Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-02-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM calls urgent meeting over Cyprus issue developments

[02] PM briefs ND leader on developments on Cyprus issue

[03] Jobless rate drops to 8.8 pct in third quarter of 2003

[04] Archaeological symposium begins at Thessaloniki University on Friday

[05] National Olympic Committee members to attend IOC conference in Athens

[06] Weather Forecast: Snow on Friday

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in brisk trade

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

[01] PM calls urgent meeting over Cyprus issue developments

An urgent meeting to discuss the latest developments during negotiations to solve the Cyprus issue taking place in New York was held by the government on Thursday, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

It was attended by PASOK leader and foreign minister George Papandreou, who cancelled a trip to Cyprus scheduled for Thursday, Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, Deputy Press Minister Tilemahos Hytiris and a number of advisors and aides to the premier and Papandreou.

The meeting followed a surprise proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash requesting a new, accelerated timetable for the UN-brokered peace talks, which will allow a reunited island to join the European Union on May 1.

Emerging from the three-hour meeting, Papandreou said the negotiations in the framework of the United Nations had now entered a crucial stage and that Denktash's proposals will be ''examined so that we get a clearer picture''.

He stressed that Greece's goal from the start had been that Cyprus' accession to theEuropean Union would make solving the Cyprus issue a priority for the international community.

''It is we that have asked for a solution to the Cyprus issue and for procedures to be set in motion,'' he said.

[02] PM briefs ND leader on developments on Cyprus issue

Prime Minister Costas Simitis held a telephone conversation with main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis on Thursday afternoon and briefed him on developments concerning the issue of Cyprus.

Earlier in the day, Karamanlis was also given a briefing by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.

According to reports from ND's offices, Karamanlis said he supports the government of Cyprus and stands by the people of Cyprus.

[03] Jobless rate drops to 8.8 pct in third quarter of 2003

Unemployment fell to 8.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2003 with employment rising by 1.4 per cent in the same period, the Greek National Statistics Service (GNSS) said on Thursday.

The sample survey is harmonised with terms set by Eurostat, the European Union's statistics service, the GNSS said in a statement.

The jobless rate in the third quarter of 2002 was 9.5 per cent.

Unemployment among men was at 5.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2003; and among women at 13.7 per cent in the same period, the statement said.

The highest proportion of unemployment was among youth up to 29 years of age, where joblessness among women was double the rate for men, it added.

[04] Archaeological symposium begins at Thessaloniki University on Friday

An archaeological symposium will begin at Thessaloniki University on Friday at which artifacts found in Kozani, northern Greece will be presented.

The findings, which date back 27 centuries ago, came to light not through archaeological excavations but through the confession to a priest by a gold-digger who gave him the artifacts.

The priest in turn gave the artifacts, which weighed more than 100 kilos, to the region's archaeological department. They consist of metal urns, weapons, jewellery, clay pots and copper coins.

In a statement on Thursday, archaelogist Georgia Karamitrou-Mentesidi, who will address the symposium on excavations in the Kozani prefecture, said:''We are trying to convince gold-diggers to inform us of the exact location of the findings so we can start excavations. It is necessary for the inhabitants to develop a conscience for the salvation and protection of archaelogical treasures in their region.''

[05] National Olympic Committee members to attend IOC conference in Athens

Over 500 members of National Olympic Committees from all over the world will be in Athens between February 24-29 to attend a conference organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at a downtown hotel on the course of preparations of about 200 countries to be participating in the Olympic Games this summer.

During the first two days, the members of the National Olympic Committees will be convening among themselves to determine the agenda of talks they will be having with the IOC's Executive Committee which will start work on February 27.

IOC President Jacques Rogge and National Olympic Committees President Rania Vaskez will be giving a joint press conference for the Greek and foreign media on the same day.

The IOC's Executive Committee will be convening for the first time in 2004 on February 28, while on the next day Rogge will be providing an account of developments during a press conference.

[06] Weather Forecast: Snow on Friday

Snow is forecast in many parts of the country, especially in the east and south, with storms at sea. Most parts of the centre and north will be icy. Winds northerly, very strong to gale force. Temperatures in Athens -2C to 1C and in Thessaloniki from -7C to -2C. Snow will fall in Attica, heaviest in the east and north.

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in brisk trade

The Athens bourse finished higher on Thursday with turnover rising from the previous session, traders said.

The general share index gained 0.50 percent to end at 2,468.50 points. Turnover was 181.00 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.64 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.63 per cent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with gains of 1.12 percent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 180 to 110 with 64 issues remaining unchanged.

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.290

Pound sterling 0.682

Danish kroner 7.511

Swedish kroner 9.230

Japanese yen 136.1

Swiss franc 1.589

Norwegian kroner 8.930

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.704

Australian dollar 1.640

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