Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-02-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Parliament dissolved, Presidential Decree calls voters to polls on

[02] Greek economy grew around 5.0 pct in 4th qtr, FinMin says

[03] PASOK party announces state election ticket

[04] PM chairs meeting on Cyprus issue with foreign ministers

[05] President Stephanopoulos receives delegation of mayors

[06] Weather Forecast: Rain, snow on Thursday

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[08] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise, led by banks

[01] Parliament dissolved, Presidential Decree calls voters to polls on March 7

The 300-member Parliament of Greece was formally dissolved on Wednesday and voters were called to the polls on March 7, in a Presidential Decree posted on the parliament building.

Presidential Decree #48, signed by President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, dissolves the 10th Session of the Presidential Democracy Period, calls on the voters to elect the new members of parliament on March 7, and convenes the parliament to emerge from the elections for their first session on Thursday, March 18.

The Decree was posted by parliament's sergeant-at-arms, Brigadier N. Tsoukalis.

The dissolution of parliament marks the official commencement of the elections campaign period.

[02] Greek economy grew around 5.0 pct in 4th qtr, FinMin says

A fall in the inflation rate below 3.0 percent despite high oil prices and high economic growth rates, significantly above 4.2 percent in 2003, and a rise in employment were evidence of the Greek economy's very good condition and prospects, Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Christodoulakis stressed that economic growth rates would ''significantly exceed 4.2 percent'' in 2003 and said that a 4.7 percent growth figure announced by the Statistics Service was a forecast.

Speaking to reporters earlier, after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the Greek minister had announced that growth rate reached 5.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2003 far exceeding a 3.8 percent forecast.

Christodoulakis also commented on a decision by ECOFIN to ratify Greece's Stability and Growth programme and noted the council's estimate of reducing public deficit and debts and increasing investments in the country.

He said that the European Commission's report on the Greek economy referred to significant progress in structural reforms.

[03] PASOK party announces state election ticket

European Union Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou heads the ruling PASOK party's state election ticket, whose composition was announced on Wednesday and which includes personalities from different sides of the political spectrum.

The six names topping the ticket are Anna Diamantopoulou, Maria Damanaki, Stefanos Manos, Mimis Androulakis, Andreas Andrianopoulos and Socrates Kosmidis.

PASOK's former secretary general Costas Laliotis holds last place on the ticket.

[04] PM chairs meeting on Cyprus issue with foreign ministers

Prime Minister Costas Simitis had a two-hour meeting concerning the latest developments in the Cyprus problem on Wednesday with Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis and new PASOK leader and Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Afterward, Papandreou said that this was an important juncture and that the government was cooperating closely with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, providing unstinting support and closely monitoring the talks in New York.

In response to questions, meanwhile, Yiannitsis said the Greek side was engaged in a process of constant contacts and talks in order to reach a point where negotiations could begin.

''We are now waiting to see how today's meeting in New York will go in order to have a more specific view of where we are and what the prospects are,'' he added.

Earlier in the day, Yiannitsis had meetings with US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller and British Ambassador to Athens Sir David Madden. Both meetings were requested by the ambassadors.

[05] President Stephanopoulos receives delegation of mayors

President Kostis Stephanopoulos on Wednesday received a delegation of mayors from South Italy, Spain, Turkish-occupied Cyprus and Greece, headed by the Mayor of Aegaleo Dimitris Kalogeropoulos. The meeting was held in the framework of the mayors' meeting to strengthen the Olympic Truce movement.

[06] Weather Forecast: Rain, snow on Thursday

Rain, storms and snow are forecast in most parts of the country, starting from the west, centre and north and spreading south. Snow is expected on high ground and some low-lying areas with storms at sea. Winds northerly, strong to gale force. Temperatures in Athens 2C to 10C and in Thessaloniki from -3C to 1C. Rain and storms are forecast in Attica with snow falling on high ground, and later in low-lying areas.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.278

Pound sterling 0.683

Danish kroner 7.510

Swedish kroner 9.184

Japanese yen 134.9

Swiss franc 1.586

Norwegian kroner 8.886

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.702

Australian dollar 1.640

[08] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise, led by banks

The Athens bourse finished higher on Wednesday, led by an upsurge in banking stocks, traders said.

The general share index gained 0.97 percent to end at 2,456.26 points. Turnover was 146.16 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.09 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 1.49 per cent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with gains of 0.99 percent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 237 to 76 with 49 issues remaining unchanged.

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