki anti-globalisation protest 'seven' to be released

The Thessaloniki Misdemeanours Council on Wednesday decided to order the release of seven protestors that have been held in custody without trial since their arrest for acts of violence during anti-globalisation demonstrations in the city of Thessaloniki during the EU summit last June.

Five of the seven prisoners began a hunger strike while in prison to protest against their detainment without trial, while three of them were transferred to Nikaia Hospital earlier this week.

The five hunger strikers Carlos Martin Martinez, Souleiman Dakdouk Castro, Fernando Perez Gorraiz, Simon Chapman and Spyros Tsitsas, as well as their two fellow-detainees Mihalis Traikapis and Dimitris Fliouras, were expected to be released later on Wednesday afternoon, according to their lawyers.

[03] Athens mayor presents Medal to Cyprus president

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni on Wednesday presented the Golden Medal of the City of Athens to Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, during their meeting in Athens, stressing that the Cypriot leader is an experienced man, able to foresee danger and take advantage of opportunities for his country.

On his part, Papadopoulos said ''the accession of Cyprus in the European Union is already a historic success of common efforts. A viable and functional solution to our great national issue, will be the highest and most joyous closure of a common struggle''.

[04] Stephanopoulos receives Rogge

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Wednesday met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, who was accompanied by ATHOC President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and IOC Coordinating Committee President Dennis Oswald.

Rogge briefed Stephanopoulos on the preparations for the Games and according to sources he expressed his certainty that the Games will be perfect, if the preparations continue at the same rate.

Rogge and Angelopoulos-Daskalaki also briefed Stephanopoulos on the route of the Olympic Flame, scheduled to pass through all five continents.

[05] London mayor prepares events to welcome Olympic Flame

LONDON (ANA/L. Tsirigotakis) - London Mayor Ken Livingstone on Wednesday announced that the Olympic Flame will stop in London on June 26, the first time since 1948 and the British capital will stage a special event for the occasion.

The mayor stressed that the city will try to mobilize on that day all the different communities of people living in London and to organize a grand Greek festival, with Greek food, music and art, so as to promote the cultural side of Greece along with the Athletic.

He added that every country has its own community in London and that he wants the route of the Flame to touch all the different communities, most of all the Greek one as the Olympics are to take place in Greece.

[06] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Thursday

Cloudy weather is forecast throughout the country with showers in many areas, especially the west. Isolated storms are also expected. Winds southerly, variable, moderate to very strong. Temperatures to drop slightly, with a minimum of 14C and maximum of 19C in Athens; and in Thessaloniki, 10C to 15C.

[07] Greek stocks rally for fourth consecutive session

Greek stocks moved higher for the fourth consecutive session on Wednesday with buying activity maintained for blue chip stocks such as Hellenic Telecoms (up 3.59 percent), National Bank (up 2.03 percent) and Intracom (up 6.25 percent).

The general index rose 0.83 percent to end at 2,173.95 points, with turnover a heavy 184.2 million euros.

The Telecommunications, Retail and Bank sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (1.85 percent, 0.89 percent and 0.86 percent, respectively), while the Textile (2.16 percent) and IT (1.57 percent) sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.16 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.37 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.68 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 198 to 104 with another 58 issues unchanged.

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