Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-02-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Main opposition leader pledges "new political culture''

[02] George Papandreou seeks to alter shape of ruling party, government

[03] Weather Forecast: Overcast, rainy on Monday

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

[01] Main opposition leader pledges "new political culture''

Costas Karamanlis, the leader of main opposition New Democracy (ND), has promised voters in March 7 general elections that he will establish a "new political culture'' if his party wins the ballot.

In an interview to the Vima on Sunday newspaper, Karamanlis said that as prime minister he would work with all the country's political forces to establish the new environment, employing a new code of political ethics, and up to date concepts that were compatible with needs of the future.

''All Greeks will have a timely and leading role in creation of this framework, without the divisive rationales that have hurt the country, that stopped people advancing united on the path to growth, progress and prosperity, without exclusion, but with transparency and merit-based criteria, genuine rule by the people, far from the influence of vested interests and expediency,'' Karamanlis said.

He underlined that he also wanted to see political dialogue without arrogance, slander and hatred, employing instead social responsibility in the use of power while shrugging off the political cost.

The ND leader pledged to tackle corruption in the workings of the state, and improve access to information.

Two areas he singled out for priority were education and the arts.

On Saturday, winding up a tour of the Dodecanese islands on Rhodes, Karamanlis told party supporters that he was offering a new form of government based on values and principles, with the public taking part.

He also charged the government with neglecting the islands through a lack of planning and measures.

[02] George Papandreou seeks to alter shape of ruling party, government

George Papandreou, leader of the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), plans to change structures and personnel in his party that will be accompanied by matching changes in government if PASOK wins general elections on March 7.

In an interview to the Sunday Eleftherotypia newspaper, Papandreou pledged to form a small government and overhaul the workings of the state and structure of administration that would include a devolution of authority to the regions to advance local development.

In addition, he did not rule out the appointment as ministers of Stephanos Manos and Andreas Andrianopoulos, former deputies and ministers of a main opposition New Democracy government in the early 1990s who are standing for PASOK in the March election.

Outlining his principles, Papandreou said he had never seen politics as bargaining behind closed doors and secret agreements.

''Democracy needs to acquire participatory characteristics, and the day-to-day problems of the public should be tackled jointly by all citizens based on a radical political will to deal with them,'' said the son of PASOK's late founder, Andreas Papandreou.

Rejecting criticism that the US played a part in his ascent to the party's leadership, Papandreou said: ''For 15 years PASOK has shown the priority it places on the principle of national sovereignty ... (The Right) is convinced that the major powers are determining the country's fate, because that is its own line of thinking, and it cannot track developments.''

The former foreign minister underlined that he rejected labels employed to create exclusion.

''PASOK is a party that within a Europe of change, and within the framework of a European social democratic space, expresses the striving, searching and solutions that have been put forward for a better and more equitable future for all, and it is its own nature that has imposed ongoing change.''

Papandreou said he was inspired by the endeavours of members of the public with a social conscience, volunteer workers, and collective bodies that protected the environment and human dignity.

On Saturday, he told party supporters in Tripoli that he was committed to providing a future without open national issues, fear or insecurity.

The current year was critical for Greece's national issues, and PASOK was ready to make a decisive contribution to demolishing the last wall in Europe, that of Cyprus, Papandreou said.

Finally, he promised to set a priority on tackling problems of farmers.

[03] Weather Forecast: Overcast, rainy on Monday

Overcast, rainy weather is forecast in all parts of the country with storms in the west. Snow will fall on high ground in the north. Winds southerly, strong to very strong, turning gale force at sea. Warmer weather is expected. Temperatures in Athens 5C to 11C and in Thessaloniki from 2C to 6C.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.276

Pound sterling 0.678

Danish kroner 7.510

Swedish kroner 9.260

Japanese yen 137.6

Swiss franc 1.588

Norwegian kroner 8.893

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.703

Australian dollar 1.624

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